Fighting the cartels
The least expensive (in lives and money), and most effective single blow against organized crime in North America (The Epidemic That Threatens The Americas - Dec. 18) would be to legalize the possession of recreational drugs, and treat addiction as a medical problem.
Legalization, while not a panacea, if followed by appropriate regulations, licensing, and taxation would address both drug use and addiction, while freeing millions of dollars for treatment and education that are currently wasted on a revolving door of police, courts and prisons.
And, without a lucrative black market for the gangs to fight bloody turf wars over, and without the need for addicts to steal, the rest of us would be much safer.
Elizabeth Woods, Victoria
Trafficking drugs, guns, cigarettes, and other contraband depends on cash to protect the identity of sellers and buyers.
To reduce trafficking, Richard Thomson, former TD Bank CEO, proposed that we accelerate the inevitable move toward a cashless society. Mr. Thomson's proposal has been proven by the success of paper trails in the fight against terrorism.
Joseph Polito, Toronto
WikiFreaked
I found your editorial on Julian Assange (The Archetypal Outsider - Dec. 17) an insightful view of journalistic integrity and the potential of the Internet.
While Mr. Assange is undoubtedly a peacock character and a classic maverick, Wikileaks has not operated unilaterally in releasing confidential information. Your editorial failed to mention that it has worked in close conjunction with some of the world's great institutions of journalism - The New York Times; The Guardian; Der Spiegel - and attempted to work with the United States Department of State to vet information prior to release.
This is hardly rogue or irresponsible behaviour. When you asked "To whom is he [Mr. Assange]accountable?", I could only think, To whom is The Globe and Mail editor responsible?
Like The Globe and Mail, Wikileaks is supported by an audience of people who can think for themselves and, Mr. Assange notwithstanding, may be quite deep political thinkers. When and if Wikileaks makes a disclosure that is demonstrably reckless and irresponsibly dangerous - which it has not yet, to be quite clear - this will bring it to the tip of the sword.
Michael Slattery, Toronto
Oy! to the world
Christmas was becoming secular long before Johnny Marks and Irving Berlin were even born (Schmeck The Halls: How Jewish Songwriters Created Christmas - Arts, Dec. 18).
For instance, A Christmas Carol was immensely popular when it was first published in 1843. It reflected a growing mood that Christmas should be reinvented as a time of generosity and merriment. Christmas cards, trees and crackers all took on their current forms in the Victorian era, well over a century ago.
The Jewish creators of those Christmas pop hits were merely providing what audiences wanted-songs that reflected what the holiday had already become.
Liz Gillespie, London, Ont.
Owing to market forces, the Jewish songwriters had no choice. Hanukkah celebrations had already been taken over by The Dreidel Song.
Ken Mark, Toronto
A pox on both houses
The legal system is designed to create adversity between divorcing parents (Judge Turns To Ridicule To Cope With The Ridiculous - Dec. 17). So why does Mr. Justice Joseph Quinn act surprised when the acrimony turns as raucous as the case of Catherine and Larry?
Reform custody laws so that each fit and loving parent gets to see the child of divorce half the time - and no one pays alimony or child support - and you will find the ridiculous antics of the court, even those of the judge, are reduced dramatically.
In the meantime, threats by Catherine (to run over Larry) and her niece (who warned that he would be shot) should be heard in a criminal, not civil, court.
Don Mathis, Sherman, Texas
Addiction's hold
Jessica Warner (Addiction Fatigue Syndrome: The End Of An Intoxicating Idea - Focus, Dec. 18) makes a worthy point when she challenges the disease model of addiction and skewers the general banality of addiction memoirs.
But in her list of recommended reading, she omits probably the single most important and nuanced contribution to addiction research in recent years: In the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts, by Gabor Maté.
Ms. Warner would reduce all forms of addiction to a "disorder of choice," while Dr. Maté, who works with addicts in Vancouver's downtown east side, persuasively argues that addiction is a far more complex psychological and brain-based condition, formed largely by early deprivation and trauma. .
Yes, some manage to overcome addiction by following Nancy Reagan's homily, "just say no." But when countless others remain tyrannized by deep, intractable compulsions, "encouraging self-control" is like imploring a freight train to stop on a dime. Is it helpful to blame and shame all addicts for their weakness and failure of will? Who knows it better than themselves?
Between the poles of "disease" and "choice" falls a long, dark shadow - and that's where we need to cast our gaze.
James FitzGerald, Toronto
Poke a buddy today
I applaud Margaret Wente's commentary on social media (You're Not That Interesting. And Neither Am I - Dec. 18).
Friendship is not a concept in which a numerical value replaces intimacy. I am witnessing a growing trend where people count hundreds of Facebook friends and yet feel more socially and emotionally isolated than ever.
For building meaningful connections, there is no substitute to face-to-face interactions.
Pamela Paris, clinical psychologist, Toronto
Thanks for the insightful article in which Margaret Wente decides she isn't interesting enough for Facebook. That's bang-on - although one wonders why she felt this fact was interesting enough for newsprint.
Steve Melnyk, Winnipeg
Whenever I share an interesting chapter from my life with family or friends I usually include the disclaimer penned over fifty years ago by Richard Needham, the great Globe and Mail columnist:
"We all lead fascinating lives, playing to an audience of one - ourselves."
John Uren, Powell River, B.C.
Icing call
After all the news and scandals, my favourite section, my treat every Friday is the real estate section of your paper. And now I see that you're taking a month off.
Why not take a month off from reporting on the Toronto Maple Leafs? Reading about real estate is always interesting and inspiring, whereas reading about the Leafs is always disappointing and depressing.
Lynne Catterson, Windsor, Ont.