Musings from the ever-changing, ever-amazing and occasionally ever-baffling Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Flying the Flag of Community - and Humanity



There are incidents that are troubling on so many levels, and for so many different reasons. There are events that are celebratory in nature but that take a dark turn, and a darker tone. One of these incidents and events happened recently when the local LGBTQommunity held the city’s first ever gay pride event downtown at a local pub – and at some point during the evening the colourful rainbow flag that celebrates diversity and tolerance was stolen, and burned in the parking lot.

That flag was the property of the local group that organized the event, and for that reason alone it is a deeply troubling incident, because the destruction of property belonging to others is never acceptable. There is a deeper reason for concern, though, and one that touches far further down into human nature. The burning of a flag that celebrates gay pride and identity can only be read as a message – a message of intolerance, A message of hate. A message that says that others who are not “like us” – whether through race, religion, or sexual orientation – are not welcome. It is a deeply troubling message, and one that makes me both angry and sad because of what it says about the individuals who would burn this flag and those who would think it is acceptable to do so.

Look, hatred is never acceptable. It does not matter if it is directed against someone because they are gay, or a different race, or a different religion. Every single person on this planet is exactly that first – a person. And people are deserving of dignity and respect, not because of their sexual orientation or colour or anything else but simply because they are people. If we expect others to give us the dignity and respect we wish to receive then we must give it to every single person who shares the planet with us, because we are no different from each other.
Yes, no different. It doesn’t matter if you are gay or straight, male or female, black or white, or any of the other slight variations that make us “different”. We share the same DNA, the same species, and the same planet. If we focus on those tiny differences of gender or race or sexual orientation we fail to see the things that tie us together – things like our ability to love, our compassion, our wisdom, our frailty, and our humanity. What a boring world it would be without these little differences, differences that are so minute compared to all that makes us the same. We are born, and we die, and all the time that is between those two points should be spent being kind and accepting and understanding of each other.

Why should we spend our time that way? Because hatred is an insidious evil that ferments. Hatred has led to genocides and holocausts. Hatred has led to mass murders and all manner of evil. And so those who trade in hatred, whether it is burning flags or any other act of disrespect, are no more and no less than purveyors of evil.
There is perhaps a lesson in all this, that we have a long way to go still until we are the welcoming and tolerant community – and world – we want to be. Perhaps there is a lesson about the importance of helping others to understand that we are more alike than different, and that the things that tie us together are far more intrinsic than flags.

I think perhaps it is time we have this discussion in our community, particularly as we begin to grow again and become increasingly diverse. I see new faces almost every single day, and while those faces don’t look exactly like mine what is the same is why they are here: opportunity, potential, and the chance to make this place home. This home of mine is not just my home, but their home, and likely soon to be home to thousands and thousands of others who will be slightly different from me in some respects but exactly like me in absolutely every way that matters. I want them to be able to fly their flags, whether they are red and white, or red and white and blue, or any other colour – including a rainbow – with no fear of flames. I want them to find this place a community where they are welcomed because they chose to come here and contribute to it, and because they are human. I want them to know that what binds us – as people and as a community – is powerful. And each and every single one of us has the power to make this happen, because this community is us. We are the community, and if we, as individuals, stand up and say that burning flags is unacceptable then we state as a community that we stand united against hatred, and intolerance, and ignorance, and fear. And so today I stand and say that burning that brightly coloured rainbow flag was not acceptable, and was not reflective of my community and home. I hope that you, as individuals, will all stand with me, so we can stand together, as a community, united and strong – and human.
 
No one should ever be afraid to fly
a flag of their True Colours -
whatever shade they happen to be.
 
 

7 comments:

  1. Beautifully said, thanks. This incident made me sad.

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  2. Next Pride Event let's cover this town with rainbow everything! This act of hatred is from a cowardly minority and we'll show that. I can't believe people out there are so narrow minded and hateful.

    We'll show them this is a city united against hatred. United, strong and human... I'm in.

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  3. Beautifully said, we will not tolerate this in our community, speak up, speak out!

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  4. Typical Fort McMurray. I for one am born and raised. Is anyone really surprised? If you are then you didn't grow up here. I grew up around some of the most homophobic people in Canada right in Fort McMurray.

    I wouldn't let the "Toddskes" of Fort McMurray blind you for what this city really is. Mostly a place of ignorant, bigot, hillbillies who are full of hatred.

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    1. I am genuinely sorry that has been your experience of this community - but after eleven years I can truly say it has not been mine. I have in fact encountered less homophobia here than I did in my last home, which was a very small and remote town in NW Ontario. My daughter informs me that in her junior high there are kids who openly identify as gay, which to me indicates there is some degree of acceptance that exists (and is far different from when I was her age thirty years ago, too). I think unfortunately our perspective is formed through those we associate with, and perhaps your associates are some of those who are less than accepting - but mine are not, and they are every bit as much a part of this community. Who holds the key to the "real" community? Neither of us, we just have differing perspectives and experiences. My question to you is: if you still live here, what have you done to change it? Change in a community isn't the responsibility of "someone else" - it falls to all of us who see the need for change.

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  5. Chances are my last comment won't be approved because people here continually try to promote Fort McMurray for being 'the best place to live' in Canada. Not the case. Probably one of the worst actually. The fact that people try and hide everything with rainbows and unicorns is very misleading and wrong. People should be able to speak their mind without other McMurrayites continously getting defensive. Makes me sick. This incident makes me sick. I'm totally ashamed of Fort McMurray.

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    1. If you think I would not publish your comment then I am afraid you don't know me at all. I publish all comments unless they are slanderous or meant to injure others with words of hatred. I do not agree that Fort McMurray is one of the worst places to live in Canada, and never will. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, based on your experience and perspective, but so am I. I have never tried to hide anything and have written openly about many troubling aspects of our community - but I also have lived many other places and know that every single community has issues and problems and areas they need to improve. I have never claimed Fort McMurray is a utopia of unicorns and rainbows, but is it a place of incredible opportunity, diversity, and potential? Yes, I believe it is, and if you cannot see it please consider that your experience may have left you bitter enough that you cannot see it clearly. Your comments indicate some deep feelings about your home town which is so unfortunate - my own home town is not perfect, but I will always love it, imperfections and all, because the good outweighs the bad, just as I believe to be true of Fort McMurray. I'm not ashamed of my community - I am angered and embarrassed by the individuals who burned this flag (incidentally we have no idea if they are even from Fort McMurray). I do not believe this incident is reason to be ashamed of an entire community - it was an act by individuals, not a sanctioned and condoned act by an entire community. I rather hope you have moved on to a happier place for you anonymous - life is too short to live somewhere you cannot stand.

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