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Bombardier's trade turbulence
Re U.S. Sees Planned Bailout For Bombardier As Trade Barrier (April 8): I can't pretend to follow the intricacies of trade law, but I find it incongruous that Canadian taxpayers are being encouraged to massively subsidize the development of the American F-35 Lockheed Martin through its purchase for the Canadian Air Force, and yet are being criticized for considering a subsidy to Bombardier for the C Series.
Isn't the answer to paint the C Series CS 100 grey and consider it a military procurement?
Jeff Berryman, Windsor, Ont.
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MLB's slip, slidin' away rule
New rules often have unintended consequences – clearly the case in the Bautista second-base slide, despite Cathal Kelly's protestations that only a death-penalty interpretation of the new rule should be used (Relax. Toronto Wasn't Cheated Out Of A Game – Sports, April 7).
The Chase Utley Rule was intended to protect a middle infielder crossing the bag and making a throw to first with a runner bearing down. Historically, a runner would often slide directly at the middle infielder, purely intent on breaking up the double play with little, if any, concern about actually touching second.
On these slides, often there could be significant contact with the middle infielder who was in a vulnerable, unprotected position. So on its face, the rule makes sense.
In Jose Bautista's case, his trailing left hand appeared to make incidental contact with the middle infielder's foot. As such, he was technically in violation of the rule. But MLB should rethink the interpretation of the rule – it should be done from the perspective of a "baseball play," including the middle infielder's culpability.
The reality is that the blown-up play was the result of a very poor defensive choice by the second baseman, not anything Mr. Bautista did. The correct play by Logan Forsythe would have been to hold on to the ball and make no throw to first.
To ignore this fact and reward the middle infielder for making a stupid play is a poor interpretation of the new rule. Every sport uses judgment in the enforcement of rules. MLB's judgment here, and Mr. Kelly's assessment of it, is wrong.
Frank Malone, Aurora, Ont.
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Congratulations to Cathal Kelly for calling out the local apologists over the application of the new MLB sliding rule.
It may indeed be a stupid rule – I think it is – but, for the moment, it is the rule, and every player, manager and commentator knows it. Serial whiner Jose Bautista clearly broke the rule by intentionally trying to trip the Rays' player. Enough already.
Claire Hoy, Toronto
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A dressing-down for Gibbons
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons says he cannot understand why anyone would be offended by his postgame "dresses" comment ("I guess we'll come out wearing dresses tomorrow"). Here's why women are offended – because the comment was shorthand for "silly and weak."
Note that he didn't say that the team should come out tomorrow in "kilts": That would make no sense because a reference to Scottish men is not immediately understood as being a reference to something silly and weak.
And as for his wife and daughter apparently not finding anything wrong with his comment, they were probably just relieved he didn't call the rule "gay," which even a cracker dinosaur (see what I did there? Used shorthand to insult old, sexist, white, southern men) likely realizes would be offensive.
But no apology expected from Mr. Gibbons. We recognize he is from a different time and place.
Julie Maciura, Toronto
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The deadly realities of race
Re Racism Debate Falls Into A Trap Without Any Winners (April 7): When NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh proclaims that tension between the police and public increases when "any institution denies the reality" of racism, he's on to something important.
Unless the colour adjustment on my TV has been broken these many years, the undeniable reality in Toronto is that there has been a disproportionate number of murders of young black men, many by other black men.
While Black Lives Matter may feel justified in protesting about police racism, it would do well to also turn the lens inward, and spend time protesting against the appalling killing of so many black men in the city.
Lorne Hicks, Keswick, Ont.
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Siestas: healthy vs. wealthy
As a Spaniard fond of siestas, I can attest to their health benefits, which are now increasingly supported by the evidence of science (Siesta Reform – editorial, April 8).
However, you are missing a bigger point. Perhaps, siestas may have a yet-to-be proven negative effect on Spain's national productivity. However, siestas and the Spanish way of life – a Mediterranean diet, a relaxed pace of life, etc. – seem to have, according to science, a positive effect on health.
So, the dilemma comes down to a choice between an unhealthy but wealthy way of life, or a healthy but not so wealthy way of life.
I know where my choice lies.
Juan E. Muñoz, MD, Ancaster, Ont.