为什么市政选举中华社闹剧不断

随着华人社区人口迅速增长，报名参选市议员及助选人数激增。对于来自非民主国家的移民来说，投票权是宝贵的民主权利，而荣登候选榜则又是难得殊荣。但不幸的是这次选举过程中华人社区却乱象丛生，各种低级趣味的攻击层出不穷，而这些攻击战不仅有损民主选举进程，也让许多参选或助阵者不断遭到从愤懑和痛恨到嫉妒和恐惧等各种负面情绪的骚扰。

With the Chinese community rapidly expanding, more Chinese Canadians join the election races and the political campaigns. For newcomers from non-democratic countries, the right to vote and the opportunities to be elected are both valuable and exciting. However, a wave of ugly and chaotic battles has disrupted the election process, threatening the integrity of democracy and leaving some involved facing negative emotions – from frustration and hate to jealousy and fear.

有些参选者和其竞选团队为了达到抢选票政治目的而不惜向对手发起人身攻击，尽羞辱之能事，使用各种低俗，粗陋语言诋毁对方，而在华人社交媒体微信则成为这些污蔑，诽谤，中伤的言论的温床。

The municipal election has seen some desperate candidates and their supporters resorting to personal attacks and assaults to achieve their political agenda and to win voters over from opponents. Humiliating remarks and vulgar comments clogged Chinese social media WeChat, turning it into a hotbed of mud-slinging and bickering.

当一名女性候选人和其赞助者的照片出现在其竞选牌上后，微信上立即出现低级不堪的侮辱性张贴，称她和赞助者有某些不正当关系。

After a photo of a female candidate and an endorser displayed on her campaign sign, vile comments accuse her of being a mistress of the endorser. 

一名候选人的太太也被扯进这种攻击战中：

The wife of a candidate was on the receiving end of humiliation:

“她的道德水平如此低下，缺乏诚信，没有自尊，不尊重他人！“ 

“She is such a low morality individual! Dishonest and lacking self-esteem while disrespecting others!”

一幅张贴称，某候选人以往在商业领域业绩不佳，根本非其所称经验丰富，事业有成。

A post alleges that a candidate lacks a proven track record for the career success she claimed, citing the dismal failures in the business field over the past. 

另一幅张贴则称某候选人有所谓的“叫鸡“记录，并指控他曾为或移民身份而假结婚。

A post accused a candidate of being a “whoremonger” and alleged that he has carried out a fake marriage to get immigration status.

市政选举是一个高尚的民主进程，市民应选出其最信赖的人士服务公益，在市政管理事宜中代表选民的利益，为他们发表心声。但华人社区政治素质不佳，某些人士道德水平低下，加之很多社区人士对 民主选举的目的缺乏正确认识是造成这些恶战的原因。

These messy, vulgar battles are a complete disgrace to the election – a democratic process where voters choose their most trustworthy individuals to hold public office and represent their interest in municipal affairs. Poor political culture in the community, in addition to lack of recognition of democratic values of the election may be the causes for the messy and chaotic race. 

有些人认为大幅选举牌，到处散发的竞选资料和某些政要的助阵赞选是创名声的大好时机，而另一些人则认为从大选中获得的政治资本可为日后带来巨大商机。而市议员的丰厚工资也可是参选的有一种动力。

While some community members see the election signs, campaign materials and endorsements from notable politicians as a perfect way to promote their name recognition, others believe they can turn the political capitals gained from the race into future business opportunities. Councillors’ lucrative salaries could be also a motivating factor. 

一则微信张贴称：“我有意愿参选市长。就是没选上也能帮我的生意做广告。”

“I have an intentions to run for the mayor. Even if I fail, it could help me promote my business,” says a WeChat poster, who seemed not running in this election.  

“一名市议员所能挣工资高达$11万2。什么工作能比市议员挣得多，名声更响?!”

“A city councillor makes a salary as high as $112,000. Fewer jobs can make you feel so good while bringing home the big-bucks!”

但是如果缺乏崇高的目的参选可能会引火烧身。周一选举结果表明，虽然华裔加国人士参选人数激增，但获得竞选胜利而打入市政厅的却寥寥无几。如果参选者没有端正竞选目的，比如为推行其信仰的政治进程，或出于为帮助社区的崇高愿望而参选，他们很难在这种恶毒攻击，污蔑和诽谤战中免遭身心伤害，也不可能在经过一场冗长，艰辛，混乱的竞选战役后，直面这一残酷的失败结局。

However, lacking a decent motive to run for office may backfire. Despite a growing number of Chinese Canadians joining the race, Monday’s election results show that few have made into the City Hall. And candidates lacking the right reasons to run for office – such as passionately advocating for a cause or desiring to help out the community – can hardly survive the brutal attacks in the race and the disappointing results, after a long, expensive and a chaotic campaign.