Questionable policing
Regarding crossing the line. (NOW, July 31-August 6). We now have a new standard of policing in Ontario. It no longer includes the Police Services Act, Criminal Code or the Charter Of Rights And Freedoms, facts, evidence or even truth.
It’s now called “the ends justifies the means” policing. If you don’t like somebody, put a wiretap on their phone and if you’re lucky you’ll get some dirt. If you really don’t like them, make sure to wiretap their friends and family. This way you are sure to dig up some dirt.
No matter what you do or say, you can call it respect, and respect it shall be.
If you have any further questions about this new standard of policing in Ontario, please contact OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, Premier Dalton MucGuinty or PC leader John Tory
Shelley Brant
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
Soy no miracle
I won’t jump up and squawk about the soy-infertility equation (NOW, July 31-August 6). But when Elizabeth Bromstein cheekily asks, “Why is China so densely populated?” if soy lowers sperm count, she falls prey to a popular but totally false myth planted by soygriculture.
The Chinese average only 2 tablespoons a day of soy, as a condiment, not a protein source. Soybeans were field fertilizer until Asia invented fermenting tactics to rid the bean of numerous toxins.
The Chinese eat pork, not soy. The idea that soy is a miracle food was a massive and effective piece of propaganda that is damaging everybody’s health. I bought it, too. The FDA in the States even lists soy as a poisonous plant. Those concerned should visit gremolata.com/soytrouble.htm.
Lorette C. Luzajic
Toronto
Who’s Wailing now?
I am sorry for Jacob Sheier’s loss. of his mother. However, it does not give him the right to appropriate the act of prayer by writing that “all prayers ask for peace” (NOW, July 31-August 6).
The Psalms of David are often used as prayers and for comfort in times of sorrow. The Imprecatory Psalms request judgment, calamity or curses on one’s enemies. Many sermons have asked for destruction and damnation of perceived enemies.
Scheier does not take exception or even comment on the text of the prayer. Instead, he launches an ad hominem attack on Obama. This is a circular and invalid form of reasoning.
Who gave Sheier the right or the ability to determine if the prayer Obama placed in the Wailing Wall was genuine or not? Obama had every right to the expectation of privacy when he left his note.
Moses Shuldiner
Toronto
Bashing Barack
Enough obama-bashing! what kind of liberal guilt drives NOW to do everything it can each week to enable another Republican disaster presidency?
While most of your articles have at least been based around policy, Jacob Scheier can’t even let the poor guy pray! Scheier is clearly cynical about Obama’s true views on Palestine, yet that does not warrant spitting all over his Wailing Wall visit.
If an atheist like Scheier was moved to pray at the Wall during his own time of need, why would he question the sincerity of an already religious family man who – unlike the author – has to worry about being assassinated every day?
Corey Pierce
Oakville
Resisters no Loyalists
Regarding your profiles of courage ads about U.S. “war resisters” (NOW, July 31-August 6). Let me see if I have this straight. Dude joins the Army in 2001. Turns out he doesn’t like being trained to kill. Okay, whatever. The Army sends him to Iraq, and he doesn’t like that either. Perfectly understandable. So he runs away to Canada.
By my interpretation, he’s a deserter, not a “war resister” (whatever that is). He has absolutely no right to stay in our country.
In what way exactly has Canada been “a friend to American war resisters for nearly 300 years”? Are you seriously calling the United Empire Loyalists “war resisters”? Nearly 300 years ago, deserters were summarily executed.
Patrick Rawley
Toronto
Rogers bash no picnic
I attended the Rogers Picnic at. Old Fort York (NOW, July 24-30). I read on their website that food was not allowed, which made no sense to me. My friends and I decided that dining on $5 hot dogs and ice cream was just not going to cut it.
I was able to sneak in with a couple of sandwiches, chips, almonds and apples. My friend was not so lucky. She had to throw away her sandwiches just so Rogers could force patrons to buy their shitty tacos and bottles of water.
When I threw out my purchased water bottle, a huge sign indicated that Rogers is dedicated to the environment by having a “zero waste challenge.” Someone was paid to stand there and make sure people put their items into the correct bins. What a joke!
I would love to see the day when the environment and world hunger actually superseded the greed of money-hungry multi-million-dollar corporations like Rogers.
Eleanor Anckaert
Toronto
Conspiracies on wheels
Last week, I found my stolen bike. amongst those amassed at 35 Strachan and 30 Ordance. I’d like to voice my absolute respect for the police officers who helped to ensure that it was returned to its rightful owner.
Can the Igor Kenk apologists (NOW, July 24-30) please put a stop to their letters about gentrification conspiracy theories and end-of-an-era nonsense? It’s turning my stomach.
Innocent until proven guilty? Sure. But if Kenk was involved in the theft of even one of those bicycles, I’d say that “scum bag” is a more fitting title than “cultural icon.” Give me a break!
Stephen Thierman
Toronto
Cops all wet
While at the carr street wading. pool recently with my two children, two of T-dot’s horse-mounted finest galloped through the pool, circled the two parks and rec staff (who squealed with delight – ugh!) and then left.
It was 4:30 pm. Following employee handbook rules, the water was drained and refilled. The entire procedure was finished at 5:20 pm, about 20 minutes before the pool would need be to drained again for the 6 pm closing.
How many thousands of litres of water were wasted so the cops could show off? It was an overcast day, on the cool side, with the high in the mid-20s. I doubt it was an emergency situation where the horses needed to cool off. My five-year-old, slack-jawed and with the most perplexed look I’ve seen her with yet, asked me, “What’s wrong with those police guys? Don’t they know the rules?”
Christine Mourre
Toronto
The one for me, fatty
Much thanks to NOW and Steven. Davey for bringing Caplansky’s Deli to my attention (NOW, July 17-23). It is indeed a very worthy smoked meat sandwich. Oddly, I remember an earlier review in NOW about the long- gone Reuben Schwartz eatery on King in which your reviewer disliked the sandwich for the same reason he found the Caplansky’s sandwich good: the fatty meat. How times have changed.
Michael Tomasek
Toronto
Chill on Pride
Regarding letter-writer Bev Star’s Boobs Degrade Pride (NOW, July 17-24). Methinks Star protests too much. The Pride parade is all about being outrageous, from men in chaps to women without bras. To hear Star tell it, Pride by its very exhibitionist nature degrades itself. Keep the “sensationalist” pictures coming. They represent the truer side of Pride, not the other papers’ moderate (censored) imagery. Chill, Ms. Star, and enjoy the show.
Nicholas Brooks
Toronto
Science of tap water
I notice that my municipal taxes and water bills are paying for a full-page ad from Toronto Water depicting “scientists” and a baby endorsing “filtered, fresh” (and fluoridated) Toronto tap water, like doctors used to endorse Camels cigarettes.
Wasn’t there an advisory in 2000 from Canada’s top scientist in charge of preventive dentistry, based on tax-funded science by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, that told us not to give babies fluoridated tap water?
Didn’t the National Research Council panel of scientists find in 2006 that increased fluoride intake from water is harmful for some groups, like infants, athletes and people with thyroid and kidney ailments?
Didn’t a union of 1,500 EPA scientists sign a statement to the U.S. Congress opposing water fluoridation on grounds of scientific evidence of harm?
Aliss Terpstra
Toronto
