February 22, 2001
To be bitch slapped - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- I guess the fact that you are privy to my scribblings in the form of these e-mail columns, you can sense my enamour of things journalistic. In particular, column-writing.
One of my favourite columnists is Sondra Gotlieb. Gotlieb is the wife of Alan Gotlieb, who was an ambassador to Washington, during the Mulroney years. During one of their elite shindigs in the big breast, big shoulder, big money, Dallas and Dynasty ‘80s, Mrs. Gotlieb was caught in a compromising situation. No, no she wasn’t doing the horizontal mambo with George Schultz. In a bit of rage, she lifted her arm and struck the woman in her employ across the punim. She became a legend in the social circles and she never did live that one down. Recently, her paper, the National Post (and its magazine Saturday Night) recently did a series of features on her facelift. They were very good columns and an insight into the world of cosmetic surgery. (Not that I’ve been thinking of the world of face-lifts and tucks, myself.)
Jan Wong, if you didn’t know already, is one of the Globe and Mail’s high profile columnist. Her weekly “Lunch with...” pieces are celebrated and infamous. (Ms. Wong is a former Maoist, which I do not know what that means, so if someone could kindly explain, I’d greatly appreciate it.) Well, Ms. Wong asked Mrs. Gotlieb to lunch. The reason: her facelift. Well, in this past Saturday’s National Post, Gotlieb rebuts. See, Jan Wong’s column appeared a week prior, and conditions of their initial meeting was that Gotlieb get the last word on their breaking of bread. I happened to read the Gotlieb column first, as the Globe and Mail rarely makes an appearance on my stoop. I found Gotlieb very matter-of-factly tearing into Wong and her style of journalism, the “sneer and contempt” kind, so says Mrs. G.
After reading the juicy column titled, “Having Jan Wong for lunch,” I knew I had to read the Wong column of a week’s prior. I did. In the Gotlieb column she chastises Wong for being mean and paying too much attention to her lunch companions’ bathroom habits. Ah well, to be part of the Central Canadian establishment...
People have lunch with Jan Wong and encounter a pleasant, friendly woman, yet when her columns run she writes mean. Or so says Gotlieb. Allan Fotheringham, taken to lunch by Wong, a year ago, also wrote a scathing critic of her and her style.
I bring it up today, because I happen to enjoy both columnists (and Foth too,) and I find it funny to see these personalities bickering column to column. I sense a great deal of acrimony on the part of Foth and Mrs. Gotlieb. See, the two of them are part of the well denied, but truly prevalent, Central Canadian “Establishment.” Perhaps they are critical, as Ms. Wong poses a threat to their egos. It so happens, Wong is popular across the country etc. It’s a funny debacle and one that sees no end, either for them or for us. But between us, I’d think they like the attention.
To indulge in a Fotheringham story: I actually met Dr. Foth once. (To those who have heard the story ad hominem, you have my permission to tune out.) I bumped into him at the NDP convention of a year ago. He donned a lovely brown (cashmere?) coat. He looked out of place in the bear pits of union largesse. He topped a hat, had his glasses on a string around his neck and was hauling a cloth bag. I was floored to meet him as he has been some sort of idol to yours truly. I told him how much I enjoyed his latest tome, Last Page First and how much I was a fan. Fothesque, he replied: “Well, I need every fan I can get.” I giggled shamelessly.
Allan Fotheringham, long a Western voice, remains to some that. Mired in the confines of Central Canadian bastardship, we still consider him one of our own. His recent condemnation of Mordecai Richler accepting the Order of Canada, earns him a couple of brownie points for slashing the “Establishment’s” top prize. However, he lives in posh Rosedale, and breaks bread with people like Sondra Gotlieb and Rosemary Sexton. Perhaps he ain’t one of us anymore.
Oh and if Jan Wong happens to be reading: Ms. Wong, I am a huge fan and enjoy your columns. If you’d like to take me to lunch, Jan, I’m game. Name the time and place and I’ll be there. I promise not to slap you.
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .