We need to stop judging people

Has divisive politics entered into our municipal and school board elections?
Until Monday morning, when I was confronted by a posting from a mother questioning the bullying on Facebook of a school board candidate, I would have said that it was impossible. The posting by the mother has shaken me.
I only have to look to our southern neighbours to see how politics has divided people between black and white, Christian and non-Christian, lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender to watch bullying and hate manifest itself.
It has become clear watching U.S. politics that certain parties are choosing to deny people of colour the right to vote or limiting their access to voting polls. I have watched the president of the United States demean women and people of colour.
Yet in our district, I was shocked to see a candidate questioned because she was unmarried without children running for the local board of education. What has that go to do with understanding and contributing to improved education delivery for children and students in the district?
We should be judging candidates on their education, life experiences, and commitment to creating new opportunities for students of all ages and abilities.
Candidates for the school board have spoken with empathy for students and have asked teachers to control bullying in their classrooms and playgrounds. Through their voices, they have expected education to be inclusive, offering every opportunity for children to succeed.
And yet in this election, voices have risen anonymously criticizing candidates for being female, for being gay, for not having children, and questioning faith or religious beliefs.
Doug Judson, in responding to the bullying, commented: “This election is important to ensure our school board remains committed to providing modern, inclusive, and innovative learning opportunities for our district young people and supporting the needs of students, including those from diverse families and vulnerable groups.”
With our population in decline and our school enrolment dropping, can we afford to discourage people from coming to Rainy River District because they are different?
The local mayoral and council candidates spoke to the need to build better ties between the communities and First Nations of Rainy River District. Those ties include recognizing the cultures of all people.
It means we need to stop judging people by the colour of their skin, their ethnicity, religious beliefs, or their sexual orientation.
We, as a community, must be the sum of our abilities and hopes. We must build on our strengths while understanding and celebrating our differences.
To do less diminishes us as a community.