Letters, Nov. 18

On sportsmanship

Re: Marianne, Martha and the Grey Cup spirit (Nov. 17); Riders roll to Grey Cup (Nov. 17)

Recently there have been a number of comments suggesting that Blue Bomber fans were angry that the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Grey Cup here in Winnipeg. The latest being from Micah Johnson of the Roughriders who said “It feels even better to do it here … I know they’re mad.”

I find that to be a bit of a slap in the face to Bomber fans over our sportsmanship. Perhaps I’m being naive, but I can’t think of any reason why anybody who participates in any sporting event and gets beaten because their opponent was better than them would get mad at that opponent. Perhaps they get angry at themselves and resolve to become better. But I would certainly hope they do not get mad at their opponent for being better than they are. I hope that Micah Johnson recognizes that.

I believe that Bomber fans have more than enough sportsmanlike attitude to acknowledge great talent no matter if that talent is playing for them or against them. I think that was exhibited by the behaviour of Bomber fans described in Melissa Martin’s article.

I, and every other Bomber fan, am deeply disappointed that the Bombers didn’t make it to the cup. But I am not angry that the Riders won, even if it was in Winnipeg. They are a talented team, they played better than us all season long and they deserved to win the Cup. My congratulations to them for now — but wait until next year.

Bob Laventure

Winnipeg

Mentorship key for reform

Re: Future Hope to help parolees take the Next Step (Nov. 17)

The article on volunteer group Future Hope in Monday’s newspaper identifies an activity necessary to reduce crime in Manitoba.

I have long maintained that mentorship is crucial for those leaving jail. Many convicted criminals leave jail only to return to the same group of friends that supported them in their criminal activity.

Future Hope is only one of many groups that needs support and recognition for the important role they play in crime prevention.

The campaign for harsh sentences, often aimed at young men with multiple crimes over their short lives, overlook the need for support for those groups mentoring inmates as they leave jail. We need to focus on how we as a society help them turn their lives around.

I don’t know “Future Hope” but I do know a committed mentor can be a major factor in reducing crime.

Sel Burrows

Winnipeg

Arrogance in Alberta

Re: Alberta premier says loss of measles elimination status concerning, urges vigilance (Nov. 14)

It demonstrates considerable arrogance for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to blame others and forgo any responsibility for the high rate of measles in Alberta. Although Smith rightly observes that outbreaks are concentrated in “specific communities with lower vaccination rates,” she fails to note her past actions that encouraged vaccine refusal.

About 11 months ago, Smith led her government to pass this amendment to the Alberta Bill of Rights: “The right for an individual with capacity not to be compelled or coerced into receiving a vaccine.” It promotes vaccine refusal as a reasonable response and the term “coerced” could even preclude vigorous recommendations from medical professionals.

Smith also hand-picked a critic of vaccines to lead a review of Alberta’s COVID response and gave him authority to select other members. Predictably, the resulting biased committee produced a flawed report that sowed distrust of vaccines and was widely condemned by health-care professionals.

It is not surprising that Smith values “freedom” over the well-being of Albertans. As leader of the Wildrose Party years ago, Smith used freedom of religion to condone a party member who expressed extreme intolerance of same-sex relations, religion also being a defining feature of communities with high levels of vaccine refusal and measles.

And in case ideology and privileging freedom isn’t enough to discourage vaccination, Smith has now decided to charge most people $100 for a COVID jab. Mission accomplished!

Jim Clark

Winnipeg

Not an easy job

Re: Canadian Food Inspection Agency deserves thanks, not threats (Nov. 15)

I want to express my appreciation for Laura Rance’s column, especially the latest about the ostrich farm cull.

Rance should be required reading for Canadians that want to understand how farms and farming work in this country. She never fails to get to the essential facts of the matter, as she has done in this latest column. Her first two paragraphs shows she empathizes with the owners of the ostrich farm in losing their appeals all the way to the Supreme Court.

But, as she goes on to say, that doesn’t justify harassing and threatening CFIA workers who are simply performing their job. How many of the protesters would like to be bagging up dead animals and disposing of them? It’s a horrendous job and we should be thankful there are people willing to do this, not excoriating them.

Thank you, Laura Rance.

Wendy Barker

Winnipeg

I often read Laura Rance’s column. I am not from a farming background. I’m a retired marketing and communications city woman.

I am also a lifelong animal lover, and I’m most concerned about animal welfare. Industrialized factory farming is at the top of my hate list; not just from an animal welfare but also from an environmental perspective. For several years I volunteered with the farm animal welfare committee with the Winnipeg Humane Society.

I am among those in the public that hates the thought of animal culling. The images are difficult to view and even more difficult to erase from memory. However, I believe there are circumstances where it is the right thing to do.

Rance has made so many good points in her article. These ostriches weren’t pets. They did not live in their natural habitat. They were part of an intensive livestock operation. They were raised to make a profit. And, most importantly, the thought of using these creatures in research is definitely a fate worse than death.

I completely agree that those federal agency employees deserve our thanks and not our disdain for the very difficult job they have done.

I hope many people read Rance’s column this weekend.

Andrea Mahalek

Winnipeg

Misguided operation

Re: Operation Red Nose gears up for 30th year fighting impaired driving (Nov. 14)

I am probably in the tiny minority on this issue. While Operation Red Nose is depicted as an important way to prevent drunk drivers from hitting the road during the holiday season, I see it as a way of enabling or maybe even encouraging people to drink alcohol products in an irresponsible manner.

We might as well consider Operation Red Nose as a marketing strategy for the MLCC and the alcohol products industry. There is increasing scientific evidence that consuming alcohol products at any level is detrimental to a person’s health, so why are we promoting any consumption by making it more safe to drink to excess?

Irwin Corobow

Winnipeg