Letters, June 24

Shared experiences bring us together

The upcoming Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is presented as an “exhibit that will share the personal stories of Palestinian Canadians who were displaced during the 1948 Nakba to today,” according to CMHR CEO Isha Khan’s statement in the Free Press (Israeli organization threatens lawsuit against CMHR over ‘one-sided’ Palestinian exhibit, May 15)

Hearing people’s lived experiences offers profound cognitive, emotional and social benefits that facts, statistics, and theory cannot fully capture. It deepens empathy by bridging gaps between different backgrounds and allowing us to step outside our own worldview and connect with the human emotions behind the experience.

Sharing lived experiences can promote healing for the speakers and offer a sense of community and belonging for listeners who have faced similar situations. Personal stories reveal complex tangible realities, so we understand more fully how we ourselves want to live in the world today. And from there, we can together build more peaceful and equitable societies for everyone.

Janet Ross and Jane Orion Smith

Winnipeg

Diverse input should be welcomed

Re: Winnipeg museum’s core mandate is to reflect inconvenient truths (June 18)

I agree with many of Dan Lett’s opinions regarding the mandate of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to confront truths about the 1948 displacement of Palestinians.

I am a secular Jew opposed to the violent policies and actions of the governments of Israel and Gaza. This opinion is based on my values and on my beliefs about what happened 75 years ago and three years ago, both before and since. Few of my beliefs are from direct observation or first-hand evidence. They are from confronting “truths” told to me at home, in classrooms, in the media — and in museums.

For me, confronting truths includes thinking critically and objectively about what is fact and what is opinion, while being aware of biases of mine and others. Being open-minded or uncertain about the truth does not prevent having opinions or taking a stand.

When I go to a museum, I do not expect the whole truth nor an absence of bias. I do not object to the expressions of opinions or taking of stands. I do expect clarification of what is evidence-based and what is opinion. I do wonder about how curator decisions were made.

I think the CMHR should welcome diverse input for all exhibits. The input from individuals, organizations such as the B’nai Brith, or from officials of Palestine’s embassy should be posted. Museum authorities should display the explanations for their decisions in a transparent, accountable and accessible manner.

Diverse input and transparent dialogue should enhance human rights education. It would enable us to confront truths and understand the biases of implementing the museum’s mandate, which includes “responsiveness to the needs and perspectives of our publics.”

Joel Kettner

Winnipeg

Failure to tell full story

Re: ‘Profound failure’; trustee quits CMHR (June 23)

When the Canadian Museum for Human Rights opened, I was very proud and willing to become a member. I have faithfully renewed that membership each year, believing in its mandate to be a champion of human rights.

However, the Nakba exhibit, which is scheduled to open on June 27, has changed my mind completely.

While I obviously do not carry the weight of a well-known and respected trustee, I will not be renewing my membership going forward. There has been an abject failure in their administration to allow an exhibit that does not tell the full story of that time period.

Judith Doctoroff

Winnipeg

Hellebuyck questions point to larger issues

Re: Who’s who of Hellebuyck’s potential suitors (June 23)

Ken Wiebe’s speculation about trading Connor Hellebuyck seems a bit premature, given there is no evidence a trade is imminent, however he does mention something that should be of concern league wide and that is the no-movement clause.

No-movement clauses, no-trade clauses and modified no-trade clauses have all become commonplace in the NHL. These limit player movement around the league and are sure to hurt small-market teams, or teams in perceived-to-be undesirable locations. Even with the salary cap, this will eventually hurt both individual teams and the league, as it will result in “elite’ playoff bound teams and underdog teams that will struggle to get to the playoffs. Fans will eventually give up on their teams if they are perceived to have a built-in disadvantage to reaching a championship.

The second thing that needs to be addressed is players who demand trades or newly drafted players who refuse to sign with the team that drafted them. Certainly, all situations are unique but there should be some penalty for someone who refuses to play when contracted to do so, or a newly drafted player who refuses to sign with a particular team.

Currently there is speculation that players from the U.S. Olympic team are demanding trades away from the Canadian teams they play for.

The last issue that could very negatively impact the league is the question of taxes. There must be some recognition of and adjustment for the wide range of tax situations across the league. Perhaps a larger salary cap in a more highly taxed city. It is only natural that players would migrate to teams that can offer a large tax incentive in their jurisdictions.

All of these issues have a larger impact on Canadian teams, perhaps contributing to why it has been so long since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup.

Rob McConnell

Winnipeg

A hothouse solution

Re: If life hands you a data centre, grow tomatoes (Think Tank, June 23)

It is wonderful to read of the possibilities available now to properly plan for future building that provides answers to our needs and benefits the environment as well.

Thank you, Mr. Lohrenz! So much good news is out there but we rarely hear it.

Sharon Peichl

Winnipeg

Respect Shaftesbury Park workers

Re: CUPE accuses seniors home of union busting (June 23)

My mother has lived at Shaftesbury Park Retirement Residence for five years. The health -are aides in her building are amazing, hardworking, kind and familiar to residents, like family members. Most are also new Canadians who come to Canada in search of a better life and where their rights are respected by law. The owners of All Seniors Care need to respect these workers’ right to unionize, reinstate all of them immediately, and bargain in good faith.

Diane Poulin

Winnipeg