[PaulE-0]

Who agrees with me?

[Craig]

Who is Jan Wong?

[Donald Hughes]

She's a prominent reporter who recently suggested that the Dawson College shooting may be connected to racist or anti-immigrant attitudes she said many in Quebec feel. Sometimes this is plainly stated other times it is implied in an elliptical way. The article is obviously very emotional, and I think it is probably best seen as more as grasping at "why" in the confusion surrounding the crime than a definitive statement about Quebec. A range of political leaders have attacked her for the column, of course, since it seems insensitive to interject these loose and perhaps unfounded opinions. But I think it is intended to frame the story around various struggles of students and communities, instead of just a dry recount of the timeline. Her writing tends to focus on personal interviews and also reflections on the Chinese-Canadian experience. Among the Chinese community, and now it seems elsewhere, there is a tendency to either love her or hate her.

[Craig]

Ah - Globe and Mail columnist I believe. I'm a National Post guy myself.

[Albertan Technophile]

Heh, She's grade a loonybird. I'd elaborate,, but I just posted an essay about what she said in my blog, and I'm worn out.[/list]

[kwlafayette]

I remember a prominent Quebec politician, after losing some referendum or another saying that it was money and the ethnic vote that defeated them. Could be an isolated incident, soure grapes after a close defeat; could be a reflection of some deeper sentiment.

Maybe she is crazy, maybe not. Could be that the truth stings people's sensibilities; some things are understood but are never talked about. Or like you say, she could just be a loon.

Either way, she is entitled to her opinions.

[kwlafayette]

I know that it is not "PC" to say so, but she may have a point about Quebec society. I have never lived there, so I don't know, but being a kook does not preclude you from being right. You know what they say about stuck clocks....

I was actually amazed at the reaction that she got. Someone who was completely off base would just be ignored, would they not?

[McGuire]

What bothered me about the article is her insinuation that this ssomehow justifies Gill's rampage & that Quebec society brought it on itself. Whether it's true or not, it simply doesn't excuse such deviancy. This is another lefty attempt to absolve a nutjob of any sort of personal responsibility.

[kwlafayette]

I guess I just expected to see the blame someone else game and ignored it. What really surprised me is that someone was willing to stand up and say that Quebec society was racist. That is defintely a point that should be discussed, and acted upon if true.

[McGuire]

From what I have seen, the nationalist/separatist crowd has, for the most part, purged itself of its racist tendancies. They've actively courted minorities to their cause & have been quite forceful against the more extreme elements of their movement who still are quite virulently racist. I'll give them that much.