Yet again Democracy has been short changed!

I had gone to a city council meeting recently with save our poolz coalition and we were hopeful that after months of organizing and attending public hearings the councillors would factor in voices of people while voting on the pools. I hoped they would support neighborhood pools if not for the sake of democracy atleast off the fear that elctions are 'round the corner.

I dont know why I was heart broken at the final vote, I should have known what the decision would be cause this was not the first time I had seen months organizing going in vain. It was not the first time voices of people who are concerned was ignored. It brought be back a déjà vu from the time I was a student rep. on the faculty search committee. It reminded me of the strategy used by people in power to discred voices of people who take the courage to speak up. We were asked yet again: Who do the people who spoke up represent? The answer is simple, its the voices of people who are concerned, voices of those whose rights have been structurally undermined time and again. Councillor Rushton articulated what I felt at both times really well "What had been short changed was democracy...".

I know too that it was not a totally useless effort at both times because of the number of people present at the coalition meetings has gone up and are willing to go to the extent to take direct action to stop the construction of the mega pool and the fact that the student of colour collective still exists shows that the our work still has worth. I know we will not stay quiet, know we will rise back and question again.