MM is in the process of moving to Toronto. He feels there is less hypocrisy in government and politics in Canada than in the U.S. at this time. At one point in the debate, he praised how Canada handled Quebec wanting to separate. Canada allowed Quebec to hold a referendum. MM speculated that in the U.S. the National Guard would probably have been sent in.
EG (Eddie Greenspan) pointed out that the U.S. is the world's greatest democracy. It has the first amendment. He stated that Canada was not born out of revolution as the U.S. was, but is a parliamentary democracy and a monarchy. Canada only wrote a charter of rights and freedoms in 1982 and there is nothing like the free speech amendment. Canadian society is based on order in the community and the government reserves the right to step in at any time and suspend rights to preserve that order. U.S. society is based on individual rights.
EG considers Canada to be a great democracy, but second to the U.S. in terms of individual rights. He challenged MM that if he feels so strongly, he should stay in the U.S. and fight people like Janet Reno, as he has that right. EG feels that in democracies such as the United States and Canada bad ideas (and people advocating those bad ideas) eventually pass away, because the societies are, in fact, democracies and people can debate and choose.
MM's position is that the U.S. is in another era of McCarthyism. He agreed that people can fight for their rights, but it can take many years and ruin a person's life and career in the process. MM cited a current individual case where Clinton could just call the head of Disney and have a talk show host fired because of things he had said. He also cited Clinton's comments that the Oklahoma bombing was a result of Limbaugh expressing his opinions.
There was additional interesting debate on what MM calls careerism, and his beliefs on speaking from the heart. Further items debated were the OJ trial, the pros and cons of televised court proceedings, Chris Darden, and the rights of parents to raise their own children, which Michael feels is being eroded by government intervention.
At the end of the interview/debate MM stated that he had made good friends in Toronto. He simply wished to live his life in peace according to the Golden Rule. He said he had spent a lot of time in Canada in the last seven years -- Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver. He was very knowledgeable and well-informed about Canadian politics. As usual, Michael raises very interesting and thought provoking concerns.
Antonia (Toni) Morrison
If you have seen a live performance, movie, book or TV appearance and would like to send a review just e-mail: Debbie
A HUGE Thank You to Toni. I really appreciate your contribution!!! Debbie