Of all the slings and arrows shot Edmonton’s way over the years, Dr. Tim Jordan’s might be the most cutting.
Jordan’s recent letter to the editor was so belittling, so dismissive of Edmonton, that I was furious, then curious.
If you missed it, let me quote from the letter, sent to The Journal after Jordan’s recent three-month visit here to further his medical studies.
“The upheaval of relocating from Grande Prairie was unimaginable,” he wrote. “It was made no less difficult by the realization of how unfriendly Edmontonians have become. Beggars, vagrants and lay-abouts are such an endearing feature of the city’s milieu.
“There are not many cities that offer sights and entertainments such as spitting on the pavement. This seems to have become de rigueur, along with nosepicking and littering.”
Jordan also called Edmonton a city of mediocrity and describes his return to Grande Prairie as “marvellous.”
OK. I realize Jordan sounds like a pompous ass. Consider the source and forget it, right?
But there we were Thursday, having a nice chat on the phone. Jordan might sound like a prig, but I found him to be quite charming.
Jordan moved to Canada four years ago. He grew up in what was then Rhodesia and spent much of his life in Britain.
During his time here, Jordan stayed in a Saskatchewan Drive condo. He’s active, so he did a lot of walking, running and cycling.
What he saw didn’t impress: Littered streets, rampant homelessness and aggressive panhandlers, not to mention people regularly spitting on sidewalks.
But surely, I asked, people in Britain spit?
“Maybe, but I didn’t see it,” said Jordan. “It just seems to be the thing to do here.”
Let me assure you that Jordan is a man with a sense of humour, as well as a sense of compassion.
The homeless, as well as the litter and spitting, are only symptoms of a mixed up and apathetic society, he believes.
Canadians, he thinks, are spoiled by a sense of moral superiority, as well as a sense of entitlement. We believe government is responsible for societal problems, as well as our care and feeding.
He sees the same attitude in the healthcare system. The public demands higher budgets for hospital care, while individuals continue to ignore their own unhealthy lifestyles.