"Canada is a free country and people have the right to demonstrate and protest. They have a right to demonstrate, but hatred and racism have no place in this city and I expect people to confront that and make sure there's a peaceful and direct pushback on racism and hatred." - Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver

Mr. Robertson, perhaps unwittingly, is stoking the same confrontation that happened in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Confronting hatred leads to, obviously, confrontation. Confrontation leads to conflict. Conflict lends itself to violence, which extremists on both sides embrace.

 Trying to contain or confront expressions of exclusion and hate also validates them.  So don't go there. It's always an option to ignore hateful messages. Instead, see the human behind the words. Embrace those who would lead society down a negative path. Overcome them with peaceful understanding. Put a flower in the barrel of their weapon.

Stay cool, Vancouver. Show them how it's done.