Established and respectable newspapers report the news and opinion with balance and intelligence due to professional columnists, reporters, and editorial staff. I liked this letter that expresses excellent views about the "Virtual Riot" that is taking place online.
Letter to the Editor, Vancouver Sun, June 25
Re: The Virtual Riot, Editorial, June 23 I am disturbed by the near hatred expressed toward the youth who were both the exclusive participants and primary observers during the hockey riot. As the mother of four young adult children raised on the west side of Vancouver, I have been privileged to know dozens of young Vancouverites from childhood to adulthood.
They have had by and large the protected and nurturing upbringing that allows both courage and confidence, the very qualities needed to go forward successfully in life and the very components of youthful bravado and foolishness.
I admire the open and honest young people I encounter in Vancouver restaurants, shops and businesses. They give off the fresh air of naturalness that speaks of confidence.
What the public witnessed during the hockey riot was the flip side of confidence: bravado and foolishness.
What we as a society need to do is to act parentally with both sternness and compassion. We need to accept apologies and regrets without reservation and set suitable punishments so that foolishness is suppressed but confidence and courage are not.
Robin Russell
Vancouver
