Be careful about opening Pandora’s Box

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The LGBTQ community is lobbying our city to have permanent crosswalks installed including one to recognize the transgender segment. The whole idea of this, if I understand things correctly, is recognize and support diversity in our fair city. So far so good.

Has anyone thought what the future may look like by opening up this privilege to a select few? Firstly, let’s look at what diversity actually means: The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. When I read that, it means to me that everyone is unique and our whole city is filled with diversity.

If one sector of the population is entitled to have crosswalks painted in their colours and have a flag flown at City Hall, then to be fair, many groups should be entitled to that same privilege. I would suggest that any “special” group should be able to go to the city and demand that they also deserve a crosswalk or a flag at City Hall.

As a few examples, why shouldn’t the city allow those of the Muslim faith the right to broadcast prayers through loudspeakers throughout the city. Should the Dutch not be recognized by having their flag flown at City Hall? We have a growing number of people living now in Lethbridge from African countries. They should also have crosswalks and flags flown. The Jewish community suffered unimaginable horrors during the Second World War. Should they not be allowed to fly the flag of Israel on special days?

I’m of Scottish and Irish roots so I think I should at the very least have a crosswalk in honour of Robbie Burns. This may all sound silly to some but let’s say someone else gets really serious about pushing their agenda, goes to City Hall for approval of whatever and they are turned down. This group could then take the city to court and claim discrimination.

If the city allows the LGBTQ community to install the crosswalks, they will have set a precedent. Who knows what we might find when we open that Pandora’s Box. I’m not a lawyer but it seems feasible that these types of cases could actually be won. What seems like an innocent little crosswalk could turn into something very different.

Doug Cameron

Lethbridge