As a retired Victoria police officer, I feel compelled to respond to the art being displayed on the brick walkway at Bastion Square, where artists have inscribed the initials ACAB within the art piece. This acronym means All Cops are Bastards.
I fully support the need to end systematic racism in our communities, to end violence by police, and to build stronger, more transparent and inclusive relationships between our police departments and our various communities.
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LetB次元官网网址檚 open up the lines of B次元官网网址渜ualityB次元官网网址� communication. Painting a picture that all police are B次元官网网址渂astardsB次元官网网址� would be like someone saying B次元官网网址淎ll Blacks are B次元官网网址次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淎ll Indigenous people are B次元官网网址次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淎ll members of our LGBTQ community areB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淎ll Seniors areB次元官网网址次元官网网址� We all know this isnB次元官网网址檛 true, so why are we so intent on making such broad statements to move our cause?
If we want to make meaningful changes in our communities, we all have to do our part and stop these general and disrespectful statements and to take issue with those who do. By making these general statements we will just cause more anger and resentment between the various groups, which is the opposite of what we want to accomplish. It will just drive people away from the real issues or worse, ignore the issue, which wonB次元官网网址檛 lead to any real/constructive solutions.
We cannot say this is B次元官网网址渇reedom of speech or expression,B次元官网网址� it is just another form of hate. LetB次元官网网址檚 all stand up and put an end to all this hate in our communities by remembering one thing: It all begins with you.
Gord Gummer
North Saanich
