Council Cancelled Leadercast Simulcast
Intolerance is a two-way street.....
At the last city council meeting councilor Pattje put forward a motion which instructed the management of the VICC to cancel a televised simulcast titled 'Leadercast' which had been sponsored by a local company and the Nanaimo Daily News.
The simulcast is basically a day long event where, for a fee, you can listen to people considered as inspirational leaders of some renown. This is an annual event, which I presume is a commercial enterprise claiming to be seen by nearly 120,000 people worldwide.
According to the sites website, follows are some of the speakers this year:
Andy Stanley : Leadership Communicator
Malcolm Gladwell: Award- Winning Journalist
Archbishop Desmond Tutu : Nobel Laureate & Human Rights Activist
Randal Wallace: Screenwriter, Director, Producer and Songwriter
Bill McDermott: CEO SAP AG
Laura Schroff: Former Advertising Sales Exec. and Best selling author
Dr. Henry Cloud: Clinical Psycologist and Leadership Consultant
Simon Sinek: Leadership Expert and Best-Selling Author
Laura Bush: First Lady of the United States (2001 - 2009)
Giuliana Rancic: Leadercast Co-Host
Tripp Crosby: Leadership Co-Host
The site proclaims they are "building leaders worth following". Whether that is an accurate statement is beyond the research I have done so far, but if that is the goal of this organization, then heaven knows we could use some leaders worth following, especially in Nanaimo.
The event has several corporate sponsors which I presume see some commercial value is being associated with this event. They include World Vision Micro, who are engaged in giving micro loans, average size being $671 to help lift people out of poverty. They claim to have impacted 4,710 villages globally and invested $360 million in 2010.
Another sponsor is TOMS which is a company that makes the statement ' we're in business to help improve lives. With every product you purchase, TOMS will help a person in need.'
Another sponsor is Delta the airlines and travel folk.
Another sponsor is a company (I don't believe is in Canada) called Chick-fil-a, which I believe is a competitor to the Colonel and have 1600 outlets in the States selling chicken.
So why did council vote to cancel this event?
Apparently the owner of the company Chic-fil-a has stated he supports the Biblical traditional marriage, which of course is one man and one woman. From what I have been able to research, this was his own opinion and not a corporate statement. In fact, since the company experienced the expected push-back from the gay community, the company has made several statements distancing themselves from the issue.
The subject of gay marriage was not on the agenda for this years Leadercast event, and in fact, never has been a topic of discussion. This is not a group of gay-bashing homophobes bent on promoting their Christian world views. They seem to be just a group trying to raise the bar for leaders in our society and as near as I can tell, there is not a religious agenda in their program.
People like Desmond Tutu are hardly the types you would expect to be associated with some wacko, right wing, redneck organization out to drive our gay friends back into the closet. If they were, I'd be leading the parade with pitchfork and torch in hand.
Overreaction and another shoot-from-the-hip response from this council?
Let me be perfectly clear, I understand why our gay and lesbian friends get very proactive if it sounds like someone has a platform to spew bigotry and hatred their way. They have suffered intolerance for a lifetime, and I do not pretend to understand the soul-destroying impact that has had on their lives and I condemn such bigotry in the strongest fashion possible.
That said, intolerance is a two-way street. If the fact that the CEO of a corporation happens to believe that 'marriage' (whatever that is) is only valid between a man and a women, because that is what their belief system says, is reason enough to cancel an event simply because they are a corporate sponsor, that is a level of intolerance I don't support either.
Will the City of Nanaimo ban the Jehovah Witness conference?
The annual convention by the religious organization known as the Jehovah's Witness is the single largest convention Nanaimo hosts. They are clear in their opinion that marriage is also between a man and a woman, as is the stand of the Roman Catholic Church.
I don't have to agree with them, but I am far less comfortable with my city council deciding who I can and cannot hear, based on their own intolerant bias, than I am with some company supporting an event simply because it's CEO holds the same opinion of many religious organizations.
Based on comments made by Nanaimo council members if I am a Christian, with Christian beliefs I have a "criminal point of view" (Kipp). Nanaimo Council then makes the assertion that they are "inclusive". Based on the comments and this vote they are not inclusive of Christians. I wonder how many of the thousands of Christians who live in Nanaimo know this.
ReplyDeleteGood leadership is something that all communities need to have vibrant economies and cultures. This action by the City Council in forcing the cancellation of an educational event in the City is detrimental to businesses and people of all beliefs in the city. Freedom of speech and thought are Charter rights in our country.
ReplyDeleteProgressive, inclusive, open-minded, blah blah blah. doesn't this doctrine mean that I should be given the opportunity to hear and listen to any variety of opinions that are available. I don't have to agree with all of them. The LGBT and the VEGAN and the BUTTERFLIES SHOULD BE FREE and the ANYTHING ELSE community all have the right to have their voice (with respect to all of them). But if you are claiming that you are giving voice to everyone then you have to be fair enough to give voice to EVERYONE and DO NOT set your own judgements about what you will or will not allow based upon your own prejudices by trying to paint others opinions as being prejudices. I don't have to agree with you. That does not mean I hate you and it does not mean that I am prejudiced against you. It means I don't agree with you. If you don't agree with me does that mean you hate me? Stop this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteI was given a link to the council meeting and watched it online and was shocked at the blatant incompetency and lack of leadership in this council. Not one council member had any information on this event and took the word of a council member who obviously had not done his homework in bringing forth his motion, The leadership event in question has NOTHING to do with the topic of homosexuality. The simulcast is a conference that brings world class leaders together to teach and equip people about leadership. It's basically an event that this council might actually benefit from by attending.
ReplyDeleteWhat's next? No building permits for contractors who who hold a traditional view of marriage? No zoning for churches and other religious organizations because of their view on marriage?
Just another example of politicians more concerned with what people think of them and being politically correct instead of actually leading.
I am in agreement with all of the above comments. As a citizen of Nanaimo, I am highly embarrassed and appalled by the City Council's cancelling of the Leadercast event and denying us the privilege of viewing this event. One stated goal of the simulcast was this: "Leadercast was built on a belief that the world needs better leaders—leaders worth following." It looks like we are in very great need of such an event!
ReplyDeleteI am disappointed in councils decision to ban this event. I watched the motion put forward and was offended by the response. It is offensive to me as a Christian.
ReplyDeleteThis action does not represent the majority view of the community, nor does it fall within guidelines of reasonable consideration. This is the view and opinion of two people who have sought and gained authority over others and have the power to veto. It's an abuse of that authority and is no way political by any definition. Sad day.
ReplyDeleteJust heard about this - can't believe it. I live in a very small community in rural Ontario .... glad our elected officials aren't as close minded as those in BC.
ReplyDelete