I was at the Vancouver parks board meeting Monday night, and I was disgusted at what I saw.

Delegates from both sides gave presentations. And, while the aquarium representatives were generally well-spoken and respectful, many of the anti-aquarium speakers were rude and even vicious.

One young man waved a bloody picture of a dolphin hunt, and the lady next to me heckled the commissioners during their debate when it became apparent that the vote would not go her way.

I expected rabble-rousing and shallow emotionalism, and I expected the applause that followed each speech. But I was shocked to see the loudest applause given to one elderly lady who spoke for three minutes with unbelievable bitterness and bile.

"The aquarium is ruining Stanley Park," she said. "They're taking it over.

"If they're not satisfied with what they have, why don't they just pack up and leave?"

I'm pleased the vote favoured dropping the referendum requirement.

But I'm not sure that the anti-aquarium crowd's ability to distort and inflame can be overcome by the aquarium's ability to inform and teach.

Steve Vanden-Eykel,

New Westminster
© The Vancouver Province 2006