“Many feel exhausted from excessive contact with partisan politics and toxic social media. Amid such turmoil, there appears to be a growing call for civility – not one that’s merely polite or well-mannered, but one that acknowledges our common humanity, treating others with the dignity and respect we all deserve.
Being civil isn’t just about being nice. It is an understanding, a willingness to listen to other perspectives to carve out something better together. It’s about cultivating an atmosphere where differences can be aired, and disagreements worked through. When we abandon civility, we aren’t saying goodbye to our past. We’re leaving behind our future. And in the process, we’ll foment distrust, hostility and abandonment. There will be no common ground, just dirt. We will retreat into our own echo, which eventually will become deafening.”
Being civil isn’t just about being nice. It is an understanding, a willingness to listen to other perspectives to carve out something better together. It’s about cultivating an atmosphere where differences can be aired, and disagreements worked through. When we abandon civility, we aren’t saying goodbye to our past. We’re leaving behind our future. And in the process, we’ll foment distrust, hostility and abandonment. There will be no common ground, just dirt. We will retreat into our own echo, which eventually will become deafening.”
This quote is from an article written by Glen Pearson for The London Free Press. And his words so strongly resonate with me, especially in light of what I experienced recently.
On July 31st, I attended a public meeting held by the Resort Municipality of Cavendish, chaired by the Mayor. At this meeting, members of the business community and area residents were invited to give feedback on this year’s Cavendish Beach and Sommo Music Festivals, held on back-to-back weekends in the month of July. More than 60,000 attended the Cavendish Beach Music Festival and approximately 20,000 attendees were at the Sommo Festival the following weekend.
Photo courtesy of CBC Compass
On the whole, the meeting was quite calm. After input by the Resort Municipality, Ben Murphy of Whitecap Entertainment, the Provincial Fire Marshal’s Office, the Department of Health and Wellness and the Liquor Control Commission, a few business owners, including myself, spoke about our concerns with respect to the negative financial impact area businesses such as restaurants, accommodation providers and retailers experienced due to having back-to-back major festivals on consecutive weekends in July.
Teagan Pringle, La Rose Bistro (photo courtesy of CBC Compass)
From there, discussions became more informal with other business owners, Councillors and members of the public speaking from their seats rather than standing up and using the provided microphone.
Sandi Lowther, Fairways Cottages (photo courtesy of CBC Compass)
It all sounds quite civil and reasonable, right? Well, it was until one business owner was trying to ask a question, making reference to the Municipality’s “Special Events Guidelines”. The guidelines state that "preference for new or large major events will be given to those that take place outside of peak season and compliment the core brand values and target audience of Cavendish." The business owner, in the preamble to her question, omitted the word "preference” as she wasn’t reading directly from the guidelines and thus it wasn’t a word-for-word quote. Much to my shock, the Mayor, from his spot at the miked head table, started to shout overtop of her, telling her to speak the truth or she would not be allowed to speak and, furthermore, that he was chairing the meeting and, as she had the chance to run against him at the last election but didn't do so, it's pretty much "too bad so sad" (my expression, not his). The business owner, to her credit, remained calm throughout and simply continued to say "Can I ask my question?".
I have sat on numerous Boards and Committees here on the Island - as a committee member with Artisan PEI, PEI Business Women’s Association and Central Coastal Tourism Partnership (CCTP), and as Vice Chair of CCTP and founding Board member and Treasurer with Glenaladale Heritage Trust. I have also worked in Ottawa, Toronto and Saskatoon, and have served as an Executive Director for various not-for-profit organisations. Never have I witnessed such appalling behaviour as the Mayor displayed on Monday evening. Should we not expect – and even demand – a higher standard of behaviour from our elected officials?
Margaret McEachern, Knit Pickers PEI (photo courtesy of CBC Compass)
I was equally appalled to hear that one of the Councillors who, at a March 1st meeting, having voted in favour of the back-to-back weekend festival schedule, received threats of harm and vile comments about his lifestyle.
Vitriolic comments on social media channels and bombastic, narcissistic and arrogant political leaders have created a society that is utterly toxic. There is very little collaboration between people, between political parties of differing affiliations. We have become so used to abusive and rude behaviour that, it appeared to me, the Mayor’s behaviour hardly even created a ripple of discussion or outrage.
Every single person has the right to their perspective and has the right to voice their perspective without fear of ridicule or being treated in a contemptuous manner, being shouted at, or being threatened and subjected to abuse. While my perspective may differ from others, we should all feel heard, respected and, most importantly, safe.
Civility shouldn’t be demanded of only leaders. Each and every one of us should strive to treat one another with respect.
With that in mind, I will not respond to any crude discourse about current or past political leaders and any vile comments will be deleted.
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