World is watching the Fords

No, it hasn’t been the best week for the Ford brothers. Turns out, when you allegedly make a rude gesture to a family in a vehicle or insult a literary icon, the world notices.

In a week that saw the Fords’ antics noted at home, the national wires delivered the stories across the country. Calgarians read about it, too, in between mentions of their own city council approving a poet laureate and selecting a final location for a new $225 million library, with potential plans to add on a museum, gallery and theatre.

But literary expansion doesn’t get the same ink as a literary rumble. Just ask Doug Ford, who found himself the subject of a Guardian article.

Here’s the damage:

Guardian’s Hugh Muirenlightens Britons on Doug Ford:

“In Canada they have Doug Ford, a representative in Toronto. He’s a real toughie. He was asked: would you be willing to close a library to save money? “Absolutely I would, in a heartbeat,” he replied. And what of attempts by the celebrated author Margaret Atwood to keep threatened libraries open? “Good luck to Margaret Atwood,” said Doug. “I don’t even know her. She could walk right by me, I wouldn’t have a clue who she is. She’s not down here, she’s not dealing with the problem. Tell her to go run in the next election and get democratically elected.” Doug would thrive within Big Dave’s coalition, don’t you think?”

Ottawa Citizen’s David Reevely on Councillor Doug Ford:

“Being dumped on by iPhone-wielding intellectuals for not being sufficiently familiar with and respectful toward the woman who wrote The Handmaid’s Tale is a really good day for him.”

Melville House Publishing, Brooklyn, on the spat between Ford and Atwood:

“What’s important to note in this story, besides the level of anti-intellectualism achieved by Councilman Doug Ford, is that this is exactly the kind of heedless and uninformed decision-making involved in library cuts … But apparently the art of tactful response just doesn’t run in the Ford family.”

Tommy Schnurmacher, News Talk Radio CJAD 800 AM, Montreal:

“I am not generally in the habit of paying much attention — make that any attention — to comments made by Toronto city councillors. However, one particular comment has raised eyebrows from what Peter Mansbridge likes to describe as “coast to coast to coast.” While discussing the possible closing of some local Toronto libraries as part of Toronto budget cuts, rookie councillor Doug Ford made a remark that I am convinced will go down in the annals of Canadian literature. Doug noted that he had no clue who the sainted Margaret Atwood was! He went so far as to say he wouldn’t know her if she walked by him … I am left with a gnawing melancholy about poor Mr. Ford. What can one really say of a life lived without ever having been exposed to any of Margaret Atwood’s prodigious literary output?”

Origin
Source: Toronto Star