2010/03/20

Right-thinking at the Globe and Mail

I've been following reports on the Québec niqab story since it broke out almost three weeks ago. At first, I felt reports were generally supportive of the government's decision. Commentators on discussion forums and blogs have almost been unanimous in supporting the government's decision. I'm fully aware that Web talk is skewed and should be taken with a grain a salt, but I had never seen such a strong consensus before.

Then, the Globe and Mail published "Quebec must fix its lack of diversity", a column which advocates that the province doesn't have as much visible minorities representation as elsewhere in the country. And I thought... well, diversity isn't only based on colors...

After that, the Globe and Mail wrote "Intolerant intrusion", an editorial which draws a parallel between the niqab decision and the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan. And I though... well, that's a rather shameful innuendo... what are these people trying to do?

Today, the Globe and Mail publishes "Quebec's view on niqab creates fault line" which states that Quebec's decision struck some Canadians as pure intolerance. And I'm thinking... where are these Canadians they are referring to and why aren't they more vocal?

I look at the reactions these stories have prompted and wonder what the staff at the Globe and Mail has been drinking.

5 comments:

Clarissa said...

I am very proud of my beautiful province for making this decision. And I'm appalled by Globe and Mail's coverage of the story. Thank you for brnging these articles to my attention. I usedto love this newspaper but now I'm losing all respect for them.

Guillaume said...

cafeiste.blogspot.com :) j'ai écrit un petit texte sur ma conception du problème.

Bonne lecture si cela vous intéresse :)

Shiva-ji said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michel Bolduc said...

James,

Thanks for the link. The cynic in me is in harmony with the cynic in you. Printed news media are in battle for a bigger piece of an ever shrinking pie. I think we're in for more of this kind behavior.

Michel Bolduc said...

That's odd... polls results have been reset. On March 22, 79% of voters supported Québec's decision (12409 voted Yes and 3215 voted No).