Let’s return to civility

Though I agree with Murray Mandryk in his Dec. 12 column, “For Wall, it seems Green is the colour,” that right-wing parties fare better with three-party vote splits and that Premier Brad Wall’s praise for Saskatchewan Green Party leader Victor Lau seems to foster it, I disagree with his implied suggestion that politeness doesn’t win political battles.

That idea is based in a patriarchal world view. Civility once mattered. Sexism reigned supreme, yes, but politicians were polite. The late Saskatchewan NDP premier Allan Blakeney and the late Alberta Conservative premier Peter Lougheed were great friends. Why can’t politics be that way again? Or better?

Women would certainly be drawn to a kinder, gentler politics. How many women are in the Saskatchewan legislature and the Canadian Parliament. Not a lot. Wonder why?

Voter turnout is low. Why? Could it be because of the vitriolic politics in recent years?

Instead of chiding Saskatchewan NDP leadership candidates for their violent agreement maybe Mandryk should praise them. Isn’t it time for new politics? Isn’t it time to let go of patriarchal ways of thinking and being? Isn’t it time to build a healthy democracy right here?

I think so. That’s why I volunteer several hours a week to ensure Dr. Ryan Meili is victorious in the campaign. So sorry the new ways we’re forging don’t make for great headlines or juicy stories. Perhaps political commentators could deepen their analysis and find the real and meaningful stories in the campaigns and report those to readers.

Bernadette Wagner, Regina