Letters, September 5

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/09/2022 (1356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Good behaviour learned trait

Re: RCMP investigating harassment of Chrystia Freeland during Alberta visit (Aug. 30)

Day after day, the news is filled with stories of questionable or inappropriate behaviours, including in Winnipeg. The talking heads in the media express their opinions and tend to make us believe that it is poverty and social injustice that are the root cause. The assumption is that all people are good and that their life circumstances, such as being part of a visible minority or coming from a socially disadvantaged home, are the drivers behind their inappropriate behaviours.

This may be partially correct, but it is not the sole cause. Poverty has always existed, and not all poor people resort to crime. Most put a lot of personal effort into keeping their heads above water. The bigger influence is the fact we no longer face consequences for inappropriate behaviours.

Good behaviour is a learned trait. We should know at a young age that there will be negative consequences for inappropriate behaviour. These could include loss of privileges, financial penalties or, in some cases, incarceration.

When no one is held accountable or responsible, the result is what we now see in society. Here are a few recent examples:

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was verbally abused by a stranger. Why? Because the perpetrator felt it was his right to do so.

Road rage, including an incident recently recounted by Free Press columnist Dan Lett, happens not only with motorists, but also with pedestrians and bikers who feel their right to rule was compromised

There are daily stories of assaults and violent crimes, many of which were committed by people who are repeat offenders or known to the police. For example, navy veteran Edward Davidson was a victim in a random attack in Calgary. The alleged attacker has more than a dozen convictions for crimes of violence, yet he is still free to walk around in society and victimize an innocent person.

In Winnipeg, a person assaults a stranger at the airport, assaults the responding officers, then cries foul because police responding to the assault allegedly used excessive force to neutralize him. To add insult to injury, there will be an investigation regarding the force used.

The list could go on and on. This is a systemic problem that starts with poor parenting, continues through the education system and into the real world. If you are never taught to respect others, to uphold values and be held accountable for your actions in your formative years, what sort of behaviour can we expect?

Let’s stop making excuses for people who continually take advantage of our generous society. Bad apples are bad apples and must be removed from the barrel.

John Frostiak

Balmertown, Ont..

On the campaign trail

Re: Ex-convict uplifting example (Letters, Aug. 23)

Letter writer Esther Redekopp asks where the mayoral candidates stand on investing in social enterprises. I recently attended a community conversation with mayoral candidate Shaun Loney.

He has co-founded five social enterprises in Manitoba, including BUILD, Aki Energy and Aki Foods. These companies employ and train people who have difficulty finding employment. These employment initiatives have significantly changed people’s lives and will continue to do so in the future.

Arthur Michael Cohen

Winnipeg

I received a card from the “Vote for Scott (Gillingham)” team, and it gave me a laugh-out-loud moment. The card read “Tired of unmowed parks, unfilled potholes, missing signs, and other backlogged maintenance issues on your street?”

It made me laugh because I have been writing to Gillingham, and 311, about two of these issues for a year now, and nothing has been done. The pothole in our back lane is still there and I still don’t know why our block is the only block around Deer Lodge Centre that has had its parking restriction signs removed.

If Gillingham hasn’t been able to correct these issues in a year as councillor, how does he expect to do it as mayor, when he will have hundreds of other issues to think about?

Don Cairns

Winnipeg

Sewage upgrade needs stability

Re: Sewage-plant deal welcome, but long overdue (Editorial, Aug. 29)

The Free Press editorial outlines the many reasons for delays to completion of the North End Water Pollution Control Centre, and encourages that funding be earmarked for completion. When we consider the state of the economy (high inflation and interest rates, supply chain issues and labour shortages) it is almost certain that there will be many twists and turns before this mammoth project is complete.

There is also some probability that overflows to the river, either to prevent basement flooding or flooding of the construction works, will occur. For these reasons it is important that the folks in charge of the expansion employ a rigorous and proactive risk-management program to mitigate consequences.

We will likely have a new provincial government and most certainly a new mayor as the project proceeds. I hope the new political leadership actively supports the problem-solving needed to complete the project and resists the age-old tendency of scapegoating, with all of the reviews and delays that this behaviour causes.

In the meantime, let’s go after the many non-point sources of phosphorous in the watershed, which mainly result from agricultural practices.

Tom Pearson

Winnipeg

New life for Palace Theatre

Re: Once-vital North End theatre could face the wrecking ball (Aug. 28)

What an excellent idea John Einarson has proposed for the shuttered Palace Theatre on Selkirk Avenue!

I suggest not only interactive displays and memorabilia, how about refurbishing the stage for entertainment of all stripes? Wouldn’t it be great to see and hear the Hoosli Choir, Al Simmons, Bachman/Cummings and Indian City in a museum that had a display about their history as notables in their genre? An idea worth considering.

Bill Quinn

Winnipeg

Dagwood’s diet changing

Re: Blondie’s sausage choice too preachy (Letters, Aug. 31)

Letter writer Anna Knutson’s criticism that the cartoon was “preachy” is as laughable as it is unoriginal and inaccurate. Those familiar with the comic strip know that Dagwood is obsessed with all foods flesh-based and, over the decades, they have seen him visit butcher shops, drool over the prospect of turkey dinners and create meat-laden sandwiches so large that no human could reasonably expect to fit them into their mouth.

So, for the first time since 1930, he’s served a plant-based sausage … and suddenly it’s the vegans who are getting preachy?

Perhaps Blondie has a newfound concern over the treatment of animals, the state of the planet and/or her husband’s health. Hmm.

Wonder what Anna thought of the article in that day’s edition of the Free Press introducing a new vegan food truck and announcing that the organizers of this year’s Le Burger Week are encouraging restaurants to create plant-based burger entries.

Debbie Wall

Winnipeg