[ShepherdsDog]

While there are a few who deserve the bad rap they are getting, they are still a minority. Ezra is a hypocrite for stereotyping them all as thieves and con artists. It's like painting all Jews as money grubbing.....or all Scots as sheep shaggers based solely on the predilections and depredations of Clan Donald.

[raydan]

Jonny_C Jonny_C:

I did not see the original program where the slurs were made, but I watched the apology Levant (and his editor) made for the Roma slurs. I don't see how the apology could have been more complete.

I'm tempted to say that those who did not find the apology sufficient might do so just on the grounds of not liking Levant in the first place.

Being able to say you're sorry after the fact doesn't give you permission to say what you want in the first place. Try that with your wife and get back to us.

[ShepherdsDog]

preemptive apologies are a requirement for a happy marriage

[raydan]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

preemptive apologies are a requirement for a happy marriage

"preemptive apology"... is that another way to say "jewelry"?

[ShepherdsDog]

spa bookings, massages, flowers, dinners out......

[Jonny_C]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Well, I'd argue that the best time to declare yourself an "anti-racist activist" is not when you are being forced to apologize for being a racist. And based on that, I'd further argue the same as you--if you actually think that apology was fulsome, then that could well be on the grounds that you like the guy to start with.

You could, but I hope I'm being more objective. I don't much care for Levant.

I don't know if I subscribe to the idea that once you make a mistake there is no way you can atone for it.

[Jonny_C]

raydan raydan:

Being able to say you're sorry after the fact doesn't give you permission to say what you want in the first place. Try that with your wife and get back to us.

No, it doesn't. Much better not to make the mistake in the first place.

My wife has taught me as well as I'm sure yours has.

[raydan]

Jonny_C Jonny_C:

raydan raydan:

Being able to say you're sorry after the fact doesn't give you permission to say what you want in the first place. Try that with your wife and get back to us.

No, it doesn't. Much better not to make the mistake in the first place.

My wife has taught me as well as I'm sure yours has.

That's what I mean... I think that some radio and TV personalities give themselves the permission to say whatever they want because they know they can just apologize later.

[Zipperfish]

Jonny_C Jonny_C:

You could, but I hope I'm being more objective. I don't much care for Levant.

I don't know if I subscribe to the idea that once you make a mistake there is no way you can atone for it.

From my point of view, refraining from aggrandizing himself as a "anti-racist activist" while having to apologize for being a racist would have been prudent.

That said, I dion't particualrly buy that you "don't much care for Levant" based on your indefatigable defence of him on these boards. But on the other hand, I have to admit I strongly dislike what he does (which in my opinion, is try to bring the ugly rancour of current American politics to Canada). So I'm willing to concede that you may well be more objective on the subject than I am.

[Jonny_C]

raydan raydan:

That's what I mean... I think that some radio and TV personalities give themselves the permission to say whatever they want because they know they can just apologize later.

But a lot of them don't apologize. And ones that have said something truly outrageous often seem to find that an apology isn't good enough, that public outrage has yanked the plug on them.

[raydan]

In that case, the apology wasn't good enough for me.

[BartSimpson]

raydan raydan:

In that case, the apology wasn't good enough for me.

What about a pound of flesh? Would that satisfy you?

[Jonny_C]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

From my point of view, refraining from aggrandizing himself as a "anti-racist activist" while having to apologize for being a racist would have been prudent.

I can't fault your reasoning on that one.

$1:

That said, I dion't particualrly buy that you "don't much care for Levant" based on your indefatigable defence of him on these boards. But on the other hand, I have to admit I strongly dislike what he does (which in my opinion, is try to bring the ugly rancour of current American politics to Canada). So I'm willing to concede that you may well be more objective on the subject than I am.

What you call "indefatigable" was agreeing with him on a couple of issues, and being supportive of the idea of him having a voice that is outside of the comfortable mainstream.

I like what he represents - a shake-'em-up perspective that we don't often hear. I don't like his style and demeanor. Listening to him for more than a few minutes is a chore. I'd rather read a transcript, such as the Globe included in their article linked above.

[Zipperfish]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

raydan raydan:

In that case, the apology wasn't good enough for me.

What about a pound of flesh? Would that satisfy you?

Refusal by the CRTC for Sun News "mandatory carriage" would satisfy just fine.

[Jonny_C]

raydan raydan:

In that case, the apology wasn't good enough for me.

As it no doubt will be insufficient for a lot of people.

Whether he contained the damage will be another thing.

I wonder if he will take up Ms. Csanyi-Robah on her offer:

$1:

Ms. Csanyi-Robah said she would invite Mr. Levant to a film screening on Thursday in Toronto to learn about the plight of the Roma in Europe, and said if he was serious about wanting to learn she would be willing to go on his show to set the record straight.