Market my words
I read with interest your article "Three reasons to visit the new Forum Farmers' Market" (Food + Drink by Nick Laugher, May 21). And I can give you a couple more good reasons to attend that market—vendors there are treated with respect, and the atmosphere is one of congeniality and happiness, as opposed to the disgruntled and negative feelings at the Seaport Farmers' Market.
Since the Halifax Port Authority has taken over the running of the Halifax Seaport Market on the waterfront, policies and atmosphere have changed drastically for the worse. Vendors, particularly artisans and craftspeople, are treated with contempt. Requests are either ignored by management, met with a flat refusal or responded to with not-so-subtle threats that there are plenty of other vendors waiting to take your place. Many vendors have left the market, and now with a new venue providing a good alternative, more are planning to leave in the future. The longest continuously running market in North America is going sharply downhill. —A soon-to-be former vendor at the Seaport Market
Is history history??
Is this the most open, positive progressive era ever? Dress codes cause boycotts. Gender is finally seen by many to be self-determined and you can decide to be whomever you like. To shame someone for behavior you may not agree with is scorned. Marijuana is still illegal, yet you can smell it being smoked openly all over our city.
We seem to be living in an era where everything is subjective and relative and open to interpretation.
It seems history is becoming less valuable to our citizens because it is a reminder of an era where there were seemingly more certainties and structures that excluded the personal freedoms of those who didn't fit the societal norm. If our modern society and younger members of our local community are valuing tradition less and less, we may not have a need for reminders of a more restrictive, structured era. Thus, is history becoming obsolete? As someone whose career revolves around the study of history, this fascinates me.
I recently saw this resistance to tradition on social media when I vocally opposed the removal of a Tall Ship mural on Barrington Street in Halifax by the owners of the local candy company who own the building and want to replace it with a mural that reflects the theme of their business. I was cast as an anachronistic thinker and criticized harshly for stating my seemingly outdated views. Upon reflection, I now understand why my opinions raised such passionate emotions. Tradition is ceasing to be a part of the zeitgeist of the early 21st century.
Nova Scotia is rich in history and tradition. In an era that is beginning to shun both we are very much at a disadvantage and it will be interesting to see how we adapt. I think the Tall Ship mural being removed is just the beginning. I hope it turns out well for our community and society in general. —Colin MacEachern, Cole Harbour