Just who is the racist here? Do Torontonians need black activists stirring imaginary pots in our polyglot society? What is it Desmond Cole is peddling? If he has a case, why is nobody speaking out for Toronto’s Asian Canadians? Are they not also feeling the pinch of racism? It has been increasingly sad to watch as the Toronto Star encouraged this guy Cole to stir up racial turmoil. Is he not creating a problem?
Recently there was an incident at the Toronto Police Services Board. Cole was there as a private citizen making a submission. He was protesting the retention of information from carding now that the province has restricted the use of the practice. He made his point and then refused to leave after his submission. In response, the board adjourned the meeting.
Since his actions were as a private citizen, the Toronto Star did not fire him over the incident. In high dudgeon, he wrote a diatribe saying he quit the Star. It is tough to find ways to be a martyr these days!
We have had lots of opportunity now to evaluate Cole and his causes. As a spokesperson for the Black Lives Matter gang, he adds to their troubles. They are alienating the Toronto black community. They are challenging the Toronto Police and their black chief. They appear to be obnoxious trouble makers with their own agenda.
Cole is obviously heading for his own political career. He is a man with a plan and an ego. He claims that few of the Star’s columnists can compete with the following he has gathered as a freelancer. No doubt we could think of more than a few, but it would certainly be interesting to see the Starch editorial surveys supporting his claim.
This guy seems to have missed some of the basic ingredients of the profession of being a writer. In his diatribe quitting the Star that he headlined “I choose activism for black liberation,” he never said why he chose activism nor why he capitalizes “black” as though it is someone’s name? And would someone please explain what it is from which he wishes to be liberated.
It is not surprising that Toronto Star chair (and acting publisher at the time) John Honderich suggested to Cole that he was writing about race too often. It was good advice to some one who wants to make a career in journalism. It is not the advice wanted by someone marching to an unseen drummer.
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Copyright 2017 © Peter Lowry
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