London Drives out a Daughter

Herman Goodden writes a thought-provoking column in the London Free Press about the cold shoulder shown to Dianne Haskett, when she returned to her hometown to run in the November federal by-election:

Her parents met when they both were working at that most quintessential of London institutions, London Life. She can trace her family's London roots back six generations and from early on, left her mark on this city she loves. She was the youngest student ever granted entrance to UWO's law school with a BA at the age of 19. She established her own law firm here in 1980. She served on London city council for three terms from 1991 to 2000 -- the last two as mayor.

She had spent periods away from London and Canada before, studying advanced law in the U.S. and England. When she headed south in 2000, Haskett said she intended to come back in about five years and might re-enter political life. And she was as good as her word.

While losing an election was a new experience for her, she's coming to terms with that. What she can't accept is the narrow-minded arrogance of some of her townspeople who believe anyone who goes away for a while to broaden their horizons is some kind of civic traitor.

They didn't have to vote for her, but couldn't she have been treated with more respect? I remember the newspaper articles at the time--she was portrayed as some kind of a foreigner.

The country seems to accept a French citizen as Leader of the Opposition, and after a 27-year absence, one of his leadership rivals parachuted into Toronto from America just fine. I wonder what happened in London?

HT: NNW

Jon N

Posted by Jon N at January 9, 2007 12:12 PM