“Be careful what you wish for, for it will be yours.” It’s old and good advice.
The Feb. 19 Gazette carried a full-page colour ad from our city council with the prominent statement: “We want to hear from you.”
It is doubtful that the type of response Michael Ciciarelli gave in his letter was what council was looking for. While one could agree that the Aurora Place development isn’t wanted in Akinsdale, the Ciciarelli letter is so wildly over-the-top that I am deeply disappointed in the Gazette for printing it.
Many decent, principled people are annoyed about the Aurora project for a variety of reasons, and I think I speak for all of them when I say I am ashamed to be associated with someone who would make such a deplorable argument.
Most of us would, I pray, agree that “I am my brother’s keeper.” We can and do support affordable housing at some cost to the community, and applaud the volunteer efforts that built Habitat For Humanity’s reputation. However, we would also argue that doing good does not give license to ignore harm, nor to avoid trying to minimize any harm being done.
On the other hand, published letters like the Ciciarelli one don’t minimize or ignore harm — all they do is perpetuate it.
Deane Doucette, St. Albert
