Homework assignment for all of Toronto

Last week, I observed that the city can pull itself together, and that many of us have a common ideal.

But we have a Goliath of a problem in the way of that ideal.

Yes, I'm talking about Rob Ford.

It’s a question of understanding. I’m trying to understand him, and it’s difficult because of the variables. I keep trying to appeal to the intellectual side of the equation, and that’s obviously not the point. All logical arguments are brushed aside, parried with irrelevant or unconnected statements or simply ignored. And compassion has no place, either. Ford is an angry man. He has all the hallmarks of a man who was bullied and shunned as a kid. We have ample evidence to suggest that those bullied will often become bullies. Ford has so much anger, and he has justified his place in society by everything that he has gone through. He doesn’t see people who disagree with him as just people who have a differing view point. He very seriously sees them as those who are against him – who hate him, who want him to fail, who make fun of him. This is what they are referring to when they use that expression "self-fulfilling prophecy." His behaviour has created all kinds of people who hate him, who want him to fail, who make fun of him. I am one. This vilification is what justifies him to himself. He thrives on it now. He needs it to keep going. He revels in his power because of it, and his position would be way less satisfying for him if he had more agreement. He doesn’t want agreement. He wants to piss people off, because of how he’s been treated.

So how do we approach this? Logic doesn’t work. Anger doesn’t work.

We need to find a way to side-step our anger, our passion, and our need to vilify Ford. We need to do what he can’t. We need to make him not a bully.

How do we make Ford not a bully? This has got to be a team effort, guys. This isn't a project one person can achieve on her lonesome. We gotta find a way to disarm this guy's need to make us hate him. Let's all have a think, please, and reconvene.

An open letter to Christie Blatchford

Hey Blatch!

The reason that Layton's death is so upsetting isn't because he's a celebrity we're fawning over. It's because not all of us are Conservatives. In fact, believe it or not, half of us very strongly disagree with what our current PM's regime is doing. The whole reason the NDP were elected in such unprecedented numbers is because we don't like the Conservatives, and the Liberals weren't doing shit to stop them. Jack - yes, I'll call him Jack - eat it - Jack connected with a demographic that wants to see real change, and recognized him as someone who would stand up to Harper and not shy away from calling bullshit. If you don't rightly recall what I'm referring to, please re-watch the federal debates. The death of Jack Layton is exacerbated by the fear that a very important balance will be gone - that there won't be anyone with the same tenacity to oppose Harper and the terrible things that he is doing to this country. If you are unaware of Canada's reputation going to shit in the eyes of the rest of the world, then read a newspaper, please. I would be happy to send you links to some different titles. We lost our seat in the UN security council, we are on par with America for environmental initiatives, we're deliberately exporting poisonous substances abroad - there are many reasons we're not too popular right now. To pretend not to know this is ludicrous.

I never knew Jack Layton personally. I'm not upset because I've lost a friend. It's a political thing. I am chided by family and friends for being 'too big-picture'. But this death isn't a public spectacle for the fun of making a spectacle. This is actually nothing at all like the death of Lady Di or Amy Winehouse. Their deaths, though tragic for some, had little real impact on the lives of those not close to them. Layton's could. This death is mourned because of the very real fear that comes with it, the loss of one who was a light for the very many who do not agree with Conservative politics. And just because you do agree with them does not mean that our grief is less real, or undeserving of respect. I'm absolutely certain that had someone you respected passed, you would not be thinking about what is an appropriate way to honour him/her. You would feel what you feel, because that's the human thing to do.