Rating: NNNNN
Bogus Yankee sympathies
as an american citizen living in
Canada, I have to say I’m not impressed with the so-called “pro-American” sympathy rallies I’ve been seeing (NOW, April 10-16). Whatever their stated intent, these rallies, such as the one Friday in Toronto, have been not pro-American but pro-Bush and anti-Chretien. They are an attempt to cloak narrow, partisan politics in something noble.
They make no attempt to address or support those Americans who have grave doubts about this war and respect the right of other countries to make their own decisions.
Genuine sympathy such as that shown by Canadians to thousands of stranded American airplane passengers on 9/11 is a great and humane thing. The bogus, self-serving “sympathy” we’re seeing right now, however, comes off as mere political toadying, based more on the fear of losing trade than on anything else.
Chester N. Scoville
Toronto
My generation
i was very disappointed to read
Sarah Liss’s really crappy article (NOW, April 10-16). It sucked.
My mother and I were among the 1,500 very lucky people who were able to see Joan Baez live at Convocation Hall. Her music has no less relevance or timeliness for me. I’m 21.
Over the past two years I have pretty much abandoned most contemporary music. It is so rare nowadays to find anyone with a meaningful message.
Now that my generation seems to be becoming increasingly politicized, with the Iraq war and anti-globalization movement, hopefully there will be a resurgence in meaningful music.
In this political climate, it’s comforting to know there are people who have never abandoned their ideals. Thank you, Joan. We all needed it!
Gareth Bate
Toronto
This guy needs a hug
wow! after reading graeme kirk-
land’s letter to the editor (NOW, April 10-16), I can’t help but think that maybe he isn’t getting enough hugs. It sounds like his head will explode (for pictoral evidence, see picture on page 16).
Pro-peace does not equal anti-American. If the pro-war side wants to make a “damn difference,” they’ll ask Kirkland to step down as spokesperson. Meanwhile, we “assholes” will continue our attempts to lessen the body count by finding alternatives to innocent death on both sides of the ocean. Peace out.
Kevin Rees-Cummings
Toronto
Blood omelette
somebody appears to have em-
bedded a drumstick in Graeme Kirkland’s ass. Or is that the ventriloquist’s hand of Ted Nugent? He can’t possibly have formulated such a persuasive pro-war argument — “Fuck you,” etc… — in the privacy of his own head. Sad to see a fellow artiste breaking his eggs into this sizzling blood omelette. Talk with your hands, dude.
Jonathan Culp
Vineland Station
Mickey Mouse act
catching kirkland’s mickey
Mouse attempt at performance art over the years is enough to convince even the most sympathetic that this silly little boy yearns for attention. He’s so up to speed on international issues that he even accuses Canadians of supporting terrorism and somehow sees 9/11 as being proof that we don’t care much for lives lost. How utterly cynical, misinformed and pathetic Kirkland has become.
Bill King
Toronto
Ridiculous blowhards
i have had it up the wazoo with
ridiculous blowhards like Graeme Kirkland. People like Kirkland need to realize that being anti-war is not immature or self-delusional. We simply know that the best way to achieve anything isn’t just to storm in and take it.
Kris Law
Toronto
Hell and lawyers to pay
anna manshreck-head’s item on
her struggle with Lawrence Park C.I. principal Michael Rethazi (NOW, April 3-9) over her posting of information about an anti-war rally was intriguing. Full marks to Manshreck-Head for noting that schools allow military recruiters on their grounds, and it’s well known that their activities sometimes end in more than mere scratches.
If the principal’s postering tear-downs reflect TDSB policy, the board must be sitting around quivering about whether to take students out of school ever. They’re probably happy to see Boyne River shut down. After all, what if someone were to get a broken wrist? There would be hell, and lawyers, to pay.
Geoff Rytell
Toronto
Standard for hate
re senseless censors (now, april
10-16). As your readers know, Canada has laws that protect its citizens from hate speech. B’nai Brith believes that the content of Al Jazeera in past years would have contravened the Criminal Code numerous times. Censorship is not the issue, and your implication of such is without merit.
When the CRTC is tasked with determining the suitability of a television network for licensing in this country, it has a responsibility to review that network’s programming.
Do you truly wish to see hate broadcast in Canada? Hate like that of May 15, 2001, when Al Jazeera moderator Dr. Faisal Al-Qassam read on air a viewer opinion referring to “the (Jews), whom our God described as the sons of apes and pigs, will not be deterred unless there is a real holocaust that will destroy all of them at once.” Do Canadians need to be bombarded by statements like this? Does that meet NOW’s standard for “hateful”?
Frank Dimant
Executive Vice-President, B’nai Brith Canada
Toronto
No respect for cyclists
re truck stop (now, april 10-16).
Getoutofthebikelane.com is a perfect example of how self-absorbed and arrogant cyclists are. Delivery trucks stop where they want when they want, inconveniencing everyone. That’s a fact of life in downtown traffic.
So what if a cyclist has to slow down or stop to go around a delivery truck? I passed three tests (a vision test, a written test on the Highway Traffic Act and a driving test) to obtain a licence that grants me the privilege of sharing the road with others. That licence also confers responsibility if I break the rules. I’m not interested in the tantrums of people who passed no tests and use the road with no regard for its rules or for others, with impunity.
Katarina Ristic
Toronto
Apology to reckless driver
this is a letter of apology to
the driver who almost killed me by violating section 148, paragraph 6, of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
I’m sorry my existence is such an inconvenience to you. I’m sorry you were not charged with the offence you’re guilty of. I’m sorry the other users of the road prevent you from driving just exactly as you please whenever and wherever you please.
And I am very sorry that the more vulnerable users of the road make you have to slow down and swerve to avoid them. What an incredible inconvenience. What I am most especially sorry for is the deaths you are going to cause in the future with your selfish recklessness.
Derek Birch
Toronto
Heart-stopping
i am just writing a little note
about Devendra Banhart, the young talent featured in Now (March 27-April 2).
Very seldom does a song make me want to jump on a table at Mr. Sub scream and then run outside on a sunny day and chase leaves in a park. That is exactly the way I felt after listening to Michigan State off Banhart’s new album. If you haven’t listened to it yet, get yourself a copy and prepare to smile.
Alice Gibney
Toronto
Sizzling sardines
it was great to learn about the
health benefits of sardines (NOW, April 10-16). I was surprised to read about how different restaurants prepare sardines by grilling or barbecuing them. I come from a Bengali East Indian background, and most Bengalis love to eat any sort of fish, but it is usually prepared with curry, even sardines.
Sujata Chapman
Toronto
