To the Editor,
Re: All faiths permitted in civic facilities, June 26.
I am pleased that city council has rescinded the motion that cancelled the Leadercast event at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. But its justification for doing so has missed the mark.
Council has stated that the intent of the original motion has been misunderstood. This is inaccurate and misleading. Citizens of Nanaimo and Canada clearly understood that council cancelled Leadercast because one sponsor and one speaker hold opinions that some find offensive. What council and some in our city still do not seem to understand is that holding such opinions is not illegal, morally abhorrent, nor does it make you hateful toward others.
Nanaimo, it is time for us to put this sorry mess behind us and work together to build a community that truly honours diversity and protects the dignity of all who live here. Watch your words. Be kind. Love one another.
Darcy Siggelkowpastor, Generations Church
To the Editor,
Re: All faiths permitted in civic facilities, June 26.
The issue of the religious beliefs held by the citizens of Nanaimo was never an issue until it was made so by they themselves. They now claim to be the victims.
City council took action to keep an event sponsored by an anti-LGBT company and featuring an anti-LGBT speaker, out of Nanaimo. My neighbour had tickets to the event and told me he’d never have bought them to begin with had he known about the facts.
Nanaimo has nothing to be ashamed of, or to apologize for. She has shown herself to be a modern, progressive city that takes action to make sure that its facilities are not utilized by groups who support the use of divisive and hateful activities.
City-owned facilities have hosted conferences by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the United Church of Canada, and others. The shame is on those who have turned this into something else based on no concrete facts.
E.T. TurnerNanaimo
To the Editor,
Re: All faiths permitted in civic facilities, June 26.
I consider myself a follower of Jesus, having dedicated my life and trying to live according to His teachings.
So I wonder about all the rants concerning city council’s statement that events associated with “divisiveness, homophobia, or other expressions of hate” won’t have our support or use of facilities. Did the council apply that policy correctly in the case of Leadercast? I don’t know, but presume councillors acted in good faith. How that became an attack on Christianity or on our rights is a mystery to me.
Perhaps it’s time for Christians to take a deep breath, open the gospels, and stop throwing around loaded words like ‘bigot,’ or threatening retaliation.
WWJD?
Barbara CooperNanaimo