Descendants of settlers have right to be here too
I have to write to support Mr. Bonner’s letter (“Cannot support vandalism”) after reading the intolerant views expressed by Mr. Crockett.
The latter seems to condone the destruction of the cross on Mount Prevost (vandalism which, as he points out, has been condemned by First Nations leaders) and the toppling of the Victoria statue of Captain Cook, whom he describes as a facilitator of Britain’s “forceable expansion” into this area. By his logic, none of our ancestors had a right to come here, work hard and build the society that is now the envy of much of the world. By the extension of his logic, no one but Indigenous people are legitimate residents of our country.
Canada has been an independent nation since 1867, so the term “colonial” — so frequently bandied about these days — is inaccurate.
Of course we need reconciliation with our First Nations neighbours and the great majority of Canadians support that. But reconciliation is a two-way street, and cannot be achieved by belittling the contributions and right to be here of the non-Indigenous.
Dave Laundy
Cobble Hill
