Monday, April 30, 2001
Oh, just bugger off already! - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- One of the more interesting bones of contention from the recent legislative session, before it was dissolved for the general election we’re mired in now, was that over the murals depicting bare breasted Native women. The Natives claim that they are offensive and that they are historically inaccurate. George Southwell, the artist who painted them on the Legislature ’s plaster walls some seventy years ago, is long dead. His descendants claim that there was no prejudice or racism intended. The Premier -- until the middle of May -- has expressed support in the mural’s removal. Then again, Mr. Dosanjh’s position may be merely politically motivated.
I didn’t feel compelled to comment on this issue, until reading an editorial in the Western Jewish Bulletin. The paper’s position is that the murals should stay as an example of the racism and bigotry prevalent in the history of British Columbia.
"We do not remove from bookshelves copies of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, because Shylock is an obvious anti-Semitic caricature. Pretending that bigotry did not exist is comforting, but it is false comfort. By hiding the images that both reflected and perpetuated stereotypes of the past, we risk creating complacency."
Not just because there will be the possibility of physical damage to the murals and the building, as well as the costs involved -- the murals should stay. Perhaps there be a plaque or display set up to let tourists or visitors to the Legislature know the inaccuracies if any. To remove the murals would appease the Natives and save them from the historical harassment they should feel. Doing so, would leave us with one less piece of art, one less piece of history.
Political correctness is truly a pain. When situations like this mural thing come up, I’m not primitive to disregard their opinions for the sake of the status quo; rather, it’s disgusting to see society sanitised to the point where mere conversation comes with a subconscious protocol of politically correct regulations.
In my high school life, in a course I took, we had to undertake a program that was recognised in the working world as certification for those working in the tourism or any other people-dealing business. SuperHost, a made in BC phenomenon for all its innovations had one rule that really stuck to my craw. There was a ludicrous idea that the subjects of sex, politics and religion not be uttered in public discourse.
I am still beside myself. Here we are in the 21st Century and when it would have been second nature to converse the subject of life with others, those areas were deemed no-gos? If one looks, the unwanted pregnancy rate has caused us consternation, people don’t vote anymore and people don’t go to church. Politeness has it’s limits.
Senator Pat Carney, not particularly known for her tact, a week ago gave a well published speech on the subject of political correctness to a gathering of the National Press Club in Ottawa. She lamented the sheer lunacy of political correctness citing an example of history found along the Fraser River.
See, when fish processing was done by human hands in these parts, the people doing the processing was mainly of Chinese origin. When technology beckoned, a machine was unleashed doing what human hands did -- gutting, skinning etc. the carcasses of salmon -- at alarming speed and efficiency. The machine was dubbed -- "Iron Chink." Terribly incorrect politically, yet it’s a symbol of the history of the cannery’s along the Fraser, also the esteem held by non-Chinese to the Chinese of the era. On a rudimentary level, perhaps some education in the cause of tolerance and bigotry could be achieved. Senator Carney, cites that even mentioning the name of that so said machine, would raise much caution amongst the purists in society whose only purpose is to suffocate expression to the ninth degree.
Political correctness has led society to a most unappealing pickle. The phoneme that swept the land in the high achieving early 1990s has worn its welcome and lurks in the wings, like that elephant in the room no one talks about. Yet, the elephant is deferred reverence, as if some huzzah espousing a utopia that is unachievable and terribly cumbersome.
Sometimes we all have to take a break and just sit her out and have a good, deep and cleansing breath. Shake it all out and lighten up. I am not a chauvinist or bigot, but with all these damned limits and socially expected disgraces, calling out "Hey, pal," to someone would earn the attention of someone at the Human Rights Tribunal.
A columnist once decried "higher purpose persons" for their presumptuousness in society to sanitises everything pure. Sometimes that good kick in the rear is needed. Pleasantry and kindness are good -- but if its not honest what use would it be in the larger context, the broader perspective.
I’ve had enough with political correctness. And to that bloke who suggested that neo-conservatism was now dead, for God’s sake take the PC police with you. Perhaps then, we could all just bugger off in peace.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .