There
has been some controversy about the play Othello in Edmonton
lately. I am not going to wade in on the specifics of that situation,
but I do want to say that I would be sorry to see this play pushed
out of sight and out of mind because of controversy around the
titular character. The reason is quite simple. If we lose Othello, we
also lose Iago and Emilia.
Of all the plays
I've been to at our local outdoor Shakespeare festival, probably the
one that left the biggest impression on me was Othello. The
reason was the superb performance by the actor who played Iago. He
delivered his lines in a way that made me see how such a person could
convince people that he was an honest man, to be trusted above others
as a source of truth.
The world is
afflicted right now with a plague of Iagos. The problem is not just
lies. It is twisting of facts to demonize opposing viewpoints and
establish oneself and one's allies as the only trusted sources of
knowledge. It is the abuse of that trust to mislead people and to
incite them toward destructive acts.
We need, like
Emilia, to stand up and speak out when we discover this happening
around us. We need to do so even, or
perhaps especially, when it may seem to be against our own interests,
and those at fault claim to be on our side. I am not talking about
preventing anyone from speaking, but about challenging the things
that they say and holding them accountable.
I would like to
leave you with two quotes, both spoken by Emilia: one an accusation
and one a credo.
Your Reports Have
Brought this Murder On.
I Will Speak as
Liberal as the North.
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