Annual St. Patrick’s parade celebrates Irish perseverance

I, like many Canadians with Irish blood, look forward with great anticipation to the St. Patrick’s parade. For my family, it is a time when we proudly celebrate our Irish heritage. My nieces and nephews visit from out of town.

Many early Irish immigrants stumbled off coffin ships, escaping the potato famine. Many escaped brutal colonial oppression. They survived Grosse Isle. But they picked themselves up and carved a life for themselves, brought up their families and contributed to what Quebec is today.

Those who call themselves “The Black Bloc” should know that the Irish were oppressed in Ireland, as well as when they first came to Canada.

The St. Patrick’s parade is a celebration of Irish persistence and perseverance. It has also been devoid of any politics. Everyone is invited and welcomed with open arms.

Everyone is welcome, that is, except those who wish to use it as a platform to spread their political message through violence.

The St. Patrick’s parade, which has been going on for 192 years, is about the only one that has no political over- or undertones.

My message to members of the Black Bloc group is this: If you have any self- respect, stay away. If your goal is to disrupt the parade, stay away. But if you wish to join in the celebrations, a hundred thousand welcomes. Joanne Scullion, N. D. G.

Protesting brutality with brutality

Some notes to the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality:

Bringing a backpack full of stones and bricks is not necessary for a peaceful protest.

Protesting brutality with violence will not help your cause.

Publishing a poster illustrating a brick- throwing “peaceful” protester is an oxymoron.

Looting for personal gain has nothing to do with your cause.

If your protest “goes out of control,” it is not the fault of the police; it’s your fault for using your cause as an excuse to smash and grab ( i. e., steal).

Protesting brutality with equal brutality is not the best way to end so- called police brutality. The police are not “brutal” when they are defending themselves from a violent crowd and protecting properties from damage. They are doing what they are paid by us, the taxpayers, to do: preserve the peace. Nora Hague, St- Lazare