Kathy Shaidle
Kathy Shaidle (born 7 May, 1964) is a controversial[1] Canadian Roman Catholic author, columnist and poet. A self-described "anarcho-peacenik" in the early years of her writing career, she has since becoming an outspoken conservative, prompted in large part by the attacks of September 11, 2001.[2]
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Shaidle studied at Sheridan College. Since the mid-1980s she has worked in Toronto, eventually talking up a post at the Catholic New Times magazine. In 1991, she left the publication to pursue a writing career, only to discover that summer she developed lupus erythematosus.[3]
Shaidle wrote the blog relapsedcatholic.com[4][5] and a column for the Catholic weekly Our Sunday Visitor. She left the latter post in April 2007 after the newspaper refused to publish a column she had written criticizing Earth Day.[6] In September 2007 she stopped posting at Relapsed Catholic and began a new blog, fivefeetoffury.com, a reference to her petite stature and often pugnacious writing style.
Her book-length poetry collection, Lobotomy Magnificat, was nominated for a 1998 Governor General's Award. Critic Wendy McGrath, writing in the Edmonton Journal, praised the poetry for how it "effectively relates sacred images or text to present day events and images."[7] In contrast, the Montreal Gazette's reviewer was critical of the book's "diet of smart phrasing... and fabricated insights."[8]
Shaidle and Catholic journalist Pete Vere recently wrote and published The Tyranny of Nice, a critique of the human rights tribunals that exist in Canada.
Controversial statements
Shaidle has made controversial statements regarding various minority groups in Canada including the poor, First Nations peoples, Muslim and Chinese-Canadians:
- She has called Muslims "pathetic, whiny losers" who practise "a sick, sick religion." She has accused Asians of spreading disease in Toronto, disparaged natives and blacks, and suggested the poor "are no more real than Bigfoot." [9]
These statements and others have been condemned by individuals such as Warren Kinsella and Bernie Farber of the Canadian Jewish Congress who has stated that Shaidle, “is a purveyor of some of the most offensive racial stereotypes I have ever read.” [10]
Awards and recognition
- 1998: poetry finalist, Governor General's Awards
- Canadian Church Press: four awards (humour, best national columnist, etc.)[11]
Bibliography
- God rides a Yamaha: Musings on pain, poetry, and pop culture, Northstone, 1998. ISBN 1896836240
- Lobotomy magnificat Ottawa: Oberon, 1997 ISBN 0-7780-1070-8 (hardcover), ISBN 0-7780-1071-6 (paperback).
- Acoustic Ladyland: Kathy Shaidle Unplugged
References
Notes
- ^ Shaidle, Kathy (11 March 2009). "Controversial right-wing blogger invited to speak at London event http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/03/11/8704556-sun.html". London Free Press.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); External link in|title=|publisher=(help) - ^ fivefeetoffury.com
- ^ Shaidle, Kathy (13 December 1998). "Illness a harsh but welcome teacher". Toronto Star. p. 1.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Giggles and God-stuff: Hooting with the Maker on the Web". The Ottawa Citizen. 8 April 2001. p. C16.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Shaidle, Kathy (unknown date, after September 2001). "My life as a (mediocre) Catholic". CBC News. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ [1]
- ^ McGrath, Wendy (6 December 1998). "Poet relates sacred images to today's views". Edmonton Journal. p. F6.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Starnino, Carmine (14 November 1998). "Five poets in search of a prize". The Gazette. p. J5.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Shaidle, Kathy (11 March 2009). "Controversial right-wing blogger invited to speak at London event =1". London Free Press.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Shaidle, Kathy (11 March 2009). "Controversial right-wing blogger invited to speak at London event =1". London Free Press.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Carpenter, Rebecca (December 1998). "The triumph of Kathy Shaidle". Quill & Quire. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
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Further reading
- Weisblott, Marc (10 March 2008). "Kathy Shaidle live". eye. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - Audio: Shire Network News Interview Kathy Shaidle and Kate McMillan] discuss the law suit filled against them (and other Canadian bloggers) by Richard Warman, 22 April 2008
External links
- Kathy Shaidle official website, accessed 20 July 2006
- Relapsed Catholic, Shaidle's former blog, accessed 20 July 2006
- Five Feet of Fury, Shaidle's current blog, accessed 25 September 2007
- University of Toronto: Kathy Shaidle profile, accessed 20 July 2006
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