114 replies to this topic

[M.Dancer]

Sun TV earned a record number of complaints over an interview with modern dancer Margie Gillis over why she has received 1.2 million in public funding over 13 years.

The interview is funny, not always intentionally. I didn't find it offensive....I assume that the complaints are by those who consider an attack of public funding of fringe culture to be an attack on civilization...

http://www.theglobea...article2078995/

http://www.sunnewsne...on/971454253001

http://www.theglobea...article2052345/

Personally, I have had modern dance inflicted on me...

[capricorn]

Sun TV earned a record number of complaints over an interview with modern dancer Margie Gillis over why she has received 1.2 million in public funding over 13 years.

No amount of quality programming could result in an increase in viewership than having thousands of complaints lodged against them accompanied by widespread media coverage. Sun TV is lapping it up.

Gillis' message is that interpretive dance will save us from something, what, I don't know. But she's been bringing us her message for some 39 years and over 1M dollars later, we still don't get it.

[August1991]

No amount of quality programming could result in an increase in viewership than having thousands of complaints lodged against them accompanied by widespread media coverage. Sun TV is lapping it up.

Gillis' message is that interpretive dance will save us from something, what, I don't know. But she's been bringing us her message for some 39 years and over 1M dollars later, we still don't get it.

I had the same impression. This woman (and her dance troupe) have received over $1.2 million from taxpayers during the past 13 years or so and she then claims that Canada is lacking compassion.

When people like Margie Gillis claim that taxpayers should support "the arts", it is hard not to see this as a self-serving argument that amounts to personal greed: she wants us to support her. She of course will deny that vehemently and claim that she is a generous, caring person who is sacrificing for the good of humanity etc, etc.

As to the complaints, I believe that the CBSC has received about 4000 complaints. Wow.

[msj]

I had the same impression. This woman (and her dance troupe) have received over $1.2 million from taxpayers during the past 13 years or so and she then claims that Canada is lacking compassion.

Did you bother to watch the interview or did you come up with this just like all those movies you like to complain about without watching?

[jacee]

Isn't 1.2m/13 years pretty small potatoes compared to oil sands subsidies?
It irks me greatly to see a company post 'profits' equal to its subsidies.

[Shakeyhands]

Yes, it is....

I was impressed with how rude the Sun host was, and was also impressed at how the dancer held her cool. If that is what can be expected out of that station, it would seem that I am lucky that I haven't subjected myself to more of it... along with the vast majority of other viewers.

[Moonlight Graham]

You can agree or disagree with the dancer's funding, but that interview was an utter garbage piece of journalism. The host completely ambushed her & very rudely ripped her apart. The dancer kept her composure and completed the interview gracefully.

[Michael Hardner]

When people like Margie Gillis claim that taxpayers should support "the arts", it is hard not to see this as a self-serving argument that amounts to personal greed: she wants us to support her.

While I know what you're getting at, I think the word 'greed' is misplaced here.

merriam-webster.com says "Definition of GREED

: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed"

Keeping in mind that this person wants to work for this money, but wants the government to augment what she would normally earn - the word GREED seems out of bounds. If you called everybody who gets protection or help from the government in this way, you could argue that a lot of people are greedy.

[Michael Hardner]

The other problem I have against this kind of story is that it hijacks a portion of the public energy - that COULD be used to consider priorities - and gives them a useless kind of moralistic entertainment. Finger wagging against people who skim off a couple of thousand.

Why don't we have a television show about eHealth ? If we're really so concerned about government waste, why do we only talk about it when it serves a human need ?

[BubberMiley]

The funny part is that the interview was conducted by Krista Erikson, who has been Shady's prime example of liberal bias at the CBC for many years.

[Boges]

Krista Erickson Rawx!!!!

I was clearly a set up interview, so she must have known what she was getting into. The topic was wasting taxpayer money.

I don't understand, arts is important just cuz? This lady is essentially a public servant. Cuz she makes her living off the taxpayers dime.

How is what she does good for the "collective"? Is she a Borg? Has anyone heard of her before this thread?

[BubberMiley]

Has anyone heard of her before this thread?

You never heard of Margie Gillis? She's been around since forever.

[Boges]

You never heard of Margie Gillis? She's been around since forever.

Signed,

The .0001% of the population that give two shets about modern and interpretive dance.

[M.Dancer]

Isn't 1.2m/13 years pretty small potatoes compared to oil sands subsidies?
It irks me greatly to see a company post 'profits' equal to its subsidies.

It is. And isn't modern interpretive dance nonsense, compared to the oil sands?

[August1991]

You can agree or disagree with the dancer's funding, but that interview was an utter garbage piece of journalism. The host completely ambushed her & very rudely ripped her apart. The dancer kept her composure and completed the interview gracefully.

This dancer takes $1.2 million from taxpayers, has the audacity to claim that we are lacking in compassion while simultaneously arguing that she is contributing to humanity - and then you criticize a journalist for simply raising the question.

There are a long line of moochers in Canada and it is time that somebody started to call them to account.

----

I know that Margie Gillis does not perceive herself as a thief but once you get by all the artsy-fartsy, helping humanity, what's teh difference?

While I know what you're getting at, I think the word 'greed' is misplaced here.

merriam-webster.com says "Definition of GREED

: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed"

Keeping in mind that this person wants to work for this money, but wants the government to augment what she would normally earn - the word GREED seems out of bounds. If you called everybody who gets protection or help from the government in this way, you could argue that a lot of people are greedy.

MH, I am tired of people (such as Gillis) who claim to be doing something good for society at great personal sacrifice when in fact they benefit personally.

It's like an artist who decries the "balance sheet mentality" of society while applying for a Canada Council grant. It's self-serving, hypocritical and, yes, greedy.