It’s important to hear one another’s pain

Re Is debate an effective way of combating extremism, Nov. 13 On debating extremist views, both Michael Bryant (“Yes. No one has a monopoly over truth”) and Richard Moon (“No. It gives a platform, legitimacy to bigotry”) make compelling arguments both for open debate on sensitive issues and against allowing extremist arguments to be debated.

For a progressive like me, to hear extremist views such as those of Goldy or Bannon discussed openly gives me pause. Are we giving legitimacy to views I cannot accept by giving these people a legitimate forum to discuss them? To deny them a platform will only increase the sense of ostracism felt by their followers.

Gillian Steward in her column on the same page discussing Maxime Bernier’s Calgary rally tells us that his audience was mainly white, male and over 50. These are people who feel the loss of their positions of entitlement, feel as if their voices are being ignored. No wonder they move to an extremist position and are led by people preaching the old ways.

I have to agree with Bryant. It is important to give voice to all, not just to those with whom I agree. It is also important to present the less extremist views in language and action that will satisfy those who feel left out, otherwise we are only preaching to the converted.

The group that Steward identifies as supportive of Bernier’s extremist views needs to hear alternatives just as the progressive liberals need to hear alternatives. We need to hear each other’s pain. We need to heal the rifts between or we are all doomed to a conflict that is becoming more divisive. We all need to do more than hear, we need to listen.