Posts with the People’s Party of Canada tag

Barris Beat

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Written by Ted Barris on . Leave a comment
Full house at Cosmos candidates debate – minus one.

An acquaintance from Aurora contacted me the other day. He explained that one of the local riding associations planned a question-and-answer session with political candidates contesting in the current federal election. He knew that the Uxbridge Cosmos had just staged a forum.

“I know that the golden rule of moderating is try to be invisible,” he said. “But do you have any tips for me?”

“I think you’ve got it,” I answered. “Be firm. Be fair. But at the same time, as much as possible, stay out of the way.” (more…)

Barris Beat

Can we all just get along?

Written by Ted Barris on . Leave a comment
Rodney King asking what seemed the impossible in May 1992.

It goes back 30 years, but I remember this solemn-faced man stepping toward a news camera in May 1992. He was neatly dressed in a jacket and tie. But he looked drawn, upset and extremely nervous. The man chose his words carefully. He looked into the lens and in the most genuine of expressions offered a simple statement and an even simpler question:

“It’s not right. And it’s not going to change anything. Can we all just get along?” he asked.

The man was Rodney King, the African-American construction worker who’d been beaten by four Los Angeles police officers in what they called an arrest for a suspected drunk driving offence in March 1991. (more…)