The first paragraph of Neil Godbout's June 17 editorial declared that we must concern ourselves only with important things, not with issues like attempting to rename Fort George Park. That would explain the next day's front page that was mostly about a six year old who asked for and got his hair cut at school without his parents' approval. Oh, the humanity.
I say attempting to rename Fort George Park. Metric was imposed on the country decades ago and groceries are still advertised by the pound and people's height given in feet and inches. Prince George has been a place that many of us natives have grown up (I am myself a native of the city, having been born here, with no choice in the matter). Fort George Park, being the largest, most used park in the city, has been a part of many citizens' memories formed while residing here.
The renaming of such a place in our collective memory therefore is naturally disturbing. I do not believe this possible renaming came up in the last civil election. Why couldn't this have been discussed more, additional input sought from voters, even voted on by the residents, why did this attempted renaming have to be rushed through? I think editor Godbout has alluded to the reason, that being that in the main, those living in Prince George are too prejudiced, too ignorant and unintelligent to be able to assess if this should be done.
That is why residents evidently need to be lectured by people like Murry Krause and whatever strange minority views the editor thinks we should be exposed to and bettered by. The Citizen's own online poll showed a clear majority against the renaming.
Perhaps Albert Koehler should consider running for mayor, if only for the common sense he showed in thinking that residents should have had some more input on this important decision.
Paul Serup
Prince George
