June 9, 2003
After being informed that some suspected SARS sufferers were not complying with voluntary quarantines, Ontario Minister of Health, Tony Clement, was quoted as saying, " I don’t know how people will take this, but we can chain them to a bed if that’s what it takes." The Canadian media, who have followed the usually soft-spoken Clement since he first entered the Ontario cabinet, knew that he wasn’t speaking literally. He meant, as he later clarified, that if voluntary quarantines weren’t being adhered to, he would consider using legal sanctions against those who fail to keep themselves isolated.
"A top Canadian health official has warned that they might need to be ‘chained to the bed’ if they violate the strict SARS quarantine in Toronto," screamed the BBC. A New York Post article, by William Neuman, was headed "WE’LL CHAIN UP SARS VICTIMS." In case any of Tony’s conservative buds missed the Post article, they probably picked it up on Newsmax.com
Ya gotta be careful about what you say Tony--the whole world is watching now.
, Political Incorrectness
According to a report last week in the Washington Times, the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reversing its 9-year-old policy of banning Indian sports names, such as the Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Braves, and their related mascots, from their sports pages. According to Star Tribune editor, Anders Gyllenhaal, "At a time when newspaper accuracy and balance are constantly challenged, our commitment to direct and straightforward reporting has to be the priority."
Arguably, Native Americans have a good argument against the use of such names and mascots. No other ethnic or religious group could ever be stereotyped in the manner that Indians are in some sports teams. At a time when former New York Times managing editor, Howell Raines, acknowledged that the Jayson Blair fiasco, where Blair was kept on despite criticism of his bosses, in part, because he was black and part of the paper’s affirmative action program, Mr. Gyllenhaal should be congratulated for putting accuracy ahead of political correctness.
Contrast this with a recent article in the McGill Daily that criticizes major Canadian dailies, with special reference to the National Post, for anti-Muslim bias. The main criticism of the writer, and her sources, is the print media’s use of phrases such as "Islamic militant" and "Muslim fundamentalist."
These arguments surfaced in earnest after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, when Muslim groups in North America objected to the Al-Qaeda terrorists being described with their religious affiliation. Back then, comparisons were made between the Islamic fundamentalists, and Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh. It was argued that, unlike the Al-Qaeda members, McVeigh was never referred to as a Christian. That shallow argument missed the point. McVeigh’s actions had nothing to do with his religion--he made it quite clear that he bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City because of his hatred of the American government for such activities as the siege at Waco. McVeigh never claimed that he had biblical or religious reason for doing what he did.
Those that are referred to as Islamic fundamentalists, or Muslim extremists, commit their acts of terrorism in the name of their religion. The fact that they have a different interpretation of Islam than others do, or the fact that other Muslims wouldn’t do what they do, is really irrelevant. To leave religion out of reports on these activities would be like leaving religion out of stories involving priests committing sexual assaults.
What started out as deleting references to race and ethnic origin in stories where those factors had absolutely no relevance to what was being reported on, has escalated to the point that political correctness was deemed more important than accuracy. Perhaps with editors like the Star Tribune’s Gyllenhaal, the pendulum will finally swing back.
Like it or not, the name of the football team in Washington really is the Redskins..