Dick Pound: "Canada was a land of Savages" - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ronald Pagan · 10-22-2008, 07:32 AM

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...l_gam_mostview

Quote:

The furor stems from comments attributed to Mr. Pound in the La Presse newspaper, defending the holding of the Summer Olympics in Beijing despite China's human-rights record.
“We must not forget that 400 years ago, Canada was a land of savages, with scarcely 10,000 inhabitants of European descent, while in China, we're talking about a 5,000-year-old civilization,” he told the paper.

Superflyer · 10-22-2008, 07:40 AM

He is an idiot and I take what he says with less then a grain of salt. He tries so hard to get in the news that he says dumb things and tries to create contrivorsy.
Plus from that the main glaring point is that was then and this is now, sure maybe we will look back in 400 years and go remember when China were jerks to their own people, ha ha ha yea I remember that. But right now is diffrent

Rathji · 10-22-2008, 07:41 AM

wow, the stupidity of some people amazes me.

IgnitedSoul · 10-22-2008, 07:44 AM

Any one else think about that Disney song that goes, "Savages, savages, barely even human!" ....Anyone? ...No? ...Okay.

Just skimmed the article though, and he says it was 'taken out of context' and he apologizes.... but it's still a pretty bone-headed comment. Natives had social structure... not one with 5000 years behind it, but absolutely, they were not 'savages'.

Meanwhile, none of my words apply to Edmonton. Carry on, that is all.

ken0042 · 10-22-2008, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IgnitedSoul

Just skimmed the article though, and he says it was 'taken out of context' and he apologizes.... but it's still a pretty bone-headed comment. Natives had social structure... not one with 5000 years behind it, but absolutely, they were not 'savages'.

I can see how it could be taken out of context. Prior to Europeans coming over- what stage were the Native North Americans at? Stone age? or were they up to Bronze age?

Keeping in mind how words can change over time- 40 years ago to refer to somebody in the stone age as a savage was as acceptable as it was 20 years ago to call somebody with a mental disability "######ed." Heck- even Fred Flintstone referred to Indians as "savages" back then.

Is it a correct term to use today- no. We are more enlightened now. But what he was trying to get across was the difference between the two civilizations at that point in history.

Lithium · 10-22-2008, 08:11 AM

Nobody has said anything about his name yet? Really?

Locke · 10-22-2008, 08:12 AM

"Dick Pound" is something a male stripper would take for a stage name.

jtfrogger · 10-22-2008, 08:14 AM

In general, I think that Dick Pound has fewer intelligent things to say than Sean Avery.

Resolute 14 · 10-22-2008, 08:16 AM

I don't know or care if he was born here, but given he has a British sounding name, I say we deport him to England.

The guy is a moron and a consistent embarrassment to Canada within the IOC.

habernac · 10-22-2008, 08:43 AM

he was a joke running WADA and continues to be a joke. He shouldn't be aloowed to speak publicly. He can't help but make an ass of himself.

You Need a Thneed · 10-22-2008, 08:47 AM

The man is an embarrasment to Canada. Can we strip his citizenship? Everytime he speaks, I cringe.

Hack&Lube · 10-22-2008, 09:25 AM

Why he ever think it was a good idea to go with "Dick" Pound officially instead of Richard is beyond me.

JD · 10-22-2008, 11:07 AM

OK, first I'll make it clear that in the context presented, it is a reprehensible and offensive comment.

But to play a little devils advocate, if the paper was in France and called "La Presse", wouldn't it all have been in French and therefore in perhaps a context that us English-speakers wouldn't get? Words have different meanings and connotations when translated between languages and it may be easy to take something someone said in French and make the direct translation and come to, "OH MY!! Dick Pound called Natives savages!!"

I don't know if that's the case or not, but I think it's possible.

It's just way too stupid a thing to say for there not to be a reasonable explanation!

Though Dick Pound does have a history of saying stupid, outlandish things. Whether he says them to get attention or because he truly believes them, it would be nice if this guy didn't have to be associated with our fine nation.

ok, ok,....I get it · 10-22-2008, 11:18 AM

this comment on the article is awesome:

joe 6 pk from Canada writes: .

campbell ...

take a chill pill...

suck back a brewski ....

balance ....

campbell ....

pandering to soft on crime leftie vote ....

disgusting ....

reprehensible ....

contemptible ....

Muta · 10-22-2008, 12:41 PM

Wasn't there a 'Principal' Richard Pound in Stampede Wrestling a few years back?

Maybe that's where he lost a few screws upstairs. Too many wrestlers Pounding Dick over and over.

Boblobla · 10-22-2008, 12:45 PM

Edmonton is still full of savages 400 years later.

Tyler · 10-22-2008, 12:47 PM

Excuse me for my ignorance, but what main societal qualities differentiates a 'savage' from a typical 'indigenous native' 400 years ago?

RougeUnderoos · 10-22-2008, 12:49 PM

"Savages" is bad enough, but the other bit about "barely 10 thousand Europeans" is also pretty clever.

He's essentially saying "it was a terrible place, there were hardly any white people here".

Resolute 14 · 10-22-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD

It's just way too stupid a thing to say for there not to be a reasonable explanation!

You really underestimate our good friend richard.

Barnes · 10-22-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD

OK, first I'll make it clear that in the context presented, it is a reprehensible and offensive comment.

But to play a little devils advocate, if the paper was in France and called "La Presse", wouldn't it all have been in French and therefore in perhaps a context that us English-speakers wouldn't get? Words have different meanings and connotations when translated between languages and it may be easy to take something someone said in French and make the direct translation and come to, "OH MY!! Dick Pound called Natives savages!!"

I don't know if that's the case or not, but I think it's possible.

It's just way too stupid a thing to say for there not to be a reasonable explanation!

Though Dick Pound does have a history of saying stupid, outlandish things. Whether he says them to get attention or because he truly believes them, it would be nice if this guy didn't have to be associated with our fine nation.

I can't find the article to see the entire context of the comment but it is true that using 'les sauvages" is not the same as 'the savages'. It would be like having your grandfather say 'chinaman'. Not exactly a nice thing to call someone but it is far from the worst.

If anyone can find the original article, it would be helpful.