Two wrongs don’t make a right
Dear Premier John Horgan:
Just as I was digesting the gross ignorance that recently wrecked Capt. James Cook’s Victoria statue, ugly racism again reared its heinous head by torching a landmark totem pole along our magnificent Malahat Drive.
Despicable. Hopefully the criminal culprits are found and jailed.
Maybe they can meet elders of the Tsartlip, Tsawout and Tseycum First Nations to apologize — before helping repair that damaged pole.
Two wrongs never make a right. These sickening acts display that truism in spades.
Vengeful recrimination by burning a beautiful, symbolic totem, of sacred meaning to our Native neighbours, was appallingly barbaric.
So was the sad destruction of our publicly owned Cook statue.
Both artworks can, should and must be used as educational tools of healing and reconciliation regarding our tragic Native residential schools.
They should not be sacrificed to make misdirected, vindictive statements based on twisted personal agendas nor misinformed beliefs.
These precious artworks belong to all British Columbians, not a misguided few.
Mr. Premier, I now expect our provincial government to work with Native elders and all citizens to continue healing our tragic past and help us evolve past cycles of disgusting racism and vicious vandalism.
Peter W. Rusland
Duncan
