Anti-police slogan dilutes message
Re: “Artists defend anti-police slogan in mural,” Aug. 28.
All cops are bastards (or bad)? That’s a lie. It’s as facile and reactionary as saying all protesters are violent, or all artists are poseurs. Good will and good faith are two-way streets. The More Justice and More Peace mural organizers should reconsider their messaging.
To endorse and propagate lying is unjust and contrary to their stated intent of raising awareness. Black lives matter. Don’t dilute this urgent message by lying. To claim artistic freedom is a copout.
Charles Harp
Oak Bay
Slogan seems like hate speech
Re: “Artists defend anti-police slogan in mural,” Aug. 28.
How does “All cops are bastards” advance the artists’ stated supposed goal of advancing “more justice, more peace”? It sounds completely contradictory; indeed, I’d say it’s hate speech.
Ruth Robinson
Victoria
Cook’s aim was knowledge
Re: “Vandalism of Cook statue raises questions about role of monuments: historians,” Aug. 28.
Firstly, kudos to Dr. Lorne Hammond for providing an accurate and nuanced view of Capt. James Cook and his contributions to humanity, along with acknowledgment of some of his flaws. Like Dr. Hammond, I would also support the addition of a plaque elaborating on some of the unfortunate effects of Cook’s voyages.
Almost 300 years ago, Cook embarked on three epic voyages around the world that immeasurably enhanced scientific and geographical knowledge. While Cook was not perfect, his contributions to surveying, navigation, cartography, botany, the elimination of scurvy and several other scientific advancements were invaluable and of benefit to all of humanity.
It is indisputable that later colonization by other Europeans resulted in great suffering by Indigenous people. However, unlike other “explorers” such as Columbus, Cortez, Pizarro, de Gama and many others whose statues arguably should be removed, Cook’s aim was not the subjugation and oppression of Indigenous people in pursuit of gold and other riches. Rather, he sought to make peaceful contact with the peoples of the world in order to advance knowledge and cultural exchange.
The vandals who defaced the statue of Cook may perhaps be forgiven for their uninformed and destructive act. However, the suggestion of the University of Victoria professor of geography to remove the statue in order to “challenge these Eurocentric views of history” is extreme and unwarranted. Perhaps UVic should consider offering positions to those who present a more balanced view of history to their students.
Gary Armbrust
Saanich
Cook a product of his time
Re: “Harbour statue of Cook splashed with red paint,” Aug. 28.
I have no idea who the Woke and Social Justice Warriors are, but surely they can appreciate that as Capt. James Cook, in the 1700s, traversed the Earth, many in their ignorance of people and their languages (that they neither knew or understood) used familiar names to mark points on the maps they drew. Somewhat like gardeners who give nicknames to plants.
For the past 150 years and up to now, there is nothing to stop us from using those old names, as has been done in India and Wales, for example. Pkols was a start (for Mount Douglas). Make the signs, and let’s start using them.
Wendy Wardle
Cadboro Bay
Don’t discard civility in push for change
Re: “Artists defend anti-police slogan in mural,” Aug. 28.
There is every reason to support any initiative that raises awareness of injustices done to Black and Indigenous peoples, and other people of colour. It is a sad and intolerable fact that racism still rears its ugly head the world over, including in our own city.
It is lamentable that people can be so quick to form naïve and destructive beliefs about entire groups of people and take action against them, such as stating publicly that “All cops are bastards,” painted in the form of an acronym into a city-sanctioned art display in Bastion Square.
The “artist” who felt the need to spread this brand of vitriol does not speak for me. It is true that there are police officers who should never have donned a uniform — I am reminded of the tragedy at Vancouver International Airport 13 years ago involving Robert Dziekanski, and of course the ugly spectacle just this summer of government-sanctioned thugs assaulting peaceful protesters in Portland, Oregon, even as the protesters were taking a stand against systemic and institutionalized racism. The lamentable list goes on.
Every profession and cross-section of humanity harbours elements that erode the credibility and integrity of the groups they represent, including protesters, or indeed the hotheads and opportunists who act to discredit legitimate protest movements. We can’t afford to discard reason and civility as we strive to effect positive change.
David Masini
Victoria
Beacon Hill wrong place for homeless
Beacon Hill Park was a little oasis of beauty I loved to visit several times a week to observe and photograph the seasonal changes and relish the many alluring hidden spots you had to look for … but not any more. The park is now overpopulated by homeless folk in their tent encampments, and the overall atmosphere is fraught.
The problem is not just the homeless, but now there are disturbed folk carrying firearms, flashing and harassing strollers.
This situation is fast getting out of hand, and has to be dealt with sternly but empathetically by our city council, who were in a closed discussion the other day addressing these problems.
A public park in a central city neighbourhood is not the place for housing the homeless, especially as more of them are gravitating to our fair city.
This scenario so clearly reflects on the multiple problems besetting other communities around the world as increasingly people are displaced due to war, joblessness, economic downturn and COVID-19.
I trust a viable solution can be found to resolve our own humanitarian problems.
Kinga Biro
Victoria
Appalled by Victoria’s leniency at square
Why not just move the people who are occupying Centennial Square right now, and suffer the consequences after? The John A. Macdonald statue was moved without any input from the public, whose families in Victoria paid for it all those years ago.
These people are on public property, which the taxpayers of Victoria pay for. I do not live in Victoria, but I am appalled how lenient Victoria council have been acting.
Maureen Teppin
Saanich
Victoria council ignoring city’s demise
What is happening to our beautiful city? The ugly campsite that marred Harris Green and Pandora Avenue for months was finally cleared away, only to be replaced by an even more unsightly one around City Hall, now a headquarters for the illicit drug trade.
Our city streets are in such disrepair they resemble a third world country, yet we continue to frustrate motorists and limit parking downtown to the detriment of local merchants by an ever-widening network of bike pathways.
Our once-tranquil and inviting Beacon Hill Park is now a no-go area for many seniors; elsewhere, discarded needles are a threat to children and the unwary.
And now we seem to have spawned a subculture of vandals whom, without any real justification but supposedly using a race-centred conflict elsewhere, smear a historic statue with paint.
When it comes to our current civic administration, I have the distinct impression of Emperor Nero strumming his harp and singing while Rome burned.
John H. Râtel
Victoria
Bring in used needles to get new ones
Why not make it a requirement for users to bring in their used needle before they can receive a new one?
The used needles could be disposed of safely, which would reduce the number of used needles that are littering our streets and causing major problems for those who come across them and those who have to dispose of them.
Dorothy Mullen
Victoria
Social-distancing rules being loosely applied
Re: “Wear masks and face shields,” letter, Aug. 26.
I agree with the writer that rules around social distancing are being loosely applied in retail stores these days, if at all, both by store staff and customers. COVID-19 fatigue seems to be creeping in, even while case numbers are back on the rise. Waiting lines are non-existent and stores are overcrowded.
With regard to mask wearing, there is currently no clear public policy on this. Stores make their own rules and apply them inconsistently and unevenly. No wonder people are confused.
Public figures don’t always set the best example. Television coverage of the federal Conservative leadership race showed politicians and delegates handshaking, hugging, and huddling close together in groups.
Whatever happened to elbow bumps? Wearing a mask does not exempt anyone from observing the two-metre rule, much less an aspiring prime minister.
Claudia Logan
Victoria
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