There is a lot of controversy in your nation's capital about its first female mayor, Charlotte Whitton, being officially honoured as a historical figure in Our Home And Native Land. The stumbling block is her antisemitism that was responsible for many, and one was too many, Jews being turned away during the pre Holocaust years which, presumably, led to the deaths of many.
Many feel that should prevent her from being recognized.
I am not one of those many people.
She is truly a historical figure, in the same way the Louis Riel and Jefferson Davis and other repugnant individuals were. That is undeniable. Her antisemitism was some serious bullsh*t but facts be facts: she was the first female mayor of Ottawa, first full time female mayor in the Dominion of Canada.
She was no Sophie Scholl or Rosa Parks or Anne Frank but she was the first female mayor of your capital and we cannot, nor should we, whitewash history. Ignoring her repugnant actions is not the solution; we should shine a light upon her horrific actions. We should also look to the anti-immigrant sentiment in our country today. Either we are or we are not a nation that is welcoming and is a nation of immigrants. Yes or no.
Don Butler in Sunday's Montreal Gazette points out that Miss Whitton was not the only racist leader during that era. Mr. Butler writes that "William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada's longest-serving prime minister, was known to hold anti-Semitic views and worked hard to limit Jewish immigration." For that he should, as should Miss Whitton, be shamed but not ignored.
What was, was and what is, is.
Never again.
WFDS
No comments:
Post a Comment