Editor:
A pity Michael Maser could not stay on topic in his comments about my previous letter on the Gospel Rock public hearing ("Democratic duty of citizens to scrutinize," Coast Reporter letters, Oct. 26).
Having granted that everyone was entitled to their opinion, I then concentrated on the need for some decorum and behavioural propriety when presenting that opinion.
The extraneous and diverging details within Maser's rebuttal have nothing to do with my one point.
Beating up defenceless persons, either orally or physically, is bullying, pure and simple. Especially when, in this case, it was only council who acted in accordance with the published rules that bound both council and the speakers. Too many speakers ignored the rules of behaviour.
Yes, the scrutinizing of one's elected officials can be described as a "democratic duty," the degree to which it is carried out being left to each individual.
But, if both the rule of law - the provincially published rules - and mutual respect are left out of the scrutinizing efforts, what is left will not be democracy but, as Jon Stewart describes it, "democalypse."
In the meantime, perhaps Maser can more accurately represent his claimed facts: there was never any referendum, simply a survey conducted by Holland-Barrs. And, while his postal address may be Gibsons, his residence is in Area E. He is not a taxpaying resident or voter within Gibsons.
Brian Sadler, Gibsons
