Morningside
Who is Mordecai Richler speaking for anyway?
Broadcast Date: April 1, 1992
Speak for yourself Richler – this is the message that Professor Patricia Smart and 24 other Canadian writers and intellectuals want on public record. They're upset that Richler's point of view about Quebec nationalism, expressed in Oh Canada! Oh Quebec!, is being commonly touted as the accepted anglophone stand. But others, including historian Michael Bliss, stand by Richler and applaud him for opening up the debate. CBC's Peter Gzowski moderates this lively debate.Who is Mordecai Richler speaking for anyway?
• The signatories of the letter included Maude Barlow, publisher James Lorimer, economist James Laxer, former MP Pauline Jewett, broadcaster and activist Judy Rebick and author Stephen Clarkson.• The letter stated, "We respect the right of artists to be critical of society, but in this case – in last year's New Yorker article on Quebec and in interviews related to his new book Oh Canada! Oh Quebec! – Richler has made statements that we fear will fuel prejudice and unjustified anger against Quebec in English Canada."
• In an interview with the Toronto Star published April 3, 1992, Richler said "I consider it presumptuous of them to think we were ever associated in the first place." He also added, "They're the usual rent-a-crowd. They write letters, that's all they're good at. I don't think these people understand what is really going on in Quebec."
Who is Mordecai Richler speaking for anyway?
Medium: Radio
Program: Morningside
Broadcast Date: April 1, 1992
Guest(s): Neil Bissoondath, Michael Bliss, Lenore Keeshig-Tobias, Heather Robertson, Patricia Smart, Rudy Wiebe
Host: Peter Gzowski
Duration: 16:21
Last updated:
July 7, 2003
Who is Mordecai Richler speaking for anyway?.
The CBC Digital Archives Website.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: July 7, 2003.
[Page consulted on Feb. 16, 2012.]