Streetcars to another world
Thank you for Sheila Gostick’s lovely paean to Toronto streetcars (NOW, September 19-25). These vehicles excite in part because they bring us to nature – not just to Lake Simcoe, as Gostick mentions they used to, but to High Park today.
The Carlton car takes riders from the subway to Carolinian forest, a black oak savannah. The now defunct short-turn at St. Clair and Mt. Pleasant passed through a little wood.
Even the downtown loop on Bathurst north of Queen has its patch of grass, a fine tree and bushes. This is transportation from one world to another.
Gideon Forman
Toronto
Tim Hudak in five words or less
On The Trouble With Tim Hudak (NOW, September 19-25). Outdated ideology and voodoo economics. Any wonder?
Catherine Archer
From nowtoronto.com
Biodiesel a no-brainer
Signe Langford’s Biodiesel Or Bust (NOW, September 12-18) on the waste cooking oil market in Toronto was very interesting and informative.
The recycling of waste cooking oil from the busy kitchens of Toronto’s 7,000 restaurants is a win-win for all and must be encouraged. It should be a no-brainer. Is City Hall listening?
Ajay Goyal
Toronto
Porn sense
Susan G. Cole has written about the apathy of some women on college campuses toward rape culture (NOW, September 12-18). I agree with her that the chant at St. Mary’s University was offensive.
However, Cole also said she was concerned about the impact pornography has on creating a rape culture. My question for Cole: what is your definition of pornography?
Is nudity pornography? Is Playboy Magazine? An American Supreme Court justice once said that he couldn’t define pornography but knew it when he saw it. That’s like trying to nail jelly to the wall.
Jeff Pancer
Toronto
From BC, advice on the waterfront
I was in Toronto recently for TIFF, which I very much enjoyed. After spending many hours viewing films, I discovered a wonderful gem of an escape: the waterfront and the Toronto Islands.
How wonderful that Toronto has seen fit to maintain this soul-refreshing experience for all its citizens and visitors to enjoy. Good job, Toronto!
The only glitch in my adventure on the islands was the loud noise of airplanes as they landed or prepared to take off at the Island Airport.
To my dismay, I have since read in your newspaper (NOW, September 12-18) that Toronto is considering major changes to allow jets. I cannot imagine anyone ever suggesting that a jet airport should be built beside Vancouver’s renowned Stanley Park.
I do understand the convenience for those whose destination is downtown Toronto, but there must be alternatives. So, please, Toronto, carefully think before you irretrievably lose this tranquil soundscape in your precious waterfront area.
Susan Lighthall
Vernon, BC
Bird’s-eye view of Porter’s jets plan
If you are flying from the Island Airport, we can almost wave to you from our balcony. Robert Deluce now wants to double his private business by adding jets and extending the runway into the lake (NOW, September 12-18). Both are illegal.
We welcome millions of visitors every year to our beautiful waterfront. If you think it belongs to everybody, please say no to jets. Sign the petition from York Quay Neighbourhood Association (YQNA).
Ulla and Michael Colgrass
Toronto
Labour Day parade plot exposed!
Three cheers for letter-writer Paul Cerar for uncovering another Labour Day parade plot (NOW, September 12-18). From exposing its plan to “ban” Tories to communist “collaborators” who protest the U.S. government’s refusal to abide by international law in the case of the Cuban 5, our intrepid letter-writer is providing a great service by keeping us safe from his delusions. Keep that tin-foil hat on, comrade!
Sean Smith
Georgetown
Why U.S. will stay out of Syria
I agree with letter-writer John Wilson that the U.S. would be wrong to intervene in Syria (NOW, September 19-25) and that it has been hypocritical on the subject of chemical weapons.
But the U.S. does not use chemical weapons as such. Agent Orange was a defoliant used to kill vegetation, although of course it is also very dangerous to humans and should never have been used.
Depleted uranium is very dangerous as well, but it is used for its ballistic properties, not for its toxicity. Lead bullets are also made of a toxic heavy metal, but that is not why they are used.
Wilson’s conclusion, that the U.S. has manufactured a furor as a pretext to use its military power to pursue its own interests, gives the U.S. more credit than it deserves.
The U.S. is already overextended in the Middle East.
David Palter
Toronto
Decoding PQ’s culture conventions
Pauline Marois claims that her proposed Charter Of Quebec Values is impartial (NOW, August 29-September 5) because it bans all distinctive religious symbols, garb and headgear.
Funny thing. Observant Jewish men must wear something (usually a skullcap) on their heads. It’s not optional. Sikh men must wear a turban. It’s not optional. Some Muslim women cover their hair a few cover their faces. It’s not optional. Christians?
Unless they are members of the clergy or religious orders, they don’t wear any distinctive dress, and they can wear a cross or not. It’s optional.
I think it was Anatole France who said the law is impartial: both the rich and the poor are forbidden to sleep under bridges.
Elizabeth Block
Toronto
Miley Cyrus’s screw-up offers life lesson
I am not a Miley Cyrus fan (NOW, August 27). However, I’m concerned about the negative publicity she’s receiving. What’s wrong with screwing up?
Have we become so inured to the expectation of perfection that we cannot permit ourselves to fall flat on our fucking faces? Haven’t some of our best times (and indeed our best lessons) come from such instances? Is our vanity such that we’d rather live carefully than risk disturbing an image of self that’s more illusion than reality?
What I saw in that night’s performance was a person unscripted. I don’t believe she did it for the audience or the ratings she did it for herself – something far more powerful and threatening to a world bent on control of image.
Jason Smith
Toronto
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