Rational Radical

Okay, so it’s getting harder and harder to look past Mayor Ford’s personality and judgment as I praise him for his efforts to finally bring responsibility and accountability to City Hall. I mean, his handlers are like bodyguards and his brother Doug might as well wear the “I AM MAYOR” pin. But this latest story of his talking on a cell phone while driving is really ugly. Bad enough he flouts the law—which many of us can probably admit to as well, at least once, so I’m not really focusing on that—but then he gives the finger to a woman who tries to hold him accountable for such an act? And in front of her kid?

Now, Ford apologists and some others are blaming her for being a busy body and saying she could have provoked road rage. So now we’re going to blame victims for when people commit horrible and illegal acts on the road (road rage, that is)? But let’s have no doubt: Ford really did give her the finger, otherwise he would have categorically denied it, rather than call it a “misunderstanding.” That is one of the most classless things a MAYOR could do, especially when caught doing something illegal! What a jerk.

Speaking of jerks, Ford’s brother’s true colours came out when he said that he didn’t have to listen to Margaret Atwood about closing libraries because she’s not a councilor/politician. Now, I usually don’t like when artists, entertainers, athletes or other “celebrities” spout off about things they know little about just because they have a platform—unless they are well informed, balanced, reasonable and aren’t being sanctimonious jerks about it. But for Doug Ford to say what he did, regardless of how he feels about Atwood and her opinions, shows his real arrogance and disdain for the public.

Trust me, councilor Doug Ford truly believes he is now “an untouchable overlord of the city” and believes he knows better than people who are much smarter and better informed than he is. If his brother had not become so popular this year, Doug Ford would have never won any seat anywhere. And everything positive I’ve said about Rob Ford and his commitment to public service applies only to Rob Ford, not to his brother because his brother never held such a job. He just rode his brother’s coattails to victory. He comes across as an arrogant bully and a megalomaniac, and too many idiots are going to blindly believe he’s something that he is not, simply because he’s Rob Ford’s brother. Wake up, people, and examine the emperor’s—or puppet master’s—attire more closely…

I personally think that, as the mayor of Toronto—one of the most LGBT (etc.)-positive cities in the world—Rob Ford should have briefly attended the Pride parade or played some other role during the week-long celebration. However, despite being the first mayor since 1994 not to do so, I don’t think he should have been FORCED to attend. But I also think that everyone who made an effort to get him to look past his fear, ignorance and/or personal biases was well within their rights to do so, as long as they conducted their efforts in a decent manner; some clearly did not do so. Afterward, if Ford chose not to participate, as he did, he will have to face the consequences with respect to his image within the city, across the country and abroad, not to mention the voting booths in a couple of years.

But I still believe it should be his choice. Having said that, I am disappointed in Ford’s blatant dishonesty about the matter. If he wants to stand up and say, as he did “I don’t believe in gay marriage,” I think he should be able to do so and not be branded homophobic, as long as he does not try to do anything that would infringe on other people’s rights to get married to a same-sex partner in any way.

This is not to say that Ford is not homophobic; maybe he is but I don’t know based on what I’ve seen of him thus far. Opposing gay marriage may make one “homo negative” but that on its own does not make someone homophobic. Those evil Muslim speakers calling for death to all gays/lesbians yesterday ARE clearly homophobic. But let’s not throw the term around just because someone opposes gay marriage and makes some ignorant statements about homosexuality. Again, I’m not defending Ford and I am not saying he is not homophobic. I’m just not prepared to say unequivocally that he IS homophobic based on what I’ve seen of him so far.

However, I CAN say he’s being very disingenuous in his claim that he is not attending the Pride Parade due to family tradition. Several different people and organizations—including Newstalk 1010 radio station—made offers to arrange transportation for Ford to and from the parade, in such a way that he might miss out on only 4 or 5 hours of his family vacation. Come on, Ford, you probably took naps that long over the weekend!

Just come clean and say, “I feel very uncomfortable with the open displays of homosexuality and/or sexuality that takes place at Pride, thus I choose not to attend, either as a spectator or mayor. I would then have at least a little bit of respect for your taking a principled stance, even if I disagree with your principles in this case. But lying as you did is pathetic and a clear sign that you lack character.

And Ford and his supporters should not be surprised if many people (now) doubt his claim that his previous attempts to halt funding for the parade was due solely to the participation of those assholes, Queers Against Apartheid Israel. No, that was just a convenient excuse, even if I agree with his sentiment in that case. But I disagree with his cowardly lies about the real reason he tried to refuse funding for the Pride Parade. For the record, I agree with halting funding for the parade because I believe it could receive ample private sponsorship. But the difference is that I am saying this for purely fiscal reasons and would apply it to all such parades because the city is broke. If people have a cause they truly believe in, they should be able to organize themselves to arrange for private funding in most cases.

And before anyone tries to lump me in with Ford vis a vis his discomfort around (homo)sexuality, those who know me and my background know that such an attempt would be the silliest thing possible. I’m a FISCAL conservative but a very SOCIAL liberal.