READERS WRITE

Elbow grease gets the job done

Re: Anti-carbon tax stickers

Apparently the silly stickers mandated by the Ford government are not actually sticking!

Doug Ford is angry again: his go-to position on so much. Many of us who fill up at Ontario gas stations have observed that a generous dose of “elbow grease” does the job.

Barry M. Spinner, Hamilton

Did Trudeau obstruct the Liberal party?

Re: Blackface scandal

In October 2018, award-winning CNN news anchor Don Lemon said this about TV personality Megyn Kelly: “Megyn is 47 years old, she’s our age. There has never been a time in her 47 years that blackface has been acceptable.” Based upon what Lemon said, when Trudeau darkened his face, he should have known that it was inappropriate. He has apologized for it now, in 2019, but on the several occasions when he darkened his face, along with his arms and hands, how could he have thought that it was acceptable?

When asked if he had mentioned it during the vetting process, Trudeau said that he never talked about it because he was embarrassed. I wonder if he also thought that it would negatively impact his chance to become party leader/prime minster. If so, did he obstruct The Liberal Party from due diligence to ensure there was nothing in his background that would result in controversy?

Mark Melanson, Hamilton

Casting the first stone

I have read it all, I have listened to it all and I have thought about it all. What I keep coming back to is a Bible quote I learned as a child in Sunday school: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. To the selfrighteous and unforgiving — look inside yourselves. Margaret Mladen, Burlington

Don’t judge based on past behaviour

Trudeau is right when he speaks about his massive blind spot. Thank you, Justin, for your insight and apology.

Only after working in the inner city of Detroit for six years in the mental-health field did I become aware of my own blind spot. Fortunately, my African American clients taught me about their experiences with the white race, and it was scary. I was embarrassed and ashamed of my heritage as a white, privileged woman, and apologized to them for the racial injustices they experienced.

My point is that Justin has admitted to his blind spot and apologized for his behaviour some 20 years ago. His present role as PM has exemplified diversity. People change, grow and improve with maturity. Glad I’m not judged today by my behaviour when I was 29. Janet Connelly, Stoney Creek

Don’t judge on past standards

In my younger days, I loved Halloween. I made elaborate costumes designed to be flattering to me and to the cultures that inspired me. Dressed as geishas, gypsies, amulet-shaking witch doctors and sari-draped Hindu maidens, I went to dances and entered costume contests each year. I was never chastised. In fact, my costumes were so acceptable that I won many “best costume” awards. By today’s standards, those costume choices were insulting and regrettable. But I don’t believe people should be judged by standards that did not exist at the time.

Daina Di Veto, Lynden

Trudeau still dodging responsibility

What is most galling is that, although the prime minister apologized profusely for being unaware that blackface was inappropriate, he did not accept responsibility. Rather, he shifted the blame onto society itself, blaming his actions on the “layers of white privilege” that he enjoys. In other words, because wealth, youth, good looks and white skin are perceived as valuable traits, societal mores are responsible. And, since he has worked hard trying to change these mores, we, as citizens, must once more endure his endless value shaming.

Henrietta Wasik, Stoney Creek

Where will the wildlife go?

Re: Development

While driving to Binbrook, which was once a charming little country village, I noticed a sign on Hwy. 56 in Elfrida stating “Unlawful to relocate wildlife.”

Does this mean they will no longer be building a mega city in Elfrida on the ever disappearing farmland? If so, praise be! After all, this would forcibly be relocating wildlife, but to where? There will be no place left for wildlife to live, if in fact there are any left.

Darlene Fevez, Binbrook

The terrible toll on birds

Re: Morale on the rise for city animal services... (Sept. 19)

Let me get this straight, this same newspaper which a month ago published a news article which included a report from Bird Studies Canada stating that stray and feral cats kill 100 million song birds a year in Canada, says that I am now supposed to celebrate because irresponsible cat owners can bring their ‘Fluffy’ (as your reporter dubs her) to Animal Control Services and for a fraction of what it would cost to take the same animal to a fee-for-service veterinarian, they can have her health checked, vaccinated, and neutered so she can be released once again fend for herself.

That is just plain stupid. It may also constitute a violation of the animal cruelty laws in this country. And to think that our tax dollars are paying for that. Joan Carmichael, Ancaster