To the editor,
I was extremely impressed with "Table manners," Stephen Kimber's February 23 article about Doug Sparks and the controversy surrounding the HRM school board debacle. It was a brilliant dissection of a subject that at the surface appeared trivial. Mr. Kimber took us on a journey that was revealing and enlightening. During the many media interpretations of the event when Sparks refused to move his school board seat to another location, many people were left with the distinct idea that Sparks was, among many other things, childish. Kimber showed us a representation of a man who, in spite of first impressions, is a dedicated community activist with a strong social conscience.
Kimber got to the core of the very serious issue of deep-rooted racial tensions in our community. It was a well articulated story with many facts that could have easily turned it into a convoluted, confusing tale. It was anything but. It was a succinct and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Congratulations Mr. Kimber, for writing a fantastic story and presenting the specifics in an unbiased manner that allowed the reader to come to their own conclusions. Congratulations Mr. Sparks, for knowing when to stay seated!
By Deborah Rent
