Reeling from the revelation that an NDP cabinet minister put his racist beliefs down in writing, the government of Manitoba went directly to Premier Greg Selinger's primary defences --- smear and intimidation. But when the brave women on the board of Osborne House, the women's shelter that uncovered the racist email sent by Deputy Premier Eric Robinson, refused to buckle under Selinger's contemptible attacks, the NDP had to come up with a Plan B. Plan B : when caught red-handed espousing racism, redefine racism . Problem solved. A week ago Selinger claimed Robinson had apologized (he didn't) and the NDP caucus , including former journalist and perennial prop Erin Selby, cabinet ministers Flor Marcelino, Kevin Chief, and abused ex-wife Kerri Irwin-Ross, clapped like trained seals in support of Robinson's right to express his racism against white people as long as the public didn't find out about it. This week, it was dif...
The origin of the Usher of the Black Rod goes back to early fourteenth century England . Today, with no royal duties to perform, the Usher knocks on the doors of the House of Commons with the Black Rod at the start of Parliament to summon the members. The rod is a symbol for the authority of debate in the upper house. We of The Black Rod adopted the symbol to knock some sense and the right questions into the heads of Legislators, pundits, and other opinion makers.