Pride and genocide

Barry Merson accuses Shirley Groves of being “an enemy of Israel” because she had the temerity to protest the demonization of Palestinians and the occupation of their land [Letters, “Defending Israel,” Sept. 14].

Mr. Merson may think he is a friend of Israel because he supports its government, even when it unleashes carnage in Lebanon with cluster bombs that continue to hideously maim and kill innocent civilians. But he is a “friend” only in the sense that white supremacists of apartheid were “friends” of South Africa and nationalistic Germans during WWII were “friends” of Germany. Not friends, just morality-deficient morons blindly loyal to their tribe.

» Patrice Bombardier

Barry Merson’s letter serves no purpose: it only fuels more reasons for the Shirley Groves of this world to spill their hate for Jews on the rest of the population, fuelling even more hate.

At least Shirley has the courage to spill her atavistic, visceral hate openly—contrary to most of the others who, like the Germans after WWII, protested their innocence by claiming that their best friend (before he was gassed) was a Jew. Let us not fool ourselves; according to a poll commissioned by the ACS (Association of Canadian Studies), 31 per cent of Canadians think that the “primary cause” of 9/11 is Israel.

The frontiers between Jews, Zionists and Israelis have been (conveniently) blurred. The Shirleys of this world are afflicted with an acute form of the “Protocols Syndrome.” Their hysterical reactions blind them from historical realities. Unfortunately, Barry, there is nothing one can do. Anti-Semitism is a fact of life, like AIDS, racism, cancer, hate, indifference and genocide.

Maybe by marching this Sunday alongside members of Peace Now and Hillel, maybe by shouting with them: “Never Again,” maybe, dear Shirley you could help stop another genocide—this time in Darfur.

One last word for Shirley Groves: Please remember that if Mein Kampf is not a hoax, The Protocols is, yet both serve the same purpose. They provide the reasons to hate the Jews, both are found side by side in the libraries of white supremacists, you know, those who instead of shouting “Zig Heil” now shout “Rahowa,” that is the Aryan cry for racial holy war! Sound familiar?

» Albert Richard

Gay trials in Senegal

Thank you for your story about the uproar caused by a straight Senegalese man’s participation in the OutGames conference on human rights [“Homo hysteria,” Aug. 24]. I wanted to point out a small inaccuracy in the story.

Homosexuality is indeed illegal and a prosecuted offence in Senegal. Gay people there must constantly worry about blackmail, because allegations of homosexual behaviour can (and often do) lead to prison sentences of several years.

» Philippe Gosselin

Stop trashing books

Last year I had a letter published in the Mirror stating that McGill regularly throws out good books in decent condition in blue bins [“For the love of freegans,” Aug. 4, 2005]. Well, this year I have also noticed that on Wednesday, and occasionally Thursday nights, outside Redpath Hall, hundreds of good books are junked in those blue bins.

Yes, old telephone directories, computer manuals and obsolete scientific textbooks ought to be recycled. But there is no excuse for throwing out hundreds of paperback and hardcover novels and other interesting non-fiction books when there is a market for second-hand books and also when many people are willing to take discarded books for free.

As a result of my letter last year, McGill’s wasteful practices seemed to have reduced for quite a while. But in advance of Redpath Hall’s October McGill book fair, there is no need for such wasteful practices to be resumed. If the Redpath Hall book fair organisers receive too many book donations, they could put a moratorium on further donations or give the rest away to poorer nations and other local organisations and individuals. I strongly hope Redpath Hall reduces its wasteful habits in the coming weeks and years, and that the junking of books will be limited to three or four times a year—not every week. Why are more environmentalists and students not protesting?

» Michael Fremlin

No more smoking

Dan Romano’s letter, “Smoking and the citizenry” [Sept. 14], makes two Romanos who have called me an anti-smoking activist, or “anti.” I guess their mommy never taught them it’s not nice to call people names. All I really said [“Smokes, let’s go,” Letters, July 7] was I shouldn’t have to breathe toxic waste where I work—just as you are not asked to.

I serve food for a living, and everyone where I work has been really happy with our smoke-free workplace since May 31. We haven’t had a single complaint from a customer. What are they going to say, “I deserve a smoke-free workplace but you don’t”? Business has been as good as last summer—in fact, better.

The hostility of Dan Romano and Vince Harden’s letters made me feel sick. I don’t know what you are thinking when you pick the letters to publish. Montreal has gotten over this. Why can’t the Mirror?

» Carole

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