LETTERS TO THE EDITOR COLUMN

The Toronto Sun October 21, 2000, Saturday,

Copyright 2000 Sun Media Corporation
The Toronto Sun

October 21, 2000, Saturday, Final EDITION

SECTION: EDITORIAL/OPINION, Pg. 14, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LENGTH: 713 words

HEADLINE: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR COLUMN

BODY:
I JUST wanted to “thank” all of those wonderful truckers who have been jamming up the roadways this week. As a full-time working mother of two who has to drive from Oshawa to Scarborough, it is such a treat! I mean, hey, it’s not like I have to pay more for gas, just like you guys. However, I would like to ask you one thing: what do I say to my crying 6-year-old daughter every night when I’m 30 minutes late picking her up from school? Surely none of you have kids, or else you’d think of the impact your stupid blockades are having on the average person who is just trying to scrape by and live their lives as peacefully as possible. I have a lot of issues with the way prices are rising on everything, but do I make you pay for it? There has GOT to be another way to demonstrate your anger.

Stephanie Mathers

(Blocking the roads is a sure way to turn folks against your cause)

I WOULD like to commend the Toronto Sun and Michael Coren for again going against the status quo and airing the minority voice (Oct. 14). Too often in the media the views and opinions of the majority are singularly perpetuated. With bold writers and publications like Coren and the Sun, hopefully this woeful trend can be changed.

Anwaar Syed

Canadian-Muslim Civil Liberties Association

(Judging by the huge volume of mail Michael’s column generated, it was a voice that needed to be heard)

RE MICHAEL Coren’s column “Racism, pure and simple” (Oct. 14): I would like to commend you on having the courage to publish an article which actually portrays a different picture of what is happening in the Middle East. Many people all over the world have heard time and time again how the Arabs are violent and dangerous. It is a breath of fresh air to read something that points out a different side to this issue. Especially that someone being a prominent member of the media, coming from a Jewish background. I hope you continue to print articles that portray real and clear pictures for the people of the world to see.

Nosheen Warsi-Khan

(That’s our aim)

KUDOS TO Michael Coren for an excellent analysis (“Racism, pure and simple,” Oct. 14) of the way Arabs are being projected in the current Middle East crisis. As Jack Shaheen, author of TV Arab and Arab/Muslim civil rights groups in North America have documented for some time now, the negative portrayal of Arabs and Muslims has real consequences on these communities. Hate crimes and attacks on these communities are clearly on the rise as a result of such dehumanization. Thank you for allowing such an objective piece.

Faisal Kutty

Toronto

(Welcome)

THE COLUMN by Michael Coren (Oct. 14) is sadly accurate, and reflects the views and frustrations of most Arabs. Your analysis is sobering and insightful for those who have been brainwashed by the western media and Hollywood. I commend you for that. Most importantly, because Coren is a Zionist, his words will hold a lot more weight for western readers than those of a people they so negatively and so unfairly stereotype.

Sharif Nashashibi

(Stereotypes do no one any good)

THE LIBERAL tax cut plan is nothing more than a decoy intended to try and fool voters. Jean Chretien also promised to get rid of the GST, but as soon as he was elected that promise was forgotten and instead he increased income taxes, UIC and CPP in one fell swoop. Like Trudeau before him, who himself fudged about wage and price controls and an excise tax on gas, Chretien does indeed continue to carry on this sad legacy. In the real world we call it bait and switch.

Barry Banek

(Well said)

FINALLY, A politician who has something to say about natives, and other races in Canada (“Day puts out protest fire,” Saturday Sun, Oct. 14). Like Stockwell Day said, we have to move away from meeting needs based on whatever race you are. This may sound really lame, but I think we should all be treated the same. We should all be entitled to the same education, health care, job opportunities and benefits, regardless of race or gender. I understand native people wanting to maintain their heritage, we all do. But when we start expecting federal funds based solely on race, well, I don’t want to live in that country.

R. MacDonald

Oshawa

Tags: CMLCA

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