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Letters to the Editor: Booby trap

Booby trap

As a person living with “one flat tire,” I was looking forward to your All About Boobs issue and what the Bald, Boobless And Beautiful article had to say (NOW, October 8-14), particularly about society’s obsession with the “perfect” female body. 

What should have tipped me off was the titillating cover image portraying a commercially idealized female. Yup, it sells products and reinforces all the unhealthy “isms.” 

Even after my second breast cancer occurrence, I felt the need to fit in with these ideals, as do most women. Long lashes, hair in all the “right” places, perky perfect boobs. Over time, I’ve been working to accept my body as it is. 

What I had hoped to see in this article was some critical thinking, less on how to “fix” our bodies and more on accepting our diversities, loving our bodies in all their uniqueness. 

Kim Martyn, Toronto

I’m not defined by my breasts

NOW’s cover story about “boobs” was interesting but left out your older loyal readers, not to mention the growing number of men with breast cancer. Those guys really are in the closet. Young women caught by breast cancer want desperately to go back to normal and are easy targets for cosmetic-related advances they need and deserve all the kindness and support of their friends, families and the medical profession. 

After my own mastectomy at the age of 65, I was struck by the fact that my surgeon, delighted by my progress, took it for granted I would undergo reconstructive surgery. 

I’m not blind to my own vanities but refuse to go under the knife again only for fashion. While I miss my cleavage and have had to make wardrobe adjustments, I am not defined by my breasts. 

My relieved family and friends certainly don’t care if I look a little lopsided. It’s okay to be an amputee. 

Alexa DeWiel, Toronto

“Boobs” cover with no Rob or Doug Ford?

How on earth can you have the headline “All About Boobs” on your cover (NOW, October 8-14) and not show a picture of Rob and Doug Ford?

Joanne Brigden, Toronto

Harper no honorary chief on native issues

It is interesting to note that more First Nations people may vote in this election than ever before (NOW, October 11). A lot of issues affecting First Nations communities continue to be ignored: poverty, unhealthy drinking water and homelessness.

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the Crown, represented by the Canadian government, has a fiduciary relationship with its First Nations as set out in the Constitution Act of Canada.

Meanwhile, back on the largest Indian reservation, Blood 148, its chief and council embarrassed the Nation of Kainai by bestowing on Stephen Harper the title of honorary chief of the reserve against the wishes of the elders and the community. 

Keith Chiefmoon, Blood Indian Reserve #148 Stand Off, AB

Niqab crucifixion

Letter-writer Afreen Gul suggests that Harper wanting to strip the niqab from women is like ripping a crucifix from a Catholic (NOW, October 8-14). Well, I would like to say the two can’t even be compared. A niqab is not a religious symbol. 

Mary Jo Pachia, Toronto 

Flip side of tolerance, Conservative-style

Conservative candidate Jagdish Grewal’s homophobic support for the abuse of gay youth was very offensive to me. 

Not surprising from a Conservative, but why is Canada accepting immigrants who clearly oppose the long-held Canadian value of tolerance? Grewal has benefited substantially from Canadian tolerance to the extent that he is the nominee of a major party for a parliamentary election. He does not extend this tolerance to gay Canadians. 

This man has given all Canadian citizens a hard slap in the face.

Ed Langley, Toronto

Will climate justice be Tom Mulcair’s legacy?

Tommy Douglas aspired to help the capitalist underclass with state-sponsored health insurance. David Lewis welcomed Vietnam War resisters fleeing American imperialism to Canada. Stephen Lewis opened his arms to Africa and taught us to empathize with those seeking cheap medicine to combat AIDS/HIV. Jack Layton called for a national affordable-housing strategy after witnessing native men freeze to death under the Gardiner Expressway. What will be Tom Mulcair’s legacy? Climate justice needs a spokesperson to answer for years of Harper’s mismanaged petro-tyranny. Naomi Klein and 350.org say keep the tar sands in the ground and develop cleaner renewables. As a lifelong NDPer, I beg our party leader to take up this refrain.

Davis Mirza, Toronto

Carding a byproduct of white privilege?

It’s wrong to say that non-poor, white residents don’t care about carding as an election issue (NOW, October 8-14). They’re the ones who provide the political support for police violence against non-whites. To them, police repression of non-whites is yet another privilege they are unwilling to let go. 

For decades, the intimidation, violence and murder of non-whites passed as legitimate police work. Police could show non-poor whites that they were doing something worthwhile with the tens of millions of dollars spent on policing. If police were banned from harassing, intimidating or attacking non-whites, they wouldn’t be able to justify their budget nor the huge number of officers on the payroll.

Chicama Jones, From nowtoronto.com

Tidy TPP takedown

Once again, NOW Magazine and Michelle Adelman prove that the best journalism happening in Toronto is not with the dailies. Kudos to Adelman for a thought-provoking, easy-to-understand critique of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (NOW, October 8-14).

Jodi Koberinski, From nowtoronto.com

Nazi death camp was German, not Polish

Re Norm Wilner’s review of Labyrinth Of Lies (NOW, October 7). It’s completely false to describe Auschwitz as a “Polish death camp.” The Nazis, like the camp, were German. There is a clue in the name of the camp: it is German. It was built by Germany (not Nazis) following the German invasion and brutal occupation of Poland. Its first prisoners were Poles. During the camp’s operation, it was technically in Germany since the territory had been annexed from Poland to create Lebensraum. 

 Chris Jezewski, Toronto

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