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POLICE NOT WELCOME
Re: 鈥�Black Lives Matter criticizes 麻豆传媒映画Pride Society 鈥榩erformative tweaks鈥�,鈥� May 19, 2017.
Why are queer communities disproportionately policed to begin with? It's crazy! Pride has become a ridiculous spectacle for corporations and straight/CIS people to acquire their "pink feels points" and "live on the wild side." How embarrassing to want to be part of a community that you mistreated for centuries, and you're surprised that they don't want you at their party/protest? Unreal that anyone would even question BLM on this position. Systems of police have historically (and still do!) brutalize POC [people of colour] and queer people; why would anyone want this violent institution, which serves to protect corporate interests, to gain good PR for supposedly protecting us, when mostly they just disregard and belittle the fears and legitimate concerns queer people and POC have of them? Leave our space so we feel safe, so we feel we can trust you. And if you won't, we'll take it back. We had to fight for this space to begin with, and the VPD have eroded their relationship with this community even further. Police do not need to march in uniform at Pride. Period. If the cops want to support LGBTQ folks, they should do their damn job and protect us from homophobes and racists, not clamour to swing their overcompensating batons as if they are just friends with big violent sticks that want to show how friendly they are.
鈥揟A Mavis Bannister
WHALE OF A CONTROVERSY
Re: 鈥�Park board made right decision banning whales,鈥� May 25, 2017.
Bravo to Westender for stating the facts eloquently and succinctly. That's extremely refreshing, after reading so much 麻豆传媒映画Aquarium-perpetuated propaganda, BS and outright lies; drivel that so much of the mainstream media just can't wait to gobble up 鈥� hook, line and sinker!
鈥�Errol P.
"It was the right thing to do. You know it and I know it." This piece starts Donald Trump-ish and like Trump doesn't let science get in the way of an opinion.
鈥揑an Boothby
Wonderful succinct article. Thank you! As a former employee of the 麻豆传媒映画Aquarium and volunteer at the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, I can't tell you how appalled I was to read/hear about John Nightingale's dramatic criticism of the park board decision. I was working each of the occasions when three baby belugas died. I quit because I couldn't support these beautiful and intelligent beings being born in a concrete tank only to die sometime soon after. Thank you again for setting the record exactly straight.
鈥揙ren Noah Thrush
GOOD SAMARITAN
I wanted to post a rave for a man who helped me on May 26 around 5:30pm. I was walking my dog, on Georgia Street, near Cardero Street. I had met a young man who was obviously under the influence of alcohol/drugs. He kept insisting that he was OK and just wanted to get home to Hastings and Main Streets. I stopped him, twice, from stepping into traffic and I stopped him from crossing, with the help of another concerned citizen, against the light, at Cardero Street. I offered bus/taxi fare but he insisted he had bus fare. Once we crossed Georgia St., with the other concerned citizen and me holding the young man's arm, the concerned citizen offered to walk him to the nearest bus stop. I was so grateful because my dog was a bit agitated. I didn't catch the concerned citizen's name, but he had an accent (Australian, New Zealand, or, perhaps, English). While others had stepped back from me and this young man, there was a man who stepped up to help. Many thanks for your compassion.
鈥揈l Musty
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Have a rant or a rave?听Email [email protected]. All rants are the opinion of the individual and do not reflect the opinions of the Westender. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity and brevity, so please keep it short and (bitter)sweet.
