Ivanka boycott misses mark

Re Here’s our chance to ding the Donald, Feb. 11

It’s regrettable that Heather Mallick should join the chorus of small minds by suggesting the boycott of retailers that carry the Ivanka Trump brand because of who her father is. Depriving hard-working people of earning a living and supporting their families. How insensitive and infantile. Where is the logic? Where is the right for people to make their own choice?

Another example, perhaps, of those in the media who profess to be the guardians of our democracy but at times fall short of the mark. Donald Cangiano, Oakville I might be the only one I know who sympathizes with Ivanka Trump. Like neighbours and work mates, you don’t get to choose your parents. Yes, she benefits greatly from her father’s wealth and status, but I believe she was probably as outraged and embarrassed by the thoughtless and no doubt illegal utterances of either Kellyanne Conway from the White House or her father berating Nordstrom. It occurs to me that the only truthful utterance by President Trump over the last year is that his daughter “is a wonderful person who always tries to get him to do the right thing.” Rather than disparage her, I hope everyone would encourage her to continue being the person her father described, as she may be the only person who can temper his impulsive nature. Gord Deane, Mississauga probably never been stopped and treated like a criminal once or twice a month by the police, but if you had, you might have an inkling about why the presence of so many armed police in the parade makes a lot of people uncomfortable.

Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders made a very wise decision to voluntarily withdraw police from the actual march. He did it to defuse this highly charged and polarizing issue. It was a gesture of goodwill toward the community worth far more than having a float in the parade, and he is to be commended. Val Fullard, Etobicoke