Tommy Douglas – The story of Mouseland
I haven’t heard this story for many many years but it rings true about many facets of society.
It empowers the individual to move forward in a direction that may have never been taken. He reminds us, if you don’t try you will never know.
Tommy Douglas was a small man by all accounts only 5′6 and 150 pounds, but when he spoke he spoke with passion and his vision captures your imagination and allows you to believe that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and act collectively as one.
“Mouseland is a troubled village of mice ruled by cats. But a lone mouse comes forward with a radical suggestion: the mice should elect one of their own to parliament. ‘My friends,’ Douglas says passionately, ‘watch out for the little fellow with an idea.’ *
* Originally Broadcast: Jan. 1, 1961.Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Video found at orangeroom.ca / YouTube Link / by intrakota
- Mouseland was written by Douglas’ friend Clare Gillis. 1
- Douglas’ style wasn’t universally revered. Some of his critics have likened him to a ham-actor who craved attention with his vaudevillian-style humour. 1
- In a Star Weekly article published Jan. 8, 1966, the author noted that Douglas set his watch fifteen minutes early in an attempt to stay ahead of his busy schedule. 1
- Douglas strictly abstained from alcohol but felt that it wasn’t the government’s place to legislate laws against liquor. In a 1958 interview with CBC Radio’s Assignment he explained that “you can’t legislate morality, you can’t make people be good.” 1
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: June 10, 2008.
1 The CBC Digital Archives Website.
http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/parties_leaders/topics/851-4958/
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[...] of Cats….did you ever hear Tommy Douglas’ story of Mouseland? No? Well, sit back and enjoy a fantastic peice of Canadian History that rings true today as it has [...]