PETERS: A chorus of truth will always drown out a tiny group preaching hate

While the group did little more than take some pictures and momentarily hold a banner over a highway overpass, its presence here was clearly timed for full effect.

It came just before National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, when Indigenous communities mourn the painful legacy of residential schools while all Canadians reflect on our efforts to make the relationship right.

For denialists and white nationalists who are in a constant state of cultural warfare, this was a precision strike.

They revel in the shrapnel spray – the rage, the tears and the battles in the comment sections.

They are happy to stoke the same elevated tensions that would cause us to wonder whether Indigenous people killed in a horrific collision had been targeted on purpose.

Maybe columns like this give them more of the attention they crave – but they don’t have to.

Not if we focus, instead, on the real insignificance of this group.

This organization draws its followers from all across the country and could still only manage a couple dozen cowards to mask up and make the trip.

That pales in comparison to the hundreds from this community alone who showed up at events on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

There are far more rational and compassionate across Canada who support reconciliation efforts than the ignorant toddlers who wish those efforts harm.

Their numbers will shrink the more the rest of us insist on speaking the truth.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by James Peters

PETERS: A chorus of truth will always drown out a tiny group preaching hate

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