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Igniting Ignorance with Ignatieff

By Joshua Errett

bloodandbelonging.jpgFollowing J Kelly’s assertion that the now-infamous Michael Ignatieff book, Blood & Belonging, was a hard to find, Torontoist felt the urge to prove Mr. Nestruck wrong. So we walked into the first public library we came across, did a little dance with the Dewey Decimal system, and came out with the book. Hard to find? Hardly.
In addition to our taking blog-general supreme J Kelly to task, we also took note of the sections on the Ukraine – which contain offensive passages that appear to be all the hula-baloo right now. But before Ignatieff ever drops the ‘Little Russians’ bomb, we were more concerned with this little tidbit:
openpageignatieff.jpg
Mention anything remotely Ukrainian to Mr Ignatieff now, it’ll probably conjure up images of losing the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Or at least a few more boo’s. As for J Kelly? Well, let’s just say he’s a little heavy on Liberal conspiracy theories and a little light on library wherewithal.

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Comments

  • http://www.nestruck.com JKelly

    You damn Commies and your “libraries.”

  • http://www.lilyshang.com Lily

    You can’t take the quote out of context from the chapter tho. It’s easy to jump to conclusions since the quotes appear near the beginning of the chapter, but you have to read the entire chapter to understand its tone.
    And the tone is not derogatory, it was just an unbiased analysis of Ukrainian nationalism.

  • Josh

    wowzers. an ignatieff campaigner comes to his defense in less than an hour after posting. well i hope your candidate has a better grasp on reading comprehension: the only conclusions i made were about my fellow blogger and old-time chum, j kelly.
    re: blood and belonging, i simply wrote that those statements are causing a hula-baloo, and thought that posted statement might be deserving of a hula-baloo as well. since i’ve provided no analysis of the book, the chapter, or the man, i don’t see why context is necessary.

  • alanTdot

    wowzers is right. Is Iggy’s crew watching this site round the clock? Did some one dare attempt to smear the Man Who Would Be Kings reputation?!
    Really, Iggy’s staff should have figured that parachuting a High profile candidate into a riding would have some kind of backlash, since Martin and his cronies came into power protesting Chretiens record of steamrolling over local riding associations.
    Didn’t anyone stop to think that the ‘unbiased analysis of Ukrainian nationalism’ might be misinterpreted by those of us who are not as intellectually savvy as Mssr Ignatieff?
    And Lily, thanks for the ‘unbiased’ explanation otherwise I might have misinterpreted the passage where the King In Waiting describes Ukrainian nationalism as ‘Phony’ and ‘anti-semitic’.
    Why has this High Hat from Harvard decided to improve our dirty city with his presence? That is unknown as of yet.
    We are in the presence of greatness. We should be respectful.

  • http://www.nestruck.com JKelly

    So, Joshster, are you going to lend me the book, so I can read the whole chapter… Or are you going to make me get my own library card?

  • Josh

    yeah, i guess i’ll lend you the book..but just so you know, the book didn’t give me the impression that ignatieff was all that intelligent. to be competely honest, i actually think i’m smarter.

  • alanTdot

    Josh,
    maybe it’s not too late to get on the ballot in Eglinton/Lakeshore, I have a feeling there is going to be a fairly sizeable protest vote…..
    //alanTdot sits back and waits for the bags of liberal hush money to start rolling in…

  • crash

    The book isn’t the only place Ignatief spouted off about Ukrainians. He was commission some wank off mini-series for TVO years ago. He really laid into the Ukrainians again. Hopefully someone digs it up so he can stop playing the “out of context” card. I mean really how many times can you be out of context? Forgot I just asked that.

  • crash

    “forget I just asked that” was what I meant to say.
    damn it all!

  • allan

    it disturbs me that open minded liberal (small l) people are willing to tear down one of their own so quickly. Ignatieff has written about an incredible array of topics, with intelligence, skill and passion, and as soon as he enters the political fray, it is open season on every turn of phrase. Do you want to know why our politicians today are so spineless? It is because all those individuals who have put themselves on the line once have automatically disqualified themselves from higher office. It may be the party he is running for or it may be that he has aspirations beyond being a backbencher but there is no excuse for the treatment he has recieved for his writing. Anyone who has read the chapter in question or any extended piece of his writing realizes how nuanced he is and how unfair this current characterization is.

  • josh might be smarter

    i still think Josh is smarter.

  • Danielle

    Josh is an idiot.
    The book “Blood and Belonging” has been around fopr over 12 years and, until about 10 days ago, no one ever accused Ignatieff of being a Ukrainaphobe. That’s because the honest critics had the decency to read the whole book. What kind of mickey-mouse outfit is the Torontoist anyway? If Josh thinks he’s so smart, why doesn’t he show us his Governor General’s Award

  • JOsh

    reading comprehension, please. i didn’t really criticize the book. i think it’s being used for political reasons – and i highlighted a section which could further be used for the same political reasons. so why am i an idiot? and since when is the governor general’s award the mark of a ‘smart’ person?

  • Danilo

    Ignatief is a WANKER!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I am proud super nationalist Ukrainian….please don’t tread on me……..
    Danilo

  • alanTdot

    Danielle,
    there were no accusations foisted on Ignatieff before this because no one cared about a book written by a Canadian attempting to garner a seat at the Neocon table.
    Allen,
    politicians are spineless today because they don’t have the guts to mean what they say, and Iggy’s response to this issue – “Ukrainians have been taking care of my family plot for years” – shows he is fitting right in.
    Elitest Neocon highhat. Meh.

  • Loonie Bin

    Maybe Iggy has been taken out of context a bit on the Ukrainian front, but he definitely ISN’T being taken out of context when people say he’s a Bush apologist for the Iraq War and Torture.
    Philosopher-King my ass, Mr. “Next Prime Minister of Canada” is just another America-phille trying to remake us in the image of our neighbour to the south. As far as I can tell this guy is going to be Mulroney with a makeover.
    I have some free time during this election, and I’m definitely going to try and stop Ignatieff from taking the riding.

  • crash

    Just to reiterate Ignatief has not been taken out of context. Now I’m on a mission (well at least until I get distracted) I have to find a copy of the show he did for TVO.
    Ignatief says the oddest things
    “Ukrainians have been taking care of my family plot for years” what the hell is that supposed to mean? Even if the man’s caretakers hates his guts no Ukrainian or otherwise would desecrate their grave?!? It also condescending
    thanks to all who are willing to take our friend Iggy to task during this election.

  • Randy

    FYI – It’s “Ukraine,” not “the Ukraine.”