To the editor:
Re: "Letter of the Week," Sept. 21.
Paul Richards is right. As a lifelong resident (since the 1950s) of Vancouver, I also have observed the city incrementally conform to the point of oppression. May I suggest a grass roots revolution whereby all clowns, magicians, stilt walkers and fairy princesses' revolt and reclaim this increasingly no-fun allowed town? Let's put the festive back in festivals and not have everything mandated by the local Chamber of Commerce or the heavy hand of City Hall. Let's put the "World's Largest Garage Sale" (Kitsfest 2012) back in the garage where it belongs.
Let's clear the streets of tawdry merchandise from retailers foisting stale stock onto an unwitting public. Let's keep Tiny Tim's tragic charity of choice out of street celebrations and break out the hula dancers, fire eaters, dreamweavers and story tellers. Dare to take that harmonica out of your pocket, sit and play your guitar on a corner or in a park, raise your fiddle and host an impromptu square dance or sing a capella with your barbershop quartet or opera trio. Put away your sad group of lawn chairs huddled next to a tarp in the middle of an otherwise deserted street and get together for a block party without a "CofV" barricade at either end.
Let's dare to do a few things without permits, licenses and fees. Let the jails overflow with rebellious bassists, permit-less flautists and wayward tap dancers. Water colourists, take up your brushes, flamenco dancers wield your castanets. Let's put the vibrant back in Vancouver.
Jayne LeVierge, Vancouver
