A Modest Proposal for Newmarket

In 18th century London, an anonymous publication entitled, "A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People From Being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick,"  caused a great sensation.  The author (later attributed to be Jonathan Swift) suggested a solution for child poverty, namely that the poor parents should sell their children to the wealthy to be eaten by them as a fine delicacy. 

Although written with a straight face, this treatise was of course a satire.  A simple joke.  And the joke was especially on those who thought that Jonathon Swift was serious about advocating for the commercialization of cannibalism. 

And in 18th century England, as per today, many people are not able to comprehend satire.  Today's events in Paris involving the Charlie Hedbo newspaper show the extreme reaction some may have to it.  This week in Newmarket, we have seen similar (although not as extreme) reactions to another satire. 

On January 2, a local satirist Dairis Karkins posted a very funny meme of Newmarket Mayor as the head of a politburo type government.  I retweeted his meme as did others.  But one person in particular was called out for retweeting Dairis' meme, former Newmarket Councillor and media commentator Maddie Di Muccio. 

On Facebook posts and on social media forums, various people self-identified as not intelligent enough to "get-the-joke" by expressing their outrage over Maddie Di Muccio retweeting this politburo meme.  Included in this list of dim wits are Richard MacLeod, Brian Blight, Tim McClure, and Jackie Playter.  (Most people will know that they are all connected to Tony Van Bynen, Mayor of Newmarket).  Going to the extremes, some of this group suggested that the police should be called in to investigate this joke picture. 

Like the Modest Proposal author, I write anonymously and because I choose not to make my identity public, many in this town have decided that Maddie Di Muccio should be burdened with false allegations that she is responsible for my writings - something she has handled with good humour and dignity.  People continue to suggest she is connected to this blog despite repeated denials from her. At times like these I like to remind people of another Jonathon Swift quote:

“It is impossible to reason someone out of something that he did not reason himself into in the first place”

In other words, if people don't use their noggin's for thinking, you can never convince them to change their prejudices. 

And now, regrettably, these cabal of non-thinkers are saddling Maddie Di Muccio with Dairis's meme.  I suggest that she will accept that burden too with the same aplomb.

Has she suffered consequences for this?  Absolutely.

In October, most of Newmarket received hate mail in their mail box filled with lies about Maddie Di Muccio and her family.  The sender of this hate mail was an anonymous "Nmkt Town Hall Watch" (I refer to myself as Nwkt using a w, not an m).  This was their Charlie Hedbo moment, as they attempted to turn the population of Newmarket hateful against someone who has served her community well and with distinction - with bald-faced lies against her and her family. 

It has gone too far.  The false allegations, the character assassinations, the attempt to block peaceful free speech and political discourse.  Shame, shame, shame on the MacLeods, Blights, McClures, and Playters of Newmarket.  And shame on those on Newmarket Council who continue to be associated with these folks (including having them endorse them for office).