Aug. 18: Militarized police – and more letters to the editorReuters
Militarized police
I have been following the unrest in Ferguson, Mo. (Missouri Shows An Ugly Side – Aug. 15), where police have taken on a "militarized" look and attitude. SWAT teams, riot squads and armoured vehicles have become the "must-have" items for many such forces.
Unfortunately, it brings to mind the saying, "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."
Randy Sterling, Blenheim, Ont.
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Checks on the mail
Isolating a victim is a key tactic used by perpetrators of elder abuse. Visitors are blocked, phone calls are limited and mail is censored. Canada Post's proposed solution to redirect some seniors' mail to family members may place vulnerable older adults at an increased risk of abuse (Canada Post Will Make Home Delivery Exceptions – Aug. 14).
Adult children, who are most often the perpetrators of elder abuse, may seize the opportunity to further isolate their aging parents. Abusive family members may convince authorities they're well-meaning loved ones, or they may coerce their parent into making a redirection request.
Canada Post could conduct comprehensive assessments to identify suspicious requests; however, this would require an extensive investment in time, resources and expertise. Preferred solutions would see seniors receiving supported assistance, without loss of control. Such alternatives would better protect seniors' autonomy, self-determination and dignity.
Heather Campbell, Saskatoon
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Brian Gable's editorial cartoon (Aug. 15) shows a cadaver being dissected in Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp with the caption, "The Real Question Here: Will He Be Eligible For Canada Post Home Delivery?" I hope this doesn't mean that in the future, only the dead will receive home delivery.
Garth Evans, Vancouver
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Toronto's fair shake
Given that Toronto is Canada's most populous city and contributes a huge amount to federal and provincial coffers, it is only reasonable to expect that unique large-scale problems created by the size and age of the city – moving people around, maintaining water mains etc., should be acknowledged and recognized by these governments, and their citizens given a reasonable standard of service for their taxes (Cities Need Tax Value, Not Tax Cuts – Aug. 15).
I was highly impressed, even amazed, by the highway system on a trip to Northern Ontario two years ago. Would that our much more travelled city roads be a quarter so modern and well-maintained!
Karen Quinton, Toronto
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I understand the need to raise revenue in cities. However, before we give any city extra taxing powers, a plan needs to be drawn up by all governments to maintain the total tax load about the same. Double-taxing citizens will only have a negative impact on cities.
David Bell, Toronto
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Bollywood 101
Amrit Dhillon's column (Their Modernity Is But Skin Deep – Aug. 15) would make perfect sense if she replaced "modern" with "Western." From the outside, Indian youths look "Western," but on the inside, they are fully "Indian." Why is it bad to prefer living in joint families or listening to your elders?
On the other hand, I am saddened but not surprised about the youths' attitudes toward dowry. Every Indian youth, as soon as he starts watching television, gets enrolled in a free distance education course called Bollywood 101. Beautiful women, rich clothes, jewellery, endless song and dance, big dowry, luxurious wedding, fancy food, ruthless competition for power, position and wealth are all part of the good life studied in this course.
Rama Singh, Ancaster, Ont.
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Saturnine struggles
In the early aftermath of Robin Williams's tragic death, much was written and said about how his suicide gives voice to a silent killer (Crisis Resources – letters, Aug. 15). This rhetoric was repeated over and over as if the public was somehow unaware of his struggles and the plague of mental illness.
Not so. We are well aware. Mr. Williams spoke publicly and often about his struggle with mental illness, depression and his multiple attempts to seek the help he needed. In fact, the public is generally far more aware of issues relating to mental health and far less hesitant to talk about them than they were a decade ago.
While there will always be work to do in raising awareness and reducing the stigma, the conversation must change now so that a serious spotlight is cast on the effectiveness of treatment and widespread access to it, supported by a strong and bold public policy.
Cindi Milne Resnick, Ottawa
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One may add a historical dimension to Margaret Wente's sensitive column The Mystery Of Creativity And Madness (Aug. 14). People have spoken for centuries of artists being "born under Saturn" – influenced by the planet, which produces a dark and melancholy ("saturnine") temperament. By extension, artistic inspiration was associated with madness. Nothing is new under the sun … or under Saturn.
Harold Kalman, Vancouver
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Undiplomatic
Re Don't Be President (editorial – Aug. 8): Deliberately calling on Turkish voters to favour one candidate over the others just two days before the election, and making offensive and subjective references as to the personality of the president-elect, is undiplomatic and unethical. After his victory, Recep Tayyip Erdogan underlined democracy and called for a reconciliation, by respecting human and minority rights, including ethnic and religious differences.
Turkey has been holding free and fair multiparty elections since 1950. Its citizens are mature and wise enough to vote for the best interest of their country without the need for any outside guidance, as they did last Sunday.
As for your reference to Mr. Erdogan's remarks about the situation in Gaza, they were a reflection of the general conscience of the people of Turkey and the Turkish government, which strongly oppose the atrocities committed in Gaza. The president-elect has reiterated numerous times that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity that will never find roots in Turkey.
Tuncay Babali, Turkish ambassador to Canada
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The Sundin never sets
Re the Toronto Maple Leafs and Forget The Cynicism: This Statue Is Long Overdue (Sports – Aug. 15):
And everyone gets upset when the Brits rabbit on about the Empire.
Richard Seymour, Brechin, Ont.