Notes from Underground - Shawn's Sense with Shawn Loughlin
Just over 13 months ago, in the Aug. 23, 2024 issue of The Citizen, I had a bit of fun at the expense of Utah, whose government had directed the ban of 13 books. (In it, I intimated that Keith Roulston had some sort of private and unsavoury affair with Cloris Leachman, just to give readers a bit of a window into how serious the column was.)
It’s an understatement to say that much has changed since then regarding free speech.
Banning books, pulling the rug out from under progressive legislation and tweaking the curriculum for schools (not just in the U.S. under Herr Trump, but everywhere, even Canada, as world politics surge rightward) are slowly and steadily increasing and the powers that be are working to limit critical thought and the ability to express yourself. Essentially what we’re talking about here is free speech.
Trump has injected himself into every corner of life in the United States. There are some that are obvious - such as deporting mass quantities of people from the country and firing everyone but king-kneeling sycophants - and others that aren’t quite as obvious - is it that far of a stretch to envision neo-McCarthyism, given the threats from the Trump administration about posts celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk on social media and how in bed Trump and his cronies are with the leaders of social media? Call me a conspiracy realist if you want, but I fear this is only the beginning.
And now, he’s threatening to pull broadcast licences from channels not celebrating him.
Many of us Canadians, including myself, have looked smugly at what’s going on in the U.S., watching in real time as what was once - at least in their own minds - a shining example of democracy has crumbled before their very eyes in, frankly, less time than I expected. No doubt there are some in this country who think Trump’s journey to being a dictator is great because hating the same people is a real relationship builder, but, for most of us, it’s laughable what they’ve done to themselves.
But... let us not be complacent. I was struck late last week by language used by Liberal MP Vince Gasparro in a post declaring that Irish language rap trio Kneecap has been barred from entering the country. (After having to cancel their American tour dates due to an ongoing court case pertaining to terrorism charges - it is alleged that the group displayed a Hezbollah flag at a show, which the band denies - they were to play four shows here, two each in Toronto and Vancouver; all sold out.) He said that Kneecap had, “engaged in actions and made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws”. Kneecap has vowed to take legal action against claims made by Gasparro that members deem to be false.
Judging something to be “anti-Canadian” in that tone gives me the chills. Readers know where I stand with our historic relationship with the royals and Kneecap has advocated for a united Ireland (“Get Your Brits Out” is one of their most enduring anthems), and, more to the point, a free Palestine. The young men are challenging people to step away from problematic historic relationships and not everyone sees it their way. And yet, Gasparro speaks on behalf of a federal government that is cozying back up to Britain at a time when both Canada and Britain have taken steps to recognize a Palestinian state, a path many Canadians support.
This situation and how Canada handles it may tell the world a lot. Is it ready to stand up on its own two feet and stick to its word, or are we content to be America’s parrot, following Daddy Trump everywhere?