Dear Editor
It might have been an unfortunate choice of words when the prime minister of Canada referred to the "fringe element" in the truckers' trek to Ottawa (and other events), but, on the other hand, perhaps not.
In the 1980s, the instant thinking of a Kindersley Transport trucker, and of myself, saved his life, my life, the life of my mother and one of my sisters. (Since then I wave at Kindersley truckers.) And who nearly killed us? Another trucker, whose driving was ignorant, illegal and irresponsible.
I'd call him a "fringer."
I know a number of truckers, good people, although there is one I avoid.
In a small way, I'm part of the livestock industry. Mostly good people involved, but there sure are plenty of "fringers" in the business.
We wouldn't expect fringe people in gardening, would we? We'd be wrong. One of my sisters is an accredited lily show judge and she has some anecdotes. For example, a woman who grew lilies also had some rare and very expensive ones. Of course, she was pleased when a couple phoned to ask to see her garden. They were very interested in the lilies, but after awhile the female of the couple asked if she could be shown something again in a remote part of the garden. The man made some excuses, photographs perhaps, to stay at the lily bd. The female kept the hostess involved for about 10 minutes, then the couple left.
Shortly after, the lily grower found all her special lilies were dug up and gone, stolen by people who gave false names. She didn't note their car licence number. Why would she?
So, there are people who cannot be trusted in any walk of life, people who cause trouble even in the beautiful world of gardens and who ruin plans of others.
The word "fringer" isn't in the dictionary. Perhaps it will be.
It is quite an innocent word compared to a certain other "f" word that some people think they have the "God-given" right to use on anything and anyone. I hope they too are "fringe."
The first meaning of the word "fringe" is, of course, an ornamental edge. That meaning wasn't the one intended here. But maybe people should give the prime minister a break; perhaps he meant ornamental.
Perhaps not!
But it does now seem like a leaf on the wind compared to utterances by Putin of Russia.
Christine Pike
Waseca
