If We Were Only as Racist as the Play Othello there Would be no Racism

            On Friday morning I finished posting my translation of “Sparadrap” by Serge Gainsbourg and started memorizing his “Rock n Rose". 

            For the last few days my guitar had been easier to tune but today it was back to me sometimes fiddling with it for ten minutes at a time. I’ve never had a guitar that behaves this way before. If there were no pandemic and if I was invited to play somewhere I wouldn’t be able to do it because the guitar usually goes out of tune within the first verse of a song. If Remenyi can’t fix this problem I will never buy a guitar from them again. 

            I chopped my questions for the Canadian Literature "Ask the Author" assignment down to two pages. I eliminated all of the ones that challenge Cherie Dimaline's lack of logic and research, because those don’t fit with the criteria of the assignment. Once Justin has selected the three questions he wants I’ll jazz them up academically. 

            I had chips, salsa and yogourt for lunch. 

            In the afternoon I spent about two hours finishing reading Othello. I read it twelve years ago in my first year at university, but had forgotten some of it. Most of it came back as I read along. That Iago sure was an asshole! 

            I downloaded a digital version of Othello for easier access so I could write my British Literature tutorial question for next week. I started writing about how mild the racism in Othello is compared to the modern age. 

            The racism in Othello is refreshingly secondary. Iago, who has served Othello for years only first refers to the general’s race at the end of a tirade in which he laments being passed over for a promotion (1.1. lines 8-33). Roderigo only resents Othello because Desdemona has chosen this other over him and merely criticizes his race as an emotional response (1.1. line 68). Brabantio more resents that his daughter has run off with any man without his permission. He also did not want Roderigo to have Desdemona (1.1. lines 97-99). Despite having called up Othello’s ethnicity as a way of adding colour to his indignation, he easily gives in when Desdemona confirms her love for Othello 1.3. lines 191-193). His final line shows more his bitterness about his daughter’s deception than racism as he seeks affinity with Othello in that regard (1.3. lines 288-289). Othello’s race does not appear to be the primary factor of disapproval in any of these cases. If this had been the extent of racism in North America would there have ever been the need for a Civil Rights movement? 

            I grilled three steaks and had one with a potato and gravy while watching Interpol Calling. 

            In this story an archaeologist named Professor Velard is killed on his way to a French Foreign Legion base in North Africa where he plans to dig for artefacts. But before getting on the boat he is killed and replaced by a man named Morelle, who is wearing the same clothes. Morelle switches identification with Velard and his body is tossed in the ocean. When he is fished out weeks later his features are beyond recognition but the police conclude from his papers that they have finally found the notorious gunrunner Morelle, who has never been photographed. Duval is not so sure that this is Morelle. At the base Morelle makes contact with a legionnaire named Khan, who is wanted for murder under another name. Khan's girlfriend is Shana, who owns the Cafe Kama, which is a rebel hangout. Khan is told to help the rebels steal gun shipments to the garrison. After four ambushes Interpol is called. Duval says that these raids have the handwriting of Morelle, who is supposed to be dead. Duval visits the garrison and meets the archaeologist. As Duval is somewhat of an amateur archaeologist he finds the professor’s lack of knowledge suspicious. Duval goes to the Cafe Kama where a knife throwing act is taking place. Shana nods at the knifeman and he throws a blade at Duval. Just then the commandant walks in and warns Duval, who just moves out of the way. Duval begins to think the professor is Morelle. A picture of him is secretly taken and sent to Interpol and Jean reports back that the man in the photo is definitely not Velard. During the final ambush Morelle has Khan killed. When Shana learns of this she is upset. Duval goes to Morelle’s apartment where the basement connects with that of the Kama. Duval sees Shana there and tells her about the knife in Khan's back. Morelle and his men come down with guns drawn. When one of them tries to stab Duval Shana shoots him. The soldiers hear the shots and come to the rescue. Duval knocks out Morelle with one “karate chop” to the neck. 

            Shana was played by Colette Wilde, who appeared on a few British TV shows and was in “Day of the Triffids".