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Editor:
Hostile phone call after letter to the Editor in Osoyoos BC.
In my letter about the, the advertising papers interview with Michael Ryan,
of Osoyoos Now Society, I stressed “it is about issues not persons”.
Apparently, that was not shared by an upset and angry person that called and
warned me for addressing issues in Osoyoos. I have sympathy for the caller,
but it is not possible to address social economic and ecological issues
without some members of the social and political establishment taking it
personally and retorting, and especially not when money is at stake. I have
worked in countries where intimidating phone calls would be a concern, but I
am not losing any sleep in Osoyoos. The caller will not prevent me from, in
good democratic order, addressing social economic issues, and invite
discussion with an open invitation to the caller.
To offer the caller some perspective, as any student of European history of
the Dark Ages and of Chinese history, and in modern the thirties Germany and
China will know, tragedy occurs and exists in many places around the world
today. New ideas and knowledge are easily stifled and destroyed by dogma
that cannot be discussed and questioned in a community.
Osoyoos is prime example of why democracy depends on freedom of opinion and
expression and the freedom of the press, and not stressed only in the
constitution. It also depends on a press that lives up to the constitution
and shows an overriding responsibility to the community it serves, rather
than to its owners, advertisers and political and special interest groups. I
don’t have any political agenda, as the caller accused me of, because
politics cannot be understood without the use of natural and social science.
Therefore I stick to science and practical experience, logical truth and
ethical action, and leave politics to others. I stick to my concern for
man-made government and democratic failure including economic development
models and policies that usurp economic and ecological realities causing
irreparable harm to the community. My membership in Osoyoos Now has both a
research purpose as well as a concern for the community. I don’t know anyone
in the leadership of the Osoyoos Now society. My question is does the
Osoyoos Now Society movement indicate that the present generation in Osoyoos
is starting to develop responsibility for the social economic and
environmental challenges posed by the social economic and ecological
problems at home and globally. If not, may I say then that Osoyoos Now
deserves to “whither on the vine. Our society and Osoyoos do not need more
non-profit societies. Osoyoos and society at large needs good government
that meets its role and accountability to society, that which is not the
private sectors task, including up-to date modern economic development
models and systems.
Ultimately, as my time would allow, I will be glad to discuss social
economic and ecological issues with people in Osoyoos Now, as well as with
angry callers and anybody else. I trust the foregoing explains why I say,
“Osoyoos support your local weekly Osoyoos Times get involved in the real
issues.” Don’t let promotion camouflage the issues, and most importantly,
discuss issues not persons. Instead of making angry phone calls invite me
out for a beer, I may even pay, and let us discuss the issues.
OISD
Kelowna October 24, 2005
OISD
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