Believe it or not
A young Saudi, Turki Al Sabbar, is frustrated that Canadians have misconceptions about his country ( Guess Who's Coming To Canada - front page, March 6). "They think we ride camels," he says. I know, it's so frustrating. And just think: There are Canadians who believe that Saudi women are allowed to drive cars, that non-Muslims have some rights in Saudi Arabia, and that people can practise religions other than Islam in Saudi Arabia.
George Patrick, Oakville, Ont.
At least there's volleyball
Last Exit From Kandahar (Focus, March 6) is a fitting epitaph for Afghanistan. In Nakhonay, the villagers don't want us there, and our soldiers don't want to be there. Sadly, before we leave, more Canadians will die; after we go, some more village "collaborators" will be executed. But the local children will grow up as realists in a barely changed medieval society. And Sergeant Abdul Wodod and his motley crew of "national" army trainees, realists also, will return to their homes in the north to continue playing volleyball - perhaps Canada's only lasting legacy to the Afghans.
Michael Butler, Victoria
The big picture
With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's latest declaration - Iranian President Calls 9/11 A 'Big Fabrication' (online, March 6) - the tally is: Holocaust = fabrication; 9/11 = fabrication; and nuclear fuel enrichment for warheads = fabrication. We get it.
Maurice Grzeda, Sudbury, Ont.
Good luck, Mr. Flaherty
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's promise of a federal budget surplus by the 2015-2016 fiscal year ( Tories Launch Age Of Austerity - front page, March 5) brings to mind what British religious broadcaster Pauline Webb told the Canadian Christian Festival in Halifax 20 years ago: "If you don't think God has a sense of humour, just announce your plans for the next five years."
Glenn Cooper, Pictou, N.S.
The two Colombias
The consensus in Latin America on Alvaro Uribe's presidency in Colombia is a far cry from what was portrayed in your editorial It's Hard To Say Goodbye (March 6). True, Mr. Uribe inherited a country plagued with a horrific and complex civil conflict, but his tenure did not alleviate the severe social, political and economic inequities at its root. Far from it. Mr. Uribe is a member of Colombia's establishment and he benefits from the status quo.
South American leaders oppose the prospect of an increased U.S. military presence in Colombia. And Mr. Uribe is the "neighbourhood bully," not Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose government has been at the forefront of efforts to build Latin American solidarity. U.S. political and military interference continues to be one of the gravest threats to peace and stability in the region.
Patrick Clark, Cobourg, Ont.
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The news that Alvaro Uribe cannot serve more than two terms is disappointing. He has made great strides in bringing law and order to Colombia, forcing the FARC guerrillas, paramilitaries and drug lords to the country's periphery, reviving the economy and creating a good investment climate. On the other hand, the news that Mr. Uribe is abiding by the constitutional court's two-term limit is encouraging.
I had the pleasure of visiting Colombia for two weeks in January, and the contrast between the negative reports I received from the Canadian government and my insurance company and the reality I found were quite different. The country is quite modern, fairly safe and clean. Its people are friendly and helpful. And the prices are about half that found in Canada.
I sincerely hope Mr. Uribe's successor will be able to keep the disruptive elements at bay.
Stan Neathery, Ottawa
New holy grail?
The mysterious disappearance of Sidney Crosby's hockey stick and glove should be viewed not with despair but with elation ( What Price History? - Sports, March 5). This is the stuff of legends. Perhaps we'll soon see the appearance of True Stick fragments, or maybe a Quest for the Golden Gauntlet.
Michael Levison, Kingston, Ont.
Tired of being 'good losers'
I'm appalled that people are blaming the athletes and Cross Country Canada for not giving a spot to visually impaired teammate Brian McKeever in the last Olympic cross-country ski race ( McKeever's Exclusion Triggers Hostility Against Cross Country Canada - Sports, March 6). This is exactly the attitude that led to us always being "good losers."
Mr. McKeever did incredibly well to make the team, but you should always put your best athletes into something as important as the Olympics. No one should have been expected to stand down to free up a space. Good luck to Mr. McKeever in the Paralympics.
Gill Park, St. Catharines, Ont.
Where the fur flies
One of the reasons offered by zoos in defence of their existence is that they have an educational value ( The Zoo Revisits The Fur Trade - Globe T.O., March 6). But what do children really get out of their trips? Their education consists of seeing species after species confined. They learn this is apparently fine because the animals are being "conserved" for future generations. But no amount of space can duplicate an elephant's normal travels and no zoo, other than a virtual one, can mimic a tropical jungle. People who're really interested in studying animals don't go to zoos. They do what Jane Goodall does and what Dian Fossey did: Go where the animals are.
Geoff Rytell, Toronto
Anthemically challenged
Re Tories Quickly Change Tune On Anthem Rewrite (front page, March 6): Ashes to ashes, dost to dust. RIP.
Geoff Williams, Parksville, B.C.
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No law says we have to sing O Canada the official government way. It's ours, not theirs.
Peter Cranston, Victoria
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As a female immigrant, I have long sung my own version of O Canada: "our true land" and "in all of us command." Since I sing badly and, therefore, quietly, no one has ever called me on this. More troubling is my total inability, even after 40 years, to get "land" and "command" to rhyme.
It seems a pity that the first good idea this government has produced should be rejected out of hand.
F.M. Davenport, Calgary
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Until now, I have enthusiastically sung the anthem at public events, despite its gender-exclusive language. I knew the language was in there, but I was willing to be good-humoured about lyrics that were clearly of another time. But by raising the issue of the gender-exclusive language in the anthem, then deciding against removing it, the Prime Minister has brought the lyrics into our time. From now on, when I hear "in all thy sons command," I will hear painful evidence that our government still regards women as second-class citizens.
Fine. I will henceforth remain seated and silent for the singing of our national anthem. If Canada doesn't need to include women in its anthem, it surely doesn't need them singing it. Happy International Women's Day, Canada.
Shannon Dea, Kitchener, Ont.
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Given that hockey is Canada and Canada is hockey, maybe "sons" should be changed to gender-neutral "fans."
Roderick J. Barman, Vancouver
Satiric futility?
Bruce Meyer's wonderful review of Yann Martel's What is Stephen Harper Reading? ( Reading Mr. Harper - Books, March 6) reminded me of a comment made long ago by a European statesman: "When a nation gives power to an economist, it is given to the most one-dimensional individual among the people, hence the one unable to see extensions of depth in his people. That is dangerous."
Seija Paddon, Mississauga, Ont.
Translating the jargon
Re Schools Expel Report Card Jargon Through Pilot Program (March 6): Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Sam Levenson, a former teacher and a delightful American comedian of the 1960s and 1970s, once suggested that report cards should include translations: "George is trying" (very trying); "Richard is remarkably relaxed" (he sleeps in class most of the time); and, my favourite, "Billy has a keen ear for music" (he's the first one out of the classroom when the bell rings).
Ron Davidson, Ancaster, Ont.
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You report that, in Grade 4 math, the new guide suggests evaluating students on their use of "addiction, subtraction, and multiplication." One can understand why the parents objected - but, hey, anything to get the kids high on math.
Natalia Mayer, Toronto
Monkeywrencher
In Sign Language Of The Mouth (Collected Wisdom - March 6), the question is: Why do we stick out our tongues while concentrating? According to science author Jay Ingram, "higher primates do it, too." I always suspected we weren't the highest primates.
Karl Dilcher, Halifax