Jan. 14: Letters to the editor

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Obama's speech

I do not believe that a memorial service is an appropriate venue to make overt statements regarding one's thoughts on guns. (What Obama Didn't Say - editorial, Jan. 13)

By stating that, "already we've seen a national conversation commence, not only about the motivations behind these killings, but about everything from the merits of gun safety laws to the adequacy of our mental-health system," Barack Obama indicated that he is quite aware of the issues that need to be tackled. These topics require proper airing in Congress and town hall meetings throughout the U.S. and not at Wednesday's service where the psychological well-being of those directly affected by such tragedies was treated as the number one priority.

Giselle Déziel, Cornwall, PEI

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In the wake of Arizona's shootings, your editorial chronicled the violence accompanying America's enduring love affair with guns and challenged the President to say and do more to end it. But let's get our own house in order before dispensing neighbourly advice. Day after day we read about Canada's shooting epidemic, from night clubs and schoolyards to streets filled with shoppers.

Canada lacks America's constitutional "right to bear arms" justification used by its gun lobby. Instead, our political legacy is one framed around "peace, order and good government." Let's use these fundamental differentiators to muzzle Canada's gun lobby and adopt the world's harshest mandatory jail sentences for unauthorized gun possession - before they are used.

George Horhota, Toronto

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I appreciate your strongly worded editorial about reversing America's slide toward gun culture, but it might have been titled, "What Obama couldn't say." The election of an African-American President with presumed liberal tendencies led to a binge of gun buying, especially of the rapid-fire weapons that American gun aficionados feared might get banned.

The dozen or more states with zero-out-of-10 basic gun laws are largely concentrated in the South and Southwest, according to a survey by Mayors Against Illegal Guns. By and large, these are depressed states hit hard by the recession, where men's core sense of adequacy is affected as they lose their jobs, homes or marriages. Many view having the most powerful weapon as the only way to ensure they will never be humiliated.

Ron Charach, Toronto

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Reacting to tragedy

In his book The Death of the Liberal Class, Chris Hedges made this prescient comment: "When someone like Sarah Palin posts a map with crosshairs centring on Democratic districts, when she favours a slogan such as 'Don't retreat, instead - reload!', there are desperate people listening who are cleaning their weapons."

The extreme nastiness that permeates American politics and political commentary is not a legitimate expression of passionately held beliefs. Rather it is the unrefined, brutish and phobic reaction of people who lack the skillful means to manage within a pluralistic, democratic society.

David Richardson, Victoria

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We the silent, moderate, majority must also take some blame for this tragedy. All over the world, we are seeing an increase in vitriolic voices, and when extremists of all stripes shout out, silence can no longer be afforded.

We all thought that perhaps extremism would just go away - that these thousands of small-minded bullies would tire, but the truth is they're not going anywhere. Unless we actively stand up against slander, violence and injustice, we will all be swallowed by the weight of this incredible hate.

Nikhil Joshi, St. John's

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Haltingly inclusive

I was dismayed to learn of the decision by the Halton Catholic District School Board to ban gay-straight alliances or clubs (Haltingly Inclusive, editorial - Jan. 13). While it is true that the church teaches that homosexual acts are wrong - a teaching that I, along with many Catholics, have difficulty with - it also teaches that homosexual people must be shown respect, and that discrimination in any regard should be avoided. It begs the question: Who was doing God's work in the Catholic schools of Halton, the students who built bridges to welcome students who are frequently marginalized, or the trustees who banned them?

André Doiron, Oshawa, Ont.

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Your editorial stated that "Taxpayer-supported Roman Catholic education in Ontario is guaranteed by the Constitution" while simultaneously recognizing that its continuance is dependent on the political winds of the day.

The fact is, Ontario's constitutional "obligation" to fund Catholic schools is largely illusory, as it can be removed through a simple bilateral agreement between the Ontario and federal legislatures. Hardly a guarantee. Quebec and Newfoundland removed similar obligations through such agreements about 10 years ago, moving to single public school systems for each official language.

Leonard Baak, president, Education Equality in Ontario, Stittsville, Ont.

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Still more tiger moms

Some parents use a strict dictatorial "my way or the highway" style while others use a more coddling, protective style (Confessions Of A Tiger Mom - Jan. 11). Each will experience either excellent or poor results. So it's not just about parenting style.

In any social interaction there is a transmitter and receiver. What's key is the child's interpretation. Some children can interpret that they're loved even though they are pushed, dominated and shamed.

However in a more developed, egalitarian society the child can easily interpret domination and shame as meaning they're inadequate. It's also easy for children to equate worthiness with their performance. The associated hurt feelings of these beliefs can lead to emotional distress and possible mental health issues.

In the Western democratic world, we want to value the creative process of the love of learning and social contribution.

Marty Nash and Beverley Cathcart-Ross, Parenting Network, Toronto

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Brutal food

Re Duck-Liver Flap Ruffles Feathers Of Ottawa Chefs (Jan. 12):

I applaud the National Capital Commission for removing foie gras from the menu of a Winterlude event. The consumption of food that is made as a result of cruelty diminishes us all.

Lisa Turner, Scarborough, Ont.

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Teaching Huck

Re Teaching Huck (letter, Jan. 10): The reason Mark Twain didn't use the f-word was due to censorship. The N-word was a common term for Negroes at that time, but the f-word was a gutter word. Even Norman Mailer's great Second World War story, The Naked and the Dead, had the f-word spelled as fug throughout.

Incidentally, this prompted Dorothy Parker to say, on being introduced to Mailer,: "So, you're the man who can't spell 'fuck.' "

William Bedford, Toronto