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The Voice of North Grenville
Vol. 10 No. 37
Criminal behaviour
by David Shanahan Something is seriously wrong with this community. I warned in a few issues previously that this election was in danger of becoming nasty, and, sadly, it seems it has. It is not just that some election signs have been vandalised. That is another sad fact of every election on every level. Some people, more often than not high-spirited deliquents, like to throw signs in a river or a ditch. Sometimes, the more serious ones like to write some obscenity on a sign, a less politically-charged action. But what has been happening in North Grenville over the past week or two is far more serious than that, or than anything I’ve seen in previous elections in this community. Although
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other candidates have had the usual number of signs defaced, removed, or destroyed, it seems that a deliberate campaign of hate has been directed at one in particular. As of Monday, more than forty election signs for Nancy Peckford have been attacked, and in a manner that suggests personal venom, and not idiotic vandalism. Interfering with election signs is an offense under the law, and perpetrators can be charged if caught. But surely we should be concerned with more than legal issues here? This behaviour is simply not what we expect from residents of this municipality. It has taken the atmosphere to a new low level that is, frankly, dangerous. This may seem like an over-reaction, but I believe
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the nature of these acts of political violence reflects something that has been going on on social media for some time. Words and phrases have been used that go far beyond what is usually considered normal disagreements and criticism. The nastiness of some posts has been deeply disturbing, and aimed very
September 22, 2022
directly at individuals, not their policies, beliefs, or attitudes. When people who disagree with you are considered, not just wrong, but evil, then a poison enters into things, and actions such as the ones we’ve seen directed against signs happens. At least it has been confined to inanimate objects. Those who are responsible for destroying, defacing, or removing these signs are attacking our right to free speech, our right to express our support for a political candidate or party. Basically, attacking democracy as we know it. You are an enemy of freedom of expression, and you are breaking the law. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves (and apparently, these are the actions of more than one individual), but you probably think you’re some kind of activist. You’re not. You’re a vandal, a lawbreaker, and a menace to a free and open society. You have a vote through which to express your feelings towards candidates. That’s the democratic way.