Montreal: cultural cesspool

Bravo to H.G. for writing his letter, "Montreal: deviant and lazy," [June 23]. This is an accurate picture of the city. Scratch the surface and you'll discover a burnt-out culture, a very unhealthy culture. An angry, messy society.

Watch out, Montreal. The invasion of a certain group will slowly ruin this city and society, as has happened in Europe. When a symbol of women's oppression is used for political gain by the males, trouble will follow. I'm leaving Montreal for healthier climes (B.C.), because this is not a healthy place to live - mentally and physically. Montreal is known for sex, booze, smoking hags outside buildings, sleeper cells, deadbeat welfare bums, scam artists, uneducated masses, racist separatists and lousy weather. Montreal is great to visit and burn yourself out in, but it's even greater to leave the cesspool. Je ne me souviens pas.

» Aurom Osipov

Montreal: culturally enriching

I am writing in reference to H.G.'s letter. That certainly is one bitter and angry person. However, if the person in question is so keen to have their diatribe published, I would suggest he/she have the courage of conviction to sign a full name at the end. And how about the Mirror refusing to publish anonymous letters? Most reputable magazines or newspapers will never accept anonymous letters for publication.

What is really sad, though, is that the writer, who claims to have been born in Canada, still doesn't understand what Canada is all about. Canada accepted this person's parents as immigrants. And now it is time to shut the doors? Also, did it ever occur to H.G. that intimate knowledge of another culture can only enrich one's own life and the lives of the people around us?

I truly hope that the writer of this intolerant letter will return to his/her ancestral country as soon as possible.

» Christel Dodel

Fuzzy politics

[Re: Rosen's June 9 cartoon depicting former Expos mascot Youppi! as the next leader of the Parti Québécois]:

You're right, bastard, all PQ members are just clowns 'cause they want independence for their country, just like Jews for Israel, but they are just frogs.

You're right, Youpin.

» Anonymous

Racist island

Your headline "Caribbean island" was right on [The Front, June 16]. The city officials would love to shove all the blacks into the Caribbean. That's the real reason why the city officials don't want the so-called visible minorities to have their festivals in the city. Blacks have never been allowed to feel the spirit of the city that they live in, but not of. But every other ethnic group can enjoy the spirit of the city as a group.

Racism is like a cancer - you don't always know you have it.

» Bob White

Puritanical cops

[Re: "Dream warrior," June 16]: It is quite alarming that the police vice squad has gone into overdrive in the last three years. While stripper Tangerine Dream may have been guilty of putting on an unusually lewd show on stage, barring her indefinitely from her profession would be a major injustice. Arresting sex workers for frivolous reasons further clogs up the overcrowded prisons and the court dockets.

Why is there such a resurgence of Puritanism among the police brotherhood? Judging by the increasing police harassment of adult sex workers, it seems they are misallocating resources. As it is, police budgets are tight, and close to 40 per cent of homicides in recent years have gone unsolved. Many burglaries, hold-ups and car thefts are also never properly investigated. Fifty per cent of cars stolen in Quebec are never recovered.

Why do the police not solve more of these crimes? It makes little sense to go after adults offering sex services to other adults. Strip clubs offer employment for thousands of people, attract a plethora of tourists and help boost the economy.

Let Montreal stay liberal. Who wants this city to become Alabama North?

» Manish Patwari

Frankie fixup

Hi to Amy Barratt. Just a correction. She stated that BoyGroove was the only show in the history of the Frankies that won both the Centaur and the Just for Laughs award ["Frankly Frankie," June 23]. I won both for PS 69 in 2000.

» Susan Jeremy

Mind your onions

Your June 16 Resto column ["Basque bites"] states that Pintxo stands where a "sketchy pizza parlour" once stood. It is actually located where Aux Deux Canailles offered Montreal its best onion soup au gratin and jambonnet (you may remember David Lieber's stark Havana pictures on its walls). Rumour has it that Pierre (chef) and Jean will re-open elsewhere in September.

» P. Béland

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