A Conservative riding association President defending Liberal volunteers is the kind of act that makes Canada a better country.
Our democracy is built or eroded in countless small decisions. Acts of grace and empathy, or acts of cruelty and anger. At a time when cruelty and anger often bring profit and power in the short-term, it is important to bring attention to moments when people pick a more ethical path.
A recent Tweet by Gregory Thomas, President of the Victoria Conservatives, is an example of the latter.
After some influencers and an MP mocked a video showcasing Liberal volunteers, Thomas spoke out in defence of people who take part in the democratic process:
“Well, I have knocked 500 doors and I have knocked 500 more. As the president of the Victoria Conservatives, I salute the enthusiasm and engagement level of our Liberal adversaries.
It is not a Conservative value to make disparaging comments about people who have raised children and grandchildren, worked throughout their lives, and given their free time to community and to political activism.
We need to persuade them – and everyone else – that Conservatives are offering better solutions to the terrible problems Canadians are facing.”
Respect, support for civic engagement, and a belief in persuasion rather than cruel mockery. Those are things Canadians across the political spectrum can embrace, and Gregory Thomas deserves credit for exemplifying Canada’s democratic principles and Canadian values at their best.
Spencer Fernando
I believe in an ethical, compassionate, and beautiful future where the circle of rights continues to grow, technology is embraced, abundance is widely shared, and humanity steps further into the stars. On Patreon, I write about how we can get there.
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