Glad to host Jordan Peterson

RE: JORDAN PETERSON AT FIRSTONTARIO CENTRE

Controversial though he may be, we in Hamilton should all be glad to have hosted Dr. Jordan Peterson at FirstOntario Centre recently for a variety of reasons.

First and foremost, his presence in Hamilton represents a significant milestone in our city’s intellectual maturity as a forward-thinking and progressive community that celebrates freedom of speech and diversity of thought, regardless of whether or not one agrees with the thesis he espouses. Moving forward from our once glorious industrial ‘Steeltown’ past, Hamilton should with burgeoning confidence now pride itself on being recognized as a hub of advanced education and health care within a rapidly growing regional corridor encompassing like-minded cities including Toronto, Guelph, Kitchener and Waterloo.

It is not mere coincidence that each of these communities are anchored by universities, colleges, public and private research facilities which serve to attract and employ our next generation of advanced thinkers. Difference of opinion, controversial social thought and intellectual discourse are at the very nexus of any vibrant community. We should be thankful as well that we have the choice to not attend Peterson’s lectures should we decide to do so, attend and disagree with his positions, or to write a letter to the editor of our community newspaper and be grateful to have it published to further this important dialogue.

Bob Waterhouse, Dundas