Editor: Re: Location matters in opinions, Murphy's Law, July 5
As one of the letter writers who criticized Peter White's blinkered opinion that in turn criticized Joyce Schmidt for daring to publicly comment in favour of the Southlands proposed development, let me now criticize what you write on July 5 - that can easily be taken to an inappropriate and ineffective extreme. You argue - again in the instance of the Southlands as an example - for a greater local say on matters before the community.
You make a general reasonable point, but you make it wrongly.
Of course, people who may be looking at whatever happens in the instance of the Southlands (Tsawwassen), or in the instance of Marina Gardens Estates (Ladner) or in the instance of MK Delta Lands (North Delta) will feel a somewhat closer attachment to whatever local development issues accompany those proposed initiatives.
That only makes sense.
Any argument they - or you - make, however, that suggests - sometimes much too aggressively and inappropriately and disrespectfully (as in the case of what Mr. White wrote) - that other members of the community who do not live in the community where the particular development resides should essentially zip their lips is dead wrong. Full stop.
Another letter writer - Tom Griffing - also on July 5, makes some sensible arguments in this matter.
The developments that I mention as examples in this discussion affect the entire community in many ways.
They don't just change the view of people to the west of the Southlands, looking east toward Boundary Bay.
Delta isn't a particularly large community.
If somebody is doing something in Tsawwassen that raises concerns for someone living in North Delta or in Ladner then those people living in those "outlying" communities, as I believe some would have them defined, darned well better comment on those events. If they don't then they're failing their civic responsibilities.
Isn't that an issue that we complain long and hard and publicly about every time another election rolls around?
C'mon; we need to encourage any and all constructive expressions of opinion on civic matters. Or are you simply, by your editorial comment on July 5, trying to preserve another opportunity to write about political apathy when another electoral cycle descends upon us?
Firth Bateman
