The true Mideast story
Patrick Martin's piece on the U.S. shift in relations with Israel (The New Position: Lean On Israel - April 24) has interesting historical perspectives, but tells only part of the story.
The shift to the right in Israeli society does not just reflect the influence of the religious fundamentalists or new Israeli affluence. A key cause is the historical failure of the Palestinian leadership to respond positively to moderate and generous moves toward a two-state solution, such as the proposals made at the end of Bill Clinton's administration and the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The intifada that followed the Clinton initiative and the continuing rocket attacks on "undisputed" Israeli territory are very effective at getting moderate liberals to reconsider their position and swing to the right. The once-popular voices of Peace Now ring hollow in the face of terrorism.
Nevertheless, Israel should cease building new settlements for two reasons: First, it would be an initial step toward limiting the ultra-religious fundamentalists who threaten the vitality of the state. Second, the world would see that, irritating as they are, the settlements are not and never have been the principal obstruction to peace, which is the refusal of much of the Muslim world to accept the existence of a Jewish state in the Middle East.
David Rosner, London, Ont.
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Barack Obama and his administration just don't get it. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is not the source of all the problems in the Mideast; it is but one of many. Solving that conflict will not end global Islamic extremism, convince Iran to stop its nuclearization, mollify Hamas or Hezbollah, stabilize Lebanon, win over Syria, usher in peace to Iraq or bring women's rights to Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Obama may be willing to throw Israel under the bus, but the region's wider troubles will remain essentially unchanged.
Ken Greenberg, Millbrook, Ont.
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It is indeed unfortunate that when it comes to Israel, Americans have not heeded the sage advice of George Washington. During his farewell address, the first U.S. president admonished fellow citizens to steer clear of a "passionate attachment" to another nation, as it could create "the illusion of a common interest … where no common interest exists."
Gary Keenan, Vancouver
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Tolerance, meet intolerance
In a kinder, gentler time, Tom Lehrer was the South Park of his day (Jihad Jitters At Comedy Central - April 24). In his landmark 1965 album, That Was the Year That Was, he managed to insult virtually every race and religion, all while praising perversion and porn. The Catholic Church was not amused when he performed The Vatican Rag. But neither did they put out a contract on his life, nor on those who thought it was funny.
We are approaching an odd point where tolerance and intolerance may meet. Our liberal Western values continue to go further to protect in law the rights of all members of society, just as Muslim fundamentalism raises its wall of intolerance when it perceives that the West has crossed the line. Humour has fallen victim to the fear of chaos; our own tolerance a casualty of threats and violence.
Garrett Klassen, Elora, Ont.
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Discouraged (dead) coyotes
The official news release issued by Nova Scotia Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell on the "coyote problem" (Coyote Ugly: In The Crosshairs Again - national and online editions, April 24) is a perfect example of an hysterical response to public hysteria.
Mr. MacDonell says coyotes are a "serious problem in many communities," never explaining what constitutes a "serious problem" nor the actual number of threatened communities. In the psychiatric world, this is known as the "Henny Penny syndrome."
The minister says that trapping 4,000 coyotes will "discourage" coyotes from "boldness toward humans." In fact, none of the coyotes "harvested" will be discouraged. They won't be anythinged, because they will be dead. Ipso facto, they also won't get a chance to instruct surviving coyotes on proper behaviour in the proximity of Homo hystericus.
John Harrop, Naramata, B.C.
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I don't have many tourism dollars to spend, but I won't be wasting them in Saskatchewan or Nova Scotia until they call off the coyote bounty.
Amy Dickson, St. John's
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Diaspora politics, continued
In his column Don't Let Diaspora Politics Twist Canada's Foreign Policy (April 24), Jeffrey Simpson maintains that Canada was not involved with "the events during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and World War One" relating to the Armenian holocaust. Canada was indeed involved - it was at war with the Ottoman Empire and its German and Austrian allies, losing more than 60,000 soldiers in the process. That said, while I disagree with Mr. Simpson's take on the Canadian role in the war, the playing down of this participation is actually a welcome change from the prevailing sentiment that this slaughter of young Canadians was the high point of our history.
Charles Owen, Shelburne, Ont.
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To suggest that Canada should not take sides concerning the veracity of the Armenian genocide or claim that it "did not involve Canada" dispels this country's first humanitarian act on the international scene. Dubbed "Canada's Noble Experiment," Ottawa helped save and rehabilitate Armenian orphans (known as the Georgetown Boys) in the 1920s with direct government support and the donations of ordinary Canadians. Indeed, a pioneering moment in our history.
Miran Ternamian, Toronto
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Whether immigrants were forced to assimilate into Canadian society or left to pasture freely, they would still fight their old-land enemies. Take, for example, the French and the English in Canada, whose old colonial battles have morphed into battles for Canadian unity - they have even affected our immigration and trade policies, skewing them in favour of England and France. Is multiculturalism at the root of this problem, or is something else at play here?
The issue is not whether multiculturalism should be abandoned as a policy to avoid political influence, but the extent to which government policy, generally, should be formulated by lobbyists. This question is part of a debate far greater than diaspora politics.
Deepak Awasti, Scarborough, Ont.
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It's about quality of life
Like your correspondent from Ontario (Tacking Left - letters, April 24), I immigrated to Canada in 1969, attracted by the lure of social democracy as seen in the heady days of Trudeaumania. I ended up in Saskatchewan, and was privileged to witness the foresight and planning of visionaries such as Tommy Douglas, Allan Blakeney and Roy Romanow, who all ran under the New Democratic banner and proudly described themselves as "Liberals, but in more of a hurry."
Here, I have seen social reforms, 19 years of balanced budgets and a quality of life my family could never have afforded back in the United Kingdom. Yes, Michael Ignatieff, you will have my vote when your party re-embraces the vision and principles of Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau.
Chris Helliwell, Regina
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How green is your points plan
Re The Top 50 Greenest Employers (April 22 - special section):
Had Aeroplan, named as one of your greenest employers, been less assiduous in reclaiming my points due to account inactivity, I might have strayed from the path of green righteousness and taken a free vacation flight this summer. Instead, I can relax at home content in the knowledge that the best way to reduce one's carbon footprint is not to fly at all.
Portia Priegert, Kelowna, B.C.
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Get over it, kid
A Grade 5 boy who finds the basic anatomical (male) terms he is learning in class both "disturbing" and "embarrassing" (Sex: Turn To Page ... - letters, April 24)?
Doesn't this student's reaction merely demonstrate the significant need we have for these programs?
Patricia Wallis, Toronto
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Prestige and dignity
I and others am horrified at some of the suggestions made for our next governor-general (Starship Rideau Hall For Shatner? - Review, April 23).
Whatever one thinks of the position, it still is an integral part of our national heritage. The person nominated is the Queen's representative and, as such, requires some modicum of ceremonial prestige and dignity. The person chosen has to have the credentials to carry out the responsibilities of the position. The suggestion of actor William Shatner is not appropriate. Surely there some more worthy Canadians available for consideration.
Andrew Maxwell, Victoria
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They always have
Elizabeth Renzetti's review of the two plays in London about British class warfare (Class War Onstage - April 24), amusing and to the point as it is, will not surprise anyone who grew up and was educated in Britain. Nothing new in the fact that two of the party leaders, Nick Clegg and David Cameron, went to what Ms. Renzetti calls "posh" schools. They always have, with some brilliant exceptions. Still, it does show, as she says, "how tightly entwined the circles of power" remain.
It is also entirely appropriate that your reviewer should end with a quote from George Orwell. He, too, went to Eton.
William Davies, Burnaby, B.C.