Fiery radio comments spark cries of racism, calls for removal
John Colebourn, The Province
Published: Sunday, September 23, 2007
Calls for the dismissal of Bruce Allen from a key position on the 2010 Olympics ceremonies committee continued yesterday following a storm of controversy over the concert promoter’s radio comments — comments some have labelled as racist.
“He is a person who will have important influence in the opening and closing ceremonies and, judging from his comments, I don’t think he will reflect Canadian values,” said MLA Harry Bains, the NDP Olympics critic, last night.
“His comments are very, very disappointing and have left a lot of people angry,” added Bains.
“He is not the right person to be representing Canadian values at our opening and closing ceremonies and if he has any influence we will be embarrassed.”
Allen, a veteran music-industry heavyweight and manager of a stable of Canadian music stars, including Michael Bublé and Bryan Adams, was introduced Thursday as one of 10 members on a creative team shaping the ceremonies and entertainment at the Vancouver and Whistler Olympic Games.
In his regular Reality Check radio comment on CKNW Sept. 13, Allen stated “special interest groups” expect rules for themselves.
“There is the door. If you don’t like the rules, hit it,” said Allen. “We don’t need you here. You have another place to go. It’s called home. See ya.”
Added Allen: “This is simple. We have laws in this country. They are spelled out and easy to get a hold of. If you’re immigrating here and you don’t like the rules in place, you have the right to choose not to live here. If you choose to come to Canada, shut up and fit in. We are a democracy, but it seems more and more that we are being pilloried by special interest groups that want special rules for themselves.”
Indira Prahst, a sociology instructor at Langara College who specializes in race and ethnic relations, said she was “shocked” when she first heard Allen’s comments.
She also said Allen’s subsequent appearance on Christy Clark’s CKNW show last week would have been an opportunity to show his remorse at the comments. “He could have apologized,” she said. “I think the people representing the Olympics should be culturally sensitive. I think there should be some very serious consideration about his role with the Olympics.”
Allen, in a lively exchange with Clark, was unrepentant over his comments. He called the controversy “a bunch of crap dredged up by some people who don’t get it. I’m not hate-mongering. I’m an editorialist. I hate people playing the race card . . . I make people think. That’s my job.”
Both the CRTC and CKNW have been sent letters of concern from some in the South Asian community regarding Allen’s comments.
Calls to VANOC’s media department were not returned.
Entries (RSS)
To Christy and Bruce Allen:
As someone in Ottawa who just learned of the controversy over Bruce Allen’s remarks over immigrants, I would just like to put in my two cents’ worth, and lend my support to Bruce. I searched for a direct contact for Bruce, but was unable to find one. Perhaps the following piece on the whole multiculturalism/reasonable accommodation debate, which I sent to Alex Grant, a writer at the marxist publication, Fightback, back in May, in response to his attacks on the people of Herouxville, calling them racists because they had concerns over an invasion of alien cultural traditions, may be of interest to Bruce.
I would just add that what is at stake here is more than just disrespect for our own culture and tradions; we are faced with racists (the right word, I think) in both our elites and in segments of immigrant communities, who are promoting nothing less than systematic ethnic cleansing and cultural destruction, throughout great swaths of urban Canada, including Vancouver. Bruce is calling a spade a spade, and he is saying what needs to be said. I hope he keeps up the good work, and perhaps you could pass along this letter to him.
Letter to Alex Grant:
For the attention of Alex Grant:
>
>Re: your report in the May-June edition of
>Fightback on the Quebec election result.
>
>What is one to conclude from your charge that
>the ADQ is guilty of “anti-immigrant racism?”
>
>That it is entirely unreasonable to expect
>newcomers to this country to respect the culture
>and traditions of an existent or native culture?
>That somehow it is some sort of crime to be
>opposed to immigration? That Canadian society,
>or any society, for that matter, is obligated to
>throw open its doors to any and all manner of
>immigrants, regardless of any adverse cultural
>or environmental impacts that such population influxes may have?
>
>Quite frankly, you convey an impression of one
>who is, to say the least, extraordinarily
>insensitive to the impacts of the immigration of
>many (into whatever society) who may be of very
>different and varied cultural or ethnic
>backgrounds, whether into Canadian society of
>the present day, or into countless other
>cultures down through history. You seem to have
>no respect at all for the integrity of existing
>cultures and their traditions: the host society
>should adapt to the values and traditions of
>newcomers, period. That seems to be your approach.
>
>I get the feeling that, had you been around at
>the time of the Spanish conquest of Central
>America centuries ago, you would have been
>applauding the (bloody awful) cultural
>transformations that were visited upon the
>Amerindian societies as a result of those
>population influxes. Perhaps you would have felt
>the same way about the Europeans’ displacement
>of native American cultures at the time of the
>settlement of the Great Plains or that of the
>Irish when Cromwell invaded and introduced the
>plantations? Perhaps you are also favourably
>disposed to the migration of the Han Chinese to
>Tibet, and the effect that that is having on
>Tibetan culture? And ditto for the effects of
>Algerian/African migration to the suburbs of
>Paris, or that of Mexican migration to Los
>Angeles, and the effect of that on that city’s black community?
>
>Quite frankly, I don’t think it may be an
>exaggeration to say that you are culturally
>insensitive to the point where you may be
>described as a pro-immigration racist, even as
>an anti-Canadian racist. The wholesale
>eradication of existing cultures in this country
>by means of diverse immigration influxes seems
>to be A-OK by you – no problem at all if what
>used to be described (loosely) as
>English/British Canadian culture in many of the
>neighbourhoods of English Canadian cities is
>systematically eradicated by diverse immigration
>patterns and our own form of ethnic cleansing disguised as
multiculturalism.
>
>And ditto for the effects that these same
>immigration patterns are having on traditional
>French Canadian society in the larger cities
>(which will in time, manifest itself eventually
>in places like Herouxville, hence the populist
>revolt against political correctness there, and
>the resultant surge in support for the ADQ), and
>upon that of our own native peoples, already
>wracked by the effects of past European conquest of this country.
>
>And the adverse environmental impacts of
>immigration are another kettle of fish, that (I
>am certainly left with this feeling) never seems
>to enter your calculus when these subjects are
>debated. I suppose the birds, animals, trees,
>flowers, insects, etc., that are exterminated,
>buried alive, eradicated, cut down, etc., to
>make way for the housing and development
>required to accommodate the hordes of newcomers
>you would gladly welcome into our midst, needn’t
>look to the Alex Grant’s of this world for any sympathy!
>
>I mean, really, do you ever give any thought to
>the environmental impacts of environmentally
>unsustainable, immigration-fuelled population
>growth? To the loss of farmland and wildlife
>habitat which this causes? Or the deteriorating
>air and water quality that results? One could go
>on and on about the negative consequences of
>your sort of “let everyone in and damn the
>consequences” mindset – the ever-worsening
>garbage disposal problems that result, more
>traffic and transport congestion, the fact that
>it will become more difficult to meet our Kyoto commitments, etc.
>
>So, in addition to being culturally insensitive
>to the point where you may be guilty of reverse
>racism, you also leave an impression of
>extraordinary insensitivity when it comes to the
>environmental side of this debate. I would
>suggest that to describe you as an environmental
>barbarian may not, in fact, be very wide of the mark.
>
>Incidentally, it may interest you to know that I
>say what I say as an immigrant to this country
>myself, and, moreover, one who has devoted many
>hours as a volunteer ESL tutor assisting new
>immigrants (many of them fine and intelligent
>people) in improving their language skills.
>
>I am certainly not totally opposed to the
>admission of such peoples into our country.
>There certainly is a place in our society for
>people of very different backgrounds, but surely
>not to the extent where such influxes
>drastically alter or threaten the integrity of
>an existing society or culture, or adversely
>impact to an unacceptable degree our environment
>and the quality of life, not only for Canadians,
>but for many city-dwelling immigrants themselves.
>
>Regards,
>
>Roderick Taylor (Ottawa)
>
christy clark is a trouble maker and should be fired ,plus she very anti english. support bruce allens rights!!
Since Pierre (the commie) Trudeu, Canada’s immigration policy has radically changed to accomodate third world cultures that don’t speak English or French (except for Quebec, of course).
It’s now: welcome to Canada; what can we do to change or eliminate our 140 years of customs & traditions to suit yours?
Bruce Allen is right!
Christy,I am another person who supports Bruce Allen’s comments. .I heard part of your program today and the comments of your Hindu guest. It was too bad that you were too busy protecting the muslims that you didn’t listen to what he had to say . Your retorts to him were totally off the mark from what he was trying to tell you,which was that Canada has rules that all citizens and other residents are expected to follow.The deviations from these rules were allowed and fostered by the Socialists led by Trudeau(who tried to destroy our country and whose policies are the cause of most of our present day problems).Therefore we have separate rules for the french,1st Nations( if any White man did what they do they would be in jail)and you and your fellow socialists are recommending that muslims and any other special interest group should be allowed to break these rules under any guise be it religion,nationality or heritage.The minority and special interest groups have so many rights now that there are no rights for the majority.It would be chaos if every ethic group(there must be hundreds in Canada,and then split these into clans,religions,tribes etc.we could have thousands all with their specal reasons for their agendas(all equaly deserving as the muslims) ,.I am not a racist just because I believe that we all should follow the same rules.I do not ask for special treatment and do not feel I have a right to entitlement over my fellow citizens .Hurrah for Bruce Allen and I hope there are more like him to stand up and speak for the silent majority. John Morrison C.A.;B.Comm.;C.P.A.;CAIRP.
I think immigrants to this country should be respected for their beliefs and religions and allowed to practice them but they should be covered by the same laws as the majority of Canadians. We simply cannot have separate laws for each special interest groups and immigrants and cultures from other countries. This country would be so mixed up no one would know what the real laws are and what about the young people that will come after us need to set some kind of example for them. I think Bruce Allen was right but I don’t think he intended to insult anyone.
Bruce does not understand an iota of Canadian values. In free Canada, thank God Bruce it not a dictator here, rules are changed depending upon the human values. Therefore, it is not a crime to explain one’s cultural or religious problems and request for the govt for consideration. How can Bruce talk like a dictator and represent in Olympics ceremonies in Canada.
Rajdeep Randhawa
Canada is an immigrant’s based country. Immigrants are immigrants whether they came to Canada 200 years ago or today. Originally this country belongs to the Natives called as “Red Indians” or “First Nation”. Diversity is the hall mark of the Canadian society and we all should be proud of it.
The immigrants who have obtained their citizenship are now Canadians. Therefore all Canadians have equal rights and obligations no matter what their backgrounds are. The Canadian society primarily is governed by the “Charter of Rights and Freedom”. We must respect and obey the laws of the land and any one found guilty of breaking the laws must be taken to the task.
I would like to put a genuine question to all of you and Mr. Bruce Allen in particular. Did the earlier immigrants to this land embrace, adopt and respect the culture, values, laws and way of life of the “First Nation” called Natives or Red Indians? The answer absolutely is “not”. Then on what grounds a person has the right to radically comments on the culture, customs, values and way of life of other Canadians.
The remarks of Mr. Bruce Allen are racist and offensive. I strongly condemn it. Mr. Allen is accustomed of making hateful remarks and comments. In the past he was reprimanded by the CRTC for making such remarks and comments. May I ask Mr. Allen who has given him the right of humiliating other Canadians and showing them “the door”? He has no right to question the integrity of “other Canadians”. “Other Canadians” might be better citizens than him.
It is therefore in Mr. Allen’s interest to submit an apology to all those he hurt them. Moreover, I demand the BC Government to terminate him from the Canadian Olympic Organizing Committee. The person of such ‘thinking’ cannot represent the Canadians at such prestigious events.
I’m from Alberta and I say HOORAY for Bruce. We have had muzzles put on us about saying Merry Christmas, but I noticed the Prime Minister said “Happy Hannekah!” I didn’t feel offended and I was born here and of a different religion than he is. But those who come from another country are demanding that we change our ways, and giving up freedome of speech, religious salutations, etc. and these are just a few.. I wonder how long they would have lasted in this country when we were still under British Rule and they refused to say “God save the King/Queen”. I would like to have Australia’s P.M. who doesn’t take this lightly and basically said the same thing as Bruce did. And who are the dictators here? I say it’s those that shove change down our throats!! We were happy before they came here, we didn’t refuse to let them come, and they should just be thankful for the better life they have here and just sit down and quit complaining!