The Human Condition: Invasion

By Daniel Schnee on March 2, 2022.

Andriy is a friend of mine living in Kyiv, Ukraine. He is a brilliant, innovative abstract artist and jovial free spirit. He is also willing to take the free AKM assault rifle he was given recently by his government, and risk death defending his country against Russian invaders. Andriy should be up to his usual painting and merriment, but an evil tyrant named Vladimir Putin has decided to try to build his own little version of the old Soviet Union by attacking Ukrainians.

Putin has made this intention clear for years through his dealings with southwestern Slavic countries, and increased cyberattacks on various institutions. But you wouldn’t have known it from American pundit Candace Owens’ tweet on Feb. 18, when she stated we all should “STOP talking about Russia. Send American troops to Canada to deal with the tyrannical reign of Justin Trudeau Castro…” and later retweeting references to Trudeau as Hitler.

Her message? Ignore Putin while he amassed troops along the Ukrainian border at that time, to instead focus on a proposed American invasion into Canada to topple a democratically elected leader. Our national legislature approved the Emergencies Act. It was voted upon democratically. I am no fan of Trudeau, but suggesting he is Hitler and we Canadians are in great need of a proto-Nazi invasion tells you everything you need to know about Owens herself.

The West tried and failed to placate Hitler before he invaded Poland on a pretext. The West tried and failed to placate Putin before he invaded the Crimean Peninsula and now Ukraine on a pretext. Justin Trudeau was democratically voted in, then legally used and dropped the Emergencies Act as promised, with approval from the House of Commons and the vast majority of Canadians. Candace Owens makes money acting as if the three men are of type.

Why would she say such things? Because a certain idea of freedom mixed with ochlocracy sells: blind, raging patriotism is easily guided by inflammatory news programming laced with targeted advertising. A popular conservative like Owens makes her living by appearing in media where pseudo-moralistic patriotism – by a miraculous coincidence – sells a huge number of conservative products.

But this is not a game. Owens is in a sense playing with Andriy’s life. Ukrainian children have died because of Putin’s lust for a new Soviet-style regime that recalls his days as a KGB agent with a reputation for wire garroting. This all is not just an idea for Owens to profit from. Andriy may actually be dead by the time this column is published. His family stands to lose a loved one; Owens stands to gain a cheque.

I hate Owens’ language. But like Andriy I prefer humour to dark thoughts and ill will. Therefore, I will paraphrase Owens’ words and suggest the following: barring a full apology I think Candace Owens should have to wear a Habs jersey at the arena in Toronto the next time Montreal sends the Canadiens to deal with the Leafs. I would say she must do so twice… but I am not a tyrant.

Dr. Daniel Schnee is a cultural anthropologist and jazz drummer.

9
-8