Media racism is for real

Thanks a bundle for publishing the letter that exposes ethnocentrism and even racism at the two largest newspapers in this country ["Media apartheid?", (e)Mail, March 12]. I too have noticed it for a very long time. What a heartening thought that your paper actually had the gumption to publish the letter. As we approach a new millennium, we preach fairness to the whole world and human rights to Third World countries. We cannot allow racism to flourish in our own backyard. The issue must be put on the table and exposed to the public, as you have rightfully done. Their attitude in this regard has been "The moon does not heed the barking of dogs." But, ha-ha, given time and more public pressure that comes with such exposure, they will be forced to change their policies gradually or face a drop in advertising revenues and subscriptions, as well as risk acquiring a poor image and suffering in PR. Hooray for justice. Thumbs down for bigotry.

--Paul Lumba

Equality: political party, or anglo henchmen?

In a recent letter to The Gazette [Feb. 23], Equality Party President Gerry Weiner apparently sought to remind the Quebec Liberal Party that "the job of renewing the country cannot be done at the point of a knife." How ironic that Mr. Weiner is the head of an organization which itself seeks to keep Quebec within Canada at the point of the proverbial knife called "partition."

Weiner states that "not only have the Quebec Liberals failed to uphold the rule of law, they have been actively working to undermine it" and "hailed to defend the supremacy of the constitution." Instead of engaging in a reasoned debate over the role of the courts in defining the rules of secession, Weiner engaged in ad hominem attacks but stopped short, except by inference, of referring to them as separatist lap dogs. Is Weiner a demagogue and ideologue who cannot tolerate differing points of view?

If the analogy of Canada as a sinking ship is apt, then, in this case, while the federal government is asking which system of law applies--the rules of ship or maritime law--Weiner and his English chauvinist-cum-partitionist henchmen are ensuring its demise through their partitionist advocacies. Both Weiner and the federal government are preparing for the aftermath of a Yes vote and offer nary a new vision of the Canadian res publica, but only reactionary and ineffectual responses to nationalist gibes and their vision of an independent Quebec.

I am reminded of the Bruce Springsteen song "57 Channels and Nothin' On." While nothing of interest might appear on other channels, there certainly ain't a thing on Weiner's channel. I do not expect a reasonable argument from a man of Mr. Weiner's ideology, but I would hope for one from a man of his advanced age.

--Deepak Awasti

Too much radio overkill

As a consummate radio listener living in Canada's second largest city and cultural capital, I find the lack of musical variety on our airwaves very appalling. All the existing music stations tend to play rock music of various types with a lot of overkill and overlap between them. It is as if the whole music scene is directed toward the teens and males in their 20s and 30s.

Even though I love rock, I want to broaden my musical horizons. As a twenty-something man of eclectic tastes, I just wonder how our youth can have such a small appetite for music other than alternative rock, mainstream rock or heavy metal? And what about music for other age groups? In a rapidly aging society, after all, they make up a huge chunk of the population, and it is insulting to watch them being treated as if they do not exist.

Why don't people cry out for an oldies station, folk and country station, easy listening and big band station, as well as international music and jazz station? The oldies station that did exist featured a lot of overkill. And it was shut down, ironically, to make room for a talk station that fared much worse than its predecessor in the ratings. CJAD used to feature oldies music on weekends, but no more.

What is the CRTC's job if not providing us with more variety on the airwaves? Are they just not interested in doing their job sincerely and carrying out their mandate? Why isn't the public demanding changes more aggressively?

--Manish Patwari

Correction

In last week's Mirror [The Front, March 12], Christine Dandenault of the Forum des Femmes was incorrectly quoted as saying that Canada ranks first among nations in cuts to social programs. Ms. Dandenault made no such claim; however, she did accuse the Canadian and Quebec governments of marginalizing the problems faced by women, and criticized Quebec's social welfare system for abandoning them. The Mirror regrets the error.