鈥楢CAB鈥� suggestions facile, divisive
Re: 鈥淎rtists defend anti-police 颅slogan in mural,鈥� Aug. 28.
I served as a police officer for 30 years, and although one or two of my supervisors might have been accurately described as 鈥渂astards,鈥� the vast majority of my fellow officers were just moms and dads who worked nights, weekends and all the holidays.
We coached hockey, we missed our families鈥� birthdays due to work, we cried over the bodies of dead children at crash and homicide scenes.
We intervened in domestic violence, we extracted kids from sexual exploitation and on occasion we wrote a speeding ticket or two in the hopes it might slow people down and prevent an accident.
Facile, dimwitted comments like the anonymous 鈥淎CAB鈥� might make the author feel like he or she is a frontline warrior in the movement for justice for Black and Aboriginal people, but in reality, they are no different than the bigots they pretend to be different than.
Wasn鈥檛 it the poster boy for racial divisiveness, Donald J. Trump, who made similarly sweeping false statements about Mexicans, saying they are all rapists and murderers?
The issue of racial justice is far too important to allow simpletons such as the 鈥渁rtist鈥� or Trump to lead the conversation. The world is full of smart, thoughtful people who need to be heard instead.
Len Dafoe
Nanoose Bay
Holding police accountable is vital
The backlash against the use of 鈥淎CAB鈥� in the Bastion Square mural as going against our civil niceties hardly comes as a surprise.
I encourage readers to reflect on the privilege of being so far removed from an issue that criticism of a system that is supposed to keep all of us safe is considered hate speech.
In the wake of recent brutal murders of unarmed Black men at the hands of police, I am more concerned about holding police accountable for their actions than I am about people feeling uncomfortable. The road to justice will be paved with discomfort.
Do I believe that all cops are bad? Absolutely not. Do I believe that police should be held accountable for their actions and reflect on their role within a system that has, at times, proved to be racist and violent? Yes, I do.
Whatever ends up happening with the mural, I hope the conversation of how to dismantle systemic racism and violence continues. For me, the mural serves as a reminder of the peaceful society we want to live in and how much farther we have to go to achieve it, not as an invitation to pat ourselves on the back for ending racism (but I suppose that is the beauty of art, we all see something different).
Note: I do not purport to speak on behalf of the artists of the beautiful 鈥淢ore Justice, More Peace鈥� mural or the Black community in Victoria.
Tharani Balachandran
Victoria
Reader appreciates paper鈥檚 efforts
Re: 鈥淣ew homes and an invigorating restart for the Times 91原创,鈥� Dave Obee, Sept. 1.
I just had to write in praise of Times 91原创 editor and publisher Dave Obee. He has led the wonderful Times 91原创 through this very difficult time. He has used the TC and partners to raise much-needed money for our social services and small businesses so they can keep going. Rapid Relief was a wonderful fundraiser that far exceeded the expectations. We in Victoria are a city of givers, but we need someone to take up the cause, and that is what Dave has led the TC to do. Rapid Relief is one of the many organizations that the TC hosts and gives back to the community.
I can鈥檛 imagine my day without the TC and its wonderful reporters and columnists. This has been a very difficult time, but the TC has been there every day giving us accurate information.
If Dave doesn鈥檛 want to be prime minister, he should at least get the Order of B.C. because his leadership has helped out communities throughout this unparalleled time in recent history. I, for one, would nominate him to the Order of B.C.
Sue Goldsack
Esquimalt
Residency problem solved 鈥� get B.C. plates
Re: 鈥淢ore ignorant judgment, served on a plate,鈥� Jack Knox, Sept. 1.
There is a simple solution for the embattled drivers of vehicles with American or out-of-province plates who are being harassed about their plates in the COVID-19 era. Do what the rest of us did upon moving to B.C. 鈥� go get your vehicle properly registered, plated and insured. If you are a resident, as so many of these folks are claiming that they are, there is no excuse for keeping old plates 鈥� and you might, in fact, be driving illegally if you have already passed three months of residency.
I don鈥檛 condone attacking or harassing anyone, regardless of their vehicle plates. That鈥檚 shortsighted and unhelpful and isn鈥檛 saving anyone from infection.
But I do find it very odd that so many supposed residents of B.C. have never bothered to properly register their vehicles here.
For those who defend themselves by saying they only moved here in March or April, even in the era of COVID-19, it can be done. So get your B.C. plates and join the rest of us on the road driving legally.
Marshal McLernon
Victoria
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