Respect is Earned
Filed Under: Blogging, Canada, Internet
MP Garth Turner has a post up on his blog called Smear in which he complains that the internet has become a vehicle for “character assassination, trash talk, slander and falsehood”. While I would agree with this assessment I would also suggest that it takes two to tango. It seems that there is a lot of drive-by smearing going on by all sides.
I found his post of particular interest because I think it sort of ties into another he did the other day titled Do you hate us? where he talks about the lack of respect for politicians by Canadians.
Has this always been the case, or is our distaste for elected people something that has sprung up with more media exposure to them? Did Canadians feel this way about Macdonald, or Laurier, or King, or Pearson? And what can we do - short of carpet bombing Parliament Hill and starting over - to improve the way we feel about those who represent us?
Has Mr. Turner been paying attention to Question Period? I used to enjoy watching that segment at one time but it has since degenerated into nothing but a mudslinging screaming contest akin to the world of professional wrestling. They may as well don tights and toss in some tables and chairs. If I were a high school politics teacher I’d be ashamed to show my students QP segments.
If Garth and his colleagues are concerned about the seemingly lack of respect shown them I would suggest they start by cleaning up their collective acts and they can start with Question Period. Lead by example.
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