I guess we can call them "
born again, non-racist, non-sexist, non-homophobes", with the sorry excuses for "apologies"
these clowns threw out today (and they did hit the "trifecta" on this by
bashing Ukrainians, women, AND gay people all in one shot). We knew it was only a matter of time before Harper's Neo-Con nutjobs finally managed to speak their minds - tight PMO reins, or not. The recorded comments - found in the Saskatchewan Legislature no less - with hateful speech uttered by (now) Sask Premier Brad Wall, and (now) Federal Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski - are ignorant, angry, and NOT a "one-off" comment by someone cracking a "joke", or "an accident".
It's incredible that grown adults can be so racist, sexist, or homophobic. A shame really. It's even more shameful when conservatives stick up for them and say, "oh, it was so long ago... people change"... The statements uttered were some pretty serious and hateful stuff - not the run of the mill "joke" or "misspeak". Deep-seeded political convictions that lead you to support one political party (of an extreme "wing" - left of right), don't just "go away". It's funny that the Cons like to trot out the same "tired" old argument every time - Harper said this... "oh, that was 2 years ago. He's all grown up now...". Stockwell Day said this... "oh that was when he was a provincial cabinet minister in Alberta. He's grown up now too..."
There are some important points regarding these comments:
- That there were multiple conservatives speaking them in what appears to be an official environment.
- They made laws and influenced elected officials while uttering the words...
- They were spoken in what appeared to be an official, or Conservative Party (Sask) function
- They were made by fully grown adults (not when they were teens, or children) who were cognizant of their convictions and chose a political party based on them
- Psychology delineates some clearly defined "stages of development". Adults reach a stage of development, from whence change is rare, and really is just an oddity if or when it happens. Minor traits or habits may change, but deep felt convictions, fears, and prejudices rarely do.
It is really disingenuous for people to hide behind the, "I'm all grown up now" argument. These were not just some random comments made by a teen or "young adult" in college. These were comments made by fully grown men, in positions of relative power. A simple apology won't do.
These men should be sent to racial sensitivity courses, and should be taught not to hate - because most of us probably don't believe that they do not still feel the same way about certain minorities or sexual orientations...
