Have Your Say

Outrageous editorial

Re: Racist outrage (Editorials, Sept. 17).

Does your anonymous "staff writer" have evidence proving that whomever distributed allegedly anti-Semitic posters in Winnipeg are "... some of the same people who oppose the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights?"

If the Free Press wants to be an uncritical booster of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, that's fine. But exploiting your editorial pages to link an outrage with those who have forthrightly raised legitimate concerns about partiality in the governance and contents of a taxpayer-funded national museum represents nothing less than hate speech directed against those of your fellow Canadians with whom you disagree. That is unconscionable. You should print a retraction and apology.

Lubomyr Luciuk

Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association

Ottawa

I applaud the editorial that brings attention to the outrageous distribution of anti-Semitic posters around town and demanding that these bigots be found and prosecuted. Such anti-racial declarations, whether anti-Jewish or any other race or colour, should not be taken lightly or forgotten, as it will certainly lead to more violent actions if left alone.

Issie D. Oiring

Winnipeg

The Free Press has conveniently taken some ignoramuses's way of criticizing our ineffective mayor into a twisted promotion for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Your editorial has lumped those of us who have criticized the use of hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds for something that is, so far, a costly much-delayed debacle with the nitwits who posted racial epithets about Sam Katz. The Free Press should apologize for stooping so low and using such despicable tactics.

Bruce Clark

Winnipeg

The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko would like to add its name to those who are outraged at the news of anti-Semitic posters that were recently found in Winnipeg. It is clear these posters are intended to cause hatred against identified members of Winnipeg's Jewish community.

It is important that citizens of Winnipeg publicly take a stand against racist initiatives of these sorts and we stand with the B'nai Brith in demanding an investigation into what clearly constitutes a hate crime against an identifiable community.

The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko is a charitable foundation that supports Ukrainian culture and heritage as a fundamental component of Canadian identity and we stand by our Jewish friends in condemning this most recent hate-driven event.

ANDREW HLADYSHEVSKY

Edmonton

Chapman not on trial

Re: Accuser alleged sex performer (Sept. 17). Lindor Reynolds is offensively off base. Alex Chapman is not on trial, nor is he the plaintiff in the Canadian Judicial Council inquiry into the conduct of Associate Chief Justice Lori Douglas.

It is Douglas's conduct, not Chapman's, that is of issue to this inquiry. It is Douglas's conduct that raised so many questions that the judicial council deemed it necessary to investigate. It is her husband, Jack King, who found his own actions so embarrassing that he attempted to buy Chapman's silence.

Earlier in these proceedings, Douglas's legal team suggested the inquiry is akin to blaming a rape victim for the crime committed against them. Reynolds' attacks on Chapman come much closer to that disgusting act.

Tom Ruby

Winnipeg

True North's example

The decision by True North to retain its staff during the NHL lockout is a laudatory move by an outstanding corporate citizen.

Thank you, Mark Chipman and David Thomson, for considering the welfare of others foremost.

Barry Craig

Winnipeg

I am totally in disbelief over this lockout. Here you have billionaires and millionaires fighting over money that will hardly alter their lives.

By not coming to an agreement before the collective bargaining agreement ran out, many people will be out of work. They are everyday people who rely on these jobs to support their families and feed their children, pay for their university classes and more. These everyday people will now have to look for another job, apply for EI or go to welfare.

These are the people whose lives will be changed. It is time for players and clubs to see the real picture.

Leah Poyser

Winnipeg

Police need training

Re: Protester not Tasered, say police (Sept. 18). As a disability advocate, I'm deeply concerned by the actions of police during the Occupy march through downtown Winnipeg on Monday. I think the huge police presence was totally unwarranted. What were police afraid of? The protest march was by and large peaceful, with protesters banging their pots and pans.

It now appears as though one of the two men arrested has a disability and started having seizures while being arrested. And it's his rough treatment by police that concerns me. I would like to see our city's police better-trained to handle situations involving people with disabilities. Many of our city's homeless are struggling with addiction and mental illness.

Harry Wolbert

Winnipeg

Compassion serves us all

Re: Compassion serves a political purpose (Sept. 15). Dan Lett raises an interesting and important perspective on how the provincial government has responded to the health needs of refugees.

However, he could have added another important aspect of this situation, and one that links the altruistic to the politically strategic. The reality is doing the right thing for vulnerable people is not only good for them and could be politically appropriate, but most importantly, is good for society and the rest of us.

More research is showing that meeting the needs of seniors, the unemployed, people with a disability, discriminated minorities and those living in poverty, is good for our economy and therefore everyone in a community. The more society helps people live healthy and independent lives, the more society benefits. The more we narrow the gap between rich and poor, the more commerce and society benefits.

So providing health services for refugees may have been driven by altruistic or politically strategic intentions, but it was certainly a good decision that will return benefit to the community as a whole.

Dennis Lewycky

Winnipeg

Don't give up on ELA

Please keep reporting on the proposed closure of the Experimental Lakes Area. I think most Canadians would be willing to pay the annual cost of 15 cents a person to save this world-renowned program that studies our most valuable resource.

If we want a future for our grandchildren, Canadians will insist that scientific research be the basis of decision-making about our environment.

Pat Malis

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 19, 2012 A6