Nanaimo Daily News Article: Don Olsen


   I usually stay away from heavy political discussions and rhetoric in regards to this blog but since I read the original letter last night, I tossed and turned, my brain in overdrive, trying to figure out why another human being (that shares the same air, earth and living space with everyone else) would go out of their way to write such an unusually ignorant and uneducated letter. Yes people, we all have opinions and we are free to share these opinions, but really, why would a respectful newspaper publish this? Before I continue here is the article (link to the original article has now been pulled):

 


          Though it seems like a "letter to the editor" one can only assume by the title under the heading "Don Olsen, The Daily News" he is affiliated with Nanaimo Daily News. 

              To make matters worse this is not the first time this man has written letters to the paper: Pro-Pipeline Nanaimo News Bulletin Article. Aside from coming across as ignorant and racist, he is pro-pipeline (mere coincidence no?) I would love to hear from Don Olsen and have him explain where he gets his facts and what background he has that allows him to be such an expert on the history of First Nations. 

Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be white. I'm disappointed some people choose to write and say hateful, uneducated and disrespectful things and rectify their actions with the "Freedom of Speech" rhetoric. Have we not progressed past this point? We are all human, we all have to co-exist on the same earth and we are all in this together. Regardless of my opinion, I am shocked the Nanaimo Daily News made the decision to publish this piece and I believe the First Nations people deserve a public apology from Don Olsen and the Nanaimo Daily News. I will be boycotting this newspaper until they make their wrong right.

Today at noon there will be a protest at the Nanaimo Daily News headquarters on 2575 McCullough Rd. People are outraged and would like a full page retraction and public apology which I fully support. You can also visit the official Facebook Page for more information. 

You are also encouraged to write to the Nanaimo Daily News team if you would like to express your feelings and thoughts towards this: 

Editorial contact information:

Mark MacDonald, managing editor
mmacdonald@nanaimodailynews.com
250-729-4224

Andrea Rosato-Taylor, advertising manager
ARosato-Taylor@nanaimodailynews.com
250-729-4248
Fax: 250-729-4263

Les Gould, director of reader sales
LGould@nanaimodailynews.com
250-729-4223
Fax: 250-729-4256

Rachel Mason, business manager
RMason@nanaimodailynews.com
250-729-4269

You can also join in the conversation on Twitter, by tweeting to them at : Nanaimo Daily News
and using the hashtag #educatenanaimodaily 


One final note, let's put some energy into understanding and loving each other more. We all share this earth. We are all in this together. Respect your fellow human.

 

 
 

 

Comments

Anonymous said…
The paper retracted the letter and offered an apology: "The letter should not have run. We apologize for any distress this may have caused our readers."
http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=6df3c1d6-2eae-41b4-87cf-189347b5665e
March 28, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Anonymous said…
Anything to get together on a nice day?
March 28, 2013 at 12:57 PM
Anonymous said…
To little, to late. The newspaper has lost all respect from the first nations community. Along with thrifty foods advertising, and they used to publish the Ha-shilth-sa, which has since begun to seek another news printer.
March 28, 2013 at 5:10 PM
Anonymous said…
Too late to be sorry! In the world today where respect of other people's culture and their values is paramount. How can anyone ever take the Naimo Daily News seriously ever again? In fact, I would believe that an editor would try to print letters that have some merit. Obviously, I see no merit in printing this letter and can assume that it was only printed because of the shared values of the staff in charge of the Nanaimo Daily News.
Thanks, but no more is needed from your publication.
March 28, 2013 at 5:31 PM
Anonymous said…
Thank you for the contact emails for the Nanaimo News. I want to send them heartfelt kudos for printing this article. There was simply nothing racist about this article. It's too bad the paper backed down, due to pressure of printing one persons truths. The fact that Thrifty Foods pulled their adverstising, now that they are no longer island owned. I shall boycott Thrifties.
March 28, 2013 at 9:22 PM
s. said…
I never said I was "Ashamed" to be white. To be more clear for you Anonymous, I said I am sometimes embarrassed to be of the white privileged class when people act like Don Olsen. I am ashamed that the human race still feels ignorant enough to write a letter to the paper in this day of age. I am ashamed we are still judging each other on skin colour in 2013.

There are definite correlations between the Idle No More movement and being anti-pipeline, that cannot be disputed. This is what I am talking about.
March 29, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Les in Nanaimo said…
It would be most interesting ,and enlightening to see a point by point examination of "Don Olsen's " Letter. Perhaps Mr Olsen's letter could be responded to by an acceptably informed first Nations member and the statements examined for their accurasy or lack there of?

That would be an article that people would find informative and usefull in making their decision regarding the publishing of this article by the Paper. (IMHO)
March 29, 2013 at 10:25 AM
s. said…
I would love to see that as well, in light of the situation - some silver lining would be great!
March 29, 2013 at 11:09 AM
Anonymous said…
point by point examination:
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Stephen+Hume+Nasty+letter+about+aboriginal+achievements+provides+teaching+moment/8167622/story.html

point by point examination:
http://rosechristo.blogspot.ca/2013/03/don-olsen-racist-extraordinaire.html
March 29, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Anonymous said…
The Idle No More protest is actually funded, from the United States by the anti pipe line lobbyists. The Campaign was a brain child of great marketing that was heavily funded.
March 29, 2013 at 9:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Where did the official face book page go about the prostest?
March 29, 2013 at 10:15 PM
Unknown said…
This cartoon also aptly describes Canada-First Nations relations: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9407293
March 30, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Unknown said…
This cartoon could also aptly be describing Canada- First Nations relations: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9407293
March 30, 2013 at 9:45 AM
s. said…
The Facebook page is still active - try clicking on the link.
April 2, 2013 at 12:18 AM
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April 8, 2013 at 4:23 PM
Anonymous said…
I seldom comment, however I browsed a few of
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