Vandals do what they do in an effort to gain some sort of notoriety, so in my experience it’s best to simply ignore their transgressions, thus denying them the spotlight they so crave. Unfortunately, there are times when it’s impossible to look the other way, when it’s necessary to shine a light on what these vandals have done in order to rebuke them and their actions in the strongest possible terms.
What has happened at Ladner United Church, where a pride flag has been defaced twice over a two-week span, is one of these instances where the act is so odious it must be admonished and those behind it shown their behaviour won’t be tolerated.
This isn’t like someone kicking over a fence or tagging the side of a building, but rather it’s a deliberate attack on a segment of our community and the values of inclusion that we hold dear. Perhaps it’s a stupid kid or kids who don’t comprehend the gravity of their actions or like the fact they’ve created a buzz around town. More likely it’s being perpetrated by some small-minded person who has trouble accepting people for who they are.
Regardless, it’s so far out of step with who we are as a community that we must not only condemn the actions but also show our support for Ladner United and the LGBTQ community. After the first incident it was heartening to see that response, including how other area churches flew pride flags in a show of solidarity and how city hall and the school district office raised pride flags to convey the message that everyone should feel included in Delta.
There’s absolutely no room for intolerance in our city so it was encouraging to see our leaders, from Mayor George Harvie and school board chair Laura Dixon to police Chief Neil Dubord and fire Chief Paul Schofield, make it crystal clear that the dominant message should be one of inclusion, not fear or hate.
I loathe the idea of giving a hateful person the spotlight they desire, but if what comes out of these acts of vandalism is a community that’s more aware, more supportive and more inclusive, then we’re all better for it.
It would be heartwarming if the message that’s left standing at the end of all of this is the exact opposite of the one the vandal intended.
