“Last week, I discovered that the nature of things can be extremely unpleasant when you challenge the wisdom of the arrogant.I was attending a reception when suddenly the host of CBC TVs The Nature Of Things was in my face.”I want to talk to you!” a red-faced and agitated David Suzuki said, finger pointing at my chest.”You have no right to demonize me!” he yelled, causing people around us to back away.”
No, that’s not Suzuki yelling at a Sun News Network reporter but hollering instead at the Adrian Dix-supporting, left-leaning columnist for 24 Hours and The Tyee Bill Tieleman. (I quite like Bill’s commentary and reporting, BTW, and he’s generous enough with his time to share some of that with me often on my Sun News Network show Battleground). Some might have received the apparently incorrect impression that the experience of my colleague Jessica Hume from earlier this week was unique to her because she’s a Sun Media reporter and Sun Media employs Ezra Levant and Ezra is, to say the least, no fan of Suzuki.
But no, it’s not just us apparently. Read Bill’s account, from 2009, mind you – “How I Demonized David Suzuki” right down to the end where Suzuki swears at him.
But it’s not just us journalists who sometimes suffer Suzuki’s ire. Sometimes it’s his fans, too.
Here’s fan Jenn Carson, in a letter to the editor in the Moncton Times Transcript published on Nov. 24, 2010, talking about her experience trying to — gasp! — ask Suzuki a question:
David Suzuki disappointing
To The Editor:
On Saturday, Nov. 20 I went to see David Suzuki speak in Moncton at the Green Home Builder’s Show. I was hoping to ask him during the question period that normally follows these types of talks for advice on how to help me promote environmentalism to my group of largely apathetic students at Hampton High School, where I am the librarian.
Unfortunately, there was no question period. Directly following Dr. Suzuki’s speech, where he emphatically urged the audience to form strong interpersonal connections with their neighbours, family and local ecology, there was a book signing. I waited until the line was gone before I approached. I did not purchase any books, since I either have them at home, or have read them through our public library service. There was only one other man at the table, talking about a Prius, and he stopped and said he should go since I was waiting. Dr. Suzuki said it was alright since there was “no one there.”
I assumed since he was 75, perhaps his eyesight was poor and he did not see me. When the man left, I approached Dr. Suzuki.
He looked up and said, “book?” I said I didn’t have one but I wanted to ask him a question. He said, “I don’t have time for that,” and waved me away like a king dismissing a commoner.
There was absolutely no one else around the table except the security guards.
Then he shouted out, “Books! Books!” and continued waving me out of the way. There was no sign indicating no questions were allowed.
Only minutes before he had been espousing the value of slowing down and making time for each other and he didn’t even have the decency to say, “I’m sorry, I’m tired . . . or I’m not allowed to answer questions . . .”
Instead here I was, an educator and great promoter of his books, looking for help with the generation he claimed was most important, but because I was not spending money (other than the $45 I spent to hear him lecture), I was waved off.
I used to be proud to call Dr. Suzuki one of my heroes, and now I can see that he is a hypocrite.
I am in no way turned off the environmental causes I have always believed in, simply disappointed to have to tell my students, once again, that celebrity and integrity seem to be mutually exclusive.
Jenn Carson,
Hampton
Yes, I agree
David Suziki is a total hypocrite. Used to admire the man but he is so full of himself and never takes anybody elses into account.
Big Green Saviour but I would bet his environmental footprint is about 1000 times as big as mine.
Dave irwin
The average person is greener than Dave.He takes a lot of trips on planes not very green.If energy comes from the ground it is bad but if it comes from air it is very good.Simple thinking simple man.
Suzuki is definately full of himself. For him it is all about the money and only the money. he is a prima donna – no bottled water, only fresh salmon and hand picked fresh assorted nuts in his required room when he gives a speech. the speech is not for free either. He is one of the assorted nuts he craves in his dressing room. I have no respect for him actually and never did.
Jessica Hume’s blog came across as an angry editorial/column, not journalism… and it seemed she was trying to get him back because she was embarassed. That kind of diatribe (in my opinion) hurts the reputation of media. I have many journalist friends I’ve spent talking about this, and they’ve helped me see some light.
Your post, and Bill Tieleman’s piece present valid argument and discussion.
I’m a huge fan of Suzuki. I think he has done 1000 times for Canada and the environmental movement than any of us can ever hope for. I also feel for a man who spends so many years teaching science to kids, but has to defend himself against a seemingly endless onslaught of borderline harassment.
But I respect good discussion, and wanted to say thanks for keeping insults etc. out of your blog. Challenging his intellect and calling him a coward is ridiculous. There is no way he would risk an interview with Sun news, and although you present other examples, Sun Media certainly has a preceding reputation. I saw a picture that the Sun posted on their website of him in a candid moment with a twisted face. That is pure shotty journalist and a cheap shot.
Thank you for not stooping to those levels, and promoting journalistic integrity. I hope Jessica can learn a lesson from you.
still wait for him to do a special on the japanese fishing industry and how there raping the oceans eg.shark fining. killing porpoise’s,fishin blue fin into exstinction
Dozens of Vancouver area high schools hold their Grade 12 graduation ceremonies at the Orpheum Theatre and the Creperie restaurant is next door for a quick bite of food. Suzuki was snacking alone before he went next door to see his grand daughter I suppose, graduate. A single mother with her son were also chowing down and wished to greet the Great Ego himself.
He went out of his mind, cursing misogynist crap that embarrassed the entire room. There was nothing coercive or out of order. He truly lost a room full of fans in minutes. There was no excuse for such boorishness, celebrity or not.