Margaret Atwood on the arts – her two cents

In the Globe and Mail, Margaret Atwood responds to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent comments on the arts in Canada in which, in part, he claims to speak for the average person. Titled, To be creative is, in fact, Canadian, Atwood makes a number of observations. But I especially liked this paragraph:

I suggest that considering the huge amount of energy we spend on creative activity, to be creative is “ordinary.” It is an age-long and normal human characteristic: All children are born creative. It’s the lack of any appreciation of these activities that is not ordinary. Mr. Harper has demonstrated that he has no knowledge of, or respect for, the capacities and interests of “ordinary people.” He’s the “niche interest.” Not us.

I agree, though I think a lot people aren’t aware of how creative they are because they have a wrong-headed notion that creativity is restricted to “artists.” With what people do with personal fashion and home renos, I’m not sure what people think that is if not creative.