Be proud of service, but recognize racism as well
Re: “The rising shame of Remembrance Day,” letter, Nov. 9.
If I understand correctly, the writer is upset about having to recognize the racism that has been inherent in this country since its formation. He’s mad that he may be perceived as a racist if he chooses to keep his head securely buried in the sand about Canada’s history.
He then goes on to say that the (mostly) white veterans were misguided in being proud of their country.
Indigenous veterans in this country began honouring their service on Nov. 8 because they were excluded from the Nov. 11 ceremonies for so long.
For example, they couldn’t lay wreaths at monuments on Nov. 11 as white veterans do. To blame was the Royal 91原创 Legion, in other words, other veterans.
This didn’t change until 1995, so on Nov. 8, 1994, they began having their own ceremony to honour their service.
White veterans are allowed to be proud of their service, and honoured by all 91原创s. They can also reflect on the fact that the country they fought to protect has an inherently racist past. Two things are allowed to be true at the same time.
Colin Fowler
Courtenay
Our country was built on Christian values
We, too, were very distressed to learn of the directive “urging” those conducting public Remembrance Day services to refrain from Christian prayer and from mentioning God or Christianity.
We are a country that was founded upon Christian values. Those values are at the core of who we are as 91原创s.
Why would it be offensive to mention God when we remember the courageous men and women, a great many of them faithful to God, who fought and died for this country?
If we are forbidden from mentioning the God to whom arguably tens of thousands of soldiers prayed in their darkest hours, we are spitting on the graves of those who clung to their faith as perhaps their last hope.
Why? Are we ashamed of our faith? Are we so blinded and brainwashed by the unrelenting imperative of “diversity and inclusivity,” and whipped by the woke mob that we are willing to abandon the very principles and faith that helped build this country?
Christianity is still the largest faith practised in Canada. Yes, we can make room for all different faiths here in our beautiful country, but we should not be forgetting or forsaking our own. Lest we forget.
Heather Wilke
North Saanich
Remember soldiers every single day
Re: “Who will remember our soldiers now,” letter, Nov. 10.
May I make a suggestion? How about on Nov. 11 every year you go to your town’s cenotaph at 11 a.m., wear a poppy, bow your head and say “Lest We Forget.”
And as a member of your local Royal 91原创 Legion, you can do it everyday. No need to wait for a God to do it in the hereafter.
Gerald Marantz
Parksville
Put Horgan’s home to use while he is away
With ex-premier John Horgan being named ambassador to Germany, I have a wonderful suggestion for him.
Since his government contributed very little to B.C.’s housing crisis, he could offer his home (rent free, since he receives a B.C. pension) to a family in need, for the time he’s ambassador. Could even leave his car there for this family to use.
What a lovely gesture, Mr. Horgan! Just in time for Christmas !
John Vanden Heuvel
Victoria
Without amalgamation, we will save money
Re: “Amalgamation could reduce dog questions,” letters, Nov. 8.
On the contrary, the policies and strategies toward dog management make a great case against amalgamation of the Capital Regional District.
At considerable expense, the District of Saanich contracted an outside landscape architect to come up with a new pets strategy. Following a particularly acrimonious process they adopted this restrictive strategy, while locking in many millions of dollars in future expense for taxpayers.
Conversely, Metchosin council created the Dogs in Metchosin Working Group to engage their citizens, articulate problems with dogs in the community and suggest solutions.
The resulting bylaw takes a much less costly and light-handed approach intended to address real challenges with animals in the community. It passed without the large public outcry seen in Saanich.
What sort of local council would you prefer? More to the point, why would Metchosin residents look over the fence and say, “I’d rather have some of that”?
Shaun Cembella
Saanich
Build those schools so they can house seniors
A population boom is usually followed by a population bust, so there is a high probability that some of these well-built schools in the Sooke School District will not be required in 30 years or so.
On the other hand, there will be an increased requirement for a variety of retirement facilities for the then-bulge in the older population who will no longer require their single-family dwelling.
Is thought being put into the future use of these schools and are the architects being instructed in very general terms to make allowances for future conversions?
Joe Harvey
Victoria
Airport needs to act to fight climate change
The other night I attended a presentation by Rod Hunchak of the Victoria Airport Authority. He enthusiastically explained how the airport is seeing steadily increased passenger traffic.
He told us how the terminal will be expanding in three directions and that the parking lot has been considerably expanded.
Runway extensions are progressing and direct flights to London will soon be available. Growth, growth, growth.
Does the airport authority not believe in climate change? It is clear we are in a climate emergency.
Shouldn’t we be trying to reduce air traffic given its contribution to pollution? Planes burn fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Isn’t it time for us to reduce air traffic rather than try to endlessly increase it? Shouldn’t we be encouraging citizens to stay local?
YYJ should start to reduce growth in air travel and act as if we are in a climate crisis!
Bert Slater
North Saanich
Needle exchange program only increases the problem
Our federal government and Correctional Service Canada are introducing needle exchanges in 91原创 medium-security prisons.
I assume this means it is now acceptable for visitors to openly bring illegal drugs into prisons. Why else would there be acceptance of needle exchange instead of drug prevention for inmates?
With drug addiction increasing in Canada owing to the fallout of allowing drugs to be given free to addicts, this is just another example of wrong thinking.
We already know that the weaker free drugs are often sold to young people which then allows the addicts to buy the stronger illegal drugs.
The result of this practice ensures more drug-addicted people. Furthermore, our prison guards deserve support and recognition of the work they do and this should include protection from drug-affected prisoners.
Surely it is time to re-evaluate the drug policies in our country and bring in logical and effective drug treatment facilities instead of simply increasing the problem.
Charmaine Lovell
Saanich
The term “God” is not exclusive to Christianity
Why do the powers that be insist that the use of the word God, or god, is not inclusive of other faiths or religions?
God, or god is not a name, it’s a noun, much like human; it can be viewed as an umbrella term, much like the word “human”; when we use the word “human” are we talking about one particular ethnic group?
Oxford Dictionary defines God as:
• (in Christianity and other monotheistic religions) the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority; the supreme being.
• (in certain other religions) a superhuman being or spirit worshiped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity.
Based on the two definitions found in the Oxford Dictionary, would using the word God, or god, not be the most inclusive term to use?
It seems that in our pursuit of absolute inclusiveness, we are doing nothing more than perfecting the art of division of people.
Greg Neufeldt
Saanichton
Homophobic players are hurting other causes
I find it hard to believe that the NHL is letting a handful of homophobic hockey players dictate what jerseys they want to wear, and the ones they don’t.
The league approves the design of the jerseys, not individual players. If their homophobic convictions are strong enough, then let them sit out the night of the Pride support games and then let them lose the pay for every game they sit out.
Sit out enough games and your multi-million dollar hockey career will be over for what is arguably the most stupid reason thinkable.
Sitting out those games hurts the team, the fans and the league.
In my employment I was often directed to do things that I didn’t always agree with, and yes, in some of my employment years, I had to wear a uniform.
Never did I get to dictate to my employer what uniform I would wear and the ones I would not. Nor did I get to choose what legal directions to follow and the ones that I didn’t want to.
Not my call … I’m not the boss and neither are those players. The tail is wagging the dog way too much on this one. They can follow their employer’s direction just like the rest of us are required to.
It’s time for the NHL to stand up to homophobic prima donnas who think they get to decide what causes the NHL gets behind and the ones they don’t, or in this case, can’t.
Sadly, other causes like cancer fundraising, Indigenous support and every other great cause must suffer because of the ransom mounted by a few homophobes who are exercising power they ought not to have.
Stu Shields
Saanich
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