Letters, June 23

Opinion

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This article was published 22/06/2022 (819 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Teens need honesty from elders

Re: Action needed to curb sexploitation (Editorial, June 21)

With all of my heart, I thank Derek and Jill Lints for speaking out about the tragic loss of their son Daniel. There is no greater sorrow than losing a child. I hope they know that every one of us shares in some way their great loss.

It is critical that parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles share with youth what it was like for us to be teenagers, stories of our growing up that include everything that embarrassed us, everything we were ashamed of.

Ancient societies had powerful initiation ceremonies that took the responsibility for helping children grow into adulthood. Our culture has somehow lost that.

Speaking on behalf of all elders to the parents of all teenagers, how may we help?

Love to all the children and to the parents who adore them.

Bill Martin

Gimli

The Forks creating division

Re: Axworthy upset with Canada Day changes (June 21)

With the well-meaning people at The Forks cancelling Canada Day celebrations, they are doing the opposite of healing and building trust. They are creating a new divisiveness and a new resentment. Why can’t we celebrate both Indigenous culture and this beautiful country together?

Darlene Moroz

Winnipeg

Thanks to Lloyd Axworthy for defending Canada Day, unlike the politically correct management of The Forks who displayed little or no patriotism as they renamed the celebration New Day at The Forks, explaining their action with a social-justice rationale that was gobbledygook.

One could only presume last year’s tearing down of public statues by vandals who were never pursued by the justice system has so terrorized The Forks management that they feared to celebrate Canada as a country and wanted all activities curtailed by 6 p.m., hence no cover of darkness and no fireworks.

Gary Pryce

Winnipeg

Pendulum has swung too far

As a lifelong citizen of our great country, I am tired of being made to feel ashamed to be a Canadian.

Many mistakes have been made since Confederation in 1867. The horrific atrocities committed against the Indigenous people are the worst examples of these. The harm brought to innocent children is inexcusable and must be recognized and atoned for. We are trying to do so and progress, however slow, is being made.

The other side of the coin is that much good has been done since 1867. Canada has given the large majority of its citizens a country where they can live peacefully without fear of persecution, with the hope of fulfilling their dreams and ambitions.

So let us have one day to look on the bright side and to celebrate the best of our truly awesome country!

Gwenyth Brown

Winnipeg

Indigenous people in Manitoba represent about 10 per cent of the population. It seems unjust to take the Canada Day celebration away from 90 per cent of the population who might like to celebrate this wonderful country we all live in.

Hedie L. Epp

Winnipeg

We are all Canadians, and our celebration of that should not be dictated by one special-interest group. Canada Day should be when we all unite and celebrate as one.

The Forks just hosted a celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day on Tuesday. July 1 is the day to celebrate Canada, home to us all.

Wendy Watson

Stony Mountain

When religious values imposed

Re: Two moral traditions at play (Opinion, June 17)

Harold Jantz describes the work of the Crisis Pregnancy Centre, which apparently provides non-judgmental support to women both during and after pregnancy (however that pregnancy ends). This sounds like a worthy effort deserving of support. He then describes a contest between two “legitimate moral traditions,” the “progressive” and “conservative.”

Although non-judgmental support seems to adhere to the progressive tradition, it is clear Jantz adheres to the conservative tradition.

The danger inherent in the conservative tradition is that everyone be subject to its “transcendentally right” truths. Mario Cuomo, a devout Catholic, recognized this and rejected it. As he said in a speech at Notre Dame University in 1984: “When should I argue to make my religious value your morality? My rule of conduct your limitation?”

When indeed?

Gord Boyer

Winnipeg

Investigate how teens got gun

Re: Three teens charged in Red River Ex shooting (June 21)

Regarding the shooting at the Ex, there are lots of comments about security but not much about the fact that teenagers had a gun. How did these kids get a gun? Where are their parents or guardians?

Judy Herst

Winnipeg

Protecting green space

Re: Residents rally against Tuxedo apartment (June 21)

I was very interested in reading the arguments for and against the proposed development of three buildings with a combined total of 58 housing units at 490 Shaftesbury Blvd., but then I laughed out loud when I read that one of the arguments against the development is the loss of open green spaces for local residents. This exclusive neighbourhood lies right next to the largest and most beautiful park in the city, the expansive Assiniboine Forest, and an 18-hole golf course.

Please, when will people recognize that this city belongs to everyone?

Theresa Shaw

Winnipeg

It’s distressing to learn that land developers are seeking to build high-end apartments on the zoned parks and recreation (PR1) land at 490 Shaftesbury Blvd. This conflicts with the vision expressed in the city planning document OurWinnipeg 2045, Policy 2.20, which places green space at the heart of city planning by calling for a 1,000-acre increase in our city’s parks and natural areas. Instead, this development proposes to eliminate green space and replace it with unaffordable housing.

Who benefits here, besides developers’ pocketbooks?

Lisa Haydey

Winnipeg

Give local bands radio play

A message on a local radio station the other day said it “supports local music” and then played a song by Streetheart. I love Streetheart as much as the next Winnipegger, but the song they played is approaching 50 years old. These are not the bands that need the help.

It’s been a long time since radio supported local bands, and I think that’s a real shame. People don’t frequent bars like they used to for local music, and it’s tougher than ever for a band to get noticed. Grassroots support seems to be mostly gone.

It’s easy to find these bands on the internet, but I feel getting regular radio play in their local market would do more than 100 gigs of playtime to get a following. It would be nice to hear something new.

Chris Harvey

Winnipeg

‘Real’ alternatives to slogan

Re: Slogan is a ‘real’ puzzle (Letters, June 21)

I am both amused and confused by the public’s response to Winnipeg’s new slogan, “Winnipeg: Made from what’s real.” I offer alternative slogans to make sense of this public-relations weirdness:

Winnipeg: A Real Enigma Wrapped In A Puzzle

Winnipeg: More Real Than Coca-Cola, The Real Thing

Winnipeg: Realer Than Real

Winnipeg: Real(ly) Couldn’t Think Of Anything Else.

Don Warkentin

Winnipeg