So I've been making the most of the big city bigness, fastness, go-go-go-ness lately. I have learned that if you delve through the pages of any local entertainment paper you can find any number of soirees, events, symposiums, talks, roundtables, panels and a host of other possibilities for well-clothed elbow rubbing. And the greatest thing about this little underworld of events held weekly either for some obscure cause or simply self-congratulation. The great thing is, with a bit of persistence you can get in for free!!!
Two weeks ago on a shitty rainy night here in "the centre of the universe," when even the blinding lights of Yonge and Dundas square couldn't cheer up the sky, I made my way to my university's business school. Douglas Coupland was speaking on a panel with the founders of Roots Canada about the new fashion line he had designed. The invite had said 'reception' beforehand. Now over in the Journalism program the term 'reception' usually means coffee and a menu catered by Tim Horton's. Oh how different it is when you're in business. The reception room was thronged with well heeled students all trying VERY VERY hard to look fashionable and as if they go to these kinds of things all the time. A buffet table is set up in the middle of the room topped with mirrors on which rested rows of well-rolled sushi. The flickering tea lights gave, what is usually a classroom, a surprising amount of ambiance.
As I picked up my ticket I enquired: "Is it a cash bar?"
"Nope"
I didn't know what to say. Free booze at a free event? The logic doesn't follow.
Needless to say I'm not going to wait on logic. So I happily slurped my hefty pour of white wine at the side of the room, perfectly content that I didn't know a soul.
After the talk Mr. Coupland did a book signing. I stuttered my admiration as he signed my copy of 'All Families are Psychotic' and he told me to "give Toronto a chance. That's the advice I give to all Vancouverites." Though he seemed infinitely more interested in his own over-filled glass of wine than talking to some west-coast ex-pat ragamuffin.
Then last week I weaseled my way into the G20 Legal Defence Fundraiser. Despite the fact that I was there as press (this time I wasn't a total impostor) the ruddy-faced overweight gorgon at the door still tried to hit up my camera op and me for a donation.
"Because you know...it IS for charity."
Let me digress for a moment. Now I do believe the police acted like thugs, they were often wrong, often cruel and did abuse their power. And they should be punished for that. HOWEVER, if you do a little digging into the anarchist organizations who were spearheading the rallying cry for the protesters you find some disturbing stuff. This wasn't about peaceful protest for some of the people there. There was a small group of protesters who went there with the clear intention of being violent. And in doing so did absolutely nothing to advance their cause, if anything, they degraded it. And thank goodness most of the people who were at those protests acknowledge the fact that violence and destruction of property only hurt their cause and diluted the message.
So back to the legal defence gala. The crowd, hilariously, was old. After shooting some b-roll in the auditorium we set up in the balcony to get a good view of the stage. It was a sea of silver-haired heads. The opening comic, who wasn't very funny, accused all those who didn't laugh at her jokes of being undercover RCMP. I pray that the RCMP has more important things to do than come watch the left-wing pat itself on the back.
Naomi Klein further illustrated the separation of this night's audience from the actual events at the G20 in June. "How many of you were arrested that weekend?" One solitary cry was heard from the back of the room. Looking briefly flustered she changed tactics. "How many of your children were arrested that weekend?" Crickets. But she barrelled on nonplussed, stating that we had to protect our children from injustice.
Now I think Naomi Klein is a very bright woman. And she has certainly earned her position as an authority on the dirty tactics of capitalism etc. But one thing kept bothering me throughout the evening. That small group of protesters who were deliberately violent were proponents of anarchy i.e. no government. If I'm not mistaken that's exactly what the Tea Party is advocating across our southern border. True anarchy, if it were to come about, would only let the free market run wilder than it already does. The power structure wouldn't change but only become more unequal.
The night left a bad taste in my mouth. It's the problem I always have with the left, though I consider myself to be a leftist. These angry, violent tactics only alienate the middle, who are the people you are trying to win over. That's the route to true change, the majority have to demand it. And I guarantee that what happened at the G20 didn't win any new supporters. Socialism has an image problem. It's an angry teenager wearing a black bandana over their face, screaming "fuck off" at the cameras while their buddies torch a police car.
Socialism needs a make over. If the middle is ever going to be swayed they need to be shown that the left is made up of intelligent, thoughtful and compassionate people. People like us.
Sorry, I'm off my soap box now, I swear.
I just bought a new camera so I've included some shots from around town. She sure makes a purdy picture.
