LETTER

Disappointed with editorials 

My husband and I are concerned with the two editorials in the Bulletin’s June 17 edition. Our concerns are from a diversity and inclusion perspective. 

In the first sentence from Didier Péries, he writes that whites did not invent slavery. In the current environment, his statement is unnecessarily confrontational and does not acknowledge the structural oppression and violence lived by many Canadian (Quebecers) based on gender, race, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, identity stereotypes, and fear. .Rather, it goes directly to defensive and confrontation 2. 

The second editorial, by Fred Ryan, indirectly refers to the black lives matter movement by using “lives matter” without acknowledging the current struggle. The editorial stands on its own, and deals with an important issue. It does not need to appropriate meaning from the black lives matters movement. 

Both editorials together send the statement of the misunderstanding of the issues and the misappropriation of the movement by two white men. If this is the intention or not is irrelevant. The exclusionary tone, lack of profound meaning, and the restrictive narrative limited to the predominant white/male privilege are disappointing, and in my opinion, do not reflect the values of the community. 

Bianca Baldo, 

Gender, 

Equality and Inclusion 

expert with Intersol group

Aylmer