I'm a big fan of the RCMP. The fact that my "home" is also "the home of the RCMP" has something to do with that. The fact that several of my closest friends are officers also has something to do with that. But, sometimes the RCMP just add fuel to the fires of fear, mistrust, or hatred... Taser incidents notwithstanding...
For the past couple of months we've watched some horrific - but still "over-hyped" gang violence in Greater Vancouver. For all the prior events police didn't identify anyone's race... The shooters (probably), and the vics (for sure) were white males and a white female.
Tonight, along the Surrey-Delta border, another shooting. This time, the RCMP spokesman identifies the victim as an "Indo-Canadian" male. What does THAT have to do with anything? The only thing I can figure is that he felt if the public knew the victim was "Indo-Canadian", they would not care about the victim and assume "just another dead brown gangster". It certainly seems to be a message sent by this aging RCMP officer...
There is no need to identify criminals or crime victims by race. No reason whatsoever...
The RCMP is changing - slowly. With retirements, the new, more diverse RCMP will emerge. Maybe then we can avoid such verbal gaffes...
2 comments:
Rascism - alive & well in Canada.
The only thing I can figure is that he felt if the public knew the victim was "Indo-Canadian", they would not care about the victim and assume "just another dead brown gangster".
That's a possibility, for sure, although I'm personally guessing he's just from a different generation than us and that he assumes 'everyone' is white until otherwise specified. It's not how you and I think, it's not how we classify, but it's how most people of another time think. I wish it wasn't so, but I have no problem with it -- he just doesn't see it yet from our perspective. Hopefully one day he will.
I think when you're training a puppy or raising a kid, positive reinforcement is the way to go - it's more effective and way quicker, though it feels longer and tests our patience, to show a better way rather than to condemn. So I tend to think of racist thoughts or behaviours (or sexist, or homophobic, or etc) as being immature and naive, and looking for a positive way to act, be, and live better.
That's a big reason why I supported Barack Obama so hard. He's positive almost all the time. Regarding racist comments, Joe Biden leaps out as a great example - rather than condemning Biden for those really very silly comments, he forgave him and made him his VP. Biden's learned his lesson and doesn't walk away feeling publicly shamed and humiliated and defensive, he walks off feeling forgiven and chastened and ready to grow even more.
You may say that I'ma a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. ;)
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