conceptuallyfunny:zuky:Good job, White Canada. This Halloween costume duo were not only admitted to
conceptuallyfunny:zuky:Good job, White Canada. This Halloween costume duo were not only admitted to a Legion Hall party in Campellford, Ontario; the costume was awarded first prize in the costume parade. These aren’t college brats, these are grownups acting under the umbrella of a powerful social institution. The man in the pointy hood with the Confederate Flag draped over his back is actually holding a rope which ends in a noose around the neck of the man in blackface. The story and the photos are generating outrage across the province and the country, but it’ll be interesting to see how the story is handled by major media and what discussions it generates.Okay first of all, White Canada? Really? Ten very different provinces, three territories and two official languages and you’re ready to judge the entire country on the action of one asshole? I share the opinion expressed by the Gazette (which is rare in and of itself): shock and shame. It’s awful and terrifying that bigots like this feel comfortable enough to just walk out and let their hate hang out, it’s nauseating. From what I’ve gleaned from your blog, you’re in VanCity, which: yay because you guys are keeping some sense in the west. Unfortunately Ontario seems to be going to shit, what with the election of Rob Ford and all that nonsese. We’re a big, complicated country but let’s not dismiss an entire population based on the actions of a few assholes.I will say that there seems to be a disquieting amount of Tea-Partyesque conservatism on the rise in our lovely socialist arctic wilderness. It’s making me nervous. Shall I assume this is the response of a Defensive White Canadian? “Not all of us white Canadians are like that! White people are individuals! The racists and bigots are just a few bad apples!” Yeah, I know that, Sherlock. I also know it takes some nerve for a person to see a picture like this, and immediately underneath it, to start lecturing people of color on how to think about and discuss racism.I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say “White Canada” before, which is why it was funny to me when I wrote it in response to the ridiculousnous above. “White Campellford” doesn’t quite have the same ring or sting, does it? Where I come from (New York), “White America” is a common expression, but a person of color from the US (me) gets a strong impression that white Canadians are very averse to highly racialized discourse, especially (of course) when it’s critical of whiteness and white people. I’m not judging the entire country based on the action of one asshole. “White Canada” isn’t “the entire country”, is it? Interesting slip, there, which tells me that this convo is going nowhere. Even in this picture, there are 8 assholes: the 2 people in the KKK/blackface costume, and all the other white people who are cool with it and partying it up. Don’t want to be associated with them? You could start by chilling out on the “reverse racism” angle and understanding that white racism is much more pervasive in Canada than white Canadians like to admit. -- source link