Letters, March 28

Violent faith

Re: ‘Let every round find its mark’ (March 26)

The form of Christianity that the U.S. defence secretary professes makes me want to puke! His Pentagon right-wing evangelical worship services reflect the very opposite of what I read in the New Testament regarding how to live. He uses the words of Jesus Christ more like a weapon for killing.

In 30 years as a United Church minister I preached about peace, not the slaughter of the innocent, as in the bombing of a school, killing 175 children and teachers.

The Gospel authors portray Jesus as a messenger of kindness, not killing. Instead “love your enemies, and show mercy” rather than Hegseth’s words “those who deserve no mercy.” On Good Friday we read of Jesus, prior to his death on a cross, saying “forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The prayer of ‘forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” reminds us of our goal and purpose as kindred members of humanity.

If what Hegseth is preaching is true Christianity, I want none of it. I would rather be called an agnostic!

John Wesley Oldham

Winnipeg

Different perspective

Re: Counterpoint: the new transit system is good (Think Tank, March 26)

Joe Kornelsen’s article about the new transit system has some valid points. However, I am sure he has his own vehicle. I will bet he is not a senior with mobility issues who now has to walk an extra two blocks to get to the nearest bus stop, and stand outside when it’s 30 below waiting for a bus that in my experience is late or does not come at all.

Marie Carrington

Winnipeg

I beg to differ with Kornelsen. No, the new transit system is not good. I live in River Heights where with the old transit system I could take the No. 20 bus and be downtown in 10 minutes. The new system now would take me at least 34 minutes and three buses to reach downtown — that’s if all connections arrive on time.

I haven’t been to the art gallery, the library , or any other downtown destination since the new system was put into place. I thought the objective was to get more people to visit the downtown area. I’m afraid this new system isn’t going to do it.

Dorothy Rohne

Winnipeg

Prayer for Eid

Re: “Thoughts during Eid” (Letters, March 26)

I appreciate Yog Rahi Gupta’s reflection on Eid celebrations in Winnipeg, his empathy about the destruction and killings in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon and his advice that as we celebrate we should also remember the suffering.

Let me assure Rahi Gupta that not a day passes by that Muslims around the world and here in Winnipeg do not remember our fellow Muslims — many of them our friends, family, and neighbours — in our five daily prayers, especially during Ramadan. Muslims generously give in charity and raise funds for registered charities that are working in Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and other places under attack.

Many Winnipeg Muslims come from these countries where the fascist policies of Western countries and their allies have created havoc and killed, starved and maimed children by the thousands.

We celebrate Eid under all circumstances because the fascist cannot be allowed defeat us. Eid is celebrated in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Ramadan raises our resilience and give us spiritual healing to face and respond to the suffering of humanity. We come together as a community in prayer and raise our hands to the Creator with tears, humility, and to express appreciation for being given the opportunity to fast and to provide generously to the needy, and to feel the pain of hunger and thirst. This brings us solace and strengthen our belief and fortitude to keep faith that divine justice will prevail.

Muslims in times of need, war, human rights violations, raise our voices for justice as it is our religious obligation to do so but when it comes to expressing our pain we turn to the Creator for help and know that those who were killed, maimed, men, women and children are under the care of the divine — safe and secure in Heaven for eternity. The tyrants will be bought to justice sooner or later.

My prayer for this Eid is that Canadians will stand up with Muslims and raise our voices. To end this carnage of humanity and against the psychopathic political ideology of extermination, for material gain, power and control. If we fail in this test we will be failing our future generations who will remember us with disdain.

Shahina Siddiqui

Winnipeg

On PST cuts

I think the provincial government is trying to save families struggling to put food on the table by giving grocery stores this tax break.

A family struggling to pay for groceries will generally not go to a restaurant to eat. Most people that go to restaurants to eat are not struggling to pay for groceries so restaurants should not be given the tax break.

If restaurants want to attract more diners, they should have a policy of no tipping at their restaurants this would save the average diner 15-25 per cent and more people would probably then go to a restaurant to eat and they would not need the PST tax break.

Ron Robert

Winnipeg

The provincial government’s decision to expand the PST exemption on some groceries has been framed as a meaningful step toward making “life a little bit easier.” At first glance, saving “up to $100 per year” may sound somewhat helpful, but when you break the numbers down, the impact is far less significant than advertised.

On average, spread across our population, the projected $24 million in tax savings amounts to less than five cents per Manitoba resident per day. That’s not a grocery solution — it could hardly be classified as pocket change. For most households, this won’t meaningfully alter food insecurity, nor will it noticeably ease the pressure of rising living costs. This broadly applied tax cut in fact benefits those that are spending more rather than those in greater need.

Meanwhile, that same $24 million could have been directed toward initiatives with real, measurable impact. It could strengthen income assistance for those who genuinely struggle to put food on the table. Heck, invest in comfortable chairs to better accommodate the sick and injured in ridiculously long wait times in overwhelmed emergency rooms, or at a time when the province is projecting a substantial deficit, allocate funds toward debt reduction to help stabilize long term finances.

Offering a short-term gesture that will quickly be forgotten is a bit of insult.

Affordability is a serious issue, and Manitobans deserve solutions that reflect that seriousness. A tax break measured in pennies per day might allow for a politically appealing story but it falls short of addressing the scale of the challenge. Thoughtful, targeted investments — not symbolic tax cuts — will make life more dignified for those who need it most.

Cliff J. Greenhalgh

Winnipeg