Pubdate: Wed, 18 Dec 2013
Source: North Shore News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 North Shore News
Contact:  http://www.nsnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/311
Author: Michael Charrois
Cited: Sensible BC: http://www.sensiblebc.ca/

CANVASSERS AND SIGNEES' COURAGE SALUTED

Dear Editor:

Thank you for your even-handed coverage of the Sensible B.C. Citizen's
Initiative to amend the Police Act that drew to a close Dec. 9. As the
North Shore organizer, it has been a great pleasure working with so
many friends and neighbours towards sensible social change.

One of the many jobs I hold down is instructing theatre arts classes
where I teach courage, freedom and respect. Forget the fear of heights
or the fear of death; the number 1 fear that people have is public
speaking. It's one thing to answer an anonymous telephone poll, but it
is much more difficult for people to sign their name to a public legal
document.

While out on the street canvassing, we had many people express support
for our campaign but also fear for openly expressing that support.
Teachers and security personnel feared for their jobs, travellers
feared restrictions on their movements and we all know about
government spying on messages like this.

To all those who publicly came out of the closet to sign our document
for social change, I salute their courage. The hearty band of
dedicated canvassers who took to the street to canvass at our
published signing locations, who publicly expressed their deeply held
opinions, who bravely flew their freak flag of freedom, they all have
my respect and admiration.

I'm proud that our street canvassers approached the daunting task of
signature collection in a friendly, respectful manner. Whether we
received an enthusiastic signature, a polite "no thank you," hurls of
verbal abuse or even interference from the authorities, we tried to
end every interaction with "Enjoy your day;" the same thing that we
would wish for ourselves.

Michael Charrois

North Vancouver
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MAP posted-by: Matt