Reading Barry Robinson’s letter in the last edition of the Press, I thought, ‘Well, I’ve heard this before’. Mr. Robinson sums up the familiar litany of ‘horrors’ and complaints: Crazy highway drivers, irresponsible crowds taking over parks and beaches, illegal camping, fires lit wherever, waste (human and otherwise), nasty stuff dumped into pristine waters, and of course the perennial problem of where (not) to park. Is removing shore stone such a big problem (unless there’s a backhoe involved, and surely we’d hear)? New to me were ‘aggressive behavior’ on the Trail and assaulting by-law officers. Happen much?
The next day I reread the letter and was struck by the over-the-top tone and choice of words: a total lack of respect, a total and complete disregard for the law, a situation quickly spiraling out of control – ah, the dreaded snowball careening down a slippery slope. According to Mr. Robinson the situation is dangerous. The Peninsula is being destroyed.
That same August day – sunny, warm, the very height of summer holidays – I drove to Dyers Bay, parked (legally, thanks to a kind friend – a repeat of last year’s $40 ticket would make for an expensive swim) and walked down to the dock, admiring again the excellent repair work the Municipality had done on the storm-smashed concrete. A couple of vehicles were ignoring signs and a fair crowd of people were snapping photos of the panoramic views and enjoying the water and fresh air. The Bay was as clear and inviting as ever – all in all, a calm and pleasant scene. And I thought: what a sweet place to be, how lucky to live here.
On third reading, I couldn’t help wondering what on earth Mr. Robinson’s ‘spectre of vigilante behavior’ would look like – and why even plant that seed, for heaven’s sake, especially when he maintains that it would lead to ‘further tragedy for all concerned’. ‘Further’ implies a present tragedy, but aside from sad but mercifully few lethal accidents on the highway, I can’t see the tragedy here. And there on the front page of the Press was the announcement of a virtual high-level town hall meeting to ‘discuss Hwy 6 safety concerns’, a deadly serious matter compared with a few tents in the ‘wrong’ place, the occasional pile of poop in the ‘wrong’ place, and the odd rock being hauled away. And if a lot of toxic stuff was routinely being dumped into Peninsula waters, wouldn’t some authority step in to stop it?
My take-away from Mr. Robinson’s letter goes something like this: Folks who habitually fret and worry and pre-occupy their minds with all the wrongness they perceive around them, from horrific traffic accidents and serious (but rare) events of assault and aggression, down to the relatively trivial travails of parking – ‘Trivial, you say?! Why, they were practically blocking my driveway!; people who make too much of the ‘inconvenience’ that comes with living in a place of exceptional natural features that happens to get chock-a-block for a few short months and a few long weekends – well, I wonder if such fearful worriers might be doing precisely what they accuse others of doing: that is, spoiling the Peninsula…for their very own selves. Attitude is key and those who see dangers, disrespect and damage around every corner run the risk of becoming blind to the very wonders and beauty they want to protect.
The Press instructs letter writers to adhere to the 4-Ls: local, but not lewd, libelous or too long. Perhaps, dear Editor, you might consider adding 4-Hs to your guidelines and encourage your correspondents to steer clear of humbug, hyperbole and hysteria – and maybe consider a dash of humour?
Years past, the Peninsula invited the world and the world responded with a hearty, yes, please! Having lived here for 45 years, I’ve seen plenty of changes, all of them seasonal, and I remain convinced that the great waters, rocky shores, soaring cliffs, expansive woods and wetlands can withstand the seasonal influx – bread and butter for many – with only minor bruising and little lasting damage.
Destroyed? Surely it’s not as bad as all that. Take back the Bruce? How can you take back something that was never yours in the first place?
Patrick Lima
