Having an open mind does not mean your brain will leak out.
But an open mind does mean that new ideas and information can get in. A fate that apparently terrifies many, including it would seem Abbotsford’s mayor and council, to the point their seal their minds shut. For this group changing their minds involves a rearranging of their prejudices and the myths they operate under.
“Once we take care of the vulnerable people we’ll have to deal with the people who are there for the wrong reasons” stated Rich Coleman, the MLA responsible for BC’s extremely successful Homeless Recycling [Service Providers/government] Partnership.
Now, I don’t know about you, but if I tripped, fell and fractured my left wrist and the doctor in the emergency room wanted to amputate my right leg to deal with my fractured wrist I believe, even as a lowly peon, I have the right to decline the amputation. I also believe that in choosing to remain in the waiting room until the hospital decides to deal with my fractured wrist in a manner that knowledge, research and experience have demonstrated will be effective, I am not remaining in the waiting room for the ‘wrong reasons’ – no matter how embarrassing or aggravating my camping out in the waiting room until the defective approach [amputation] is replaced by effective [immobilization] is to the government and politicians.
What does my example have to do with what is happening on the grounds of the courthouse in Victoria and the reaction of the Minister of BC’s Homeless Recycling Services?