Listener Mail

When the Toronto Symphony Orchestra cancelled two performances by pianist Valentina Lisitsa, art and politics collided. Ms. Lisitsa disapproves of the current government in Ukraine. Some of her tweets on the subject are graphic, even disturbing.

In Michael's opening remarks on the programme last week, he asked whether an artist should be denied access to the public because of something said or done which has no bearing on the art. Michael also said that the action by the TSO sets a dangerous precedent. Judging by our inbox, many of you disagree.

From Carolann Brewer in Toronto:

"I agree that the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's approach was a PR fiasco. I do not agree that they were suppressing political expression. I understand the firing was related to the content of the expression, which was not political commentary, but rather, was hate speech. I was shocked at the copies of the tweets, which seem not to have interested most reporters, including Michael Enright." 

From Mariza Teal in Toronto:

"Free speech is one thing, broadcasting remarks which incite hate against several groups of people should not be supported and I agree with the position taken by the TSO. I am disappointed that Enright was flippant and dismissive in his comments and did not represent the TSO's viewpoint accurately."

David Lowther, Crossfield:

"I fully defend the right to free speech, including Ms. Lisitsa's extreme comments and positions. But free speech does not mean freedom from consequence. The TSO, as Ms. Lisitsa's employer, has every right to choose not to engage her services based on her inflammatory comments. Ms. Lisitsa has every right to find other avenues to present her music. It's called freedom of speech and owning your words."

This is from Gloria Marcel in Toronto: 

"Should other professionals, say doctors or professors, be allowed to tweet their hostilities and hatred on-line against a certain group of people? Are you saying artists are above this?"

 A different view came from Gerta Woodberry in Cobble Hill, British Columbia:

"It is a shame to see an artist, Valentina Lisitsa, refused the opportunity to play to a sold-out house because of her political opinion. We still support freedom of speech - and freedom of thought. I ask myself how Justin Bieber, a youth with a few criminal charges to his name, is welcome in theatres across the country, as compared to Valentina Lisitsa."

Also last week, I spoke with Paul Rogers, professor of peace studies at the University of Bradford in the U.K., about Canada's decision to embark on an expanded campaign against ISIS, that will take us into the intractable civil conflict and humanitarian disaster that is Syria. We received many e-mails about that conversation, but one in particular, caught our eye. Heather Mitchell is a grade 12 high-school student from Ottawa. We invited her to come in to our CBC studio in Ottawa, to read it for us. Here's her letter:

 "While listening to this morning's discussion on Western intervention in the Middle East, I noticed questions such as, "How do we change? How do we get Canadians more politically involved? How do we return to a peacekeeping role, rather than acting as a U.S. war ally?"

"As someone who has spent their her entire life as part of the Canadian educational system, it is not surprising to me that Canadians are mostly indifferent when it comes to politics. Apart from being a generally wealthy and safe population, which in itself often leads to political disinterest, the most obvious problem to me is how devoid our public education system is of any sort of world issues, politics or current events discussion.

"From ages 5 to 18, the young people of Canada are being brought up in an environment largely devoid of any interaction with the rest of the world.

"We are not graduating with strong political knowledge, awareness, or any value for activism. There is generally no space or time during the school day to discuss what's in the news - what Canada is doing militarily, politically or socially, other world events, or even any current issues in our local communities.

"The result is that young people are being raised with the idea that these are not important or necessary to learn about, an attitude I think has a high chance of carrying into their adult lives.

"Along with the U.S., due to our power and wealth, we have the luxury of being apathetic citizens without dealing with the results. Largely, it seems to me, we export the consequences onto other, less powerful countries.

"As a young person now beginning to enter adult life, and soon eligible to vote in the next federal election, I feel wholly unprepared to participate in Canadian politics. Judging by Canada's abysmal youth voting numbers, I am not alone.

"Hearing the announcement of our plans to bomb Syria was the last straw of my country acting in ways I do not endorse. I do not feel proud to be a Canadian, when I hear of our government acting this way.

"However I feel lost and disconnected from any means of having my voice heard. I would be very interested in hearing how I, as a Canadian citizen, can learn more  about my country. As high school students, I think our contact with reality and the outside world, is limited to the point of being dangerous.

"I know as much as anyone how hard it is to convince young people to learn anything they are not interested in. I want to figure out how we might be able to change the culture of our public schools from one of disconnected, theoretical, text-book learning, to one of participation, involvement, and interest in Canada and the world."