Feigning ignorance can no longer be an excuse for politicians

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Editor’s Note: This article contains mentions of violence including death, genocide, and bombing. If you or someone you know needs help or support, the HealthLink BC hotline is 811, or the 24/7 Wellness Together hotline is 1-866-585-0445. Help is available, please reach out. 

Selina Robinson has been “let go” from her role as British Columbia’s minister of post-secondary education and future skills. On Jan. 30, Robinson attended an online panel hosted by B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish-Canadian advocacy group, where she made disparaging and racist statements about Palestine, citing Israel was established on “a crappy piece of land.” 

“They don’t understand that it was a crappy piece of land with nothing on it. You know, there were several hundred thousand people but other than that, it didn’t produce an economy. It couldn’t grow things it didn’t have anything on it, and that it was the folks that were displaced that came and had been living there for generations and together they worked hard and they had their own battles,” Robinson said. 

Robinson has since apologized twice, and on Feb. 5, Premier David Eby announced she had stepped down from her cabinet position. It was later revealed that Eby made the final decision about her ministerial role. 

I remember hearing about Robinson “stepping down” from her cabinet position, but remaining in the NDP caucus. Fifteen minutes later, The Globe and Mail broke the story of her resignation. It made me think about what could happen in a matter of 15 minutes.

In 15 minutes, four people die in Gaza. In 15 minutes, nine people are injured in Gaza. In 15 minutes, 10 bombs are dropped on Gaza, a homeland that is not “a crappy piece of land with nothing on it.”

I’d like to preface that I am not Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim, and I have no connection to the land of Palestine itself. I am, however, a part of the communities that have and continue to face oppression, violence, and the repercussions of genocide. 

I am Sikh and Punjabi. My home, Punjab, was partitioned in two by the British in their role as a colonial power and aggressor in India. As a person of colour, it is horrifying to see fellow people of colour being dehumanized and ignored. 

It’s absolutely appalling to have someone in a position of power abuse their platform, but it’s not a concept Robinson is unfamiliar with. 

Last month, Robinson got involved in the firing of a Langara College instructor, Natalie Knight, after she described Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack as an “amazing, brilliant offensive.” 

Knight was reinstated as an instructor, but fired days later after Robinson got involved. The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) accused Robinson of wrongfully intervening in Knight’s termination, and called for her resignation. 

If Robinson is going to get other people terminated from their positions for their comments, it should come as no surprise that she can be terminated for hers. It’s a two-way street, and it seems she’s forgotten that. 

It’s also harmful to perpetuate the mindset that being pro-Palestine is inherently anti-semetic. This rhetoric has travelled its course in conversations and the media, and it’s time to put it to rest. 

Supporting Palestinians both in and outside of their homeland is not anti-semetic, because it does not incite violence or hate towards Jewish people. Rather, it calls for justice and to uplift Palestinians. If someone believes the opposite, it just means they see Palestinian existence as a problem to be removed, excavated, and have vacation homes and hotels built on top of. 

White politicians are often forgiven for racist comments and actions, with a simple apology that helps no one and does nothing to protect the communities they’ve harmed. In comparison, people of colour have to be excellent and perfect all the time, even if their white counterparts are not. 

Sarah Jama was removed from the NDP caucus in the Ontario provincial legislature because of her comments in support of Palestine. Jama is a disabled Muslim woman of colour, and she was terminated without question following her comments. 

Jama’s comments only prove how much people of colour, especially in public spaces, are criticized for actions their white counterparts can get away with. Robinson is yet another example of how white mediocrity, fragility, and ignorance will not be tolerated just because someone is “sorry” and “didn’t mean it that way.” 

Ignorance is power, and it is no longer acceptable. Do better Robinson.