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HP OPINION ANGER MANAGEMENT: TOO MANY ARE ENGAGING IN A GAME OF WHATABOUTISM EACH OF US HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR FRUSTRATIONS IN A MATURE AND NON-VIOLENT FASHION, WRITES MIKE FARWELL Ever since the verbal at- tack on Canada's deputy prime minister by an in- Smidatney large and an- ‘y man in Alberta, we've been asking the wrong question. The man's behaviour was swiftly and pointedly condemned by politicians ranging from Doug Ford to Jason Kenney, as it should have been. MIKE FARWELL olumn But too many others have engaged in a game a whataboutism, offering myriad excuses about the conditions that precipitat- ed the attack. Some have pointed to who they claimis "the most divisive prime minister in Canadian history" as a root cause, citing Justin Tru- deau's language through from his characterizations of the unvaccinated to his de- scription of forceful pro- testors in Ottawa as a “fringe minority." There's no doubt such language is unhelpful, es- ecially when used to de- scribe a stressed, fright- ability to control our minds and actions, some- how forcing us into boor- ish and violent behaviours. fo the argument that Ms. Freeland herself, given her role as a cabinet minis- ter in the federal govern- ment, Fey enh deserves to be on the receiving end of! such anattack. No policy that Freeland has helped craft nor message that she has delivered on behalf of the government in any way warrants such a brazen re- sponse. Yes, we are restless. We don't all feel as though pan- demic restrictions were warranted. And we're in- creasingly woreda abouta worsening ect But each oft us 3 also has the opportunity to express our frustrations in a ma- and non-violent fash- ion. If we choosea different path, we must be account- able for it. And there's no excuse that makes the treatment of Ms. oo accept- able. Full st While admittedly on a different scale, the reac- mayor of Peter- borough to a protest in her city warrants comparison in this c context. Di Therrien minced no words on her Twitter account when she resorted to expletive-filled name- calling in denouncing the INVENTORY CLEARANCE SALE! GET THE BEST BRANDS AT GREAT PRICES HOM FURNITURE UP ul 25% OFF + No ny.¥ 4 protestors and their ac- While Therrien was cel- ebrat ted by many for speak ing blunth were thinking or * eokne the mayor's response loesn't help us build any bridges. Dot the differences today bresont a gap too wide te to ee der also that right here at home, the city of Waterloo will debate a se- curity allowance for coun- cillors. No, this doesn't mean a detail of security guards to accompany anytime ic. ut it oes mean that electronic cameras could soon be installed at coun- cillor's homes and paid for by the public that is posing the threat. When we witness vio- r disrespect- i cantbursts, we tend to complicit silence when the attack is on the other side of the political spectrum. We scramble for the excus- es to explain whatis, truth- fully, unacceptable. Instead of asking who a might have provoked us to behave in such a manner, = 2 uD COuaIEM | & we should be askii hy we suddenly find it accept- z able for react ins such away. 2 © g ig anger, aspletive ‘filled in- sults, and whataboutism 3 become instinctive reac- & tions? a Only when we begin to 8 explore this question will 8 we begin to get to the real problem we're trying to solve. Columnist Mike Far- well is a broadcaster, MC and advocate. Follow him on Twitter at @far- well_WR, or connect with him via Mike.Far- well@rci.rogers.com. YOUROPINIONS SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA Lots of Stock and quicker custom UP TO 25% OFF + NO-TAX 9 259-B Woodlawn Rd. W., Guelph, ON NIH 8J1 © 519-822-1251 CUSTOM DESIGN CENTRE www.originalhomefurniture.com ff. ~~ times available! eo 'e[D]UOIYDOOLETEM