Earmuffs, hypocrites, earmuffs
My favourite part of the movie Old School is when Frank the Tank goes streaking in the quad. By himself. My second favourite part is when Vince Vaughn swears a blue streak in front of his young daughter and but seconds later lambastes Luke Wilson for the same thing.
Yesterday Ignatieff suporters were emailing and blogging in droves about the content of Dion's environmental platform, questioning the legitimacy of using ideas found in consultation with interest groups. Yet today there is a melodic hush as it turns out Ignatieff is also using ideas promoted by other interest groups.
The lesson is clear. When there is mudslinging, people inevitably end up with mud on their faces. So why don't we all chill out a little bit more, ease up on the insta-attacks against gaffes constructed by rabid drama-seekers, and just go streaking in the quad.
Yesterday Ignatieff suporters were emailing and blogging in droves about the content of Dion's environmental platform, questioning the legitimacy of using ideas found in consultation with interest groups. Yet today there is a melodic hush as it turns out Ignatieff is also using ideas promoted by other interest groups.
The lesson is clear. When there is mudslinging, people inevitably end up with mud on their faces. So why don't we all chill out a little bit more, ease up on the insta-attacks against gaffes constructed by rabid drama-seekers, and just go streaking in the quad.
par / by Anonymous à / at 3:48 p.m.
3 Commentaires:
And he covered his ears too. Earmuffs, he called it.
Denise,
I'm afraid you're misrepresenting the issue. You wrote:
Yesterday Ignatieff suporters were emailing and blogging in droves about the content of Dion's environmental platform, questioning the legitimacy of using ideas found in consultation with interest groups. Yet today there is a melodic hush as it turns out Ignatieff is also using ideas promoted by other interest groups.
No one is criticizing Dion for consulting with environmentalists or proposing policy based on their recommendations. That would be entirely proper. In fact, I doubt it would be possible for a politician to make credible environmental policy without consulting with experts.
Dion is being criticized for apparently taking text and ideas from the David Suzuki Foundation without attributing those ideas to the Suzuki Foundation or receiving permission to use their text.
Consider it in an academic context. It is perfectly proper for me to use another author's work, provided I quote their words and cite their work. Dion's apparent sin lies not in using another author's work but in failing to quote and cite appropriately.
By comparison, Ignatieff's campaign has made no secret of the fact that they consulted with environmental experts. These experts were happy to help Ignatieff develop policy and some of them were generous enough to contribute to the writing of his platform. He has acknowledged their contributions and given credit where credit is due.
That is why there is a hush. The Dion and Ignatieff situations are completely different, as much as Steve Janke is trying to make them seem the same and as much as some Dion supporters might wish they were the same.
I am amazed by the number of Iggy supporters who are trying to find a distinction between the two events.
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