Ethics committee
lacks ethics

Regarding Kristian Gravenor's article, "Policing the police's police" [Dec. 11], you just have to wonder if the whole deal about Quebec's so-called police ethics is not set up to be purposely ineffective. After all, had the Commission à la déontologie policière wanted to shed more light on Mr. Gilles Noël's ordeal, it would have been relatively easy to do so. As Mr. Noël's incident with Montreal Police unravelled on Marie-Anne, a witness appeared. The witness in question was never called on to testify, though. I know because it was me.

I was met by a déontologie policière investigator where I gave him my version of what I saw, a photo I took when I arrived at the scene and a tape of the messages Mr. Noël left on my voice mail during the incident explaining what was happening with the officer. (I arrived to meet him at the scene minutes after he left the messages and the cops were still there with him). The police ethics committee investigator told me the taped messages were valuable, as they were somewhat equivalent to a spontaneous declaration.

Though I wasn't there through the entire confrontation with Mr Noël and the officer, I could have shed some light on questions that remained unanswered at the proceedings had they wanted to get to the bottom of what actually transpired. This whole experience makes you wonder if the police ethics committee is not just like a bunch of overpaid amateurs who don't want to be too effective.

» Danny Taurozzi

Demonizing Israel

After reading Ken Hechtman's article on Stephan Christoff ["Access denied," Dec.4], I felt that something was off. Oh yes, the already stale über-liberal take on the refused entry of the ISM activist into Israel.

I'd like to bring it to the attention of the editors that accepting one-sided stories such as these are harmful to Jews, Palestinians and the peace process itself by demonizing Israel, a country trying to prevent hundreds of malicious attacks each week, and focusing on the wrong issues. The problem can't be limited to the Discussed Territories, so let's go a bit deeper. That mentioned "education and pressure" could also spill over to the other side, don't you think?

Since this subject gets rammed down people's throats every few issues, I'm sure my plea will fall on deaf ears. My suggestion, however, is that you simply offer some understanding of Israeli motivation from their perspective - as you do for Palestinians. Israel is not the U.S. and shouldn't be automatically demonized simply because they have an army. With the constant threat of suicide/murderous attacks, what would you do?

» Patrick Sabbah

Metro carpeting insane

I was gobsmacked to read among Kristian Gravenor's wish list for improvements to the metro, a desire for carpets [Kristian Perspective, Nov. 27]. Is he mad? In a city as dirty as Montreal?

I strongly recommend that Mr. Gravenor invest in a trip to San Francisco. Never mind the cable cars. Ride a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train. And take a lengthy trip, for example as far as Fremont. He will catch something! The BART trains have always been carpeted. And it looks and smells like the same damn carpet that they installed in 1972. Plus the seats are upholstered. I caught itches. My wife was bitten by some unseen bug. After a couple of trips, we decided to stand. The fabric is soberingly disgusting, and this is in an area that has no weather. None. Just sunshine or fog depending on your neighbourhood.

I can barely comprehend the magnitude of slurry that carpets in the Montreal metro would accumulate, incubate, nurse to maturity and then spontaneously eject in great bursts of filth.

The ideal subway car has hard, smooth surfaces with few crevices. You have to be able to clean and disinfect the inside every day quickly. Preferably with a high-pressure hose. It's no accident that almost nobody carpets their subway cars. Trust me, it's a very bad idea.

» Frank Koustrup

Film falls between cracks

On Nov. 28, a film entitled Concorrenza Sleale (Unfair Competition) opened in Montreal. I was very disappointed that this film didn't receive any coverage by the Mirror. Ettore Scola is a well-known Italian film director. Many of his films have won international prizes. Concorrenza Sleale deals with the pre-war period in Italy when the infamous "racial laws" were put into effect. This is a very important subject and still relevant today, as the world is still afflicted with the disease of racism.

The first week it opened, Concorrenza Sleale screened at the AMC Forum several times per day. Since there was no promotion of the film in the English media, it has only been screened once per day, at the odd hour of 11:25 p.m., since Dec. 5.

I believe it is the responsibility of every newspaper to provide a variety of information when it comes to entertainment. I realize that at this time of the year many American blockbusters are beginning their holiday runs. Not everyone likes those kinds of movies, however. I hope that in the future better promotion of films with substance will be made.

» Lorraine Bick

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