Editor,
I was on my way home from pickleball at our local White Rock courts up the road on Wednesday, April 16.
I was walking home along 16th Avenue, right near Martin Street. I was on my way to the Save-On Foods and was approached by a young man (30-ish) who was trailed by a young girl (seven or eight?). He was wearing a shirt that said "Great White North Strong And Free."
Taking into account our current political situation, our impending federal election and our unstable neighbour to the south, I pointed at his shirt and said "Great shirt!" and smiled at him.
As I was passing him already, it took me a second to realize what he had said, in response to my remark: "WHITE POWER" and flashed the Nazi “Sieg Heil” salute at me. It took a second or two to register what was said, and as I turned around, I saw the young girl smiling away at me.
This was not only disgusting at its most base level, it was shocking and disturbing on so many levels. I have been aware of racism in our country my entire life, I’m 66, although it is usually cached as “latent racism” and is usually very covert.
This was neither. It was an overt and in your (or my) face hostile racist act! It truly allows me to see the truth of our fractious country.
I have read numerous articles about young white men, in particular, turning to the right, if not far right, politically. This incident just highlighted that.
Most people would be inclined to say that it was an isolated incident. Sadly, I find this hard to agree with. My father spent six long years in the Canadian military, from 1939 to 1945, fighting this type of outward, cowardly, and dangerous vileness. Of which two years was in actual combat, that affected his life for the rest of it.
I am truly outraged that this happened in my little seaside town of White Rock. But to be completely honest? Not surprised. Let’s hope this is not a sign of more to come.
Robert Peebles, White Rock
