And That's My Take... (Are We Too Free?)

AND THAT’S MY TAKE… (ARE WE TOO FREE?)
© 2010 by Curtis Sagmeister. All Rights Reserved.

Can there be such a thing as being a society that is too free? Ask those who live under repressive regimes and the answer is a quick and resounding NO. But for those of us who live in Canada and United States, the brightest beacons for freedom throughout the world, one has cause for contemplation as we look at one such example of perhaps being too tolerant, too lenient, too free.

Mid April of each year plays host to the Vaisakhi parade and celebration in Surrey, a thriving city in the lower mainland of British Columbia outside Vancouver with an immense Sikh population. This ancient religious commemoration is one of the most significant in the Sikh calendar and also marks the beginning of the solar new year and the beginning of a new harvest season. Attending Vaisakhi is sure to excite all five senses as you are assailed with the sights, sounds, aromas, textures, and tastes that make the Sikh culture so accessible, so colorful, so alive.

The parade component of Surrey’s Vaisakhi has been a tarnish on an otherwise shining halo of cultural celebration. With more than 100,000 people in attendance at this year’s celebration, certain fanatic elements within the Sikh community have chose this holy occasion to pay homage to their martyrs on their floats by displaying gigantic photo likenesses of those responsible for acts of worldwide terrorism, including those associated with the Air India bombing and the assassination of Indira Gandhi. These extremists are using Canada’s gift of multiculturalism as a political platform calling for the new sovereign state of Khalistan to be carved out of India’s state of Punjab.

Supporters of such political ideology would cite their rights under Canadian law to promote their agendas. While most Canadians would grant these militants some latitude, they would also decry using an event that siphons precious public funds, assets, and services for being the type of freedom they want in their country. Why can’t they leave their political dogmas back where they came from? Why are they not protesting back in Punjab where the real fight is? Why bastardize Canada’s multiculturalism with such a militant platform?

Vaisakhi could be a zeitgeist for future cultural celebrations in Surrey. Perhaps even in other communities. Celebrating, condoning and encouraging mass murder, hate, and promotion of political agendas have no place in public parades. And Surrey has no business supporting such vile displays with public funds, assets and services, nor with the attendance of their elected officials.

And that’s my take…