I share Byron Tweedy’s disapproval of certain dismissive remarks about UVic students (‘Feeling insulted.’ April 13th).

Last week I was one of 34 speakers with the chance to address a CRD Board meeting.  Most of them were against the current proposal for resort development adjacent to the JDF Marine Trail and  I was among those who argued that, because of the nature of the Rural Resource Lands, land use proposals in that area should be voted on by the whole Board.  More people wanted to sit in on this meeting than the room allowed and I was struck by the diversity of CRD residents against the development, urban, rural, aboriginal,  younger, older, etc.

Outside the building was a group of mostly young people, characteristically yet peacefully protesting the proposed development, just like a group of placard-waving young people supporting another significant  local cause whom I saw at a recent federal political rally.   A high school student I recently met at a social gathering had been to several meetings with fellow-students because of their concern over the JDF Trail issue.

Why should the concerns of our university students and other young people be so dismissed?

No wonder why they’re turned off politics and don’t bother to vote.   Sure, they lack some life experience and aren’t yet entirely seasoned in judgment, like all of us when young adults, but, they have visions for the future.  Besides which older doesn’t always mean wiser.

So, as a 77-year-old grandma, I say to older people,  “Respect young people” and to the young ones I say, “Mind your manners….. and vote, vote, VOTE!”

 Mary Brown

Shirley