Diversity Dissected: Is Mayor Ford Getting Special Treatment?

Dwain Wellington Rattray
Pride Contributing Editor

A lack of commentary on the debacle that is Toronto’s current mayoralty has been a deliberate decision for this writer. With the latest incident – an admittedly drunk Mayor Ford who swore off alcohol, imitating a Jamaican accent – I now feel compelled to add my voice to the dialogue.

The often incoherent, profane, rant was to say the very least, offensive to public decency standards in general and to the office of chief legislator of the nation’s most populous city in particular.

Robert Bruce Ford was born on May 28, 1969 – for our purposes here, that is the extent to which I will personalize Rob Ford, Mayor of Toronto, one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Ford and his antics both personal and political are catalysts for garnering attention to the economical and racial disparities hidden within our society.

If as a public citizen I was photographed behind the steering wheel of my motor vehicle reading, or talking on my cell phone, what would happen? If I admitted to smoking crack cocaine would I now be sitting comfortably at my desk? What if police photographed me urinating behind a public school – would I be afforded the same liberties as Rob Ford? I will leave those questions for you to answer.

This is the reality of Toronto’s brand of diversity. He is different from us. We are often regaled with political platitudes touting the diversity that is Toronto; in truth, that diversity is frequently evident in the most painful of ways.

When everything is stripped away, all that remains is a man who is treated differently than any other person outside his socio-economic demographic would have been treated. Therein Toronto, lies your diversity.

Here, today – though it may be valid – I will not ask the question: “What if he was a black man?” It is sufficient to note that privilege has its place and its perks.

To be clear – and fair – charges may yet be levied against the man who admitted to smoking crack in a “drunken stupor”. One certainly can hope that after eight months of talking about a felony, the light of justice is at the end of the tunnel.

It is possible that the man who cavorted with persons of ill repute and alleged criminals will not be placed again at the helm of the city; that he will not be allowed to oversee spending of taxpayer’s dollars; it is possible that when the election ballots are counted, Ford will pass into memory as a one term mayor.

Ford Nation will argue that the man has delivered on his promises and has done a great job as mayor. I am not here to debate those topics. If a man unifies a nation, but drinks the blood of his enemies is he then a hero?

Our actions cannot be looked at through a microscope nor our accomplishments evaluated in a vacuum. Context is king. There is only one salient point – one burning question: “What of our precious diversity?”

Diversity cannot be used as a veil to cover indiscretions and grossly inappropriate behaviour. Diversity must be the tapestry used to truly embrace all socio-economic groups and continue the difficult work of weaving a tapestry of inclusion.

The myth of multiculturalism often hinted at is that all peoples are treated equally – there are those who know otherwise. There is still work to be done. In the quest for diversity, in understanding diversity, let us be careful that we do not treat one differently than the other.

Let us not fall prey to the deception of diversity.