Readers debate the N-word, plus the O, E and L words rally.” This reader disagreed with the adjective used to describe the pair. “Neither Pamela Geller nor robert Spencer are ‘anti Islam,’ “wrote Jerome Henen. “They are, however, decidedly against all f

Every week, we receive letters related to the word choices of our columnists and reporters. Here is a handful from this week, the first dealing with Andrew Coyne’s column from last Saturday, “Moment of introspection.”

“Andrew Coyne drags downs the discussion on the supposed decline of Canadian Toryism with the spurious use of the term laager (“the laager mentality that has taken hold in the upper reaches of the Tory party”), wrote Mike McCallion Sr. “The term ‘laager’ reeks of racism, as it was a term used by the South African Boer population to describe a wagon fort during the [colonial and apartheid] periods. For Mr. Coyne to use it in criticizing a Conservative government is doubly shameful, as Conservative prime Minister John diefenbaker led the way in opposing apartheid. As Nelson Mandela lies close to his creator, Mr. Coyne should not use a term that implies the current Conservative government is associated with racism.”

disgraced celebrity chef Paula deen and her use of the “N-word” also sparked some debate.

“In my experience, the vast major- ity of people who use the ‘N-word’ are black,” wrote Peter Strachan. “I have seen it on T-shirts and sweatshirts worn by blacks and it can be heard in countless movies as black actors interact with other. In contrast, I have never heard Jews (another race with a long history of suffering) in conversation with one another using odious terms like ‘kike.’ The single biggest force in perpetuating the use of the ‘N-word’ is not retrograde whites like Ms. deen, but modern black culture.”

“The ‘N-word’ is an insult, but I wish to have a few other words also eliminated from daily usage,” added Penny Hassan. “They are the ‘O-word’ and ‘e-word,’ specifically ‘old’ and ‘elderly.’ My friends and I do not feel or look old or elderly and we feel insulted when referred to as such.”

In Friday’s paper, a news brief described how “two American antiIslam activists have been barred from entering Britain after reports they were planning to speak at a far-right