Letters, Sept. 25

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/09/2023 (984 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Blind partisanship

A partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is used for persons who strongly support their party’s policies and are reluctant to compromise with political opponents.

While following our current election and discussing our current issues with people of different opinions, I noticed cases of cult-like followers. Some of these people get overly aggressive and will not even entertain any solid misinformation against their preferred party.

My parents were strong Conservatives when Duff Roblin was premier of Manitoba. However, they switched to Ed Schreyer when he ran and successfully became the premier of Manitoba. I became a strong partisan with Ed Schreyer and the NDP.

Duff Roblin and Ed Schreyer were visionaries that had greatly improved the lives of many Manitobans. Then, Ed Schreyer’s successors came on the scene — Howard Pawley, Gary Doer, Greg Selinger and now Wab Kinew. Slowly through the years, I watched the dilution of once was my party. I cannot support this party anymore as the true values of leadership are substituted with “Let’s tell the people what they want to hear and hopefully shallow thinkers will not look at the fine print and we will win this election.”

Today my former party of choice groomed Wab Kinew to be the leader of the NDP party. Although NDP supporters try to minimize Kinew’s past, I strongly believe his values cannot be camouflaged. A tailored suit, nicely slicked-backed hair into a bun, with a wide smile resembling an expensive department store mannequin does not fool me. Sadly, some unions back Wab as they see rewards for themselves while ignoring their burden on our social budgets. Wab’s main platform is to reopen emergency rooms in hospitals.

Knowledgeable people in the health-care system and our media experts have explained that opening up these emergency centres would only worsen the situation. We need staff to maintain our current hospitals.

After watching and educating myself on current issues and promises, I like Dougald Lamont but I know he cannot form a government. I had reservations of Heather Stefanson when she first became the premier and leader of the Progressive Conservative party. Today, I see a strong women with solid goals for Manitoba. I hope Manitobans vote responsibly by facts and not blinded partisanship.

Peter Kowalyk

Winnipeg

Light, not heat

Unfortunately, current controversies related to schools and gender issues often generate more heat than light and it seems to me that what is often lacking is consideration for the needs of children. In my work in education, I have learned that though lip service may be given to the question “What does this child (or children) need?”, it is often the case that the needs of institutions, organizations, lobby groups, and even parents override those needs.

The “needs question,” if taken seriously, is one that can serve to shift the focus from argument, anger, and power struggle among the above “stakeholders” to a focus on the child, i.e. a unique fellow human being who is at various stages of development that are often not age equivalent and so requires serious consideration of physical, psychological, and social dimensions.

Most importantly, the question requires exploration in a spirit of openness to the various viewpoints held by those in the child’s circle of influence (and if appropriate, the child herself).

Edwin Buettner

Winnipeg

New coursework

Re: Fake social media posts prompt mass truancy (Sept. 22)

Can we add digital literacy to the Manitoba Education teaching curriculum so as adults, our children don’t make the same mistake many of their parents did on Sept. 20?

Jeff Roos

Winnipeg

Overcome intolerance

It can be increasingly depressing for those among us who are regularly offended by the denigration of human intelligence by those who feel they occupy some kind of moral high ground. This is often motivated by ancient superstitious beliefs, but is always enabled by a tragic lack of information, understanding, or compassion.

Human beings are capable of transcending the ugliness of ignorance and intolerance by confronting it with learning and reason. If this can’t be done at home it must be done elsewhere. Failure is not an option.

Gordon Kidder

Winnipeg

Successful surgery, elsewhere

I have been reading about different people going to Fargo for knee and hip surgery. I will add my husband Albert’s name to the list.

He had been on a waiting list for one and a half years for total hip replacement. His surgeon said it would be at least another two years to wait. He was in extreme pain and this news wasn’t well received. He was asked if he would consider going out of province for the surgery. He was contacted saying he was accepted and on Jan. 24 he was driven to Fargo.

Had X-rays on Monday, surgery on Tuesday and released on Wednesday. Everything was paid for by government. Gas, hotel room, food, all hospital costs were paid. Only cost was for pain meds. His care while in Fargo was exceptional. No waiting in hallways or ERs.

It has been eight months since his surgery, no problems. Saw his surgeon here for follow ups and X-rays and everything was perfect. We cannot thank Fargo and health personnel enough for giving him his life back and Manitoba government for sending him for this life changing surgery.

Bonnie Niziol

Winnipeg

Tragedy all around

I am heartbroken and angry. Born and raised as a white woman in Canada, I walk along my path toward truth and reconciliation and become increasingly more disturbed by what I learn. Most recently, “Search the Landfill”: a government’s refusal to search Manitoba landfills for bodies of two (possibly more) Indigenous women police suspect were dumped by a serial killer.

Can’t help but reflect: my body in a landfill would definitely be recovered. White people, do you think your body would be left to decompose in a garbage dump, forever? Of course not. Our confidence comes from social norms known as white privilege that we are ironically unaware of and yet so accustomed to.

Dead. Bodies. Everywhere. Children in unmarked graves. Our infamous Highway of Tears. The acronym MMIWG2S emerging for Murdered and Missing Women, Girls and 2 Spirits. Human bodies treated as trash.

Enough of this suffering and indignity.

Caroline Croft

White Rock, B.C.

Bad attitudes need changing

Re: Good money after bad (Letters, Sept. 19)

I would like to add my experience to Dr. Henry Krahn and Barry Elkin’s letters to the editor. In 2019 I had a home care worker from an agency who was a surgeon, with several years of experience, from an African country.

His brother, also a doctor, went to England and was accredited within a year. In Manitoba in order to work as an MD and a surgeon the care giver had to pass five exams at $8,000 each.

Why not just a supervised residency for a year? Our superior attitude makes for a shortage of specialists and very poor home care.

Rochelle Litvack

Winnipeg