Dear Editor,
Re: “Parent group founder goes it alone in Richmond,” News, March 29.
It was interesting reading the article on Dong Pan, leader of the “Parents Care Group” and independent candidate for Richmond North Centre who says, “We need to have free speech; we can`t have the thought police running Canada.”
Mr. Pan makes the same mistake many make with regard to free speech: they think it only applies to them.
When we exercise and enjoy our freedom of speech, three things can happen: firstly, we can get agreement; secondly, apathy; and thirdly, a vigorous challenge with a reply we may not like — the more outrageous the comments, the more outrageous the response. They go hand-in-hand.
Mr. Pan and his group, who were front and centre protesting against discrimination (racist flyers) against Chinese citizens, do not see their hypocrisy in discriminating against LGBTQ students, while claiming “family values” must be protected.
Ignoring the fact that families and values comes in all shapes and sizes and are not unique to Christians, but is an excuse to hide behind their Bibles, when insisting that they, and only they, know what is best for Canadians.
Alan Halliday
Richmond
