Insult to farmers unfair

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This article was published 12/11/2015 (3978 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I have to speak out about the man who impregnated a girl from an “uneducated farm family.” You do edit the letters that come in, so why would you include this part? Our family took great offence to that line. Is this the “city family” view of one of the hardest-working professions of our society? FYI, that guy sounds like the biggest loser ever, and could have probably benefited greatly by getting involved with an uneducated farm family.

— Angry, Manitoba

Dear Angry: I’m also proud of being from the country, and was well aware of what I included in that letter. Thank you for writing in to clobber this rude, uninformed person. The farmers who live in Manitoba could best be termed educated agricultural scientists. To survive and thrive in the modern farming world, you have to be a master of many skills.

My dad was a lawyer and knew most people for 30-kilometres around. He loved to go driving to relax, and used to take us kids along and point out different farms and what they produced. Sometimes, we would drive right into their yards to see their operations.

Because farmer dads were not ready to hand over the farm to kids of 17 who thought they wanted to farm one day, high school graduates studied agriculture or other subjects in university as interim careers.

Why would I not include someone’s city-biased opinion in their letter? Why should they get away with it?

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I ride my bicycle in all kinds of weather because I’m a university student and have no money. The other day when I was on the road in the rain and sleet, this woman rolled down her window and yelled at me: “Road hazard!” I was tired and wet, and pulled over to the sidewalk and started crying. I have a right to be on the road, too. I’m getting an education to become a doctor. Why are car drivers so cruel to me and other cyclists?

— Discouraged and Upset, Wolseley

Dear Discouraged: For the little bit of time it takes to deal safely with a person on a bike in this city, it makes no sense that people are mean. In many European cities, the streets are jammed full of bicycles. People in cars are used to it and civilized about it. Cyclists should obey the road rules, of course, and we should all be watching for them, being careful and courteous. The woman who shouted at you could have endangered everyone, including you, had you remained in the traffic feeling totally flustered.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave. Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6

Miss Lonelyhearts
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