An Open Letter by Linda Goranson

From: Linda Goranson
To: lettertoed@thestar.ca, letters@globeandmail.com
Date: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 7:26 AM
Dear Mr. Harper,
I have made my living as an actress for over 40 years – had
kids, have a mortgage, pay taxes. I have always been proud
of my job, and honoured to be part of the entertainment
industry.
I had not realised I was part of the hundreds and thousands
of “government-backed whiners”. I hadn’t
realised how insidious we are.
To my and your horror, one of your ads has music – composed
by a government-backed whiner? Did an art director choose
the location to shoot in, the colour of your clothes, did a
director shoot the commercial? Was a cameraperson involved?
More government-backed whiners. I’ll call them
gbw’s.
You mentioned “ordinary” Canadians coming home
and turning on the TV (rife with gbw’s). You have spoken
of going to a movie with your son (corrupting him to see
gbw’s in action).
To protect yourself, please remove all art from the walls
of your home and office, throw out any DVD players, Blue-ray
machines, TVs. If your son has an i-pod, get rid of it (gbw
musicians). Destroy all pottery, stained glass, never go to
a festival, avoid bookstores, block all music from your car,
read nothing, avoid plays, musicals, concerts. We are
everywhere.
And, to avoid gbw’s, could you suggest what the tourist
industry should recommend people do when they come to
Canada, or are they just collateral damage?
You have attempted to belittle my life, my work, my
community.
Shame on you.
Linda Goranson

The Arts and Election 2008: A Call for Educator and Student Engagement

The upcoming federal election on October 14^th will be an important one for many aspects of Canadian society.  Health care, the environment, and the economy are major areas of focus.  Another topic of considerable controversy — if limited general public attention — is the range of changes the current government is making in terms of arts funding.  A variety of programs, primarily related to the touring and showcasing of Canadian artists abroad, are being cut or significantly reduced.  Both the nature of the cuts and the ways they are being implemented have proven to be the subjects of often heated debate.

It is not the place of educators or educational institutions to endorse specific political parties or politicians, nor to impose particular ideological positions on students.  It is entirely fitting, however, for educators to encourage their students to be informed and socially engaged.  The undersigned wish to encourage all citizens of voting age to explore the information available regarding these policy changes as they relate to the place and potential of the arts in Canadian society, to consider it carefully, to discuss the issues with others and ask related questions of their local candidates, and to express their position on this topic, among the full range of relevant issues, through their constitutional right to vote on October 14.

The short of it for Canadian arts educators: encourage your students to get the facts, think about them, talk them up, and vote.

Bruce Barton, Toronto

Pil Hansen, Toronto

Stephen Johnson, Toronto

Ric Knowles, Toronto

D.D. Kugler, Vancouver

Glen Nichols, Moncton

Shelley Scott, Lethbridge

Guillermo Verdecchia, Toronto

Jerry Wasserman, Vancouver