Letters to the editor for Sept. 2: ‘The U.S. has signalled that in any future four-year election cycle, it could turn sharply against Canada’

Open this photo in gallery:

Oh, Canada

Re “Thanks, Mr. Trump. You are changing Canada for the better” (Opinion, Aug. 28): Lawrence Martin says in his column that U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation and economic threats against Canada have brought on more patriotism than at any time since the 1972 Canada-Soviet hockey series.

I too, am old enough to remember that series and the burst of patriotism it provided. However, in contrast to the temporary heightened sense of pride resulting from that outstanding sporting event, I sincerely hope that the changes we are seeing now in Canada - including the desire for greater economic independence, greater military recruitment and pride, and a stronger sense of who we are and what we have to offer the world – are permanent.

Even if, as Mr. Martin says, Trumpism might be defeated in the 2028 presidential election, the damage has been done. The U.S. has signalled that in any future four-year election cycle, it could turn sharply against Canada, despite our long history as allies and friends, with the longest undefended border in the world.

Jeff Buckstein Ottawa

Globe columnist Lawrence Martin states that U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions allow Canadians to appreciate our democratic values and systems even more. The problem is that most Canadians, and perhaps even Mr. Martin himself, don’t realize how undemocratic our systems and values really are. I suggest that he read the excellent book The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, by his colleague Andrew Coyne.

People who live in glass houses …

Pete Pynenburg Toronto

Our rising tax bills

Re “Higher taxes and inflation are coming. This is how investors should prepare for it” (ROB, Aug. 29): I am hoping that all those calling enthusiastically for the military to obtain new airplanes and submarines are also happy to pay an additional 10 to 20 per cent in their taxes to support this effort. Or is this to be a legacy for our grandchildren to cover?

Charles J. Krebs North Saanich, B.C.

History lesson

Re “Civic education is the answer to extremism, including within our military” (Aug. 25): I think Stephen Axworthy requires more of the civic education he advocates before making the blanket, non-contextualized statement: “[Students] often don’t know that slavery existed in Canada.”

Slavery was officially abolished in British North America (not “Canada”) in 1834. When Canada came into existence in 1867 there was no slavery, though there were “former slaves” – those who had escaped from the United States via the Underground Railroad before and during the U.S. Civil War and those already freed from the minor remnants of slavery in pre-Confederation Canada. One could, however, count the over 100,000 “Home Children” scooped up from Britain between 1869 and 1948 and transported to Canada as indentured servants, basically time-bound slaves, for which no Canadian government has ever uttered a word of apology.

W.E. Hildreth, LL.B. (Ret.) Picton, Ont.

Clean power

Re “B.C. Energy Minister wants to lead in clean power at home while exporting fossil fuels abroad” (Aug 22): The argument that Asian countries need our (expensive) gas is fast becoming a losing one. There are many red flags flying in the industry itself suggesting that Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets are a volatile and risky business. They are so for many reasons, not the least of which is that inexpensive, climate-safe renewables are “unstoppable,” according to the International Energy Agency.

The emphasis on LNG is a colossal waste of money, and it is frankly unethical. LNG is not a bridge to clean energy. It is mostly methane - a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more powerful at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

If doing the right thing is not reason enough to stop building out LNG globally, then the International Court of Justice ruling is absolutely clear: If we pursue this course of action, we stand to be sued by those countries most affected by the fossil-fuel-induced climate crisis.

Our money and brainpower would be better spent building up renewable energy and our international reputation would be better served by being a global leader in doing so.

Valerie Endicott; Belle Cote, Cape Breton, N.S.

Cringe reflex

Re “Dangerous Liaisons at the Stratford Festival is a misfire of a #MeToo story” (Arts, Aug. 26): I attended this performance with a group, looking forward to the opulent costumes and perhaps thought-provoking themes to deconstruct at the postshow gathering. But when the seduction scene played out, I was dumbstruck. The young girl was obviously being cruelly preyed upon and … what? People are laughing? “Wait, there’s something very wrong here,” was all I could think. But somehow through the scripting and the manner in which the scene unfolded, it was almost reflexive to laugh (possibly some of it nervous laughter from sheer discomfort). Thank you, Aisling Murphy, for putting into words what I was feeling. Hopefully this sparks the right kind of awareness and conversations.

Sue Gal Richmond Hill, Ont.

AI in education

Re “To the freshman class of 2025: Will you let AI think for you, or learn how to think for yourself?” (Opinion, Aug. 28): I thoroughly enjoyed the opinion piece by Professor Shawna Dolansky where the difference between merely knowing something and knowing its meaning (that is, appreciating it in addition to knowing it) was clearly presented. I thought I might have my university students read this lovely argument but then realized that some of them would probably use AI to summarize it, thereby missing the point.

Indeed, I recall asking my students a few years ago for suggestions of what they would like to see changed in my critical-thinking textbook. One student said they would rather have it all in point form because reading full paragraphs took too long.

I am of the belief, however, that most of our eager students will indeed see and internalize the value of thinking for themselves via the various humanities courses that they take in the coming year. I look forward to it in these difficult and challenging times.

Jeff McLaughlin PhD, professor of philosophy, Thompson Rivers University; Kamloops, B.C.

I screen, you screen

Re “Forget the nostalgia for our ‘golden summers.’ Parents need to rethink how to navigate our screen-obsessed reality” (Opinion, Aug. 27): This Opinion piece focuses on excessive use of screens by children. Could it be that they are learning that by example? On our beach holiday, the poor weather resulted in a lot of indoor internetting. My granddaughter coined a new word to describe me. She said: “I’m a screen-ager and you’re a screen-ior.”

Henry Van Drunen Stratford, Ont.

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: letters@globeandmail.com