The politeness of Canadians – especially around some of the world’s bigger and more controversial issues – has long been legendary.
Where other nations are inclined to stamp, hoot, holler – even invade, if sufficiently moved – Canada has always minded its p’s and q’s.
Even when taking a strong stance, Canadians are more likely to voice it with a ‘please’, a ‘thank you’ or an ‘excuse me.’
Following last Saturday’s ‘blockade’ of coal trains on the BNSF tracks near White Rock pier by British Columbians for Climate Action, the city appears to be in the running for politeness capital of a polite nation. And the title of ambassadors for the principle must belong to White Rock RCMP, who attended the protest along with CN police acting on behalf of BNSF.
It’s hard to recall a demonstration where protesters have been so adamant in their desire to compliment the police who ultimately led them away under arrest.
But that has been the message of two of the 13 arrested for trespassing on the BNSF tracks; retired environmental scientist Peter Nix and environmental activist Kevin Washbrook.
Particularly singled out for praise was White Rock’s detachment commander, Staff Sgt. Lesli Roseberry, who, while she spelled out very clearly her commitment to public and protester safety, also made it clear she respected their right to have their voices heard.
And why shouldn’t dissent be treated with anything less than respect in a democracy?
We don’t have to look very far these days to see the evidence of bully-boy politics. It’s an ugly paradigm that serves nobody’s purpose except for demagogues and corporations with vested interests in obscuring the truth.
Some may dispute that there is any link between the burning of fossil fuels and climate change, and view the coal-train protesters as misguided, but no one should doubt this is an issue those who participated take seriously.
As SFU professor Dr. Mark Jaccard – one of the arrestees and an internationally recognized energy-environment economist – said in a statement, “putting myself in a situation where I may be accused of civil disobedience is not something I ever expected to be doing or wanted to do… I ask myself how our children, when they look back decades from now, will have expected us to act today.”
And while their efforts may be brushed aside as easily as they were from the tracks, chances are they have started a protest that will give them a broader platform from which to speak.