Wednesday, September 27, 2017

                Our mayor and members of the Peterborough City Council are fundamentally good and moral people. They work hard for our City and do the best they can. But I feel they have dropped the ball. Although it was not actually their decision per se, a City department has allowed a white supremacist group to hold a “political” rally in Confederation Park which also is home to our War Memorial. My father’s name is etched into the stone with the many hundreds of others who answered the call to fight Nazism. And now an alleged  neo-nazi organizer wants to hold a rally against the federal Liberals and their immigration policies under the guise of expression of “free speech”.

                I have always defended democratic freedom but I also believe the right of free speech is also a privilege that calls for both responsibility and accountability.  Hate speech, especially against people of colour, religion, race, gender, etc. is a cheap, spiteful, hateful abuse of free speech.

                I have emailed the mayor and each of our ward Councillors to protest and oppose this rally and use of the War Memorial for their racist purposes. The Mayor and four others have responded. To each of their credit none of them support the aims and purposes of this group, although they have been rather slow in coming out and saying so. But each has also said that legally they had no choice – people have a legal right to lawful, peaceful assembly and the City had no grounds to turn them down.

                Although I understand that the City was between a rock and a hard place and officials now have pledged to keep the group away from the War Memorial I would still have preferred that the City had been more proactive to keep this racist group off-line altogether. This Council has taken more time to fuss over whether cats should be leashed and urban chicken coops than giving strong, courageous leadership in this matter. It looks to me, at least, like they were not prepared for the decision and the backlash and attention which it is now causing.

                A lot of bad things can happen when we say “we had no choice” or “we were under orders” or we look the other way or we become too cautious to get involved or think the problem will go away if we ignore it or that it’s somebody else’s problem or we just want everybody to get along and be liked by all.   “I’m just doing my job; minding my own business; just doing what I’m told.” 

                Saying the just thing and doing the just thing, that which the Bible describes as righteousness is never easy. “Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?’” (Matthew 9:4) Jesus was speaking to his critics and opponents, and challenged them forthrightly even though it put him at grave risk.  It always strikes me as ironic that Jesus, a Jew to the core, would be hated for his race by white supremacist groups, even though some of these vile groups hide behind Christian symbols. On another occasion he had this to say to them, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Matthew 12:34) Finally, on another Jesus’ note:  “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed,” (John 3:20).

                Now, I strongly believe that evil is best fought with more than just words.  Good deeds, just action, right thinking, and the works of love, grace and mercy can help stop evil in its track. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” (Romans 12:21). But please note that this admonition implies action rather than passivity, deeds as well as words, engagement as well as resistance. Otherwise, we reap what we sow.

                I am sure that many of you have read the short poem written by the German pastor, Martin Niemöller during WWII. He was an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. But it is well worth sharing again:

              First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist. 

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist. 

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 

Because I was not a Jew. 

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Dale