Why Levant is Right...dammit.

Susan G. Cole has always struck me as the lefty opposite of the more ubiquitous right wing polemicist nincompoops like Levant, Murphy and Steyn—, which is to say she is more the self-conscious provocateur rather than a serious cultural philosopher. The apoplectic responses to her latest piece http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=169344 are representative of why Cole writes consistently for NOW rather than evidence that she must be fired. Do a quick scan of Cole’s recent articles and ask if any of them were not, in some way calculated to inflame the passions of the same folks here that are outraged, yes outraged! I get the impression that some people live to be outraged…but I digress.

The Human Rights Commission is the best thing to ever happen to Ezra Levant, I’m not sure if he would even vigorously dispute this. A bestseller; appearances on international news shows and the undying love of neo-con studs like Rex Murphy and Micheal Coren (Who can barely contain their jealousy that Mr. Levant gets to be the big show off). So, Susan is certainly right to call shenanigans on any claim Levant makes to humility in the noble cause of free speech. Levant saw an opportunity to cheese off the Muslims and took it with great gusto. Make no mistake, neo-con interest in Levant’s cause has everything to do with promoting Christian primacy however conveniently shrouded it is with this whole pesky “freedom of the press” stuff. In other words, do not expect Levant and his brethren to be charging the barricades the next time some gay porn is stopped at the border.

Unfortunately, Levant has also illustrated a very fine and important point that the state has no moral authority to protect its citizenry from mere insult and that the bureaucratic apparatus of human rights commissions needs some serious tweaking. Also Coles’ suggestion that one should merely write about something that is inherently visual is beyond ludicrous for someone who bylines as a film critic. I mean, why show offensive art anywhere at all when you can just scribble a few words about Piss Christ or Karen Finley’s last show? Actually, why not criticize art without even looking at it! (and ultimately art is what we are talking about) See where I’m going with this? This is why Rick Mercer and PEN are on board. The fact that Susan is not—is frankly a little scary. Especially when she runs the pop art division of Toronto’s biggest weekly. Publisher take heed! The government is watching you? You don’t have to agree with one word out of Levant’s mouth to be scared by that. A jackass? Perhaps. But dammit if he isn’t right.

Seasons of Albert

Summer. Albert purchases a civil war musket, three licorice whips and a bag of cotton batting from a store in Greenwich Village.

Packing these items into his square burlap satchel, he walks towards Houston Street and sings to the clouds. Albert wonders if the news anchor will say his name correctly: the "T" is silent.

Originally published by Bird and Moon, www.birdandmoon.com, December 2006

Aaron Is Upstairs

Aaron sits in the small yellow room on the third floor smoking a bent cigarette and listening to a scratchy recording of woodland creatures: Timberwolves, Lake Loons and Canada Geese underscored with synthesizer and the sound of rain drumming on an aluminum roof. Bertie left his collection of records spread out on the floor, fanned out on the brown carpet in alphabetical order. Aaron squints at one of the covers. A line drawing of a dirigible hovering in a white sky.

It’s a Zeppelin. You idiot. Aaron hears Bertie’s crackling voice laughing in his ear.