Email letters@nowtoronto.com
Mayor’s democracy epiphany
This week’s NOW Magazine aptly touches on our mayor’s recent epiphany wherein he blissfully chanced upon the notion that “you can’t put a price on democracy” (NOW, August 22-28).
Truth be told, this maxim, or more so aphorism, has been (re-)conceived and touched upon recurrently for over two millennia, i.e., whenever the topic of politics was broached by a gown- or toga-clad party within certain social circles.
Hence, it’s sheer happenstance (I hate using the belaboured term “serendipity,” as it’s simply a river in India) that the muses momentarily alighted on our fearless leader’s mental faculties out of the blue one fine day.
Yet be assured his handlers will henceforth milk this newfound motto relentlessly, and brazenly market said epiphany as Robbie’s own personal catchphrase come election time.
Interestingly, last Thursday’s Star ran a page-8 article on long-time NDP supporter (and nonagenarian) Joy Taylor, who apparently had her own wonderful epiphany to the effect that, to quote her, “You can’t put a price on honesty.”
Although she wasn’t subsequently lauded for it (in the same vein as our fearless leader), you can imagine what Ford’s camp could do with that one.
William Gouzelis
Toronto
Preaching to empty pews on Ford?
Enzo DiMatteo asks, “Is it going to take protests in the streets to hold Ford accountable?” (NOW, August 22-28).
Why doesn’t he organize one and find out? He will also find out whether his almost weekly anti-Ford columns have a wide loyal readership and whether he has enough influence to motivate them to join his one-man protest
Or has he been preaching to almost empty pews in his anti-Ford church all this time?
G. Lee
Toronto
On justice for Sammy Yatim vs Rob Ford
Enzo DiMatteo is right to keep attention focused on the bottom-feeding sleazebags who comprise at least part of Rob Ford’s inner circle.
He suggests that large street protests might be needed before we “get justice from cops… like the [Sammy] Yatim shooting.”
Despite Constable James Forcillo now facing a second-degree murder charge, the only thing Yatim has so far received from Toronto police is the gravest of injustices imaginable.
Robert McBride
Toronto
Yatim family should prepare for the worst
Regarding Focusing On The Bigger Picture (NOW, August 22-28). Constable James Forcillo is nothing more than a typical bully behind a badge suffering from a massive ego.
Sammy Yatim’s family should be prepared for the ultimate insult when he gets off on the second-degree murder charge the SIU churned up to calm the public. It’s bound to happen.
Jason Wright
Toronto
Chasing every puff of pot smoke
It amazes me that people think purchasing cannabis in stores that check identification, rather than buying it from street dealers who just count the money, is going to make it easier for young people to get marijuana (NOW, August 25).
Police could use their limited resources on investigating people selling drugs instead of chasing every puff of smoke.
Alcohol and tobacco use have both declined since governments started requiring ID. And there is no evidence that the same wouldn’t happen with marijuana, except in the minds of people who make their living from marijuana prohibition.
Norman Gooding
From nowtoronto.com
Give Jack Layton memories a rest
The unveiling of a statue in honour of Jack Layton at Toronto’s waterfront (NOW, August 23) is nauseating, to say the least. Jack Layton was not Nelson Mandela. Can we stop building monuments to his memory?
Andrew van Velzen
Toronto
Russia’s Putin problem
I was with letter-writer D. Hebert until the closing statement, “Take that, Russia!” (NOW, August 22-28).
It is not Russia that people should be against in the Sochi Olympics boycott, but Vladimir Putin. I don’t think it was what Susan G. Cole intended (NOW, August 15-21), but I keep reading comments with animosity mistakenly directed toward Russia and Russians. It’s a dangerous use of language, even if it’s meant as a synecdoche of the whole-for-the-part variety.
I’m surprised that NOW included that closing line in the pull-quote in the print edition.
I expected more from a publication that seems so cognizant of the subtleties of language.
Tomás Rosado
Toronto
Rascally on the Rascals
Susan G. Cole’s review of The Rascals: Once Upon A Dream (NOW, August 22-28) had to be one of the worst ever.
Anyone who’s old enough to remember the Rascals will agree that this show was nothing short of magnificent.
Cole referred to “meaningless moments from the band’s past.” These were some of my favourite highlights.
Most of the audience enjoyed themselves immensely. Very few of us wanted to hear about the “relationship between the members” or the time spent by Eddie in a coma. We mostly wanted to hear the music and have some fun. We did both.
If Cole wants theatre complete with flashy costumes and lavish dance numbers, then perhaps she should attend The Wizard Of Oz.
Steven Van Zandt and all four of the Rascals even took the time to chat, pose and sign autographs before the show.
How many of the so-called “talents” of today do you think would bother to do the same?
Tom Vassal
Toronto
