Byelection and Gaza, a few notes
Radio-Canada examines the trends in the LaSalle–Émard–Verdun byelection, a vote that’s gained far more interest than a mere byelection usually does. Craig Sauvé has also earned column inches by being pictured in front of the Palestinian flag on a campaign flyer.
Speaking of Gaza, it’s in several anglo media Tuesday that Côte St‑Luc has named a place after a onetime resident that was killed in Israel.
Ian 19:02 on 2024-09-10 Permalink
Imagine the outrage if anything was named after a Palestinian Montrealer civilian victim of the IDF.
Chris 07:29 on 2024-09-11 Permalink
By who? I don’t actually think Joe Public would be outraged. Certain pundits, media, etc would be of course.
Ian 08:10 on 2024-09-11 Permalink
Oh, the usual sorts, but you’re right. I was just thinking of what a tempest in a teapot Sauvé being photographed in proximity to a Palestinian flag has been. Then again, the climate may be shifting – Housefather has been given a newly minted plum post and Miller is still calling peaceful protest harassment & intimidation, but Joly just announced a more comprehensive ban on arms to Israel including 80 million worth of mortars made in QC sold to Israel through a US firm.
Ricardo 09:04 on 2024-09-11 Permalink
Your brains are all melting. What happened to you? For anyone to endorse or accept that as just a “tempest in a teapot” or “it’s ok”, well it’s not. I’m Italian, but I have a functioning brain that tells me that bringing old world BS to our new world, during a local election? Why not a CDN flag, or dare I say the QC and CDN together? FFS If I’m the voice of reason it’s getting late in the game.
Chris 09:34 on 2024-09-11 Permalink
As for Sauvé, I also think he’s be wiser leaving far away wars out of his by-election.
What does a Palestinian flag represent? Well, like all flags, it means many things, and different things to different people.
Does it represent Joe Average Palestinian, who just wants to live in peace? Does it represent the Palestinian state/government, which is run by theocratic terrorists? Sauvé can argue he means the former, and I’d take him at his word.
But consider if a candidate posed in front of a Russian flag, to represent Joe Average Russian, who also just wants to live in peace. Others would of course see the flag representing the Russian state/government, which is a kleptocratic dictatorship.
If I were him, I’d stay out of divisive, decades-long, far-away, interminable wars, and concentrate on what he can actually do for his neighbourhood.
SMD 10:19 on 2024-09-11 Permalink
The issue is very relevant, and is hardly “Old World BS”. That BS is largely funded by our new world neighbours to the south, and the bombs being dropped are in part produced just off the island of Montreal, in Repentigny. We are deeply implicated at a federal level, so it is very relevant issue to bring up during a federal by-election. In fact, the pressure being put on federal leaders is forcing them to announce they are now going to block that specific arms deal, in accordance with international law, although we’ve heard that song before.
Joey 11:00 on 2024-09-11 Permalink
If Israel/Palestine is a vote-getter for Sauve and the NDP, they’re going to go after the issue one way or the other. I don’t recall a campaign poster featuring the flag of another country/nation before, and my gut reaction is that this isn’t the kind of thing that would necessarily sit well with undecided/unmotivated voters – not because of the issue, but because of the legitimate interpretation that Sauve is identifying himself with a foreign cause/people in a local election.
So let’s say it’s a mixed bag of an idea, but can we agree that the design/execution is lousy? A photo of Sauve marching at a rally with Palestinian flags in the background might have more appeal. But the giant flag that’s a little out of focus with an NDP logo on it?
Ian 22:14 on 2024-09-11 Permalink
@Ricardo people that go on as if the “New World” is the only thing worth talking about are often uninformed, dull, and terrifyingly provincial.
Chris 14:57 on 2024-09-12 Permalink
He didn’t say it’s the only thing worth talking about.
I know several immigrants with similar attitudes, along the lines of: I left that place to get away from certain crap, and don’t like seeing the same crap imported here.
Ian 15:51 on 2024-09-12 Permalink
Perhaps not the only thing but rather precisely not anything to do with the “old world” or more precisely, “old world BS” so interpret it as you will. I know many immigrants, with many attitudes. Many of them are intellectually curious and enjoy discussing a wide variety of matters. I’m not sure how being Italian is some kind of bona fide for saying people shouldn’t discuss the Middle East in Canadian politics but hey, whatevs.
Someone that says “your brain is melting” and then goes on to scold people for being interested in broad topics of contemporary world news is probably, as I said, uninformed, dull, and terrifyingly provincial.