It seems that modern political culture is always searching for victims and creating programs to compensate them with sympathy and insincere reconciliation. Too often we look to the state to correct the ills of the past by acknowledging that the sins of our ancestors have to be made right so that we can progress and find some closure for the suffering of past generations.
THE BLURB:
ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS, NO WORRIES
Canadian authorities had no way of knowing how strong their loyalties were; the government took the same precautions as other allied countries at war. These immigrants faced extraordinary hardships and discrimination but they endured because the conditions they left behind were even worse. The Italians who arrived before the war were mainly uneducated peasants who came to Canada for the chance to work and support their families. They have become proud citizens of Canada.
BLACK TROUBLES? SEEMS HARSH!
In Alabama, a black woman is facing criminal charges after being shot in the stomach and having a miscarriage. The story has drawn national attention and outrage from reproductive rights groups who argue that the incident is a disturbing example of the systemic mistreatment and criminalization of low-income pregnant women of colour.
Marshae Jones is charged with manslaughter for being pregnant and getting shot while engaging in an altercation with a person who had a gun. Some complain that next, it will be another black woman, maybe for having a drink while pregnant. Or punished for not obtaining adequate prenatal care. Protestors are seeking justice for the multiple attacks that she has endured. The protests were successful; charges were dropped.
ABORIGINAL TROUBLES AND A SENSIBLE APPROACH
Kwanlin Dun is a small subdivision five minutes from downtown Whitehorse, Yukon. Growing up, one young man remembers it as a wild place with people fighting outside. Deaths were common. Four people were killed in the small community over a 3 year period. This number is well above the national rate. There was a lot of fear. Some women were sleeping with baseball bats beside their beds. “Our people have a long history with the RCMP, and it’s not necessarily a good one.”
In the spring of 2016, Kwanlin Dun forged its own community policing model. The $1.4-million, three-year pilot, created by the community and funded by the Yukon government, saw four safety officers patrol the streets. They had been trained in everything from conflict resolution, intergenerational trauma and mental-health issues to critical incident stress management and bylaw interpretation.
Chief Doris Bill is tasked with caring for a community struggling with alcohol, drugs and the effects of colonialism. “When a traumatic incident occurs, the RCMP lays charges, but doesn’t provide support,” she says. “There was a gap, and we filled it.”
A new federally commissioned report claims that, despite efforts to improve, police services across the country are still failing Indigenous communities. The Council of Canadian Academies found many of these communities face higher crime rates than elsewhere in the country and existing colonial policing models are not meeting their safety and security needs. The report recommends community-initiated policing models based on trust that build relationships between youth, elders, community members and other service providers.
THE QUESTION:
THE COMEBACK:
“ I’m no expert on friends; however, I can recognize an asshole when I see one!"
THE LEMON:
Awarded to Andrea Horvath for her constant criticism instead of constructive reactions.
THE QUOTE:
"We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion. This isn't a matter of political correctness. It's a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith." Barack Obama
THE CLIP:
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