Friday, April 6, 2001
Opinions, we all have them - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- The Toronto Globe and Mail, not my paper of choice as frankly when reading it I feel rather disheartened, is in the middle of a national ad campaign. See if you didn’t know already we are in the middle of a major newspaper war in Toronto. See they control the national paper market, a market that sees the National Post up against the Globe and Mail. However in Hogtown, they face the competition of the Toronto Sun and the Toronto Star. Guess which of the four is Canada’s biggest paper? If you said either the Post or Globe, you’d be wrong. The Toronto Star is actually the nation’s biggest paper, with a circulation that rivals that of either the Post or Globe.
Anyways, the Post came up with their own commercial that was aired and featured their columnists. The Globe and Mail has since come up with their own, which is the better one. I say that the paper disheartens me, as their reportage and coverage are so enamoured of the Liberal Party, that the bias is sickening. Their ad campaign is rather memorable which I’ve learned in marketing, is important. The kicker of the ads says, people have opinions. The question then remains whether that opinion is informed.
The same applies to life. So I shall lift from Ken Thomson’s advert and use it as the basis of today’s diatribe.
People have opinions. I encounter people all the time with opinions on everything and anything. That is good. That is the fundamental basis of democracy. Being enrolled in political science classes and a fan of talk radio, I love a good joust. Physical fighting -- no, but the occasional debate is always appealing. I have not yet mastered the art of debate, but in my experience thus far, I find them fun and interesting. I like to remind myself, I’ve taken on my share of politicos and I have the scars to prove it. I like to think I can hold my own. The current Premier was one I took on and whether I won or not is debatable, but there is a rush when one can corner someone. We can always smell a rat, catching them out and putting them into verbal submission is another story.
Debates are not privy to me and my politician friends, but also colleagues and pals of mine. Nothing is more invigorating than a good scrap. Occasionally however, one encounters people with opinions that are just sad. This has been on my collective chest for a while, so today I shall vent my spleen. Whether it’s in a classroom or on the open line or in conversation with people I actually know, some are uniformed, ignorant or just stupid.
I do not find fault in failing minds, rather I find fault in the idiot that once said that opinions are never wrong. I guess we learned at a vulnerable age, from some higher-purpose person, that there are no wrong answers, as opinions were not answers and rather they were how one felt. However being wrong is no virtue, as defaming or misrepresenting someone else is indictable.
I am not suggesting that we stifle opinions, rather I suggest we take collective stock, and simply ask whether the opinions we hold are fair. Are they justly and accurately portraying the scene before us?
Informed opinions are not only the best, but the most basic. If one doesn’t moisten their consciousness, then what the hell is the point of arguing a position that you are not even familiar with? The need for informed opinions is most needed in situations like the current labour unrest in the Lower Mainland. Situations like the Grand Mere affair is another example.
Evoking the late Pierre Trudeau would be appropriate here. While I have always admired his style, class and demeanour, I had done so not paying attention to his politics. Frankly, growing up I didn’t pay much attention, as I had no real political inclination to do so. However, being a student of politics and the mired world they, the polticans weave, I have learned that Trudeau’s political company is not one I would keep now. Trudeau, for all his faults had one great adage, that I agree with wholeheartedly. La raison avant la passion -- Reason before passion.
One must always exercise forthright thought before spouting their collective traps. Dr. Hedy Fry is an example of one who should heed the so said advice.
Why I feel so strongly, that the need of spleen venting in this space, is the fact once and a while there is a need to do so. I make judgements in this space, and I like to think I have made some minor thought before exercising the freedom of expression. I am not calling for those who don’t know better to stop expression altogether. What is necessary is common sense. There is a common need for restraint in a time like these.
In the last few days I have been dismayed at the union bashing occurring all over, regarding this bus strike. While I believe that unions, themselves have immense power as it is, they have a function in the current economic order. The strike has been most inconvenient for Lower Mainlanders alike, including Thy self. But hiccups in the delivery of labour should be acceptable, if for no other reason that we tolerate our respective personal computers crashing.
I do not pretend my opinion on this and that are the God’s truth. They probably are and probably not. Perhaps if we survey the larger picture, the world would be a better place. Informed opinions are best. They are also more polite. That, if life were so easy -- maybe the buses would run too.
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .