Peter Hum’s article in the Ottawa Citizen this weekend mentions the Department of Culture in some of the most detailed analysis we’ve seen so far on how culture has come to play a central role in this election.
Hum’s article titled Singing The Harper Blues, questions why artists haven’t championed a single leader to counter the Harper Conservatives, implying that the ABC (Anything But Conservative) movement is forced to rely solely on negative messaging.
We disagree. None of the leaders have enough credibility with a broad spectrum of Canadians to defeat Harper by themselves. This much is clear. Our goal has been to create materials that demonstrate and emphasize how the Harper government has damaged the health of the Country and to organize against Conservative candidates.
But this is not just about Stephen Harper. There’s a tradition we’re celebrating. It includes Noble Peace Prize Winner Lester B. Pearson, Greatest Canadian Tommy Douglas and the notion that a democracy is healthiest when grassroots organizations can capture the imaginations of people, put the citizenry before politics and profit, and offer positive and participatory alternatives to the current order. Just imagine if the political challengers learned to work together…
Department of Culture
One Comment
Hi Michael
FYI, I wrote a letter to the Citizen in response to Peter Hum’s article which more or less outlines your argument here,,, emphasizing that rather than supporting any one party we must all vote strategically in order to dump Harper.
Hoping it will be published…
keep up the great work!
Judi Pearl
Ottawa (WB organizer)