Oh I think you'll like this bookhohaiyeeJanuary 31 2009, 14:55:55 UTC
It was definitely entertaining, though at times, the author reminded me a bit of one of those "Snape Wives", I credit her diligence in digging up so many delightful details about John A's very interesting his life.
Just take what you read with a grain of salt. As much as I giggle about the Frank Muttart detail, until it got to the part where Frank threatened to harm JAM at least, I'll need to see the sauce. Won't be the first time someone made something up to spice up a historical account.
Re: Oh I think you'll like this bookhohaiyeeJanuary 31 2009, 21:05:08 UTC
So far Google has FAILED me. I have nothing to go on other than his name. If it's true, I find it somewhat curious that John A would have kept the letters, or that Dr.Muttart would have, as incriminating as they are (homosexuality being illegal at the time).
It occurs to me that I MIGHT ask one of those research librarians at Toronto Reference Library...but how would I go about voicing my request? "Oh hai, so I want to look up this Frank Muttart, who's the son of Nova Scotian MP Dr.Muttart...and oh, if he wrote any lewd love letters to John A. Macdonald!"
Was she referring to First Nations as Indians within the context of Status Indians or the Indian Act? If so, then it's appropriate, albeit still mildly offensive.
And, sigh, yes. It's irritating that people still think that Riel was a traitor, but it's not surprising, coming from an author who seems to be fangirling over Sir. John A. It does seem to deserve a read though.
Definitely a fangirlhohaiyeeJanuary 31 2009, 15:04:10 UTC
Nope, the Status Indians or the Indian Act wasn't mention at all, I got a very patronizing feeling from her. Particularly that account from the Natives asking John A when the government promised rations would arrive, and John A told them that the government only promised them seeds, because the government expected them to work for their food like white man. From the context of the entire book, it seemed like the natives were portrayed as a Silly People. Dude, it's not unreasonable for the Natives to expect rations instead of just seeds, farming take adjustable and is prone to failure in the beginning, and if we were to do this whole thing all over again, helpful whiteys should have been sent over to help them farm at first, much like how the Natives sent their people over to make sure that Cartier's settlement didn't die of scurvy.
Author was totally a fangirl, to the level of "Snape Wives" even... In her defense, in the context of the time, he sure is fangirlworthy. John A seem like the most adorable PM of them all
( ... )
Re: Definitely a fangirlpyroclasticgrubJanuary 31 2009, 15:55:00 UTC
it seemed like the natives were portrayed as a Silly People
Considering the current political climate in which marginalized and disenfranchised people (people of colour, women, etc...) are being blamed for their own misfortune, this is also not surprising. And it's unfortunate because I'm fairly certain I have an entire library of textbooks that suggests that Aboriginal peoples in the Americas were anything but silly. It's too bad that someone publishing in 2006 hasn't read them.
Comments 11
(The comment has been removed)
Just take what you read with a grain of salt. As much as I giggle about the Frank Muttart detail, until it got to the part where Frank threatened to harm JAM at least, I'll need to see the sauce. Won't be the first time someone made something up to spice up a historical account.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
It occurs to me that I MIGHT ask one of those research librarians at Toronto Reference Library...but how would I go about voicing my request? "Oh hai, so I want to look up this Frank Muttart, who's the son of Nova Scotian MP Dr.Muttart...and oh, if he wrote any lewd love letters to John A. Macdonald!"
Reply
And, sigh, yes. It's irritating that people still think that Riel was a traitor, but it's not surprising, coming from an author who seems to be fangirling over Sir. John A. It does seem to deserve a read though.
Reply
Author was totally a fangirl, to the level of "Snape Wives" even... In her defense, in the context of the time, he sure is fangirlworthy. John A seem like the most adorable PM of them all ( ... )
Reply
Considering the current political climate in which marginalized and disenfranchised people (people of colour, women, etc...) are being blamed for their own misfortune, this is also not surprising. And it's unfortunate because I'm fairly certain I have an entire library of textbooks that suggests that Aboriginal peoples in the Americas were anything but silly. It's too bad that someone publishing in 2006 hasn't read them.
Reply
Leave a comment