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“What the hell are you doing?”
“Have you ever misplaced your f–king thoughts?”
These have been two messages amongst a number of hundred we acquired over the weekend prematurely of a particular cross-border version of Cross Nation Checkup.
Our long-running Sunday nationwide call-in present hosted by Ian Hanomansing isn’t usually a flashpoint of controversy, although it has actually tackled tough and divisive matters up to now, giving a voice to a variety of views from common Canadians from throughout the nation.
However this particular version, which was co-hosted by Jeremy Hobson and simulcast on NPR stations and C-SPAN throughout the U.S., was an outrage for many individuals — in Canada at the least — earlier than a single phrase had been spoken on air.
What prompted the anger (and, in a number of circumstances, startling claims CBC was engaged in “treason,” “sedition” and “betrayal”) have been two issues: this system’s title and the proposed query to the viewers.
This system title, “51st State: A Cross-Border Dialog,” angered a lot of individuals who felt it legitimized the thought of annexation of Canada by america. Some referred to as it clickbait; others felt it advised CBC was “platforming” U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated and hostile mocking of Canadian sovereignty as a reputable coverage proposal worthy of debate and consideration.
That is by no means what was supposed. As common listeners to Cross Nation Checkup know, this system asks its listeners to answer newsy matters and questions. They usually do, usually with nice ardour and private tales that shed new mild on the information of the day and the way it impacts common individuals who do not usually get a microphone.
The producers of Sunday’s present not solely wished to floor the good swell of upset and altering views about america which have washed over Canada within the weeks for the reason that new administration started threatening Canada with tariffs and takeover, in addition they wished to open a channel to common Individuals so individuals on each side of the border might hear from one another with out politicians within the combine.
The way in which the unique query to the viewers was framed — “What does Canada because the 51st state imply to you?” — additionally upset a lot of CBC followers who seen it as legitimizing an concept anathema to the overwhelming majority of Canadians. Once more, this was not the producers’ intent. They rapidly adjusted and altered the query to: “What do you consider Trump’s feedback about Canada changing into the 51st state?”
There are essential classes in all of this in regards to the precision of language, the framing of questions and the challenges of conveying advanced concepts when you have got just a few phrases to make use of in a program title or description. There are additionally classes about how good intent could be derailed by phrase alternative.
The flood of heated complaints by individuals who had not but heard this system can be an fascinating litmus check of the state of our nation: many Canadians are apparently so fed up by Trump’s 51st state rhetoric, they may now not tolerate it and significantly worry it being given a severe airing.
As for this system itself, the producers and I imagine it was a wholly worthwhile train. They opened the present by addressing the controversy head-on. As Hanomansing mentioned, “There is not any query that the unique present query … struck a nerve. It was by no means our intent to normalize the concept that Canada would ever change into the 51st state.”
“We’re very cautious about how we do a program like this. We’re not in any manner endorsing what Trump has been saying,” he mentioned. “The entire level of our present … is to listen to what these of you who’re listening and watching need to [say]. This can be a place the place individuals can converse out on points the place politicians up till now have been doing a lot of the speaking.”
And this system did simply that. It surfaced all of those views and tough feelings, permitting Canadians and Individuals to listen to from one another at a pivotal, historic second in our relationship. Mentioned one caller from Salt Lake Metropolis, “Thanks for having the present. I discover it actually fascinating to listen to from Canadians.”
I encourage you to hear and/or watch — after which make up your personal thoughts:
LISTEN | Cross Country Checkup
WATCH ON YOUTUBE | Your thoughts on Trump’s ‘Canada as the 51st state’ comments | Cross Country Checkup
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