GWAR intelligence

Aaron Ricker Parks clearly doesn't understand GWAR's sense of humour ["GWAR brainlessness," Letters, Nov. 4]. They are extremely sarcastic and ironic. Even if you disagree with their opinion, their having one doesn't make them brainless. Calling someone brainless over a difference of opinion is arrogant.

» D. Quinton

NBA punk prejudice

Regarding last week's Sports Rage column ["Take the money and run," Nov. 4]: very nice job of spreading the ignorance that defines so many Canadians' understanding and perspective of the NBA. It's articles like Gabriel Morency's that create the perception that the NBA is filled with punks and thugs who want nothing more than their paycheque and gat.

Does Morency actually follow the sport? Could he tell me the outcome of the NBA finals last year? Does he know that there are over 400 players in the league? Does he know that about eight of them were arrested this past year? Morency should get his head on straight, because, thanks to short-sighted, simplistic articles like his, it's becoming increasingly difficult to discuss basketball with anyone knowledgeable these days.

The NBA has the best athletes in the world and provides some of the most entertaining sporting in the world. Sure there are a few bad seeds, but aren't there in every league? Including the precious NHL?

» Rich Niman

Anglophone exclusion

Regarding "English privilege" [Letters, Nov. 4], Simon Leclerc says that there are many anglos who live all their lives in Montreal who cannot speak French. Why, possibly, is this? When I was growing up on Sixth Avenue in Verdun, I was told by the French kids that they were not allowed to play with us. The English. The Protestants. I'm Anglican. If they did so they would go to hell, as we were going, thus they did not. Nor did we. Those who do not play together as children usually don't socialize as adults. Do they, or am I wrong?

After WWII, the Allies occupied both Germany and Japan for approximately 50 years. They re-educated the youth. No more teaching about a master race destined to rule the world. No longer under the rule of a descendant of a Sun God. As long as society teaches a doctrine of exclusion, you end up with the same result. Does it exist today like yesterday? Certainly. Nothing has changed. Has it?

"Time to Say Goodbye," by a former Liberal in Bourassa's government. Many people in Quebec want to vote for separation. Fine, let them. Until such time we will never have a "real country" - one where we would have a prime minister who did not know what was happening during the last war, or to whom, but was wearing a German insignia on his apparel outside a camp for Jewish kids in the Laurentians. A hero. Need you ask? God damn it, separate and have it done with. I will not weep a tear. Will you?

» John C. Underwood

Fringe heads up

It may be cold outside, but it's time to think to summer, and the Fringe festival, June 9-19, 2005. Hot days, fun times, lots of laughs. But without people to take the risk of putting shows in the festival, there'd be no Fringe.

The Fringe has been open to submissions since late October, and the deadline is Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. There's no jury; it's done by a lottery taking place that night. There is a quota, with a quarter of the slots going to local English performance, and another quarter going to local French. Details are at the Fringe's Web site, www.montrealfringe.ca or 514-849-FEST.

Given the nature of the festival, we should be seeing a wider range of stories being told. Shows that can't be classified, that are unpolished but impactful, bringing forth voices that are rarely heard. 2004 hit performer Kahlil Ashanti came all the way from L.A., but how many local black stories have been told at the Fringe? I don't think we are reaching a wider swatch of the population, with the festival's too-common depiction as a theatre festival, with limited attempt at getting the word out. Get a wider range of shows, and there's more to lure the audience that isn't already in attendance. And let's see a wider range of ticket prices this year instead of the clustering towards the upper limit of $9. Getting a bigger audience may be more significant than relying on a higher ticket price to recoup the costs.

» Michael Black

Torontonian humbled, invigorated

I recently visited Montreal for the first time. I live in Toronto. Wait, don't stop reading. I admit there have been times where I've fit the Torontonian stereotype: rude, obnoxious, self-involved, bitchy, money-hungry clones who don't give two shits about anyone but themselves.

At the risk of being shunned by the entire population of Toronto, I'll keep this short. I was slapped in the face with my own ignorance while walking through your gorgeous city, and it felt so exhilarating. I had no idea of the beauty and culture that one city could possess. I gained a better understanding of your desire to preserve the uniqueness that lives within your walls. I was inspired. Invigorated. I fell in love. Thank-you Montreal.

» Carla Paluzzi

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