Letters, Sept. 16

Opinion

Be the best you can be

Re: Steinbach cancels Pride event over safety concerns after threats (Sept. 15)

To the guys who shut down last Saturday’s Pride parade in Steinbach by making serious threats (please forgive the stereotype but I’m guessing you are all young white males): Dudes, I feel sorry for you. You are being badly misled by the likes of Jordan Peterson, Andrew Tate, and whatever other racist, sexist, and queerphobic influencers you follow online. You have so much to give, and it’s being wasted.

Don’t you know? Has nobody ever told you? You don’t have to tear somebody else down in order to build yourself up. You don’t have to hate people who are different from you to prove your self-worth. That’s not how it works.

Here’s what you need to know: you are fine just the way you are. You are OK in the skin you’re in. Were you born male, white and heterosexual? Excellent; be the best white heterosexual male you can be. Or maybe you have uncomfortable feelings about your own sexuality or gender identity. That’s okay too: lots of people need time to figure these things out and discover who they truly are.

So here’s my advice: ditch the hate-mongering websites. Realize that other people are OK in the skin they’re in too. And get to know some actual queer people. Get to know some brown-skinned queer people. Get to know queer people who are a part of faith communities, who are raising children, who are involved in a wide variety of life callings, who are doing good work, who have many gifts and talents just as you do. You will find that liberating.

David M. Bergen

Winnipeg

Fontaine had it right

Re: Kinew stands by minister dogged by controversy (Sept. 13)

In Kinew stands by minister dogged by controversy, much is made about Premier Wab Kinew chastising cabinet minister Nahanni Fontaine for her post regarding the demise of Charlie Kirk. Time is also given to PC Leader Obby Khan, who with a large dose of hypocrisy criticizes Fontaine’s actions.

I read Fontaine’s post and found it to be an extremely accurate characterization of Kirk’s sad, misanthropic life. Was it inappropriate for a provincial cabinet minister? If the reference to “no empathy” concerning the loss of Kirk’s life was removed, I would say not.

With regard to Khan’s remarks, I find it astounding that the leader of the party that used the landfill issue as a racist wedge in the last election has the temerity to speak out on this issue.

Fontaine may have some faults (although if asked I would still support her) but duplicity is not one of them.

Tom Pearson

Winnipeg

As a former English teacher, I feel the need to comment on the confusion shown by our politicians in using the word empathy rather than sympathy.

To empathize is to understand and share the feelings of another. So, you might empathize with a victim of racism, but not with a racist. Nahanni Fontaine is right not to have empathy for the racist, homophobic, misogynist Charlie Kirk, and Premier Wab Kinew and PC Leader Obby Khan shouldn’t be sharing his feelings either!

To sympathize is to understand and feel sorry for the misfortune of another. So we can all feel sympathy for his wife and children. We might even feel sympathy for Kirk himself, who felt that violent gun deaths every year in the U.S. are worthwhile.

Bob Carmichael

Winnipeg

I am perplexed at the report that PC Leader Obby Khan found comments describing the provocations of the late Charlie Kirk “disgusting.”

Why is it “disgusting” to state the facts — that his career was founded on deliberate provocation, outright lying and malevolent stereotyping of racialized people, LGBTTQ+ people and women?

Perhaps Khan found the timing of the post poor judgment, but telling the truth about a dangerous person in accurate language should never “disgust.” Such a reaction suggests that perhaps Khan has sympathy for Kirk’s rhetoric.

On the same point, while some may agree that NDP cabinet minister Nahanni Fontaine showed poor timing in sharing the posted observations, her stance regarding Kirk does not equal condemning violence.

One can decry violence while still speaking the truth, in this case, the really ugly truth of what Kirk promoted. To not do so is to offer a space for him to become venerated, whilst forgetting his own lack of empathy for many in our society.

Karen Zoppa

Winnipeg

Bombers in tough spot

I know it may be early to write off our beloved Winnipeg Blue Bombers, however, we find ourselves in a precarious situation with little hope of turning things around with our current roster.

Management should be ashamed of themselves for not having the foresight to bring in a real backup quarterback, considering Zach Collaros’s ongoing concussion issues.

I feel sorry for the fans and players who must be just as discouraged today. I feel we need a clean slate next year with the entire coaching staff.

Nice guys finish last and that appears to be we are headed in the year we are hosting the Grey Cup. Go Jets Go.

Don Pratt

Winnipeg

Kudos to Kinew

Re: Premier, chiefs question lack of Manitoba First Nation voice on major project council (Sept. 13)

Manitoba has the largest Indigenous population in Canada. A lot of these Indigenous people live in northern Manitoba.

With global warming, an end to our close ties to the United States, and our emerging trade relations with the rest of the world, the Port of Churchill is about to become much more important in the Canadian economy.

This development will provide amenities to northern Manitoba that those of us in southern Manitoba have long taken for granted. It will also provide good jobs for the population that now call northern Manitoba home.

Way to go Premier Wab Kinew! We’re lucky to have you.

Rich North

Winnipeg

Wasted energy

A number of years ago when we were in Paris, France, we opened the door to our hallway of our rented apartment and noticed that hallway was pitch black. However when we stuck our arm out the lights went on. This happened in many washrooms we attended also. Apparently France gets about 80 per cent of its power from nuclear energy and they don’t waste it.

I noticed recently when sitting under the bright skylights that illuminate the Forks Market that every light in the market was on, as if it were night. They have many banks of lights high up that are facing brick walls, I suppose for indirect lighting. I notice this now and this is quite a common occurrence in this province. I live in 12-storey apartment and our hallway lights are on 24-7, as are the lights in our parking garage. If you’re concerned about safety, small lights could be left to avoid complete darkness before the motion sensors turn all the lights on when needed.

I invite you to look around and become aware of out needless waste of electric power. I’ve read that Hydro is concerned that low water levels could affect our power usage, but little seems to be done to make the public aware of this huge waste of power. How about a public awareness campaign?

Just think of the money that could be saved on light bills by business and consumers.

Next time you’re out and about, look around at the lighting in your surroundings.

Don Bailey

Winnipeg