It's A New Year Every Year

5 reasons cities shouldn't be allowed to cancel public New Year festivities

1. Public festivities are good for community togetherness.
2. It's never okay to break your word.
3. Disappointment is the world's cruelest emotion.
4. Only democratic decisions are fair.
5. Future festivities (including makeups for past cancellations) would create volunteer opportunities.

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It is extremely unjust that cities are allowed to cancel New Year celebrations. After five consecutive cancellations, I think I speak for most of Metro Vancouver when I say "enough is enough". Worse yet, none of said cancellations went through a Lower-Mainland-wide public referendum. In other words, they skipped what should have been the most important step: the democratic process. Cancellations should have to go through a referendum a minimum of three months in advance, or preferably, should not be allowed to happen at all.

Justice means not only a ban on future cancellations, but also makeup festivities to compensate for past ones. Two nights of makeup festivities for each past cancellation.

Ideally, future festivities would be crowdfunded instead of having a single all-or-nothing sponsor. They would also be staffed by volunteers rather than paid workers. Then, the makeup celebrations could come whenever there is enough money. They, too, would be volunteer-run. (I will gladly volunteer, on a recurring basis, in any way I can.)

Reason 1: Community spirit

Special thanks to my mother, Nicole, for greatly strengthening my argument with this first and foremost supporting reason. As she says, "There's only two days a year to bring the community together; a city shouldn't take one away." She also suggested a more positive title for makeup festivities, e.g. "Strong Community Nights".

Public New Year celebrations play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community among its participants. These events offer rare opportunities for people to come together and strengthen their community spirit. Hence, it is imperative to recognize the significance of public New Year celebrations and ensure their continuity for the betterment of the community as a whole.

Reason 2: The value of promises

One reason New Year celebrations are important is the more general fact that it's never okay to break a promise. It should be illegal to cancel. Promises are considered to be oral contracts and, as such, they should be ironclad. However, there may be exceptional circumstances where flexibility is necessary, such as emergencies.

It should only be legal to relocate the event, or as a last resort, to postpone it for a later date. Hence my idea for makeup festivities on non-holiday nights. By maintaining the integrity of promises and making them as solid as possible, trust and dependability can be fostered.

Reason 3: Disappointment

Disappointment is the world's cruelest emotion. It is crucial for everyone, including municipal governments, to recognize the significance of this emotion and take necessary steps to prevent causing it whenever possible.

Reason 4: No vote, no validity

We are long overdue for a pandemocratic society. True justice means no dictatorial decisions at all, even under third parties such as businesses. Only democratic decisions are valid.

Reason 5: Volunteer opportunities

Extra celebrations to compensate for past cancellations may seem unusual at first, but they have the potential to not only make up for lost experiences but also create valuable volunteer opportunities. There are many individuals eagerly seeking volunteer work, whether it be on a regular basis or for specific events.

Counter-arguments

1. This argument sounds selfish and/or entitled.
2. Other cities cancel their celebrations too, probably about as often.

Counter-argument 1: Selfishness

I cannot emphasize enough that this argument isn't about me. I probably would have been okay with the cancellations, if they had only been democratic about it. I am genuinely motivated by my sense of justice.

As I stated earlier in my argument, I would gladly volunteer at future festivities, including Strong Community Nights. I would be more than happy to contribute with any task I can do. Heavy lifting, litter pickup, you name it! This would prove to others that I am motivated by justice, and that I truly believe in this cause.

Counter-argument 2: Other cities

I know very well that most other cities cancel their festivities about as often as Vancouver. And some cities, like Victoria and Montreal, never have New Year celebrations at all. But even so, cancellations are wrong.

I'm not saying it is unfair. I'm saying it feels unfair. There is a difference.