Democratic government works for the people
Dear John Horgan, Cc: Adrian Dix; Ravi Kahon; Bonnie Henry et al
I am a 63 years old woman, with a degree in Social Work and a Masters Degree in Counseling. I grew up with activism and a social conscience. I have been a past member of the NDP and worked as constituency assistant for an NDP MP. I have loved healthy debates and felt passionate about social issues that include poverty, racism, environmental degradation, women’s issues.
I do not support this government’s policies that have violated the human rights of unvaccinated persons in British Columbia. I understand that governments have felt helpless in the face of this unrelenting virus and at the heart of things have tried to protect the vulnerable citizens with its policies.
No matter how government communications try to spin this, the lockdowns, vaccine passports, unfair targeting of the fitness and hospitality business has been a massive failure. Not only did these policies not prevent hospitalizations and deaths of the vulnerable, it has paralized and destroyed small businesses. The violent language used by Minister Dix, yourself and others blaming the pandemic on the unvaccinated has destroyed free speech and healthy debate. Families, friendships, workplaces are divided by vitriol and anger. Censorship, shaming and blaming have replaced respectful dialogues.
May I remind you that democratic government works for the people and must listen to, hear and understand a diverse range of views. Dr. Henry, Adrian Dix and John Horgan have become comfortable with patronizing language, scapegoating, blaming and marginalizing people. It is not enough for me to be told to trust science, or that those constituents that have been following the rules are glorified while others are demonized. I find this callous and disrespectful.
Bullying language is a leftover byproduct of an attitude about how to do politics that should have been left at the turn of the century. I long for elected officials to listen, understand and respect diverse views. You have the opportunity to turn this around; when you use force in language and behavior, there is a natural resistance and counterforce. This is how fundamentalism begins to take roots in marginalized societies. I deeply respect leaders who can say, I am sorry , I understand and I don’t know. Who I vote for in the next election will have little to do with the party they represent; it will be a leader who has the qualities to unite, support and help heal the damage that has been done
Respectfully,
Deborah Carruthers BA BSW MA
Duncan