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MOUTHING OFF, LOUD
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by
ANDREW BAULCOMB
April 2 - 8, 2009 |
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Four and a half minutes. That’s about all the time it took for Greg Gutfeld to seal his fate in Canada.
Four and half minutes, a YouTube posting, and some 500,000 views later, the previously unknown talk show host suddenly found himself at the centre of an international incident — and with good reason.
Gutfeld (pictured above) and his panel openly mocked the Canadian Forces, making light of Lieutenant General Andrew Leslie and his request for a one–year operational hiatus beginning in 2011. Leslie cited personnel and equipment shortages a key factor in the decision making process, while Gutfeld suggested that the hiatus was focused more on “painting landscapes” and “doing yoga.” Canadian politicians responded within hours of the story breaking, demanding an apology from Gutfeld and Fox News.
The talk show blunder wasn’t the first in recent memory, either. Author and notable liberal critic Ann Coulter was the subject of a similar incident in late 2004, noting on a Fox News segment that the “worst Americans” always wind up north of the border — referring to Vietnam draft dodgers and antiwar protestors. Coulter went on to suggest that Canada was “lucky to exist on the same continent” as the United States, before questioning the need for a Canadian military.
Former CNN pundit Tucker Carlson also came under fire for referring to Canada as the “retarded cousin” of the United States — a statement that made waves on both sides of the border. Carlson later clarified his statement during an interview with George Stroumboulopoulos, referring to Canada as “America’s little buddy,” and noting that he “never met a Canadian that he didn’t like.”
Carlson went on to explain the root of his sentiments, citing Canada’s “angry obsession” with the United States as a cause of frustration for many Americans. According to the former Crossfire host, our unhealthy obsession with criticizing and debasing American culture had finally reached a breaking point. To put things simply, enough was enough.
Bold, yes. A poor choice of words? Most certainly. But Carlson may have been on to something in his own off-colour, politically incorrect manner.
In the wake of this most recent cross-border scandal, Canadians were quick to jump to the aid of their countrymen and women in uniform — for better or for worse. Blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and YouTube videos became rife with counter–commentary, calling out everyone from Fox News to Gutfeld himself. One YouTube user referred to the Red Eye host as a “faggot” and a “smug, wealthy newscaster bitch–ass,” while another insinuated that Gutfeld was a “dumbass, high on coke” and “probably drank his day away.” Others still called for a complete dismissal of the incident, but a war of words was already in full swing. If it wasn’t popular to be anti–American following the Obama election, you can rest assured that the sentiment was back with a vengeance.
The fact of the matter is this — Gutfeld and his like–minded peers will always be in the wrong, but Canadians can do a much better job of enforcing the same ethical standards. What may seem “satirical” to some is an outright insult to others, and it happens on both sides of the border. Case in point, Rick Mercer.
Canadian viewers giggled with glee at Mercer’s popular “Talking to Americans” segment; a mock news report that goaded everyday Americans into stating ridiculous facts about their northern neighbours. Guests on the segment often congratulated Canadians on reaching notable “gag” milestones like legalizing VCRs, obtaining electric lights in Parliament, reaching a population of one million, and finishing a “Chunnel to China.”
It was all fun and games until the segment gained notoriety in the United States, a development that eventually led to the CBC issuing a public apology. Colin Mochrie — posing as the fictional reporter “Anthony St. George” — sarcastically apologized to American viewers for “burning down the White House, softwood lumber, Celine Dion” and a variety of other tongue–in–cheek annoyances. Canadians found it hilarious at the time, but imagine if the tables were turned.
Bottom line, where do we draw the line on poking fun at one another? While Gutfeld, Carlson and others are clearly out of line with their commentary, perhaps a look inward may be necessary before we start casting more stones across the border. The last thing I’m looking forward to is a prolonged “he–said she–said” war of words with the United States, especially with so much riding on our co-operation in the coming months and years. It’s time to grow up. V
[ANDREW BAULCOMB]
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