In today’s letters to the editor: peacekeeping; self-defence; sepsis; affordable housing; animal research; school food programs; the Jays
Letters to the editor, Sept. 3: ‘Newsflash: The current law already allows homeowners to use reasonable force to defend themselves and their property’: Let’s face facts: Our reputation as “peacekeepers” has been diminished by our choice of alliances, rather than by cost-cutting measures.
Ukraine is pointed to as a possible peacekeeping job for Canada. But in a geopolitical sense, look at which country has been surrounded by which other country’s strategic assets: Russia is surrounded from the Arctic to China’s border with assets of the United States. That includes those in Scandinavian countries, Baltic countries, Poland – all the way around. Peace in this world requires détente which requires that, in the face of aggressive measures, all nations just outside of Russia’s borders should be actually, truly, neutral nations. Neutrality would proscribe troops from either Russia or NATO-aligned states, thereby eliminating Canada. If Ukraine wishes to have a peacekeeping force, it would have to be peacekeepers from non-aligned nations, who would stand on guard facing both east and west.: Pierre Poilievre’s argument for changes to Canada’s laws on self-defence is that people should have the right to protect their home and family. Of course they should, say his supporters, whipped into a frenzy of outrage by the injustice of imagining their powerlessness in the face of thievery and violence. News flash: The current law already allows homeowners to use reasonable force to defend themselves and their property. This feels like classic Poilievre, winning support by using emotions to trump reason. He can’t seem to put a dent in Mark Carney’s popularity, so this is a perfect wedge issue.There were several points of failure, including incorrect contact details for the patient after the initial appropriate referral, improper workup for “peritonitis” and failure to meet basic benchmarks for antibiotic administration in sepsis, to name a few. I hope readers appreciate that pointing to a lack of female physicians seems to miss the point. One’s gender doesn’t make one an expert. Such assumptions can impede early care, especially in small communities where people are lucky if the doors are even open.: If calling a requirement that only 5 per cent of units in buildings of 100-plus units near transit be affordable is considered progressive, then “progressives” have lost their way. In the rush to deliver housing faster and at higher densities, especially around transit, the approach of development at any cost implied here ignores the core question of whom we are building for: a diverse population, with varied means, who should not have to rely on a car to commute. I recognize developers’ concerns about feasibility. The math isn’t pencilling out and we need creative solutions to implement policy. But taking those concerns at face value has already diluted policy for urgently needed affordable housing. Five per cent is meagre, yet still worth defending in a market geared toward the top end, which is the very product developers will keep delivering if we continue to stay out of their way.: “The beagles in question were … raised specifically for research, the same way we raise cattle, swine and poultry for food." To me, it defies logic when humans categorize animals: Some are saved from abuse, and some are not. Interestingly, the words “cattle,” “swine” and “poultry” are used instead of cows, pigs and chickens. Is this an attempt to devalue those animals’ worth, so that we can excuse the suffering they experience in slaughterhouses? I find there is without a doubt cruelty at the Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care in London, Ont. All animals deserve to live free of suffering, regardless of how we label them.How are dogs “raised specifically” for painful research? Are they genetically bred to feel no physical or emotional pain? Not likely. Spend time with puppies in their first six months of life. They are full of life, playful and deserve nothing more than a normal happy life. It is suggested that we are anti-science if we don’t support animal use for medical research. I’ve spent my entire life devoted to life sciences and don’t agree. How does one ethically induce a three-hour heart attack in a puppy and call it “a necessary evil?” Humans will likely do just fine if our medical discoveries are slowed down a little by eliminating animal research.Populist or not, I think Doug Ford is right on this one. I would defend my dog with all my strength to stop this from happening to her.: I acknowledge that some children go to school hungry through no fault of their own. But they are in the minority, and I take issue with the rest of the parents abdicating responsibilities to care for their children. I believe universal school food programs just make it easier for parents to download responsibilities – and the corresponding costs – to government and thereby other taxpayers. Raising kids is never easy and requires parents to do heavy lifting, not someone else. They should take responsibility for their own children and their children’s needs, and quit expecting the state to do their job for them.: I couldn’t help but think back to 1985, when the Blue Jays’ closer was Bill Caudill. Fortunately, in late 1985, he was replaced by Tom Henke. Jays fans can only hope that they find their Duane Ward to pitch the eighth inning, and Tom Henke the ninth, before it is too late.Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here:
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