Open letter to MP Ryan Leef:
I don’t assess the patriotism of Yukoners by displays of the flag. Granted, it’s a nice flag - gotta love that maple leaf design. But it is just a symbol for this large, amorphous entity we call Canada.
If citizens have an emotional reaction to the flag, it’s because of specific associations they have - to the land, to family history, to recreation opportunities, to wildlife, etc. Lately some specific associations to this country have been disheartening and embarrassing.
The passage of C-38 with no changes and Canada’s obstructionist stance to global environmental efforts are just the most recent in a long line of Harperisms (which, unfortunately, you seem to be going along with).
I assess levels of patriotism in a very different way - by the number and kind of letters to the editor in the newspaper. The more I see citizens questioning, calling elected officials to task, proposing alternatives and insisting on democratic process, the more I know that they care about their country.
It’s not the warm, fuzzy patriotism that your campaign is promoting. We live in trying times, and warm and fuzzy is not what we need. We need thoughtful, insistent and downright prickly.
Dianne Homan
Whitehorse