Let’s agree to disagree
Here on Bowen, we don’t suffer long the passage of time in which we do not have something of import to disagree over. To squabble over and align ourselves with one-dire-prediction-or-another. And all of it with considerable passion. It has become a manner of being for Bowen Islanders.
And now it seems that once again it’s time to man, or person, the balustrades, for another issue has arrived. B.C. Hydro is set to install smart meters on our island and two camps have come to the fore; one is, naturally, against smart meters, feeling they are dangerous and an invasion of privacy, while the other insists they are safe and of value.
Both sides claim science is on their side.
Citizens concerned about smart meters are mobilized. On the streets, on the ferry and online, people are debating. There is, predictably, no lack of passion in all this. The golf course, Cape Roger Curtis, the artificial turf field, the national park initiative, each of them saw strongly opposed groups coalesce.. The smart meter debate is turning out to be similar.
It was after our last major tilt, the national park initiative – remember that, so long ago? – that we finally learned what these fights do to goodwill on Bowen. For it is arguable the national park issue taught us once and for all that our contentious hankering does the following to our store of goodwill: nothing much at all.
The national park result saw some disappointed, others relieved, but there was no severing of friendships or lasting antipathy. All of us moved on and we continue to make small talk in the line-up at the General Store.
Yes, Bowen is back in that place of contention again, that place where we throw opinions at one another. But when all is said and done we will come out of it just fine.
For it has become our manner of being.
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