Raise the Hammer

There is a thin line between standing up for what is right and confrontation.

When this line is tested by insidious events, it is better to err on the side of what is right and be accused of confrontation, than to appeal to 'peoples' finer ideals and miss a real opportunity to bring change.

There is always ample time after the dust settles, to analyze who did what wrong, to whom and why.

The Hamilton MSM is incapable of being 'peoples' friend - not because of the success or failure of its business model, but on account of its moral and ethical failure - which arises from its perceived business need to be "embedded" with what it considers to be the power structure.

The power structure had already shifted - to the 'people', much before the new-media was born - back when the Bastille was stormed. All the hard pulling was already done. French journalism has been acutely cognizant of this power shift for generations. Therein springs its youthfulness, vitality and relevance.

Our local MSM, unfortunately are the prisoners of their own device - with not many on the outside clamoring to storm the fortress.

The resulting irony is that even when events conspire to give the 'people' legitimately reasons to --save the prisoners from themselves-- the 'people' are afraid to cross the line, and choose to walk away, least they look un-mayoral.

Perpetually trapped in a world of solipsism – destiny is indeed cruel to the MSM.

Below is another conclusive proof of why Hamilton's MSM continues to be prisoners of their own device:

"Why don’t these people try and learn from journalists abroad before they go straight into practicing their craft on our community? Now... I don't mean to make light of those who seek to indulge in journalism locally. I’ve always said if you’ve got it, roll (with) it." ~ Sincere apologies to the author below, for borrowing his lines - least I be accused of plagiarism.

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From: Mahesh P. Butani, Sun, May 30, 2010 at 9:53 PM,

To: Mark Cripps, Managing Editor, Hamilton Community News

Hello Mark,

This is in connection to your opinion piece: "If you smoke weed, run for mayor".

I am frankly astounded that you have chosen to use words in reference to me - such as: "He is described as a teacher and architect by training. Not much else to tell you." !!
to describe my mayoral candidacy.

The description above which I found today to have been lifted off straight from a new Wikipedia page on the Hamilton Election!!

It is more surprising that this approach to journalism comes from someone who was the past chair of Hamilton Media Advisory - an organization whose express goals are:

"The council seeks to act as a bridge between local media and the community for issues surrounding diversity and race".

Keeping aside your moral responsibilities as the past chair of the Media Advisory -- just as the Managing Editor of a respectable community newspaper -- would it have been asking too much of you to have done some first hand verification of the background of a mayoral candidate that you were not familiar with?

Could not a personal call have been made by you to my phone number listed on the city election web site - in order to find out more about me - so you would not have to resort to using such a banal phrase such as: Not much else to tell you !!!!

Below is the email exchange with your very own journalist Kevin Werner - who only four weeks before your above article spent an hour and a half interviewing me on my mayoral candidacy - and who even shot a photograph of me after the interview.

So if you had shown any curiosity to get to know my political position or get more information about me -- you did not even have to call me. You could have just asked your own reporter in your office - and he would have easily provided you with the hour an half worth of notes on his discussions with me about my campaign.

If you are indeed a tool of the proverbial silent masters who has hired you for some money to parrot their political views with a journalistic flourish - then that is perfectly all right, as this too happens in society!!

But if for some reasons you do believe yourself to be a serious alternative to the mainstream press - with commitment to bringing unbiased truths to the community through your weekly paper -- then you do have a very serious legitimacy problem in light of your recent utterances below:

"As the media, we all need to do a better job in engaging the citizenry." ~ Mark Cripps

"People are generally cynical when it comes to politicians. However, having said that, how many people are willing to stand up and try and change the system by running for political office. People are generally lazy and the disconnect with politics has never been more apparent." ~ Mark Cripps

"I believe the future is ours. That is the theme I would suggest best identifies Hamilton. Also this is a welcoming city. Immigrants and newcomers are the best resource we can attract to live in this area. We should always pitch Hamilton as the place that welcomes diversity." ~ Mark Cripps

I am not seeking an explanation on how you form your opinions -- all I am hoping for from you is some reflection on the role you think you are playing in this community as a journalist.

It would be interesting to see how you propose to bring to reality your above utterances from here on!

Best,

Mahesh P. Butani

PS: You may want to check this out -- I have a reference to your article here - which you might find funny.

ALSO: if you ever develop a curiosity to get to know me better, but are afraid to do so -- I am including a brief background* which is more than six words !!

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*Brief Background - more that -six- words:!!

Mahesh P. Butani grew up in Bombay, in a third generation family of contractors & developers, and trained as an Architect in the late seventies, and subsequently taught architecture and environmental design. He traveled to New York city in the early eighties to pursue his Masters in Arts Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

He moved to downtown Hamilton in the mid nineties and attempted to pursue his career in architecture, but instead got involved in renovating old buildings in the core, as his foreign education and decades of international work experience was not recognized to be relevant in Ontario.

His personal efforts and determination in having foreign experience and qualifications recognized by professional organizations in Ontario, resulted in significant reform at the Ontario Association of Architects in 2003, with the unconditional removal of the discriminatory term "Canadian Experience" from all architects job listings - a terminology that was being until then freely used by the association for over three decades to blatantly exclude some of the best internationally experienced architects in Ontario from access to their profession and careers.

He has over the last fourteen years lived in Hamilton and worked on many revitalization projects in downtown Hamilton, and was the founder, director of the Downtown Arts Centre, and played a central role in securing private construction financing commitments for the Music Hall of Fame bid on Pier 8 based on a unique architectural design and site plan for the eight hectare land parcel on the waterfront. A design scheme and efforts that continues to be not acknowledged in public by the local media. He was also directly responsible for the re-branding of the former Spectator printing press building located in the downtown core into the FilmWorks Lofts project.

Butani continues to be passionately involved in many private sector initiatives that are working to rebuild the downtown core; and over the years has volunteered many hours of his time as a Director on the Boards of various organization such as the Threshold School of Building and Arts Hamilton; besides actively mentoring many professionals who moved to Hamilton over the years.

Butani understands and deeply appreciates the collaborative leadership skills that are required to continue rebuilding and maintaining vibrant, safe and healthy communities in Hamilton, and in his efforts to promote innovative collaborative approaches in our city, he has developed an on-line social network called Metropolitan Hamilton.

Mahesh P.Butani has also been a frequent contributor on local blogs: The Hamiltonian, and Raise the Hammer - where he writes about urban development, urban issues, city politics, the role of the local media, and the importance of Hamilton becoming a Learning City.

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