TO THE EDITOR:
Re: "We Day does it again-inspires," Oct. 19.
Despite clear similarities in education and ideology towards the power of individual change in gatherings like We Day and Occupy Vancouver, it is baffling why Sandra Thomas would like to see peaceful demonstrations avoided by future generations.
Maybe she is such an idealist to suppose that the current generation of kids in school will come-to-age with no corrupt and unfair politics to protest against? No rallies needed to exchange ideas for change?
Further, I hope Thomas is not conflating justice and directional politics in her "right ideals" (unless she means to raise the hackles of Postmedia critics). Like drones, we might recall together the ideals which come with the torch, which has been passed around multiple generations, rather than down: "We can do anything, if we set our minds to it. We must help solve the world's problems, and make it a better place." The older we get, we may add: "We hope the next children can do a little better than we did."
These are compelling enough reasons alone to attend a promotional event like We Day. That "thousands of young motivated girls should itself be an inspiration for boys to attend" wrongly sexualiz-es the event with shallow gender roles and degrades the empowerment of youth by Thomas as an individual, as an older generation role model, and as a voice of influential media.
If Thomas wasn't bored with her comfortable job, she might remember to critically ask why young men are not as present at these events.
Even if Thomas is inspired to make a difference, where's the action? Yep, this might mean an uncomfortable shift in the way you live-like being part of the campaign to save good journalism- rather than passing the torch and calling it a day.
Phaidra Ruck,
Vancouver
