BradfordToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). This letter is in response to the recent controversy about the town's decision not to host the Ahmadiyya Annual Convention in 2025.
I’m writing to share my perception of the events surrounding the decision against approving AMJ’s application to host their 2025 community event at the Hadiqa Ahmad Ahmadiyya Muslim Community property on Line 11 in Bradford.
It is understandable that hosting such a huge event (in an area zoned agricultural, with residential areas surrounding), would cause concern around vehicular as well as cell traffic, along with safety concerns that arise when mobility is hindered, but that is only one of my concerns.
With that being said, the reason for my letter is to voice my frustration over some responses that appear to be using accusatory language in relation to why the event was not approved. In today’s social climate, it appears that it is acceptable to blame almost any negative or unwanted outcome on exclusion, persecution or intolerance when there is no evidence of any such intent.
In letters and from council presentations from the leaders and members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Canada there have been several mentions of the denial of the application sending a message of exclusion. These types of comments serve only to divide the community. They act as a socially acceptable way to blame the decision not to approve the event on phobic motives, when in truth the event is simply too large for the location. An event with an expected attendance of more than 25,000 people should be held at a fairground or some such facility, with surrounding infrastructure in place to handle such large events.
With the current social narrative so heavily focused on diversity and inclusion, it appears that some are either deceptively capitalizing on this narrative, or have chosen to adopt the narrative to promote a victimhood mindset. Canada is anything but exclusionary and alluding to such motives is both insulting and offensive to the majority of Canadians who have more than demonstrated respect and acceptance to those new to the country and new to this town.
There's much truth in the old adage "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." It's important to recognize that the mindset we bring to the table inadvertently impacts our perceptions of a situation.
I fully support council's decision against approving this application, based solely on the fact that it is simply too large for that location. My hope is that council stands by its decision and does not reverse it in fear of being inappropriately accused of phobic intention, and that those within the Muslim community recognize the decision is based on logistics and not on nefarious intentions.
Denise Wagstaff
Bradford
