Warrior Life Studios

Pam Palmater

Tag: white supremacy

  • Trump’s “Crazy Town” Represents a Clear and Present Danger to Canada

    Trump’s “Crazy Town” Represents a Clear and Present Danger to Canada

                                (Photo taken when I marched in Trump Protest in NYC) Donald Trump shocked countries around the world when he won the election for President of the United States of America (USA) on November 8, 2016. Trump was formally elected as the 58th US President, together with Mike Pence as his Vice-President, by the Electoral College on December 19, 2016. However, the official inauguration ceremony did not take place until January 20, 2017. While most of us were in a state of shock during the weeks between Trump’s election and his inauguration; millions of Americans immediately took to the streets in nationwide protests under the collective chant “Not my President!”. Trump’s presidential welcome (or lack thereof) did not get any better at his inauguration. In fact, attendance at Trump’s formal inauguration ceremony was one of the lowest in modern history – the crowds were only a fraction of the size that attended former President Obama’s inauguration. Not only has the open wound of Trump’s election failed to heal, but Trump’s toxic team has infected the White House with such high levels of corruption and lies that no one knows who to trust anymore.

      (Photo I took just before the rest of the protest march arrived at Trump Tower in NYC) Since taking office, Trump has tried to fulfill his campaign promises of enacting a Muslim travel ban; erecting a wall between the USA and Mexico; deporting undocumented immigrants, and nominating conservative judges to the Supreme Court with mixed results. While his Supreme Court appointment, Brett Cavanaugh went through despite multiple sexual assault allegations – it may go down as one of, if not the, most controversial appointments in US history. Trump’s travel bans were overturned by the courts and his wall will likely never be built. At the same time, he has engaged in an anti-media campaign to discredit any media outlet critical of his Presidency as “fake news”. His obsession with fake news is more of a reflection of his own lies and those of his reported Russian hacker friends, than any media-wide conspiracy to lie to the American people about the President. He has also used social media to call out his perceived political enemies, name-call anyone who doesn’t agree with him and taunt world leaders. While his national security team has no doubt worked overtime to prevent World War III; Trump’s presidency has the added stress of one political scandal after another. From his reported relationship and subsequent pay-off to porn star Stormy Daniels; to his alleged collusion/collaboration with Russia; and the guilty pleas of former Trump aides to various criminal offences; Trump has no doubt set the record for the most tumultuous first 18 months in office. Unlike our ability to change the channel when Trump’s former reality show “The Apprentice” would invade our TV screens, the very real “live reality” show of Trump’s presidency is the only channel available to Americans right now. While Trump’s crazy hair, weird hand gestures and remarkably bizarre and often incoherent rants might provide endless fodder for late night comedy shows; this President’s junior high school style diplomacy does more than just reflect poorly on Trump as an individual. The Office of the President is an institution that is supposed to represent the American people, but currently appears to only represent Donald Trump’s every whim or vendetta in an embarrassing Twitter drama. The now infamous anonymous op-ed allegedly written by an insider has described Trump as “impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective”. Excerpts from award-winning journalist, Bob Woodward’s new book: Fear: Trump in the White House, together with insights gleaned from other journalists with access to the White House, like Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House expose the current turmoil within the White House. Taken together with Trump’s own public behavior and the insights gleaned from former senior officials, we all have cause to be worried; and when I say “we”, I mean Americans, Canadians and Indigenous Nations all over Turtle Island.

                                          (photo from Google images) It’s not much of a stretch to assume that a White House in this much turmoil, being led by someone who thrives on conflict and chooses to align himself with autocrats and dictators over America’s long-held allies; presents a clear a present danger for national security at a global level, but also public safety at the local level. Canada is America’s closest ally – politically and geographically. Any form of major or sustained attack on the USA, risks the safety of Canadians working in the US or inter-married with Americans. Similarly, those Canadians living in border towns may suffer the consequences of attacks made in close proximity. As a known ally of the US, retaliatory attacks on the US might also be accompanied by direct attacks on Canada. It matters very much to our safety and security to know what is happening in the south. So, while Canadians, like many Americans, would also like to turn the channel when Trump appears on our news stations – our collective worry prevents us from doing so. It is far worse for sovereign Indigenous Nations who pay the price for decisions made without us.

                                (photo about Standing Rock from Sacred Ecology) It’s no coincidence that Canada has been sucked into the trade dispute between the US and China. Recently, several Canadians were detained by the Chinese government, reportedly as a bargaining chip to force Canada to release an Executive from Huawei being held for extradition to the US. While Canada is not a party the US-China trade dispute, Canadians are collateral damage on Trump’s toxic, combative presidency. It is important to note, that these observations from the northern part of Turtle Island are not related to the divide between liberal and conservative ideologies or Republican and Democrat politics. These concerns are not about NAFTA, the trade tariffs Trump imposed on Canada or the fact that Trump called our Prime Minister “very dishonest and meek”. No, these concerns represent the very real concerns of Canadians and First Nations, who, like many Americans and Native American tribal governments, value the advances made in our societies in relation to Indigenous sovereignty and rights, civil rights, human rights and freedoms, and the push to address social injustices like racism, poverty and homelessness. It is also safe to say that the recent United Nations Report on Climate Change has Indigenous Nations all over Turtle Island deeply concerned about the health and well-being our lands, waters and future generations if “leaders” like Trump remain in power. Trump may be able to brag about the American economy and the low unemployment rates, but this does little to quell the violence which stems from white supremacy and racists emboldened by Trump’s perceived alignment with these groups. His outright refusal to condemn Naziism and his claim there are good people within the white supremacist movement has made it even more difficult to keep the lid closed on Pandora’s box of hatred. Under the guise of “making America great again” the worst segments of society have come forth in more public ways to spread their hatred against racialized peoples under the guise free speech and diversity of thought. And why should northern Turtle Island be concerned? Because white supremacy, hatred and race-based violence is an infection that spreads when you give it oxygen. And given that Turtle Island is divided by an artificial border, there is little stop this rise in white supremacy from expanding its lethal infection north in Canada.

                  (photo of white supremacists in Charlottesville from PBS website) And it is spreading north. Steve Bannon, Trump’s former strategist, whose far-right ideologies are praised by Neo-Nazis and the KKK, was invited to speak about populism at the Munk debate. However, while hatred is spreading, that doesn’t mean it is new to Canada. One need only look at Canada’s lethal genocidal policies against Indigenous peoples and it ongoing racism, violence and destruction of native lands to know – racism and white supremacy is alive and well in Canada. It is the recent rise in populism, fueled by Trump, that has encouraged it to spread to new generations in Canada in more public ways. The reported anti-black and anti-Indigenous actions of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and the hateful, anti-immigrant rants of Maxime Bernier are just the tip of the iceberg. Formerly hidden or subversive hate groups in Canada and the US have been given very powerful signals from exceptionally powerful men (usually right-wing, ultra-conservative) that the coast is clear to more actively spread hatred. So, Trump’s impact on Canada presents a very real and present danger to Indigenous Nations and racialized Canadians. So the question is: are Americans (and Canadians) truly condemned to two more years of Trump’s “Crazy town” or are there realistic alternatives? Early in his presidency, some political commentators offered their analyses on the chances of Trump being impeached. More recently, commentators and politicians alike have suggested the possibility of declaring him unfit under the 25th amendment. While some worry that this may cause a constitutional crisis, others like Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren – embroiled in her own controversy of white appropriation of Indigenous identity – feels that the US may already be in a constitutional crisis if Cabinet feels Trump can’t do the job. What most political analysts do agree on is that there is a very remote chance that Trump will ever be removed from office. Could this be why there is reportedly a core group within the White House trying to protect country? Could this be why senior White House officials are taking huge personal risks to expose the potential danger within and protect the American people? While it is hard to know anyone’s personal motivations, it would be incredible to think that someone is watching out for the people. Some believe that a true patriot – a real American – is one who votes and that true loyalty to the American flag and constitution means standing by your President no matter what. Sure there is some buyer’s remorse amongst some who voted for Trump, and some feelings of regret by those who didn’t vote at all having assumed that there was no way Trump could be elected. But what about the collective fear and worry by Americans and Native Americans – regardless of their voter status or their political leanings – about the very real and dark turn of events since Trump’s election? What of the confirmed Russian interference with the election, the risks of retaliation from other countries against Trump’s aggressive tactics, the thousands of children traumatized when they were separated from their migrant families, destruction of native lands, murdered and missing Native American women, or the very obvious rise in racist, white supremacist banter? How does American loyalty to the institution of the Presidency jive with their loyalty to equality, democracy, freedom of the press, human rights, the right to life and their own constitution? If this is the difficult issue facing Americans right now, imagine how those working in the White House feel? Worse, imagine how Native Americans feel that this is all taking place on their sovereign territories? While it may be easy to condemn the unnamed officials who are trying to keep the White House stable despite the Trump circus, what real choice do they have if they are committed to “the people” – which is supposed to be the real government anyway? It may not follow the rules of democracy or the processes laid out in policies, but how long can good people use process, protocol or past practice as an excuse not to act?  In his address to before the Canadian Parliament in 1961, America’s 35th President John F Kennedy said; “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. I am sure many Americans are hoping that more good people come forward and take concrete actions to protect the US and Canada both from the risks posed by Trump’s “Crazy town”. In the meantime, my money is on “the people” – the people who have risen up and taken a stand against this infection of hatred – those who shoulder the unfair burden of making sure it doesn’t turn into a plague. Our sovereign Indigenous Nations have something to say about the threat to public safety and national security in our territories. Our treaty partners have not only breached our treaties, but their self-interested, hateful actions pose real dangers to our peoples and our Canadian and American allies. The fight for our future is real. We better make 2019 the year of the revolution and Make America (and Canada) Native Again.

          (I took this photo while marching in the anti-Trump protests in NYC shortly after his election). For my Youtube video about this topic, please see the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPFaniEbiOs&feature=share

  • Maxime Bernier’s “Extreme Multiculturalism” Twitter Rants Sound More Like Sour Grapes

    Last week, Conservative Member of Parliament, Maxime Bernier posted a series of tweets on Twitter espousing his opposition to “extreme multiculturalism” and the “cult of diversity” in Canada. According to Bernier, diversity will “destroy” the cultural identity of Canada and worse, will result in “cultural balkanization” that leads to social conflict and even “violence”. These tweets were not the usual fair commentary offered by elected officials on matters of public policy. No – there was something a bit more frantic, even desperate about these tweets. These tweets sounded like the rantings of a wayward politician who, having failed in all of his political endeavours to date, couldn’t think of any other way to get attention but to ride the populist white supremacy wave.

    A combination of deep-seated racism and white superiority, together with Trump-like fear-mongering seems to be the current populist recipe for manufacturing hate and division for the purpose of political gain. It also seems to reward the instigators with gratuitous attention on social media.

    If we are to understand Bernier’s Sunday night tweet rant better, we have to understand that Bernier is a failed politician. He was a separatist from Quebec who voted in the 1995 referendum for Quebec to separate from Canada, but that vote and his efforts, failed. He was later successful in being elected a Conservative MP from Beauce, Quebec and was even appointed Foreign Affairs Minister under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. However, he was forced to resign in scandal when he left classified documents at his girlfriend’s place for nearly a month. After Harper’s Conservatives were devastated in the last election, giving Trudeau’s Liberals a majority government, Bernier ran for leadership of the Conservative party and lost to Andrew Scheer. Soon after, he released portions of a cry-all book about how he lost the leadership bid, but publication was halted. His own peers said this cry-all book was more about “sour grapes” from losing and his “vanity” and need for attention. Most recently, he was silently kicked from Scheer’s shadow cabinet.

    If ever there was a recipe for some hateful sour-grapes, this would be it. A failed separatist, Minister, leader, author and shadow cabinet member, Bernier clearly wants to make a name for himself in whatever way he can. We all know that Republican President Donald Trump’s sexist, racist, anti-immigrant fear-mongering seems to have appealed to the ultra right-wing and white supremacists in the USA. It also seemed to work for Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a “fiercely right-wing populist”, who won an election with a “take care of our own” attitude devoid of any substantive public policy – unless you include his buck-a-beer-for-all promise. It would seem that Bernier is once again suffering from sour grapes and has resorted to this hateful, racist rant against every other culture than his own people– the very people that seems to have rejected him. 

    It is not the fault of new immigrants that Bernier’s own party have rejected him over and over. Nor can his misery be tied to the legal right of people from diverse cultures to enjoy their traditions in Canada. This is an example of popular white supremacism – the idea that people of other racial, ethnic or cultural backgrounds are inherently dangerous and should not mix with “old stock Canadians” – i.e. “white” Canadians. The difference between the white nationalism/supremacy of the past is that those who espouse these views today tend to do so in a less direct way under the guise of public policy debate.

    But his hatefulness doesn’t focus only on new immigrants. Several days later, he was also first in line on Twitter to trash the Trudeau government’s intention to create a statutory “holiday” in remembrance of the atrocities committed in residential schools. Despite this being 1 of the 94 Call to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and represents the wishes of many of the survivors, Bernier accused called this “another sick characteristic of extreme PC [political correctness] and multiculturalism”. To my mind, the wishes of the survivors should be paramount on the issue of whether there is a national day of remembrance. Bernier went on to categorize the day of remembrance as a “cult of victimhood and obsession with past wrongs”. I wonder if he would also apply this logic to Remembrance Day on November 11th, or any of the war memorials that exist in Canada? Somehow, I don’t think so.

    The whole point of national days of remembrance and memorials is to ensure that Canadians never forget the atrocities that happened. The idea is to honour those we have lost and make sure history never repeats itself. It is a concept shared by most nations around the world. Germany for example has taken great steps to not only erase any Nazi symbols from their society, but also create memorials to remember the many lives lost. Here in Canada, we hope to have several national days of remembrance that include one for residential schools and memorials to lives lost, like murdered and missing Indigenous women. In recent months we have also been talking about how to deal with statues and other symbols of individuals who, despite being historic figures, were the perpetrators of a campaign of genocide against Indigenous peoples – like Sir John A. MacDonald. The TRC report confirmed that Canada engaged in all three types of genocide against Indigenous peoples – cultural, physical and biological. It is long past time that we talked about how to reflect history accurately and responsibly.

    Bernier’s Twitter rants about “extreme PC” couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes the ongoing legacy of injustice against Indigenous peoples in Canada. His Twitter tirades about immigrants who don’t share the same skin colour, religion or culture as him don’t reflect the laws of this country – Indigenous or Canadian. It’s highly ironic that Bernier would advocate against any more diverse immigrants while at the same time demand that Indigenous history be erased. I guess that is the privilege assumed by those whose ideas reflect and promote (directly or indirectly) white supremacy – as if anyone else is not only dangerous, but a threat to whiteness. While Bernier is only the most visible example of this kind of thinking, in fairness, he is not alone.

    Senator Lynn Beyak was booted from Conservative caucus after her racist postings about Indigenous peoples. Conservative MP Pierre Poillievre said racist remarks against residential school survivors on the same day as the apology. Former Conservative Indian Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt regularly made racist comments against First Nations, at one point calling First Nation treaty Chiefs “threats to national security”. With regard to Bernier’s most recent comments, Conservative party leader Andrew Scheer has failed to specifically condone them, nor has he removed Bernier from the party – which he should do. This is not much of a surprise given the fact that Scheer’s own campaign manager was the founding director for Rebel Media which promotes white nationalism. 

    In the end, the Conservative Party needs to be very clear with Canadians about their party and what it stands for today. Andrew Scheer and the party either stand wholly behind Bernier or they do not – there is no in between. Right now, Scheer seems to stand more behind Bernier than not. It’s Scheer’s move now.

    To watch my Youtube video on this issue and participate in the ongoing discussion, click here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKl3j1B6VK8&t=1s