We bring you an irritating story this week about provincial election candidates’ signs being defaced, smashed and stolen in North Vancouver-Lonsdale.
Though the candidates may have gulfs between them when it comes to policies and visions for the province, they’re graciously standing together opposing the destruction of each other’s signs.
Now, vandalism of election signs is nothing new. We’re pretty sure it dates back to early Athenian democracy. And smashing signs is about as sophisticated a political message as most toddlers are capable of.
But someone has taken it upon himself or herself to further sully the race, the discourse and the landscape by spray-painting swastikas on both NDP and Liberal signs. It makes us all look like common trash. Whatever moral high ground you thought you had is now gone – sent to the tip with the signs you’ve been wrecking.
To anyone tempted to express their political beliefs by defacing someone else’s, we’d remind you that most of the signs are placed by your neighbours, out volunteering in the rain because they believe in something. When you tear one down, you’re not hurting the candidate or the party. You’re hurting your community.
It’s time to channel your political angst into something more productive. We have a number of all-candidates meetings coming up in all four North Shore ridings. Show up and listen. Maybe get some face time with the candidates – the ones you support and the ones you don’t.
The ultimate time and place to vent your fury is in the ballot booth on May 9. The message you send in there will be heard far louder than your petty property crime.
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