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The Town of Tisdale’s slogan has generated snickers and stares, indifferent shoulder shrugs and passionate complaints for well over a half-century.
The community is now questioning whether it should reconsider calling itself “The land of rape and honey.”
The town office is asking all the community’s 3,200 residents to fill out a survey on whetherthe town should re-think the slogan, which has been criticized for its possible misinterpretation in relation to sexual assault.
In the town’s slogan, ‘rape’ refers to rapeseed, whose oil was once used as a machine lubricant. Rapeseed also covers a wide variety of seed, including canola.
The slogan received some international attention in 1988 when industrial heavy metal band Ministry named its third album and a song The Land of Rape and Honey. The band chose the name for the album after seeing the slogan on a souvenir mug.
The town is also asking businesses if they feel comfortable putting the town’s slogan on their business cards.
The survey suggests some alternative slogans:
– Hub of the Northeast
– A Place to Grow
– A Place to Bee
– Land of Canola and Honey
Hoping to get as many surveys filled out as they can, the town is drawing prizes at the end of the survey period. Prizes include a gas barbecue, $100 credit to water bills, and Co-op gift cards. Five lucky winners will walk away with the book on Tisdale – A Story of the Century.
Agencies/Canadajournal
