Here's a real shit show, mostly for you, Acajack. Recorded bits of this and pieced it together as part of our little conversation above.
It's Margaret Wente's time in the hot seat on Crosstalk, CBC's competitor to all of the radio call-in shows on VOCM. Crosstalk is the least popular of them all, but it still has a decently-sized audience.
So, I edited out most of the show. The vast majority of calls were some version of, "I forgive her, but I don't forget what she wrote 10 years ago. However, this change is welcome, and if you come back to Newfoundland again, stop in for a tea or beer." The calls I chose are definitely not that, but keep in mind the above was the overall tone.
So, starts with Wente articulating what we're always saying
Really nice to have someone who was previously so ignorant about us really get it.
Then it goes to first unforgiving call.
Then... Labrador really is for us what we are for Canada. A call from a man up there talking about campaigns to get the Canadian flag raise (even guarding it at provincial buildings) during our whole conflict with Ottawa when they were all turned down. The man sums up the Labrador sentiment perfectly: we want to be part of Canada, preferably without Newfoundland.
And then another call, this one reverse prejudiced. He's rude regarding mainlanders and Toronto.
So, a real shit show, but a lovely insight into the regional divisions, within one province and Canada as a whole.
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I always wonder if a show like this is possible in, say, Australia? Or New Zealand? I think it would be in the United States, though perhaps not to the same degree.
(An aside, the host of Crosstalk is ridiculed here for her pompous accent, sounding too fake. Meanwhile, Margaret Wente has a perfectly engaging, genuine voice. I wish she was the host).
(Also, it's not lost on me that our seeming obsession with what other people think of us is a very Canadian trait).