Dear Leader Letter # 12 – Understanding
Poly Tics . Social Studies
From: Al Neitsch
Sent: Monday, June 6, 2022 10:56:45 AM
To: Peter Brown <Peter.Brown@airdrie.ca>; mayor@airdrie.ca <mayor@airdrie.ca>; councillors@airdrie.ca <councillors@airdrie.ca>; Airdrie-East <airdrie.east@assembly.ab.ca>; Airdrie-Cochrane <Airdrie.Cochrane@assembly.ab.ca>
Subject: Understanding
Hello All,
Peter, Mayor Brown, I was just going to respond to you personally but in the interests of transparency, I will send to all. The ‘delete’ or ‘ignore’ function is too convenient where direct, real time communication is restricted. I have nothing to hide, a lot to lose, and I’m not sure how much time I have to leave a legacy of having tried to do the right thing. I realize that I have annoyed you with perspectives and questions outside of your purview but as Ricky Gervais often says, “I don’t Care”…but yet I do care.
In response to your last email, I am not well. Aside from the appearance of a new rapid growth tumor on my neck, only days after my last radiation treatments in April, fatigue, toxicity, and pain, what the hell…I’m still good to go. My mother is in the hospital again after yet another fall and fracture. Her dementia is deepening but her sweet self still peeks out every once in a while. I go up to Edmonton every week to read letters from her sister to her and try to get her to have conversations with family over the phone. It’s rough. She turns 85 tomorrow. I hope she goes in peace soon. My dad had to suffer right up to his 94th year and came to just one day before he died. I have to temper everything with the fact that my youngest daughter graduated from UNBC last week and has a decent job up there with prospects of an independent life. It’s not easy for anyone these days, especially young and otherwise healthy people.
You asked, or at least you hoped I was doing well. I hope the same for you. I am a little sad about other things though but I’ll get over it like just about anything else in this world. I’m sad that you and your council are having difficulty understanding what is being asked of you. I hoped for less resistance to answering honest questions. Most often, a question is just that…a question. It’s sad that questions are being seen and taken as accusations that further break down understanding and transparency. There is a great difference between asking an honest question and expecting and honest answer, and making an accusation which is usually something that has to be proven in the courts based on some applicable law. It’s up to the those being asked to answer questions whether they are offended or not. People that choose public life have to expect uncomfortable questions. It’s what we the people pay them for. There is some comfort that offense implies conscience but if this creates a barrier to dialogue, there can be no understanding. If government is not willing to listen, answer questions or understand the people it is supposed to serve we are leaving a fair and democratic process and entering a one-sided, authoritarian model. I’m quite sure that most good people don’t want that.
There have been many times in my life where I have been held to account for my actions and behaviour whether personal or professional. It’s uncomfortable to be sure but the reluctant adult in me will deal with it either by responsible action, resignation, or under duress. There are always consequences to not dealing with things or trying to do the right thing for that matter.
You must know by now that I don’t give up easily and please know that I am not alone in any of this. We plan on starting new projects in and around Airdrie to hold government accountable and transparent. There are too many barriers to dealing with legacy government at the provincial and federal level. Trust in our institutions has been lost and especially now, during this global upheaval, hypocrisy, and uncertainty, we the people need to trust our leadership. We need to trust you to value The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the common people that rely on it to live in prosperity and peace. If we cannot, we must have change. We can’t have change if we can’t talk and exchange perspectives just like real science can’t exist without examination and dialogue outside of agendas, political ideologies, and purviews.
Everyone’s time on this earth is limited. It’s high time we all live our best lives for the sake of all. We can all make a difference. Think globally. Act locally. These could be the best of times.
Most sincerely,
Al Neitsch