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Politicts and Purpose I read Fidel Fuentes’ letter [“Democracy ain’t easy,” Jan. 4] and the response to it by Robert Hill [“Ignore the unelectable,” Jan. 11]. I believe Fuentes raises some very serious and thoughtful questions about the nature of democracy and the average citizen’s responsibility to it. I agree with him that citizens have to inform themselves in order to participate in the great political dialogue. I also think that one does not necessarily have to be a member of the main political parties to have political or electoral experience. This is where I disagree strongly with Robert Hill’s contention that only “inexperienced, single-issue-obsessed hacks” are involved with minor political parties. I use the terms “main political parties” and “minor political parties” carefully because I am aware of the loaded nature of using such terminology. I use them to define political parties in terms of voting and membership numbers, nothing more and nothing less. Surely Hill doesn’t believe, in this day and age, that participation in politics is simply restricted to the electoral arena. Moreover, those who participate in the main political parties are just as likely to be inexperienced and single-issue-obsessed as anyone else. I could cite the example of Pierre Trudeau who was elected in 1965 on the platform of engaging with and defeating Quebec nationalism in order to keep the province within the Canadian federation. Even after being elected Prime Minister, Trudeau never denied that this was his main purpose for entering electoral politics, and now he is viewed by many, including Mirror readers, as a great man. Just my two cents. » Carl Fournier Israel Imbalances Frankly, Ken Frankel appears to be somewhat obsessed by the motives of those outraged by Israeli injustices against Palestinians [“Society, seals and semantics,” Jan. 11]. If memory serves, I have read at least half a dozen letters by him on this topic, all of which make the same claim: Those who focus on the suffering of Palestinians under Israeli occupation had better be at least as critical of every other comparable abuse perpetuated on the planet—otherwise they must have something against Jews or Americans or both. In his latest epistle, Mr. Frankel does claim that he is “not so much worried by individuals” as he is by society on this point, before he goes on to focus almost entirely on the motives of individuals. Indeed, he would have a hard time showing that disproportionate criticism of Israel is a major feature of Canadian society. Society as represented by the mass media and by our government is in fact far more concerned with the security of Israelis than with that of mere Palestinians, who, we are supposed to believe, are basically fanatics, so unlike us and our democratic Israeli friends. In such a social context, Mr. Frankel’s suspicions focus on those individuals and groups who do not go along with Canadian society’s general support of Israel against Palestinian rights. Yet if we wish to speak of selective outrage, we might have some questions to ask. Why is it that Israelis may elect whoever they wish to govern them, while the Palestinians must suffer for voting the wrong way in elections? And why must the Palestinians be routinely denied rights (to security and to a nation-state) that all but “anti-Semites” must routinely accord to Israeli Jews? » Paul
Beaulieu Babies Chez Nous It’s interesting to find out that Quebec women are having more babies all of a sudden [Angel, “Quebec’s parental leave plan,” Jan. 11]. Gloomy predictions about environmental collapse and a generation far more self-obsessed than the one of its parents are just a couple reasons why twentysomethings in this province don’t seem to want to have kids like they used to. So now the provincial government is trying to give the population a shot in the arm with a catchy parental leave plan. And what, I wonder, is the motive behind this? We all know the population has to grow to fuel the economy, and we’re dependent on immigration for growth. Well if Quebecers are as racist as this week’s headline-making surveys indicate, we’d better start making more babies as fast as we can. » Serge
Landry Taco Bell Hardly Healthy Thank you for your in-depth report on Taco Bell’s landing in Montreal [“Thinking outside the bun,” Jan. 11]. Erik Leijon hits the mark in his categorization of T.B.’s signature taste and texture: “The contrast between the warmish meat and the cool sour cream, cheese and lettuce.” However, I hope that no one thinks that Taco Bell’s cuisine is in any way healthy or that the introduction of the chain to Montreal reflects a serious interest in Mexican- influenced cuisine. » Cynthia Hale Correction: The correct address for Taco Bell [“Thinking outside the bun, Jan. 11] is 4980 des Sources (corner Pierrefonds).. WE WELCOME LETTERS TO THE EDITOR!Send your comments, compliments or criticisms to: Letters to the Editor, 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. |
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