One of the popular buzz-phrases these days seems to be “take
responsibility”. People are being urged to “take responsibility” for their
actions, or are stepping up to “take responsibility” for what they’ve done,
even when it seems there is no need to do so.
For example, Jared Connaughton, the member of the Canadian 4
x 100 metre relay team who caused the Canadian team to be disqualified, was
quoted as saying “he had to step up and take responsibility” for the
disqualification. Teammates were quoted as praising Mr. Connaughton for
stepping up and “taking responsibility” for the disqualification.
Why was it necessary for Mr. Connaughton to “take
responsibility”? It was an accident. I very much doubt that he deliberately
stepped on a lane line to disqualify the team. Stuff happens. There was no need
to “take responsibility”.
Michael Bryant, the former Attorney-General for Ontario who
was involved in the accidental death of Darcy Allen Sheppard, recently appeared
on “The Current” on CBC Radio One. Listeners subsequently castigated Mr. Bryant
for not “taking responsibility” for his actions. What actions? He attempted to
flee from an individual who was attacking him and, in doing so, Mr. Sheppard
died. There was no evidence that Mr. Bryant acted in a deliberate manner to
harm Mr. Sheppard. It was an accident. What does it mean for Mr. Bryant to
“take responsibility” for an accident?
I’m sure pundits, critics and media commentators will be
urging Lance Armstrong to “take responsibility” for his alleged doping
infractions. But Mr. Armstrong denies the allegations. What should he be “taking
responsibility” for?
It’s one thing to be told to “take responsibility” for
something that you didn’t do, had no intention of doing or was an accident, and
quite another thing to “take responsibility” for something that you knowingly,
deliberately did.
Which brings us to the CBC and the latest BBM radio survey
data. When will someone from the CBC step up to the plate, belly up to the bar,
[insert favourite saying here] and “take responsibility” for the CBC Radio Two
restructuring fiasco?
Without further ado, here is the table summarizing the
decline in the CBC Radio Two listening audience since the CBC embarked on their
audacious plan to “restructure” Radio Two. As can be seen from the table, the audience for CBC Radio Two has been decimated in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton since the restructuring effort was initiated. Anyone willing to “take
responsibility” for this fiasco?
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