{"id":6752,"date":"2020-09-20T20:06:03","date_gmt":"2020-09-20T23:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/?p=6752"},"modified":"2020-09-20T20:18:34","modified_gmt":"2020-09-20T23:18:34","slug":"had-dr-ngolas-name-been-dr-surette-or-dr-smith-would-this-story-have-attracted-the-attention-of-journalists-at-home-or-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/09\/20\/had-dr-ngolas-name-been-dr-surette-or-dr-smith-would-this-story-have-attracted-the-attention-of-journalists-at-home-or-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Had Dr. Ngola\u2019s name been Dr. Surette or Dr. Smith, would this story have attracted the attention of journalists at home or abroad?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"284\" height=\"177\" src=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/NB-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6753\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Articles about Dr. Ngola keep being published. Here are\njust a few examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/canada-news-pmn\/everything-has-changed-n-b-doctor-describes-racism-after-covid-19-outbreak\">https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/canada-news-pmn\/everything-has-changed-n-b-doctor-describes-racism-after-covid-19-outbreak<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cp24.com\/news\/my-tears-flowed-doctor-accused-as-patient-zero-of-n-b-outbreak-speaks-of-racism-he-encountered-1.5112539\">https:\/\/www.cp24.com\/news\/my-tears-flowed-doctor-accused-as-patient-zero-of-n-b-outbreak-speaks-of-racism-he-encountered-1.5112539<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-global-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"wzzWX7WBo9\"><a href=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/7347244\/n-b-doctor-describes-racism-covid-19\/\">N.B. doctor describes racism after COVID-19 outbreak in Campbellton<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;N.B. doctor describes racism after COVID-19 outbreak in Campbellton&#8221; &#8212; Global News\" src=\"https:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/7347244\/n-b-doctor-describes-racism-covid-19\/embed\/#?secret=wzzWX7WBo9\" data-secret=\"wzzWX7WBo9\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/player\/play\/1790924867949\">https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/player\/play\/1790924867949<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/RoulaNgola.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6754\" width=\"496\" height=\"406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/RoulaNgola.jpg 611w, https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/RoulaNgola-300x245.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 496px) 85vw, 496px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It is nice to see colleagues across the country supporting Dr. Ngola. Bambi is happy for him to feel moved by the letter, as he described. She wishes him the best in his practice in Qu\u00e9bec, even if she would not trust him to treat her own parents (had they been living where he is now practising). She may perhaps become his patient herself but, sorry, she would not recommend him to her parents, given his \u201c<em>irresponsible behaviour<\/em>\u201d, to use the words of our Premier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having said that, why are physicians from other\njurisdictions interfering with our own province by demanding a public inquiry? Health\nis a provincial matter in our country. So, give us a break and let our province\nmanage the pandemic as it has been doing relatively well since last March. New Brunswickers\nmust have been generally satisfied, like Bambi, to give their current government\ntheir confidence for a second mandate with a majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the outburst of angry online comments Dr. Ngola\nhas received, although unfortunate, it is part of normal human behaviour in the\ncontext of a pandemic when we are afraid or frustrated (ie., a lockdown that had\nto be extended, 40 people infected, and eventually 2 deaths). Did anyone ask\nthe citizens of Campbellton how they feel? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few people may have sadly exaggerated \u2639. This is unacceptable. However, is it\nfair to insinuate or call the people of Campbellton (or Restigouche or NB, by\nextension) racist? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, as reported above, according to the Mayor of Campbellton,\nsome of the people who may have commented online do not even live in Campbellton.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, many of the journalists rushing to judge New Brunswickers as being racist have never visited our province. Same for those 1500 physicians demanding a public inquiry as well. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of note, the latest article above published in the <em>National\nPost<\/em> AND in several other media (in the same exact format) is filed by Mr. <em>Sidhartha Banerjee and <\/em>is \u201c<em>produced\nwith the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News\nFellowship<\/em>\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/journalismproject\/facebook-canadian-press-news-fellowship\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/journalismproject\/facebook-canadian-press-news-fellowship<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As per the link above, this is a one-year fellowship\nprogram, worth $1 million, that \u201c<em>will hire eight journalists to cover\npressing issues in local communities across Canada\u2026 \u201cFocusing on bringing more\ncoverage to Canada\u2019s regions, fellows will report on pressing issues in local\ncommunities, including the coronavirus pandemic\u2019s impact on communities and <strong>tackling\nracial injustice<\/strong>\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, \u201c<em>tackling racial injustice<\/em>\u201d is a \u201c<em>pressing\nlocal issue<\/em>\u201d then? Bambi would have thought that truly LOCAL pressing subjects\nwould be stemming from the top priorities of so-called local communities. Instead,\nthey are once again being imposed on us to prove ideologies like \u201c<em>racial\ninjustice<\/em>\u201d or \u201c<em>systemic racism<\/em>\u201d or whatever label we are supposed to\nswallow like \u201c<em>anti-blackness<\/em>\u201d or \u201c<em>too much whiteness<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why are we politicizing this story to that extent? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, we insisted on apologies from our Premier who\ndid not do anything wrong. Luckily, he did not fall into the trap of unnecessary\napologies. Indeed, this politician seems to be pragmatic and fact focused (even\nif he is far from being perfect. No one is in life and surely not in politics).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, we are now increasing the pressure by\ndemanding a public inquiry of how the case was handled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Third, we seem to be changing the story or the\nnarrative in the media? Or was there more to this story than what we know, as citizens?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In either case, why don\u2019t we keep it to what it should\nhave remained in the first place: a LOCAL story. After all, it is the case of a\nsurely competent physician in Campbellton who unfortunately behaved unwisely in\nthe middle of a pandemic. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier posts related to this story:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-bambi-039-s-afkar\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"EEJN0hseOx\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/07\/08\/good-for-dr-ngola-for-the-dropped-criminal-charges-but-why-does-he-expect-an-apology\/\">Good for Dr. Ngola for the dropped criminal charges but why does he expect an apology?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Good for Dr. Ngola for the dropped criminal charges but why does he expect an apology?&#8221; &#8212; Bambi&#039;s Afkar\" src=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/07\/08\/good-for-dr-ngola-for-the-dropped-criminal-charges-but-why-does-he-expect-an-apology\/embed\/#?secret=EEJN0hseOx\" data-secret=\"EEJN0hseOx\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-bambi-039-s-afkar\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"j58gVEOvFk\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/06\/11\/why-should-mr-higgs-apologize-to-dr-ngola\/\">Why should Mr. Higgs apologize to Dr. Ngola?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Why should Mr. Higgs apologize to Dr. Ngola?&#8221; &#8212; Bambi&#039;s Afkar\" src=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/06\/11\/why-should-mr-higgs-apologize-to-dr-ngola\/embed\/#?secret=j58gVEOvFk\" data-secret=\"j58gVEOvFk\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-bambi-039-s-afkar\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"zLrogLGjw5\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/09\/10\/as-new-brunswickers-should-we-laugh-or-cry-when-acute-victimitis-is-pushed-to-that-extent-of-insanity\/\">As New Brunswickers, should we laugh or cry when acute \u201cvictimitis\u201d is pushed to that extent of insanity?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;As New Brunswickers, should we laugh or cry when acute \u201cvictimitis\u201d is pushed to that extent of insanity?&#8221; &#8212; Bambi&#039;s Afkar\" src=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/09\/10\/as-new-brunswickers-should-we-laugh-or-cry-when-acute-victimitis-is-pushed-to-that-extent-of-insanity\/embed\/#?secret=zLrogLGjw5\" data-secret=\"zLrogLGjw5\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-bambi-039-s-afkar\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"gfLvuvIGb2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/06\/04\/good-bye-au-revoir-monsieur-daniel-ouellette\/\">Goodbye\/Au revoir Monsieur Daniel Ouellette<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Goodbye\/Au revoir Monsieur Daniel Ouellette&#8221; &#8212; Bambi&#039;s Afkar\" src=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/06\/04\/good-bye-au-revoir-monsieur-daniel-ouellette\/embed\/#?secret=gfLvuvIGb2\" data-secret=\"gfLvuvIGb2\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-bambi-039-s-afkar\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"XaICoUg4KA\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/05\/31\/outbreak-of-the-coronavirus-in-restigouche-why-arent-we-revealing-the-physicians-name-to-protect-the-population\/\">Outbreak of the coronavirus in Restigouche: Why aren\u2019t we revealing the physician\u2019s name to protect the population?<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Outbreak of the coronavirus in Restigouche: Why aren\u2019t we revealing the physician\u2019s name to protect the population?&#8221; &#8212; Bambi&#039;s Afkar\" src=\"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2020\/05\/31\/outbreak-of-the-coronavirus-in-restigouche-why-arent-we-revealing-the-physicians-name-to-protect-the-population\/embed\/#?secret=XaICoUg4KA\" data-secret=\"XaICoUg4KA\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Articles about Dr. Ngola keep being published. Here are just a few examples: https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/pmn\/news-pmn\/canada-news-pmn\/everything-has-changed-n-b-doctor-describes-racism-after-covid-19-outbreak https:\/\/www.cp24.com\/news\/my-tears-flowed-doctor-accused-as-patient-zero-of-n-b-outbreak-speaks-of-racism-he-encountered-1.5112539 https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/player\/play\/1790924867949 It is nice to see colleagues across the country supporting Dr. Ngola. Bambi is happy for him to feel [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6752"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6752"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6758,"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6752\/revisions\/6758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}