Nick Noorani Website

In April this year, CBS fired radio host Don Imus for calling the Rutgers team ‘Nappy headed hoes’. Don Imus is a highly celebrated radio host and was once named by TIME magazine as one of the 25 most influential People in America. CBS lost $15 million in annual revenue by getting rid of the most profitable shows they have had. Why did they do so? Shortly after Don’s comment sponsors pulled support from the show because consumers pressurised them to do so.
In July this year, Eileen Siu a University of Toronto political science graduate fell prey to the email demon. After an interview with Evon Reid a Jamaican, she sent an internal email mistakenly adding Evon’s name to the list. Her email said ‘this is the ghetto dude that I spoke to before’. The fallout had Premier Dalton McGuinty personally call Evon Reid with an apology. Eileen vanished without a trace but not before Facebook exploded with fake Eileen Siu photographs.

Bruce Allen’s penchant for planting both his feet in his mouth has not had the same fallout in Vancouver. It seems only ‘us folks’ (read immigrants/visible minorities etc) are really bothered about this. Unfortunately the case has been blown up by politicians. Much as I dislike Bruce’s vitriolic attack his relation to the Olympics is that of a supplier. Nothing more. His continuing to be on CKNW however smacks of tacit approval by the powers at the station. At what point does sheer ratings overshadow doing the right thing. I love the folks at CKNW and hope they understand how they are hurting sensitivities by keeping this guy on.
Here’s my $0.02:
When I came to Canada nine years ago, I used to envy Canadian born individuals and used to say to them ‘you are so lucky – you as a Canadian own a part of Grouse Mountain, Whistler and Deep Cove!’ On July 1st this year, I swore allegiance to this country and became a citizen. I now share with my Canadian born friends the right to say I too am a part owner of all that is Canadian!
When Bruce speaks about immigrants going ‘home’ I glance at the framed Charter of Rights and Freedoms by my desk. Thank God Allen’s uncouth rantings can never over shadow what the Charter promises me and the ¼ million immigrants who choose to make Canada home! We immigrants pay a high price for that choice – leaving family and friends and dealing with differences in culture and even having the ability to practice our professions here.
Now I am off to my home in North Vancouver!