Money talks

On last week's cover ["Buddy can you spare a job?", May 29] you made fun of all the political candidates--with the exception of one. Gilles Duceppe (on the $20 bill) was pictured with a box of poutine, Preston Manning became a confederate, Jean Charest was deemed worth only a doubloon and the NDP's Alexa McDonough--a person you would think the Mirror might support--was put on a food stamp. Yet Jean Chrétien was put on a $50 bill with no joke added. The message I got there was that the Mirror supports the Liberals.

Doug Johnston

Hello goodbye?

Whatever happened to the "Hello My Name Is..." feature in the music section? Am I to understand that because Grim Skunk didn't get their answers printed, and then complained about it on the Rant Line, that the whole column was removed forever? If Grim Skunk has that much power over the media we are all in trouble. At least "Hello My Name Is..." was giving coverage to local bands. Bring it back.

Theo Emmanuel

American doesn't get it

As an American now living in Canada, I would appreciate some help in understanding your election. It seems that the separatist party, the Bloc Québécois, wants Quebec in NAFTA, wants the people of this province to continue to vote for members in the Canadian Parliament, wants people here to continue to hold Canadian passports and wants Quebec to become more French with time.

All of these, one assumes, are true of a Quebec now within Canada. Why then don't they look upon themselves as Canadian nationalists? And if they must continue acting in such silly ways, why must so many people follow them? Can't people here seem to care about other issues, such as the decline of Montreal in relation to Toronto, or the large number of people here out of work?

Robert Feinstein

Just say no to cynicism

The fact that people are fed up with politics comes as no big surprise to me. I have long maintained that there is an urgent need to restructure the sociopolitical arena, redefine the politician and his role and redefine the objectives of society.

There was a time when the role of the politicians was to build the country. Canada got to that stage and instead of moving ahead to the next stage, the politicians allowed corruption and decay to set in. Personal greed took over from social responsibility and chaos reigned.

If everybody seems to be busy tearing into each other so as to get "there" first, it is because politicians nurtured and developed the vice which now permeates the very fabric of human decency. Politics, as we know it, has reached the end of its tether. There is nowhere else for it to go except downward.

Canada has every potential of becoming the world leader in the next millennium, not through military might, but rather through socioeconomic and intellectual endeavours. There is a great need to promote human values on a global scale, values that exemplify mutual recognition, understanding and respect.

Canada can only achieve this great honour if Canadians are prepared to change course. They must be prepared to give up their ridiculous material fixation and pursue the beauty and richness of humanitarian co-habitation.

Jimmy J. Collet

Art thou blessed?

The age in which we live is witnessing a profound change in the attitudes it holds, the values it shares and the way it does things in Canada. The closing years of the 20th century are turbulent times, as the process of rolling up the old world order and laying out the new one proceeds. The way we appraise civilization is also changing. We are now beginning to recognize that civilization is comprised of spiritual and ethical standards as well as of material culture and technological achievement. For Canadians to be progressive and sustaining, they must be self-renewing--their institutions must incorporate the ability to adapt to the changing challenges of the times.

Fundamental to my concept of public service is the belief that personal morality and ethical social behaviour are of great benefit to the progress of Canada. No one is powerless to effect beneficial change. Everyone has the ability to help Canada on many different levels. Everyone is endowed with skills and talents that are useful to mankind, and fulfilling one's personal capacity is everyone's duty.

Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of a united Canada.

H. Siegmund