Goodbye Montreal, again

[Re: “Insect,” Oct. 25] Approximately 10 years ago, you were kind enough to print my “Goodbye to Montreal” letter. I had decided to leave Montreal for a number of reasons, including in particular, my frustration with the separatist pinheads that had destroyed so many of the great things about my hometown. I had reached the point where I could no longer tolerate small-minded, bigoted twits like Bernard Landry, Pauline Marois and their unending idiocy.

It is nice to see that little, if anything, has changed on that front over the past decade; 10 years later, I can still pick up my morning paper (the Globe and Mail now instead of the Gazette) and read stories about the same crew of péquiste brownshirts spouting the same vicious, divisive crap as when I left.

Apparently, in their zeal for a purified and cleansed Quebec identity, these language Nazis want to impose democratic limitations on anglophones and foreign nationals, including newcomers from Canada’s other nine provinces. The right to run for office and even pick a neighbourhood in which to live would be limited by a resident’s French-speaking ability, if the assorted proposals (of highly questionable constitutionality) made by these and other racist fools are implemented.

It turns out that moving to Toronto was a very good decision. Now I just have to find a way to avoid news stories about Quebec. I really am happier that way.

>> Gregory Azeff, Toronto

Palestine is no myth

[Re: “Palestine a myth” Letters, Oct. 4] Where has Arnold Holtzman been all these years? He writes as if he had just arrived back from another planet after the absence of a quarter century. Astonishingly, he seems not to have heard of Israel’s new historians, who through their intensive archival research, have long since debunked all the myths he seems still so intent on propagating.

Integral to the whole Zionist narrative was the concept of the “Land without a people”—one to which Mr. Holtzman tenaciously clings. Pray tell us then what “phantoms” cultivated the orchards that produced the Jaffa oranges so famous for centuries; what “phantoms” so lovingly tended the olive groves that in time yielded the oil that went into the soap so long coveted in Europe; what “phantoms” constructed the magnificent homes of quarried stone—and the hundreds of towns and villages now totally erased? And what about the artisans, the draftsmen, the poets, the writers, the music and songs and celebrations?

To me, this all seems to fit the definition of a people, a society rooted in their ancestral land with a vibrant culture and a long history. It begs the question: How do you, Mr. Holtzman, define history and culture?

He and people of his ilk, I believe, do a real disservice not only to the Jewish of Israel but to the majority whose preference it is to live elsewhere. Most certainly, they help not the case of peace.

Israel is here to stay

[Re: “Promised Land a myth,” Letters, Oct. 04] As usual, a delusional Carl Aboud spouts his vile hatred of Jews couched strategically in terms of those “Zionists.” Well Mr. Aboud, Israel is here to stay. A veritas that will probably shake you and your ilk to the very core.

By the way Carl, did you fly to Tehran to celebrate Al-Quds Day with your hero Mahmoud? Watch all those Palestinian children dressed in terrorist outfits armed with machine guns and grenades. Cute, no?

I figured he must be your mentor as you both have a vacuous knowledge of history. No doubt you’ll soon join the ranks of Ahmadinejad and Ernst Zundel in denying the Holocaust ever happened. Or perhaps call for further investigation. Then again, just blame it on the Zionists. The Elders will approve.

Last but not least, why not run for office in your beloved Palestine? I’m sure Hamas and Al-Fatah will welcome you with broken arms.

>> Kenneth Solomon Weinstein

Abuse of media

[Re: “What is Zionism?” Letters, Oct. 25] I am appalled to learn you allow profanity and hatred in your paper.

I understand this is a free newspaper and you allow your readers to contribute with their opinions and some informative articles as well. However, I was disgusted when I saw the three-line comment in your “letters” section by a reader who called himself Bossman. He ranted and swore on the only three lines he wrote.

This only instigates and proliferates hate in a democratic country that welcomes people from all around the globe. This is not freedom of the press—this is called abuse of the press. If this person is so unhappy, he should see a therapist.

As editors you should be ashamed of yourselves for printing such a comment filled with rage and loathing.

>> Claudia Del Balso

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