Letters, March 26

Sick of debate

I am so, so tired of the debate over bike lanes on Wellington Crescent. For the life of me I don’t understand why the Free Press prints piece after piece on this subject. Just close it to all vehicular traffic and be done with it.

Randy Rasmussen

Winnipeg

Inexcusable delay

I am 75 years of age and have lived near different sections of Wellington Crescent for most of my life. I regularly drive, cycle and walk along the street. From Edgeland Boulevard in Tuxedo to Stradbrook Avenue, Wellington is a residential street.

Unfortunately, since there are few controlled intersections, it is frequently treated as a speedway from Tuxedo to Osborne Village by commuters, many of whom don’t live in the neighbourhood. West of Academy Road the 30 km/h speed limit in summer has been a godsend for safety in reducing traffic speed and volume.

East of Academy the need to create a safe cycling route is patently obvious. Any further delay in protecting cyclists is simply inexcusable.

John D. Perrin

Winnipeg

Walking away from oil

Re: “Essential solution” (Letters, March 25)

Regarding Wayne Antony’s letter, I would like to add that the big oil companies lobby the U.S. and Canadian government and try to influence governments to increase the profits they make. As well, the U.S. has used oil and the U.S. dollar to dominate the world in finances and decide who and who not to punish, and who governs what country. They invade countries (Venezuela) and steal their oil, blockade countries (Cuba) and they can’t get oil, embargo and attack countries (Iran) to get their way with them.

This is nothing new for the U.S. They’ve been doing this for 100 years. The Iranians have found a way to punish the U.S. using the Strait of Hormuz blockade. But by doing this, it is increasing the price of oil for the world. Things are changing, however, as many countries are starting to ensure their own energy independence. The other problem is the free open market price of oil. If there is a panic, then the price goes up.

In recent news, it was said that there was very heavy oil stock trading at the NYSE 15 minutes before Trump announced the U.S. was going to attack Iran. So there is probably also personal greed involved.

I think electric cars and transportation are the solution for undoing ourselves from this quagmire. I drive an EV and the price of oil has not affected me. The price of oil may affect me later on my food prices. We have to walk away from American dominance by having our own energy independence. As long as we keep using oil, this problem will keep occurring.

Gerald Trudeau

Winnipeg

Hateful rhetoric

Re: Conflict and concern (March 13); “Parsing outrage” (Letters, March 19)

Every time an anti-Jewish hate crime occurs, Canadian leaders insist, “this is not who we are.”

But if we’re serious about confronting hatred, we cannot ignore the language that fuels it.

When Laila Chebib called Israel a “cancer,” she used dehumanizing rhetoric long associated with prejudice against Jews. It’s not just “harsh,” as letter-writer Harold Shuster writes; it’s dangerous.

We cannot denounce antisemitism while excusing the rhetoric that normalizes it. If such language is treated as acceptable, rising hostility should come as no surprise.

If this is truly “not who we are,” then Canadians must show it by rejecting dehumanization wherever it appears, rather than trying to defend it.

Donna Broslaw

Winnipeg

The needs of students

Re: “Tackling complex issues” (Letters, March 25)

In reading Garrett Loeppky’s letter, I was reminded of a Sesame Street line, “That’s about the size, where you put your eyes.” Indeed, when one stands before a complex and complicated system such as education, it is easy to feel more than a little overwhelmed. However, when the gaze shifts down to the student level, reform becomes less daunting and more” real.”

I recall participating in an exercise in which a small and diverse group of educators were tasked with devising a program plan for an (imaginary) student with special needs.

Each participant was given a card containing information relevant to the role ascribed to them. For example, the one who played the role of a parent would have different information than the principal would have been given. It proved to be a very difficult and largely unproductive task.

In the next phase, the group as a whole was given some personal details as to the particulars of the student for whom they were planning. Remarkably, a plan was quickly devised that all participants could buy into.

What I took away from this role-playing activity was a fresh appreciation of the critical importance of ensuring that kids are not forgotten in plans to “improve the system.” Yes, systems do have needs. However, one must remember that they are only abstractions that have a way of shape-shifting according to winds of (upper- and lower-case “p”) politics.

Edwin Buettner

Winnipeg

Thoughts after Eid

Sunday was Eid. I saw people wearing new clothes, greeting each other warmly, and celebrating with joy. Eid is a time meant to be shared with loved ones — family, friends, and the community. It is a day of laughter, prayers, and togetherness. Yet, amid these celebrations, my thoughts turned to those who have suffered unimaginable loss — in Gaza, and in the recent conflicts involving Israel and Iran.

I cannot forget the innocent faces of schoolchildren who perished in missile attacks on their schools. The images of tiny hands being pulled from the rubble, the shattered lives of families, and the grief etched on every face are heart-wrenching. On a day meant for hope and renewal, it is difficult to fathom the depth of pain these children and their loved ones endure.

It is unbearable to think of the children whose lives were full of dreams and possibilities, cut short through no fault of their own. They carried books in their hands, not weapons. They carried the hopes of tomorrow. Their innocence was stolen, and yet their stories must be remembered. Eid, a festival of joy, serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the stark contrast between celebration and sorrow.

As we celebrate, we must also remember those who are grieving. May Eid inspire us not only to cherish our blessings but also to extend compassion, empathy, and support to those in pain. Let this festival remind us that love and humanity can shine even in the darkest of times, and may our prayers be for peace, safety, and a world where no child’s life is lost to violence. Let us honour the innocent by striving for a future where hope triumphs over despair.

Yog Rahi Gupta

Winnipeg