Dear Editor:
I am completely appalled that in this day and age the Sinterklaas Festival at the Quay has been cancelled. For what purpose?
Because a few people objected to the idea of showing a "Black Peter"? It is utterly ludicrous to cancel a perfectly harmless festival, which is indeed a happy time for any and all the people of New Westminster to join in any sort of festival.
Those people who are cited as having objected to a "Black Peter" must be very few and far between, and having lived in New West for a great many years and delighted in this Royal City, I must say I've never heard of anyone being in any way shunned for the colour of his skin - how abominable that would be! As I've seen over the years, New Westminster takes pride, rightly, in being a place where all are welcome, all are part of the community and thank heaven, all are equally a part of any form of cultural event, whether put on by the city, the Quay, private citizens or what.
I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate decision, and I hope and trust it is not too late to "uncancel" this decision, which is truly kow-towing to a long-past, extinct and evil idea which should never be resurrected, of "some" being more worthy than others for whatever reason!
Please let sweet little New Westminster take a leaf from the book of sweet and very tiny Jamaica, where I come from, and say, "Out of Many, One People," which is the motto of our little island where, be you of African, Chinese, white, Scandinavian, Maori, Australian Aborigines, Russian or whatever descent, we go by the motto "All of We is One." Let us, please, try to think in that welcoming way.
Maryon Benson, New Westminster
