Arabs demonized

Barry Merson’s revolting portrayal of Palestinians and Lebanese as blood-thirsty fanatics reveals more about himself than it does about Arabs [“Arabs, children and peace,” Letters, Aug. 24]. There is nothing new in such vile attempts at demonization; it is a standard tactic routinely used by sick bigots and hate-filled racists.

Merson faults Palestinians for using suicide bombers and Hezbollah for hiding among civilians. Well, perhaps if Washington provided them with F-16 warplanes and Apache helicopter gun ships like it does to Israel, then Palestinians wouldn’t need to use their bodies as lethal weapons and Hezbollah would have to engage in urban warfare. But until that time, these indigenous people will use whatever means are at their disposal to resist the colonization of their land.

Demonizing Arabs is nothing but a pathetic attempt to hide the obscene injustice of Israel’s occupation. It fools no one.

» Shirley Groves

Montreal in the shit

[Re: “Embrace the Shabbiness,” Riff-Raff, Aug. 31]: Doggie-doo on sidewalks and the general shabbiness of Montreal have their origins in the mentality of Montrealers. People here are always trying to get away with something. I’ve noticed that the dog-walker is often looking around to see if anyone is watching. And if not, they just walk away without cleaning it up.

There are supposed to be inspectors to enforce this law, but I’ve never seen one. Maybe they’re hanging out in the same bar as the guys who are supposed to be filling the cracks and potholes in the roads, to be joined in December by the guys who are supposed to be clearing the snow. What’s missing here is a sense of pride in doing things properly for its own sake.

If this is how dog-owners are going to behave, then they shouldn’t be allowed to take dogs off their property. Why should I have to constantly watch out for animal feces when I’m outside? What are we, a third-world country?

» Brian Franklin

Pound a pacifist?

Kudos for getting word out about the Poets for Peace show [“Poetry for Peace,” The Front, Aug. 24], but why slag Ezra Pound? Even a passing familiarity with his work and life would reveal his intense loathing for war and its causes (for him, the profiteering of arms manufacturers): c.f. Hugh Selwyn Mauberly, IV and V, and his skewering of imperialism, classic and modern, in Homage to Sextus Propertius.

» Bryan Sentes

Riff-Raff laughs

Just wanted to say that Raf Katigbak’s column is awesome and funny. I guess he got some hate mail last week about his use of the word “faggotry,” [“Faggotry no joke,” Letters, Aug. 24].

For the record, I’m gay, and I wasn’t offended at all. I was actually really happy with that column—it’s nice to have shit written about gay stuff not in the gay-article-in-the-back kind of way.

» James

Hey Raf, just finished reading your “Pool Potty column [Aug. 24] and I have to say I share your reservations about public pools. Also, you possess a wacky sense of humour that never fails to amuse me. Can I buy drugs from you?

» Rock

Cagey tactics

The Mirror has so far published at least seven letters from the lobby group CAGE (Citizens Against Government Encroachment) in the last two and a half months. That includes one from co-founder and director Lucy Brown, and three from active member and now vice-president Iro Cyr, neither of whom bothered to mention their affiliation. So it might be useful for your readers to know a few facts about this organization.

On its Web site, CAGE asks for donations of up to $5,000 or more, saying, “It is on the corporate members that we depend the most for financing.” Corporations generally expect a return on their investment. The Web site says they are still debating whether to accept financial contributions from the tobacco industry.

CAGE is closely involved with a legal challenge to the indoor smoking ban by two Montreal bar owners, and is supporting the suit in a number of ways, apparently including financially.

CAGE encourages its members to write letters to the editor as “added pressure to get the others in,” even going so far as to post sample letters on its Web site for its members to “borrow any of the statements and concepts herein and resubmit them to the media.” How ironic for Iro Cyr to have used the word “propaganda” in describing the government’s actions.

Those are the facts. Draw your own conclusions. I would suggest that we’ve heard more than enough from these people.

» Scott Jones

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