Aggressive DYP

In response to Michael Godman's letter ["DYP not stalking," (e)mail, July 15]: Not stalking, you say? Not strictly following people around, maybe, but once a file has been opened a family will invariably find themselves hauled into court over the slightest misadventure, facing a barrage of derogatory accusations concocted by numerous malcontents, cops, nurses, doctors, social workers, psychologists and lawyers--often all aligned against a poor single mother alone.

Vested in the DYP's mandate is tremendous power which must never, even in one instance, be abused. The section of the act which states that "the lifestyle or behaviour of the parents may constitute a risk to the emotional or social development of the children," for example, leaves much latitude for misinterpretation by workers in the field and much error results right here when this article is used against parents in the absence of actual fact of neglect or abuse.

It would seem to me that before you remove children from their home, the problems in that home should be so sufficiently pronounced as to be self-evident.

It has become a widespread public perception that the agency Godman heads acts too aggressively. Whenever and wherever the misguided notion of destroying families in order to protect the children first corrupted your mission, he is in the better position to explain. As for me (and many others I'm sure) and the last six years... it has been a stalking.

--Derek Wilkie

Nurses too fat?

I find it hard to believe that Quebec nurses are overworked and underpaid. Have you seen the size of these nurses? Starting from Jennie Skene to Michele Boisclair right down to the nurses on the picket lines, most of them are anywhere from 20 to 50 pounds overweight.

As a result of this observation, I believe we can show our support to these Mama Teresas more effectively by throwing sandwiches (preferably with double mayo) at them as we pass them in our cars rather than honking. They, of course, would appreciate this gesture because it looks like all they do is eat and it would help them pass the boring days on the picket lines with enjoyment.

I also think it would be wise if Lucien Bouchard put out a huge plate of sandwiches on the negotiating table. This would entice them and hopefully keep them there and then maybe they could be persuaded to negotiate in good faith.

Let them eat bread! And more bread! And more bread...

--A skinny, tired nurses's assistant

Mohammed's needs

In the article "Veils of Silence" [News, July 22], the Ottawa representative of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Mr. Ibrahim Hooper, states that on our Web site, www.homa.org, we claim that "the prophet Muhammed is a pedophile" for marrying a 9-year-old child when he was in his fifties.

What we have said is "Mohammed at age 53 asked to marry Ayeshe, daughter of his friend and first follower of Abo Bakr. She was seven years old. Abo Bakr requested from the Prophet to wait until she reached the age nine before consummating their marriage. So at age 55 the great Prophet, the defender of women's rights, raped a nine-year-old child. This is wrong today and it was wrong then."

Then he married between 29 to 45 more women. According to Ebn Abbas, "The highest member of Moslems who is the Prophet Mohammed has also the highest appetite for women."

What we have said is that the prophet could be considered a child molester and a womanizer. Nowhere do we state that he was a "pedophile." However, if Mr. Ibrahim Hooper calls his religious leader a "pedophile," we would not disagree with him.

-- Parvin Darabi, President
Dr. Homa Darabi Foundation

Garbage cop crap

Regarding Bourque's new garbage law: if I put out 20 bags of pure shit in unmarked Provigo bags at the bottom of my building, how the hell are the garbage police going to know whose shit it is? As long as there is no crime against laughing out loud at people in little uniforms opening bags of shit, I'm all for this law.

Regardless of my colourful daydreams, I would advise anyone fined for these infractions to fight them. These bylaws abuse our civil rights and none of them should stand up in court.

-- Ne Luv Sval