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Topic: Let's talk about ubiquitous homophobia!
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CMOT Dibbler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4117
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posted 10 April 2007 01:27 PM
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Um...come on. Are you really gonna compare the homophobia that exists in Canada to that in Pakistan?
Your right, it just strikes me that when the media deals with social issues, it tends to focus on social problems in other countries, or in the non white immigrant communities here in Canada. Case in point. Every time the CBC deals with the issue of domestic violence it seems to focus on the Sikh community, while ingnoring the domestic violence purpitated by white people. Does that mean that we shouldn't deal with violence in Sikh families? Of course not. But if we really are going to find a way to deal with systematic social problems,(be it poverty, racism homophobia etc.) we really need to include a large cross section of society in our discussions and not blame foreign (and often margenalized) ethnic groups for societal and global problems. Canada's record on gay rights is better then Pakistan's. We legalized gay marriage, and people can have as much gay sex as they want without getting tossed in jail. There are also many organizations out there that support gays and Lesbians as they struggle against discrimination. The fact remains however that homophobia is ingrained in our society, and I don't believe that we have the right to lay down our arms, point smuggly at the wretched of the earth and say, "Look! Homophobia is the fault of the brown people!" Because it isn't. We are all at fault. [ 10 April 2007: Message edited by: CMOT Dibbler ]
From: Just outside Fernie, British Columbia | Registered: May 2003
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bigcitygal
Volunteer Moderator
Babbler # 8938
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posted 10 April 2007 02:52 PM
CMOT, I agree with your point. It's easier for the (white dominated) media to focus on a social issue, such as violence against women, or homophobia, or child poverty, in a non-Canadian context, because it serves two purposes simultaneously.1. The pasty liberal agenda of covering social issues in a "concerned" and "caring" way, very patronizing, very colonial ("Oh, the poor uneducated dears!"). Which is a legitimate way to reinforce and fast-track racism in a "concerned" liberal way. This isn't to say that "we" in Canada can't critique policies in other countries, but it's a really Slippery Slope To Racism (TM) 2. Deflecting attention from the lack of dollars that the Canadian government puts towards the same issues in Canada (child poverty is a good example). In such contexts Canada is conflated into "Canada is such a rich country, with many natural resources...." etc, etc, gag....
From: It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent - Q | Registered: Apr 2005
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CMOT Dibbler
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4117
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posted 12 May 2007 08:26 PM
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The pasty liberal agenda of covering social issues in a "concerned" and "caring" way, very patronizing, very colonial ("Oh, the poor uneducated dears!").
I believe the peice was created by a woman of south asian descent. I probably shouldn't be so strident in my criticism. The Canadian public should hear about homophobia in Pakistan, in the same way that we should hear about female circumcision in Senegal or religious intolerance in Saudi Arabia. The problem is that in the current political climate,(which has lasted for about 100 years now) at a time when the middle east and Islam are being demonized rigt, left and centre, this documentry just came off as another chunk of bigoted excrement in a sea of anti Muslim bullshit. [ 12 May 2007: Message edited by: CMOT Dibbler ] [ 13 May 2007: Message edited by: CMOT Dibbler ]
From: Just outside Fernie, British Columbia | Registered: May 2003
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Email this thread to someone!
) but the ubiquitous homophobia in Pakistan! Did anyone hear that documentary on the current this morning? By what right does Canada wag it's finger at Pakistan! Homophobia is still pervasive in Canadian schools, and there are still many people in this country (white as well as brown) who are still afraid to come out of the closet.
