I wrote a post previously on Justin Trudeau’s Public Relations and Communications team failures in containing and even dealing with reputation and branding issues extremely poorly. I am I will admit the post was written trying to ignore the whole brown (black)-face scandal but this has been hard to ignore I want to make something clear here is I am torn on who to vote for in this federal election in reality I am like many Canadians stuck in the middle of the Liberals and the center-left and the Conservatives the center-right. The gap between these two parties is continuing to grow as the political climate becomes more polarized this obviously leads to more extreme political views in each of the parties. Trudeau’s team could do little to stop the backlash with the brown or black-face in this case as this definitely reminded me of a Trump tweet’s effect but the impact was not that large. It is interesting on the black-face strategy apology and how each political group has used this opportunity. There was a great article in The Star from Thomas Walkom on Trudeau’s apology really working. Walkom points out that there is definitely an increase in polarization and most people have decided already on the candidate they are going to choose.
The brown-face scandal for Trudeau is not that offensive to me but it more irks me that the sheer stupidity of a person to dress up in such a way is surprising. What also does irritate me is the comments of people that do not understand the difference between an Arab (Aladdin- Middle East area) and an East Indian. I almost reel back to when I was growing up and kids would dress up as Michael Jackson or even Mulan but just not at Trudeau’s age so I do question the maturity. It is very interesting as this would not be much different than what most Sikh’s have had to deal with after the extreme Islamophobia and them being mistaken as Muslims. Still I am not offended I feel is because there are so many other items I am more annoyed with. I think a great article written by Calgary’s Mayor Naheed Nenshi highlights much more than the Trudeau blackface: (https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/09/21/im-calgarys-muslim-mayor-we-can-learn-trudeaus-brownface-moment/)
The orientalist methodology of the past definitely is conjured up for many people so I can understand how some people are hurt or offended but I have spent a lot of time tearing apart Trudeau and his team as being incompetent on the communications and public relations side and I have worked with some talented people he could have really used. There are many points on this issue that stuck out for me is the polarization in many of the articles which lean far left or far right. In reading articles I actually have not become offended with black face due to the significant miss-steps in the Conservative Party and Andrew Scheer. I really look at the record of Scheer in regards to comments on the LGBTQ community and association with individuals who clearly have a background in discriminatory practices and hateful language. It was only 2 years ago when Hamish Marshall one of the founding directors of Rebel Media was running the Scheer campaign which has a website with hateful language including clear anti-semitic and white supremacist rhetoric. This is the same Rebel Media that makes it clear they feel black-brown or whatever other racist face they want is there right:
In regards to the LGBTQ comments Scheer has made they have been scathing as even though this is dated comparing LGBGTQ people to dogs is pretty harsh and the impact of this should be much larger now with Scheer not really apologizing for the comments and obviously not being in support of the LGBTQ community. Most people need to also question why white supremacists and individuals who support discriminatory practices have started gravitating to the Conservative Party. Individuals like Faith Goldy were clearly white supremacists and associating with the yellow vest rally which had many racial undertones. The conservatives have opened themselves up as a welcoming haven for white nationalists even though they are not racist.
The black-face debate I notice has gone all over the place and images were provided from the conservative party to global news but in reality this has distracted from larger items. With all that is currently occurring one of the largest social issues has not been in the spotlight as much as it probably should be as Bill 21 which in reality is legalized discrimination and pushed our society back decades. The bill talks about secularism but modern secularism is really the separation of church and state this bill is clearly discrimination as it will make individuals choose between following their religion in many cases and working to put food on the table in reality, restricting freedom of religion. For Quebec to willfully break the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms should be something each candidate takes a hard stance on. I on a personal level cannot understand some of the sensitivities not being religious but have friends and family who are and for them to be discriminated against for their religion has me annoyed. It is a slippery slope as it starts with this and then the next step at discrimination and eventually the slope becomes a cliff and who knows if segregation is the next step. Still to my surprise Bill 21 is extremely popular but in reality Scheer has let this go while Trudeau has spoken out against it. It is clear that there is intolerance of minorities in Canada and let’s be clear this is more targeting and marginalizing parts of the population. Let’s face it many people will say if you do not like it go back home or out of our province. In reality the province of Quebec and Canada was built on immigration and diversity so this feels like a step backward. If you are looking for more information on Bill 21 please see below.
If you are choosing a party based on social issues it is clear that there is no ideal candidate. I am pro-pipeline but also am in favor of certain social programs and infrastructure projects with the downturn in the economy. Understanding some basic economics with my economics degree I realize that in a downturn the government stimulating the economy even if taking on debt becomes necessary. Being from Alberta and knowing both of the candidates in my area for the Liberals and Conservatives both candidates have been in political office before but one has been far more successful in getting things done in our constituency. Still since the individual is in the Liberal Party and Alberta is generally Conservative and a blue wave is expected to occur.
My opinion is both candidates are flawed but most humans have baggage some more than others. In reality my suggestion now is to understand the party and where they are on the political spectrum and where you sit. In reality vote where you sit because all of the soap opera and items in the media and political mud-slinging blinds people from the main issue which is who is best to lead based on your political position. Unfortunately there is not normally an ideal candidate and in this case with increased polarized politics it makes it harder for people to figure out where they sit.
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