Beyond hockey, beer and pea soup

Just a few words concerning the Kristian Perspective ["Know your vedettes," Jan. 27]. I agree with Mr. Gravenor that, for the last 25 years, French Canadian culture has been for the most part a vulgar clone of American culture (just like Canadian, and more specifically Toronto, culture is).

But what did you expect from a minority people who always had a love-hate relationship with their "oppressors"? What did you expect from a culture that has to compete on the global market with giant corporations like Time-Warner Inc.? The processes and effects of cultural and ideological colonization are more subtle and pernicious than one might think they are.

And it is probably a mistake to think that you, my dear friend, are floating above, untouched by these processes and effects.

First, it is totally inaccurate, and probably derogatory, to put all French Canadians in the same shit-bag the way you did. We are not all watching television 26 hours per week (you might be interested to know that some of us are avid readers, as well as music- and film-lovers). Just like we are not all hockey fans, Labatt drinkers and pea soup eaters (apparently, old cultural stereotypes die hard). Moreover, not all of us are as stupid as to sit in front of a TV show like Piment Fort (which is mostly for dumb teenagers who are into beer and Eric Lapointe--a very small faction of Quebec society).

Why do you "cultural analysts" (which is kind of an overstatement for a simple columnist of a trashy paper like the Mirror) always feel that you have to bring everything down to the lowest common denominator? Why do you always have to generalize on important issues (such as the need for myths and idols in Western capitalistic societies)? Finally, what is the point of your column? To discriminate against a culture that always had it up the ass anyway, or to enlighten your readers? Or maybe it is simply to display your talent for cheap cynicism and catchy pop culture low talk?

Your "perspective" on this particular issue is narrow, to say the least. It is most certainly distorted by the prism of your own arrogance and ignorance. You should consider yourself lucky to live in a society that allows people like you to make a living by writing superficial commentaries. Because I really think that you would not be able to find a job anywhere else on this homogenized wasteland of American hegemony.

--Francois Primeau

Kill-free pounds

"Dead pets' society" [Feb. 3] neglects to mention the no-kill SPCA Monteregie in Ste-Angele-de-Monnoir, south of Montreal. It's worthy of support, a shining exception to the non-human animal killing fields of Quebec. It's part of a trend towards no-kill humane societies, seen primarily in the States. Miouf and the Animal Rescue Network also have no-kill shelters in the Montreal area and need our support.

It is high time to protest against the massive killing of companion animals in Quebec, against Berger Blanc and the Montreal SPCA. If we can demonstrate against bullfights and circuses, then surely we can protest against the massive killings of dogs, cats, etc., that continue invisibly, day-in, day-out.

And it is more than high time to build a no-kill SPCA in Montreal. This is far more crucial than having a new Montreal baseball stadium.

--Shloime Perel

Rape-free anime

Ranma 1/2; Bubblegum Crisis; Kiki's Delivery Service; Princess Mononoke; Ghost in the Shell; Dragonball; This is Greenwood; My Neighbor Totoro; Appleseed; Black Magic M-66; Dangaioh; Giant Robbo; Gunbuster; Dominon: Tank Police; Orguss; Urusei Yatsura; Arcadia of My Youth; Crusher Joe; Kimagure Orange Road; Riding Bean; Lupin III; Dirty Pair; Kishin Corps; Armitage III; Grave of the Fireflies; Project A-ko; Barefoot Gen; Sailor Moon; Night on the Galactic Railroad. And, of course, Pokemon.

All anime. All domestically available. None of the rape scenes which Matthew Hays feels are "mandatory" ["Animated pop angst," Dec. 23].

Perhaps he should consider watching a broader sample before making sweeping pronouncements?

--Emru Townsend