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Lone
Wolf
Howl:
A FOND FAREWELL AND AN URGENT PLEA
(Originally
published
in
Cochrane Times:
Mar. 21, 2007)
Barry Thorson Especially difficult is writing a goodbye column, which is the task that lies before me now. After three years of monthly contributions, the Cochrane Times and I are bidding one another a fond farewell. My first Howl was penned in February of 2004, about the power and potential of story. Since then I have contributed every month, with articles ranging from support of same sex marriage to the abolishment of Christianity to the elephantine erroneousness of Ted Morton’s politics. Regardless of my topic de jour, I have sought to challenge the threat of complacency in this town by firing words through the status-quo conservatism that defines it. In other words, I have strived to do my job as a volunteer journalist, professional artist, and impassioned citizen. The timing of my farewell column couldn’t be more apropos, therefore, considering the blatant display of skewed representation evinced by the mayor and five town councillors with regards to their vote to amend the DARP and allow for big box development on the former Domtar site. The buzz around town is such behaviour is nothing short of corrupt; a weighty accusation that merits elaboration. Allow me. When I say ‘corrupt’, I mean it in the truest sense of the word. ‘Morally tainted or infected’ comes close and is plenty accurate when describing a group of five elected laypeople-cum-officials who ignored the informed recommendations of a trained and educated administration, an experienced planning commission, and the vast majority of citizens who were asked for their opinion and cared enough to give it. But if the above definition of ‘corrupt’ ruffles some people’s feathers, let’s revert back to the original Latin root of the word: ‘corrumpere’ meaning ‘to break or to destroy’. Perhaps this is closer to the mark. Town council – through their continued ignorance of public opinion in the Bow Meadows vote, the Riverview vote, the trailer court fiasco, and now the DARP amendment vote – have destroyed the trust, faith, and confidence of many in this town, and broken the hearts of many more. To Councillor Genung who said "… it’s not the storefronts or the store… it’s the people and how we interact and how we treat each other in the stores." You’re absolutely right. It’s how we treat each other – not only in the stores, but in the public opinion halls and council chambers. It’s not that you voted in favour of questionable development; it’s that you asked us and pretended to listen then went ahead and voted the way you did that breaks the spirit in the town. You may find the ‘people’ you purport to speak on behalf of will no longer visit your ‘store.’ I certainly won’t be. To Mayor Bech who said, "I truly believe the overwhelming support of this community may not have been at the public hearing.” I wonder if you know whereof you speak. Is this the same ‘overwhelming support’ that commutes to Calgary everyday but lives in Cochrane because they got more house for their buck and consider it a swell place to raise the kids? Maybe they weren’t at the public hearing not because they were silently supporting you but because they didn’t know about it nor did they care to know. They also wouldn’t know the Domtar site from Dairy Queen because they never set foot in the centre of town or stick their noses in the papers. Is this the same ‘overwhelming majority’ who stay home in droves on election day? Will you re-interpret voter apathy as the same and chalk their non-existent votes up in your favour? Based on your track record, I wouldn’t put it past you. I know you’ve had difficulty filling volunteer positions on the numerous committees and task forces needed by the town. Your actions, Mayor Bech, have resulted in three resignations from the arts and culture committee, with a similar exodus happening across the board. It’s called citizen alienation, and it’s a direct result of the corruptive destruction you are responsible for. It’s also a bugger of a problem to rectify, lingering long after this council is voted out. Because you’ve destroyed your relationship with many of the ‘vocal minority’ (we’re the ones who sit on these committees and show up at the public hearings), you must now turn to your ‘overwhelming support’ group to fill these positions. I’ll wager most of them won’t even know your name. To Councillors McBride and Marshall: you have both demonstrated integrity and honesty in the face of consistent ‘corruption.’ Please know that you have the respect and allegiance of not only myself but many of the ‘vocal minority’ who live and breathe and sweat and serve (or have served) in this town. We are proud of you both. My first column was about the power of story, and I’m sorry that my last ends with such a sad and disheartening denouement. I would like to thank Larry Giles and Don Traplin (former publisher and sales manager of the Cochrane Times) who originally welcomed this column into their papers three years ago. My thanks also go out to the current publisher and editor… we may not always agree (rarely, in fact) but your willingness to run editorial content that is sometimes contrary to your own has been admirable and appreciated… not to mention vital to the survival of a healthy discourse in this town; a discourse which it needs more desperately now than ever before. (www.lonewolftheatre.com) Back to Resources Page |