Dear editor:
I am writing to express my sadness and disappointment at the targeted acts of vandalism on the election signs of Liberal candidate Marlo Raynolds in the town of Cochrane.
Unfortunately, it is a telling visual representation of the state of our democracy. We sit passively by while a general level of incivility, disrespect and juvenile bullying have become the standard of behaviour rather than the exception in our government.
I find myself explaining to my children once again, why behaviours that wouldn’t be tolerated at our elementary schools do not seem to be raising eyebrows as they happen on our streets or among our elected representatives.
No matter what our political stripe, I maintain hope that as an electorate we can agree that democracy relies on candidates running on varying platforms. This is what allows voters a choice on election day. It takes courage and commitment to campaign and represent one’s ideas on a public stage. So much courage in fact, that the Conservative candidate has not been able or willing to make that commitment at any of the community forums over the past many weeks.
Let’s not allow a few mean spirited cowards, under a cloak of anonymity, to create an image of Cochrane that is not an accurate depiction of our community. It is so much less than we all deserve.
Tara Courte
