Dear Editor:
Re: Neighbours cut political display, The Record, Jan. 7.
Using a Christmas light display to state a negative political message is, at the very least, tacky, and an antithesis to even the secular Christmas theme of Peace on Earth and Good Will to All. If my neighbour did it, I would quietly shake my head in disappointment. That's my opinion, and am thankful I am allowed to state it.
On the other hand, entering a person's property because you are offended by a political statement they are making, and vandalizing their power line in order to prevent them from saying it, is extremely scary behaviour for which the police should treat as a serious criminal offence.
That kind of behaviour cannot help but remind us of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, and the motivation of it perpetrators.
The note the power line cutter left shows that he or she too believed their righteousness justified their actions. I suspect that in the right circumstances such a person would be inclined to use a significantly greater degree of violence to silence those who offend their righteousness.
Freedom of speech is precious, and we must be on guard against anything that erodes that basic principle of democracy .
Terry J. Hewitt, New Westminster
