To the Editor:
It is very sad to see how divisive the issue of the new UCN campus, and in particular the student housing, has become and how entrenched the views are. A major initiative that should have been a cause for celebration has become extremely controversial. As residents we need to have active debates on how our community is shaped but we must always try to frame it in a way that is professional and to not allow it to get personal. As the former mayor use to also phrase it, "You attack the issue, not the person."
In reading one of the letters to the editor in the Jan. 19 issue of the Thompson Citizen, I could not help but feel very disappointed when an individual wrote "many people's views towards this university are bigoted and racist." This may have come from extreme frustration on the part of this individual but to bring in such words, labelling so many people, is reckless and divisive. For the Thompson Citizen to highlight this part of the individual's statement makes it more damaging.
As a visible minority I have had, on occasion, situations facing me that made me want to lash out as well but I question how does this type of commentary helps the situation except to allow for a person to vent? If I did not agree with the student housing based on some racist viewpoint, does having my views called racist or a bigoted change my mind on it? I doubt it. On the other hand, if I was an individual who had concerns over the initiative that had nothing to do with who would be using it (i.e. management of the housing stock, effects on traffic flow and events at the Recreation Centre), my reaction to dismissing my concerns because they are racist or a bigoted would make me even more upset over the issue. I know the word "many" was used versus "all" in the attempt to soften the statement, but many individuals will still take it as a personal insult, regardless of their motives.
Using racism and bigotry as an explanation as to why people are reacting the way they are to a particular issue with out proof and based on just assumptions makes for great press but is a slippery slope and, quite frankly, it takes away from the discussions that need to happen. It can quickly polarize a community.
I personally made a similar mistake many years ago on another issue and found that for a long period after that, more energy was spent on discussions on whether the person "was or was not" versus debating the actual issues relating to the project. Sadly enough we do have people who base their judgement on narrow views, I do not waste my time on those types of individuals - or even to try and insult them.
For the record, I support the UCN initiative but as a Thompsonite I do not support the increasingly aggressive language that is being used by individuals on both sides of the issue. This letter, if it is printed, will be published after mayor and council take the final vote. My hope is that they will vote based on what is in the long-term best interest of our city. Regardless of the outcome, this debate has gotten ugly and will leave wounds that will take a while to heal.
If the rezoning is approved, mayor and council, UCN, and the community as a whole will need to ensure sure that some of the potentially real and/or perceived issues such as overall management of the student housing units, traffic congestion, etc. are addressed. If the rezoning is not approved my hope is that we work together as a community on finding alternative options for student housing. This level of investment does not come by too often and we need to ensure that it does not leave our community.
Thompson is a city but we are a small community. The people we may get upset with today could be individuals we work with tomorrow. As with most communities, we have many issues facing us. Our history has shown that we pull together in the face of challenge. I am confident that we will continue to do so.
Oswald SawhThompson
