Signal Me Once; Signal Me Twice

Last November when she was beginning the public relations/fiscal catastrophe of her budget, Marianne Meed Ward, Strong Mayor of the City of Burlington, posted a reminder that November 20th was the “Transgender Day of Remembrance”. It is so named to remind us of the violence that has and is being done to transgender individuals. I appreciate the reminder because I actually didn’t realize that such a day even existed. In quick order, she posted notice that it was the anti-slavery week, commemorating I assume our past transgressions against a variety of subject populations. Now, before I get pummeled as an old, homophobic, misogynistic, colonial male with latent binary gender associations – let me say that only the “old” part is true and that I am really starting to feel it.

I am totally against any form of violence against others, even that against extremists of the lunatic fringe who believe that violence, in and of itself, is an acceptable form of political or moral expression. I am equally against slavery for the record but frequently feel somewhat enslaved by a set of contemporary mores that leave me no alternative but to acknowledge that I, as an elderly Anglo-Saxon male of Christian heritage, am not just part of the problem – apparently, I am the problem. Sorry, that was just WASP whinings.

 I find this almost daily virtue signaling by our Mayor is not only annoying – particularly at these very significant times of Council engagement with the City’s public – it is, on its face, rather tone-deaf and shallow. It speaks of a lack of perspective or appropriate “gravitas”. Such conditions have plagued Meed Ward and her administration from the beginning. It is not that all the social justice posts and reminders are wrong; it is that they all seem to be treated equally with far, far too many occurences with pier colourings and flag lowerings to allow room for any meaningful recognition, let alone observance. It does nothing to elevate the issues, it cheapens them; it does not bring needed awareness, it breeds conditioned numbness; and it does not help public understanding, it furthers an almost defensive cynicism.  It is like trying to drink the sweet water of social justice from a fire hose.

But, in my opinion, this is and has always been Meed Ward. It is less about the actual ‘event’ or issue than it is about her ability to showcase it. It appears to be all theatre for her. Is it truly necessary that in addition to announcement at Council and Standing Committee meetings, these events of the day/week etc. come out through the Mayor’s personal social media feeds on every imaginable social media platform and with her photo attached to all? Is this what occupies her office staff or the City’s communications organization? And if you believe that all the missives are crafted by ‘Her Worship’ – at what cost to the City’s program, policy and operational problems that should be the primary focus of her attention?

Are these the ramblings of an “old man” – yup.  A really fed up one and one who had expected so much better from this Mayor and this administration.