Tooker, old media
and the left

Why do we run back to old media when we have something to say? That's what Manish Patwari should be asking ["RIP Tooker," Letters, April 1].

The answer is because most people see old media. We want to be there because someone else has built up the cluster that ensures people do routinely read or watch, and we want to hitch on to that. It also answers why any given story might not be covered, because while everyone wants to be there, there is limited bandwidth.

If there's no room in old media, then the solution is to build paths around it rather than gripe about not getting in the news. Cluster it with things that the community is interested in generally, rather than being yet another highly specific place in their lives. See the Internet as community space, not advertising space. Accept that whoever is on the other end may have something valuable to say, rather than as simply a recipient of announcements, or "the enemy." Use it as a distributed means of postering, so those posters actually do get out where people will see them. We own the space, we own the words, but too often it hasn't been used properly. In short, get a clue.

Years ago, the left was isolated because it was too costly for much outreach. But it still remains isolated, because it uses the online equivalent of the old mailing lists, rather than being out there in the neighbourhood.

I wrote about Tooker and posted it to the local newsgroup. I didn't like the newswire article because it isolated Tooker too much - something that happens when third parties are telling the story. I put it where there was a limited readership, but I didn't stick it in some dedicated place where the left talks to itself. I also printed up some copies of the second Gazette article and stuck them up in various places. Not because Tooker's death wasn't well publicized, but to move it into those places where Tooker belongs and to show that someone cared enough about his death that they took the effort. I may have limited power, but it's much more than those who think their only choice is old media. The left will remain isolated until it grasps this.

» Michael Black

The passion of the Frankel

The following should not be read by anyone who is in any way any part of the following: intolerant of others, ignorant, violent or the owner of an ugly soul. For everyone else who yearns for knowledge or feels too intimidated by radicals in this city to speak their minds, I dedicate this letter to you.

The Mirror is not in the slightest bit responsible for the atrocities committed at UTT [Letters, April 8]. They are a very intelligent local publishing group who look at the world differently than The Gazette does. God bless them!

Mel Gibson is not an anti-Semite. The Passion of the Christ may or may not be a good movie. But no one should cough in the face of Christians (and Jews) who defend the movie for the emotional film it is. Jews and Christians who liked the film, stand up and be proud. People who feel the film is hateful, respect those who don't.

Immigrants who break the laws of this fine country do not deserve to be here. But neither do non-immigrants who break our laws. Neo-cons, fascists, communists, anarchists and other political groups have the right to be heard, but not necessarily to be taken seriously.

Gays are human beings - no ifs, ands or buts about it. They have the right to be treated like everyone else. But that doesn't mean the whole world has to accept homosexual marriage as a legit union.

American imperialism is just as bad as any other imperialism. People worldwide should condemn imperialism in all its forms.

People who support the plight of the Palestinians are not necessarily or usually anti-Semites. They have a right to be heard. So do pro-Israelis.

Free Trade and protectionism will solve fuck-nothing. Only fair, balanced and intelligent trade will do the trick.

Fundamentalists, be they Christian, Muslim or Jewish, are self-righteous detriments to tolerant societies.

Feminists have the right to express their concerns towards male injustices in our communities. But not if they're going to act like "feminazis."

Peace to all people in Montreal, Canada and the world.

» Jordan Frankel

Racist nonsense

You're probably getting a lot of replies in regards to the letter from Ala Morales [Letters, April 8]. I thank you for publishing it because it proves the point that racism does in fact still exist in Montreal. I cannot believe how someone can be so blind and so ignorant.

I'm black and I don't live in either NDG or St-Michel, nor do I litter or spit on the ground or rob white people. How does someone correlate these habits to a particular race? Where is all this nonsense coming from? There is no basis for any of these comments! "Montreal is the only place where all these immigrants can live here peacefully without prejudice," he wrote. Well, the author is going against his own views that prejudice doesn't exist, as he is being prejudiced himself!

By the way, Ala Morales… what type of name is that?

» Chris

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