We all know that a free and open discussion of various issues affecting our society is important. Yes, both sides need to be heard, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to be immediately tolerant of someone else’s answer to those issues! Rory Koopmans claims that the “brainwashing LGBTQ, progressive, liberal media forces, special interest groups” have quashed the rights of people who would rather St. Albert didn’t have measures to oppose conversion therapy ("Conversion therapy decision good but discussion reflected intolerance," July 24 Gazette).
That’s not how “rights” work! If someone, or the society/legal system itself, has been found to be infringing on the rights of one or more people, they kind of lose the benefit of being heard. How many times do very similar scenarios like this have to happen? Imagine the reaction to the following headlines: "Slave owners in the U.S. want their side of the story heard!" "Apartheid instigators in South Africa weren’t given a fair chance to explain their position!" "Racial segregation proponents in the Southern U.S. are upset that those black progressives are brainwashing the media!" "Consenting adults wanting to get married are infringing on Christians’ rights!"
Anyway, in society, it seems that the issue being debated changes, but the same ridiculous, poorly thought-out arguments prevail. I hope we can do better than this as Albertans, I really do.
Damon Davies, St. Albert
