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Dignity, respect go both ways

Editor: Re: Kwantlen professor calls Pride Parade ‘vulgar,’ Aug. 4. Isn’t it interesting that many who shout “tolerate” are anything but tolerant when someone has a difference of opinion.

Editor:

Re: Kwantlen professor calls Pride Parade ‘vulgar,’ Aug. 4.

Isn’t it interesting that many who shout “tolerate” are anything but tolerant when someone has a difference of opinion, and many who shout “liberate” are the first who would shut down a person’s right to freedom of expression when they disagree with that person’s words?

It seems today that anyone who expresses any opinion that could be construed as somewhat conservative or traditional becomes the target of bullying from those who would describe themselves as liberal or progressive.

At one time, name calling was found mainly on the playground. Today, it seems to be a far bigger problem with the supposed adults in our country who throw names around so that they can feel superior – left-wing, right-wing, homophobic, Islamaphobic, absolutist, to name a few.

Professor Shinder Purewal describes a parade where people are prancing around in their underwear, as “vulgar.” What’s wrong with that? There are huge numbers of us in this country who wouldn’t attend such an event for exactly the same reason.

I am getting more than a little tired of the name-calling and bullying behaviour. When did we lose the ability to discuss differences of opinion in a civil manner? When did our tolerant society become so vehemently intolerant?

When will we learn that treating people with dignity and respect should go both ways?

Linda Mehus-Barber, Surrey