Cancer, cows
and chickens

I would like to know where Cyan Caruso-Comas got the impression that cancer is a 20th-century phenomenon [Letters, Jan 20]. The word “cancer” comes from the Greek “carcinoma,” a word invented by Greek physician Hippocrates (460–370 B.C.), to describe the tumours he was finding in his patients. There is plenty of evidence of cancerous growths in the mummified bodies found in Egyptian tombs. This is not a new phenomenon. Even a simple Google search could have told her that.

In response to Ms. Caruso-Comas’ extinction statement, I ask: Would she live an entire life, from birth to death, imprisoned, malnourished, abused, injected with antibiotics and hormones, only to finally be hung upside down by her ankle, with her throat slit, blood slowly draining while she writhes in agony? Her argument about the extinction of cows and chickens is invalid. These animals do not get to live a real life. They may as well be extinct. They’d be better off extinct. In fact, they already are. They ceased to live years ago. All that remains of them is their suffering and the meat in our grocery stores.

» Phil Campeau

Northern reflections

Imagine a holocaust that lasted over 400 years, beginning with the slaughter of thousands of innocent people and progressing to the genocide of whole nations. Imagine your women raped and your men forced into slave labour. Imagine your children ripped from your arms while your womb was still open, only to be forced to go to schools where they in turn would be raped and beaten.

Imagine being thrown into jail simply for speaking your own language, or being held down on a table while your insides are scraped out with a hanger because you have been deemed too inferior to breed. Your culture decimated, your land expropriated, you are forced into segregation from society. Tell me, after all of these unspeakable atrocities have been committed against your people for centuries what would you have left? This is the short version of what happened to the Native peoples of North America.

In reading the letter written by Ms. Begin [Jan. 6], I was shocked and disgusted by her lack of compassion, her intolerance and her total ignorance of Native culture. Thank you for reminding me that racism is alive and well in Canada, I’d almost forgotten.

Sadly, this absence of compassion seems inherent in Quebec. No sum of money could repay the loss of even one life, let alone millions—surely $615-million wouldn’t suffice.

Moreover, Inuit custom emphasizes that a life takes a life and they honour the animal that gave its life to feed another. This is much less hypocritical than most of the rest of us. I wonder if Ms. Begin wears leather shoes? I suppose that she would have all of the Aboriginal peoples from around the world throw up their hands and head to Wal-Mart because their cultures are “outdated.”

There are people that abuse the system in every society, but why is it that if those people happen to be Indian everyone starts complaining? Just go to any pub on the first of the month and count all of the welfare recipients blowing taxpayer’s cash on booze! Maybe if we all showed a little more compassion towards all of God’s creatures it would truly become a wonderful world!

» Lea Boicel

Adoptee adversity

Regarding the story “Who’s Your Mommy” by Kristian Gravenor [Jan. 20]. I’m an adoptee, born in Edmonton in 1955, now living in B.C. I find the title offensive and a cheap way of getting attention after that disgusting show on Fox that Mr. Gravenor is also sadly misinformed about.

Gravenor writes that, “Most other provinces have passed or are passing laws empowering adopted children to learn the identities and perhaps meet their biological parents, and indeed Ontario is introducing legislation to do so this year.”

There are only three provinces that have passed such laws. British Columbia was the frontrunner, followed by Newfoundland (in, I believe, spring 2004) and Alberta (Nov. 1, 2004). Gravenor is right, however, in saying that Ontario is working on amending their adoption disclosure. Meetings are in the works, and Premier McGuinty does support it.

Even if Mr. Gravenor didn’t have all of his facts straight, in writing the article, hopefully he has helped a few more people learn about the disgraceful way in which birth parents and adoptees have been treated, and still are being treated, by the governments. Though the title of the story offended me, it still could have done what was hoped for: grabbed people’s attention.

» Marnie Tetz, Surrey, B.C.

Tough love for students

Canadian Federation of Students rep Ian Boyko says that “Quebec’s education system is unrivalled in Canada” [“Debt plan irks students,” Jan. 20].

Indeed, we’re amazing when it comes to keeping our heads in the sand. Other provinces prefer to face facts in regard to education costs. Students elsewhere are expected to learn the hard lesson of financial responsibility. What Quebec student rep Tim McSorley likes to call “the problem of debt” is actually an ordinary fact of life. If the rest of the adult world has to deal with economic burdens, why doesn’t that apply to post-secondary students? Since they too are adults, their higher education isn’t enough if it allows them to evade maturity.

» L.S. Cattarini

WE WELCOME LETTERS TO THE EDITOR!

Send your comments, compliments or criticisms to:

Letters to the Editor,
c/o Montreal Mirror,
465 McGill, 3rd Floor
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 4B4

You may also fax us at (514) 393-3173, or reach us by e-mail:

Letters to the Editor

All letters should include your name, address and daytime phone number.

If you wish to reach someone in particular, here's a list of people involved with the production of the newspaper and this site.