Saskachewan MP Tom Lukiwski stood in the House of Commons today and apologized for his anti-gay remarks. He looked shocked and humiliated. It’s up to him and The Conservative Party about whether he continues as parlimentary secretary.
Published 8 months agoHe first apologized to his gay and lesbian friends and colleagues for the remarks, in which he calls homosexuals “faggots with dirt under the fingernails that transmit diseases.”
“To say that I’m ashamed of my comments, Mr. Speaker, is not putting it in context and certainly not putting it in strong enough terms,” Lukiwski said Friday.
“Their friendship and support for me during my entire career and person life has been extremely important to me and today I ask for their forgiveness. Mr. Speaker, just being in the public sphere means little to me compared to … their opinion towards me and to them I say I am sorry.”
He went on to apologize to the broader gay and lesbian community, his friends and family, staff, the prime minister and to the people of Saskatchewan and his own Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre riding.
He said his comments in the video are not indicative of his beliefs now, or of his beliefs at the time they were made.
“The comments I made should not be tolerated in any society. They should not be tolerated today, they should not have been tolerated in 1991 and they should not have been tolerated in the years before that,” he said.
He said his remarks were “stupid, thoughtless and insensitive,” but added that he wasn’t using that as a defence, and took full responsibility for the things he said.
Lukiwski also vowed to spend the rest of his life trying to make up for the comments.
13 Responses to “I was stupid - Lukiwski”
Leave a Reply
Search
Subscribe 
You are currently browsing the Bene Diction Blogs On weblog archives.
Related Entries
For blog design, Wordpress or MovableType coding or blog consulting, see cre8d design.
Whooee! I come out fer forgivin’ the ex-queer-hater. He sez he’s a changed man an’ I figger I’ll take his word for it until proved otherwise. Most o’ the pergressive boogers ain’t so forgivin’. I reckon he’ll lose his PS job an’ he might have a tough time gettin’ re-elected but I don’t figger he’s completely washed up.
There’s some hypocrisy goin’ on when the Con’s won’t forgive ex-Jew-hater Ahenekew but they’re quick to put Lukiwski’s transgressions aside.
JB
Indeed, from age 40 to age 56 can be a lifetime.
As for hypocrisy, we’re all guilty of that too. However this instance goes to group, to party behavior, we’ll see how that plays out.
It would be nice to see him follow his apology with more than private phone calls and a public statement, honouring his office would be stepping down as parliamentary secretary, forgiven and moving on.
Strahl’s comments about Ahenekew just show how fractured group thinking can be.
Lukiwski has an opportunity to show some leadership.
Bene D
Your last point about Strahl’s reaction to Ahenekew is well made. It also shows that the Tories see the Jewish community and not the GLBT communities as sources of votes.
It may be that Lukiwski is genuinely remorseful and doesn’t think the same way he did. But he has broken our trust and needs to re-establish it through more than just an apology. He’s a public official who has much more influence on public policy than a private citizen who ‘mispeaks’. Until he can establish that trust in my mind I’ll wonder if he isn’t a ‘knuggle-dragger’ who’s sorry because he got caught. After all, he was 40 and not in his twenties.
The other thing that struck me is that no one in that office said they thought Lukiwski had crossed the line. Neither did anyone appear to be uncomfortable with what they heard. Instead it was all laughter and joshing, which leads me to another observation: I know many people who are in a group that’s getting silly, playful and drinking that don’t sink to the kind of unpleasantness we witness in the videotape.
This happened some 16 years ago, for Pete’s sake!
I did some pretty stupid stuff 16 years ago, (as did we all,) stuff I wouldn’t dream of doing now with the little wisdom I have attained since then.
I believed some pretty stupid stuff back then, too,… Stuff that in retrospect was downright un-enlightened.
I still haven’t arrived where I hoped I would be by now in terms of enlightenment, wisdom, knowledge, and my relationship to my Father in Heaven.
I’m so glad so many of you have. I am so glad so many of you are in the position that you can finally see the beam in my eye.
Please just do me a favour and pray that I will one day arrive where you are. NOT!!!
Arthur, the guy was 40 years old, not some young teenager or young man. This group of conservative politicos made a tape where one made demeaned homosexuals, another demeaned an ethnic person, another suggested physical violence towards a woman and called her a “slut”, and another taped person suggested a terrorist act against a woman ahead of a trade labour organization - letter bombing - nice crowd.
Incidently, the same female speaker who wanted to send a letter bomb is now Wall’s parliamentary secretary. This same govt is doing everything to bust unions with the latest attack againsts nurses.
But, sure, they are all real sorry and really they must be forgiven - quickly - and move on. How about still waters run deep.
I was enjoying my first-born sixteen years ago and, while I may have done some stupid things as a first-time mother, I do not lump myself into the same category as Arthur or Lukiwski. Racism, sexism and classism were alive and well in Saskatchewan in the early 90’s. And guess what? Racism, sexism and classism are still alive and thriving in Saskatchewan!
A couple of weeks ago I caught a late night episode of Jim Bakker from the studio that used to be part of the PTL empire. (I confess, I enjoy watching Jim every once in a while) He was preaching vehemently against the prosperity gospel. He said it was wrong when he did it and it’s wrong now.
I’ve been thinking about that ever since. It raises an interesting point. Is an apology enough? When is it not enough? Jail time? Re-education camp? For how long? Jimmy Swaggert sobbing in the pulpit - was that enough? Was it real? How would we know? At what point is a man humiliated and shamed enough? How much is not enough? I recently witnessed a pastor crucified at one of our local churches and learned that Orwellian group think is only one metaphor away from a lynch mob …and sometimes I’m the one looking around the room to guage what everyone else is thinking.
I tend to agree with your sentiments about the man honouring his office and stepping down, except when that honourable action later becomes political canon shot for the other party. How much of that is enough?
I have no idea. I thought I knew, but I don’t. No clue.
Fair points all.
June 28, 2005 House of Commons
“The following day is a scorcher. The queue at the metal detectors is longer, the galleries noisier, the debate raging.
At 8 p.m., Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski makes a final speech. So raucous is the chamber, so loud the press gallery that I can barely hear him declare that the bill represents “a very slippery slope” that could lead to polygamy.
The Speaker rises and ends the debate. Bells ring to call the vote, and within moments the floor is packed. With the theatre of Question Period over, the MPs become congenial. Separatists chat with Conservatives and New Democrats; Liberals smile and whisper with Tories. They touch each other a surprising amount: a handshake, a hand on a shoulder, kisses on both cheeks. Then MPs from both sides slam their desktops, urging procrastinators to their seats. The chamber quiets.”
The vote was taken. Equality in the Making, Dimitry Anastakis: The Walrus Magazine October 2005
[Rhymes with kerouac] I got an email today from a former New Jim Bakker Show staffer who says he rebuffed sexual advances and was hounded out. His question was -”Has he really changed?”
I think yes and no. I’m not doing a story, I have no proof one way or the other.
There are also rumours Bakker was in hospital this week and it may be cancer.
What do you think?
Is an elected public office the same as as a pastoral office?
A political party is responsible for member discipline, that is what a house leader, caucus and whip is for.
Sixteen years ago, I was 42 years old. I did some stuff, and believed some stuff that I no longer do or believe. I said some stuff that was, and still is, pretty stupid.
During the last sixteen years my attitudes, behaviour and speech have all changed, - hopefully for the better, though some may still disagree.
I don’t care that the guy was 40 years old or in public office. I don’t care that he was, or is, a Conservative. The Liberals and NDP’ers haven’t been guilty of the same behaviour, or worse?
Pastor’s have been guilty of many stupid and sinful acts.
Parliamentarians have been guity of many stupid and sinful acts.
I have been guilty of many stupid and sinful acts.
YOU have been guilty of many stupid and sinful acts.
So, when is an apology enough, (or not?)
Sixteen years have come and gone, for crying out loud!
Judgmentalism like this is one of the reasons I sometimes (often) hesitate to be counted as a Christian.
Just remember that “as you sow, so shall you reap.” That goes for forgiveness as well as in other areas of life. “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” I guess nobody here would like to be forgiven their past sins…..?
I have better things to do than partake in the beating up of another human being over an incident that happened so long ago.
By the way, I am very aware of the irony that sees me blasting you all for being judgemental while I am at this precise moment judging your actions.
At least I am aware of it. Are you?
Do you honestly think that your actions and hurtful attitudes are any more pleasing to God than mine?
If so, I feel nothing but pity for you all.
Does your “reporting” of all things negative in this world really accomplish anything for the Kingdom, or does it merely make you feel superior because you are so perfect?
I don’t even care how you answer these questions. The answers are between you and God.
I’ve just removed BDBO from my list of subscribed feeds.
Do you honestly think that your actions and hurtful attitudes are any more pleasing to God than mine?
I feel pity for you too, Arthur.
The other thing that struck me is that no one in that office said they thought Lukiwski had crossed the line. Neither did anyone appear to be uncomfortable with what they heard. Instead it was all laughter and joshing, which leads me to another observation: I know many people who are in a group that’s getting silly, playful and drinking that don’t sink to the kind of unpleasantness we witness in the videotape.
Thanks Cara, that’s exactly what I thought. This is group was acting so completely immoral that it’s hard to believe they’re all “converted” now. I’m sure Lukiwski is (he told us so, so why not believe him?) but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be fired. Being an elective representative is an honour, a privilege; the only thing left for him to do is RESIGN. Conservatives know this too.
Nevertheless, I CAN forgive him at personal level but will never forgive any asshole politician for making these type of remarks. Resign and move on.
BD ~
The email from the New Jim Bakker Show staffer is more than a little troublesome. Has he really changed? I have no idea, and - given that all I have to work with is the tv show - have no way of knowing. (Kind of my point ;>) I think your ‘yes and no’ evaluation is accurate. Frankly, Jim has a kind of homespun way about him that I really appreciate but I wish he was doing absolutely anything other than that show. ‘Yes and no’ is an answer that applies to me, too. I’m not sure what I’ve learned over the years, either - seem to keep making the same mistakes.
In our Evangelical church practice, individual churches are free agents who choose to place themselves under the ‘authority’ (such as it is) of the denomination. In our particular church, it’s not a denomination at all, but an association of like minded churches. So the pastor is very much like a politician - he is presented to the congregation as a candidate and then voted upon by the congregation. So there are some parallels. A few, anyway. Most of the pastors I know are very much political survivors - churches are minefields.
Politicians, pastors, bloggers, commenters on blogs - we all deal in trust, we all make decisions about one another, we try to evaluate actions against spoken word. Some times we get it right, often I don’t. We can only work with what we’re given. Selah.
On the tape you’ll see an older man wander in, he gets the camera pointed at him, refuses to take part and leave. He was a Senator at the time.
Lukiwski’s HoC apology indicates awareness of the weight of elected office and public service and the honour and trust to be upheld. Quaint but true. He is clear he needs to hold some private conversations with some voters.
I’m disappointed in his 2005 HoC remarks. From Hansard:
“I firmly believe that by passing this legislation, we start on a very slippery slope which could affect societal change in a very adverse way, I see things that have been expressed before that could come down the pike, things like polygamy and others, while hiding behind the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I am fearful that societal change could happen. Let that be on their heads, not anyone else’s head. It is the members opposite who made that choice and shame on them.”
Cara, nicely said.
Authur, you are welcome to keep or remove your BDBO feed, I’m sorry you feel I’ve judged you, thank you for contributing to our conversation.
You are correct, you most certainly aren’t going to find perfection here.:^)