The Famous story of Mouseland By T.C. Douglas, The Father of Medicare in Canada

[stuball111]

Mouseland (As told by Tommy Douglas in 1944)

(You can listed to Tommy tell this story in his own words in our Audio Files section )

It's the story of a place called Mouseland. Mouseland was a place where all the little mice lived and played, were born and died. And they lived much the same as you and I do.

They even had a Parliament. And every four years they had an election. Used to walk to the polls and cast their ballots. Some of them even got a ride to the polls. And got a ride for the next four years afterwards too. Just like you and me. And every time on election day all the little mice used to go to the ballot box and they used to elect a government. A government made up of big, fat, black cats.

Now if you think it strange that mice should elect a government made up of cats, you just look at the history of Canada for last 90 years and maybe you'll see that they weren't any stupider than we are.

Now I'm not saying anything against the cats. They were nice fellows. They conducted their government with dignity. They passed good laws--that is, laws that were good for cats. But the laws that were good for cats weren't very good for mice. One of the laws said that mouseholes had to be big enough so a cat could get his paw in. Another law said that mice could only travel at certain speeds--so that a cat could get his breakfast without too much effort.

All the laws were good laws. For cats. But, oh, they were hard on the mice. And life was getting harder and harder. And when the mice couldn't put up with it any more, they decided something had to be done about it. So they went en masse to the polls. They voted the black cats out. They put in the white cats.

Now the white cats had put up a terrific campaign. They said: "All that Mouseland needs is more vision." They said:"The trouble with Mouseland is those round mouseholes we got. If you put us in we'll establish square mouseholes." And they did. And the square mouseholes were twice as big as the round mouseholes, and now the cat could get both his paws in. And life was tougher than ever. And when they couldn't take that anymore, they voted the white cats out and put the black ones in again. Then they went back to the white cats. Then to the black cats. They even tried half black cats and half white cats. And they called that coalition. They even got one government made up of cats with spots on them: they were cats that tried to make a noise like a mouse but ate like a cat.

You see, my friends, the trouble wasn't with the colour of the cat. The trouble was that they were cats. And because they were cats, they naturally looked after cats instead of mice.

Presently there came along one little mouse who had an idea. My friends, watch out for the little fellow with an idea. And he said to the other mice, "Look fellows, why do we keep on electing a government made up of cats? Why don't we elect a government made up of mice?" "Oh," they said, "he's a Bolshevik. Lock him up!"

So they put him in jail.
But I want to remind you: that you can lock up a mouse or a man but you can't lock up an idea.


The Moral of the Story

"Mouseland" is a political fable, originally told by Clare Gillis, a friend of Tommy Douglas. Tommy has used his story many times to show in a humorous way how Canadians fail to recognize that neither the Liberals or Conservatives are truly interested in what matters to ordinary citizens; yet Canadians continue to vote for them.

The story cleverly deals with the false assumption by some people that CCF'ers (NDP'ers) are Communists. The ending shows Tommy Douglas has faith that someday socialism, which recognizes human rights and dignity, will win over capitalism and the mere pursuit of wealth and power.

[rurallib]

1. Always rec threads on Tommy Douglas, the greatest Canadan!

and grandfather of Keifer Sutherland.

[iverglas]

6. and we appreciate it

Always nice to meet someone with such good taste. ;)

Don't forget the intervening generation though -- Shirley Douglas, Kiefer's mum and Tommy's daughter (and once Donald's wife) -- an actor herself and a tireless campaigner for Tommy's legacy and social justice.

[stuball111]

8. Shirley is great...

And so is Keifer... Loved his intro in the Mouseland video...

[iverglas]

2. look what I found!

Hey, newby. ;) You need to provide links for quoted material. (There's no copyright in this tale, so no need to worry this time, but ordinarily 4-5 paragraphs are allowed.)

I googled it to find the link where the audio can be found, and I found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqgOvzUeiAA

An animation to go with Tommy's narration -- with the video introduced by Kiefer.

"... there's something in my background which you may not know, something I am very proud of. I am also a grandson of the late Tommy Douglas ...

... one of the best explanations you'll ever hear about why Canadians like you and me support the New Democrats".

This video needs more hits!

[stuball111]

3. Thanks for that info..

I did post a link on another thread, and I knew that this story would not be infringement, ans I normally keep things short, (except when I rant or find something worthwhile like this) I love the Mouseland story, and wish I could find more of his quotes and stories.I am new to DU, but have been an NDPer since I could vote, about 35 years ago. It's a great forum! I live in the US now, and support the Dems, well, most of em.

[iverglas]

5. we met in that other thread ;)

I've bookmarked the "Mythbusting" site you recommended.

http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/mythbusting-canadian-health-care-part-i



If you click on the youtube username at the Mouseland video, it takes you to DCFTommy1971, which is the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation, and there are a couple of other videos there.

If you were asked to name two great leaders of Canadian Socialism, it is likely that Tommy Douglas and M.J. Coldwell would come to mind. Their life-long contributions to social democracy in Canada and around the globe are well celebrated.

And this will take you to search results for Tommy Douglas at youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tommy+douglas

The CBC has some audio/video clips:

http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/parties_leaders/topics/851/

A new brand of Canadian social democracy

Broadcast Date: Jan. 1, 1935
J.S. Woodsworth has big plans for his grassroots party, the Co-operative
Commonwealth Federation. Woodsworth, an ardent pacifist and social
democrat crusader, is stirring up talk with his radical political
platform as Canada continues to struggle through the Depression.
In this campaign speech, Woodsworth describes the swelling ranks
of the CCF party and the growing support for a Canadian social
welfare program. In the 1935 election the CCF sends seven MPs to
parliament including Saskatchewan's Tommy Douglas.

I think our southern cousins would find it surprising to hear he was an ordained Baptist preacher. ;)


Now, if you've voted NDP, who knows? you may have voted for me ...

... not that it helped. ;)

[stuball111]

7. Possibly...

I try to point that out down here, that Socialism is vastly different than communism, which they and many Canadians associate it with as they know it from the Stalin era, and that Tommy was a very gentle and caring man, and a baptist Minister. Now, how bout a hint,which riding did you run in,and when.

[iverglas]

10. ha, nice try

You'll note that my profile says ... nothing. ;)

Quite a few years ago I was chatting with someone I'd run across at a personals site - we weren't meant for each other, but we were having a nice conversation. He had his location on the site, I didn't. We'd established we were both good NDPers and had pro-choice activist backgrounds and what not, and he said I really had to tell him where I lived. So I'd had a glass or two of wine ... and I said: well, actually, I buy my wardrobe at the Zellers down the street from you. And if you've ever lived in <a riding on the other side of town>, you must have voted for me!

Better than that, he said; I worked on your 19__ campaign, <my real name>!!

I'd say if I tell you then I'll have to kill you ... but the sad thing is that the man in question there, a really really nice person whom I got together with a couple of times for lunch, with my new partner, died a few years later after a long fight with Hep C, which he had contracted from giving blood. Only the good, eh?

[stuball111]

11. Well, I am curious but..

I now live in the US.. Anyways, yes, I tried, and it was nice to meet you, keep in touch eh?

[stuball111]

9. Coldwell..

Yeah.. I forgot about him,,, made an impact but Tommy was the man! His story should be required reading for all!

[stuball111]

4. And thanks..

For that link, watched it, and got chills... what a great Man!

[iverglas]

12. I think I see the source of confusion

When "I" said:


"... there's something in my background which you may not know, something I am very proud of. I am also a grandson of the late Tommy Douglas ...

... one of the best explanations you'll ever hear about why Canadians like you and me support the New Democrats".


-- I was transcribing a bit of what Kiefer Sutherland said in the Mouseland video. ;)