Over the last couple of days, Jason has written several fine posts which advocate showing forgiveness to disgraced Tory MP Tom Lukiwski.
Today's Leader-Post argues that such considerations are irrelevant:
You see, the political problem for the Harper government is that the 17-year-old video of a 40-year-old Lukiwski with the open shirt and gold chain spewing his bile isn't going away. It will remain on the Internet for all to see -- including voters in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City who may view it as ample reason why Harper and his Conservatives shouldn't get their majority.
Exactly. If Lukiwski is around, that tape is around. What Tory would be willing to be seen with this guy on the campaign trail? Would you want him appearing at your event to hand out government cash?
I suspect, given the operating style of Stephen Harper's Tories, that after the first wave of controversy passes and Harper can demonstrate that he's not knuckling under to the opposition, Lukwski will be made to disappear politically.
Whatever happens, someone should be filling up a database of this kind of stuff; it's not like this is the first time CRAP'ers have said hateful things things. There are two decades worth.
ReplyDelete...and let's not forget the prodigious output of the Blogging Tories.
I think Jason's compassion may be based in part on the knowledge that there are plenty of Liberals in caucus whose record of anti-gay bigotry is equally appalling and none of them have ever apologized for it.
ReplyDeleteI think Tom Lukiwski is a disgusting piece of bigoted slime, not fit to associate with decent human beings.
But I think the same goes for a couple of dozen Liberal MPs and virtually all Conservative MPs.
The entire debate on marriage was based on the pretense that those opposed were sincere, good-hearted moral people when of course they are in fact absolute scum. Some of them hide it better than others, and don't call us names while they say the same vile things IN PARLIAMENT that Likiwski said back then, but if there's a difference between Tom Lukiwski and Jim Karygiannis, Derek Lee, John McKay, Dan McTeague, Paul Steckle, Alan Tonks and Tom Wappel I sure as hell can't see it.
Ah, ti-guy, this happened in a Progressive Conservative office in 1991, from a PC member who obviously rejected the Reform Party.
ReplyDeleteMike, that quote is from 1944.
ReplyDeleteAh, ti-guy, this happened in a Progressive Conservative office in 1991, from a PC member who obviously rejected the Reform Party.
ReplyDeleteIt's all CRAP to me and since the takeover, it doesn't make a difference.
When its up on YouTube, compassion is irrelevant. - BCL
ReplyDeleteSo true BCL. This incident demands a blood sacrifice and the "tolerant" crowd will probably get it.
Whatever happens, someone should be filling up a database of this kind of stuff; - Mini Me
Who needs a database? Storing and cataloguing grudges and grievances is a specialty of the left. Collectively, they will never forgive (or forget) this. I know we can count on you to do your part ti-guy.
The entire debate on marriage was based on the pretense that those opposed were sincere, good-hearted moral people when of course they are in fact absolute scum. - reality bites
Eh? How did marriage get dragged into this? Since it did, it remains a fact that the majority of Canadians still oppose SSM.
Those supporting SSM and those opposed, were, and remain, sincere, good hearted, moral people. That is obviously difficult for you to fathom rb.
Big City. You are correct the above quote is from 1944 and I should have included it.
ReplyDeleteThere are still people alive today who were the victims of not only Racist comments but also Racist Policies of the Liberals. (I don't think it is fair to paint this on the Liberals as it probably reflected the opinion of most Canadians at the time.)
People and parties do change. We must learn to forgive. Tolerance is what makes Canada great. I know in my heart I have had racist opinions when I was younger. Experience coupled with maturity has opened my eys. I would hope people could forgive me for some of the terrible things I said 20 years ago.
"those opposed, were, and remain, sincere, good hearted, moral people. That is obviously difficult for you to fathom rb."
ReplyDeletePerhaps in theory. In practice, and in their words, they revealed themselves - universally - to be bigoted scum.
It's not at all difficult to fathom. If you favour enforced, legalized discrimination against a group of people for the reason that you think they are less moral, less deserving of equality than others, you're a bigot. Period. Doesn't matter how nicely you express it. Doesn't matter what your "tradition" or "religion" tells you. You're a bigot.
And if you say, "well we're willing to give you equality in practice, but not in name," you're not only a bigot, but you're a hypocritical slug.
Do yourself a favour and go read the South African supreme court's decision on marriage. These are people who know about bigotry, and they had no hesitation whatsoever in making the comparison to apartheid.
Opposition to same-sex marriage is not moral, not sincere and no different in the slightest from any other form of bigotry. Part of MY freedom of speech is that I don't have to pretend bigoted slugs like our Prime Minister and 90% of his caucus are anything but the scum of the earth. Don't like me expressing my opinion? Too fucking bad.
This incident demands a blood sacrifice and the "tolerant" crowd will probably get it.
ReplyDeleteStopped here. God the flourish, the drama...Blood sacrifices...*gasp*...*shudder*
Have a lie-down, Camille.
I would hope people could forgive me for some of the terrible things I said 20 years ago.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if they have? Have you apologised to them?
I don't like treating this issue as if all of us are equally guilty and therefore have to extend "forgiveness" to Lukiwsky because we expect forgiveness from others for our own misdeeds. It's really not up to me to forgive him.