Dear Editor:
RE: Community members clash over Pride banners in Minto, May 16.
I would like to comment on two items reported in your paper.
The first is a comment by two people that they felt the person presenting the petition was “not completely honest about its goal.” I must say that the petition itself was actually very “honest” about its goals.
On the top of the petition was written these words: “The undersigned persons being electors of the Town of Minto, hereby petition council to make a bylaw ensuring crosswalks and flags and banners on public property remain neutral adhering to the following:
– crosswalks will only be painted in a white stripped pattern (“continental or ladder”) between two parallel lines;
– flags: Only the national flag of Canada, provincial flag of Ontario or Town of Minto flags are raised on flagpoles on public property or facilities.
There will be no decoration on a town crosswalk or displaying of flags or banners supporting political, social or religious movements or commercial entities save and accept the Royal Canadian Legion banner which are “grandfathered in.”
How could the intentions of this petition be made more clear?
Now everyone was asked to print their name, sign their name, give their full municipal street and address, give their telephone or email and finally to date it if they agreed with the terms I have included which were on all the petitions.
It was not a checkmark in a box if you agreed or an initial if you again agreed. It’s a very serious matter to thus sign one’s agreement in this way. I think that the people who said they were being deceived did not read the declaration carefully and signed the petition because of this very fact.
Secondly, I have heard the words the people want to be “inclusive” of the Pride cause. The word inclusive means, “not excluding any of the parties or groups involved in something.” I do not see this demonstrated in the Town of Minto council. Many causes have been left out.
I would say that the Town of Minto council might be better and more forthright to say that their policy in this regard is “exclusive,” which means, “excluding or not admitting other things.”
Heather Winn,
Palmerston