Dissidents, despots
How striking that The Globe and Mail should mark the deaths of Vaclav Havel (Recognizing The Power Of The Powerless, He Changed The Course Of Europe's History – Dec. 19) and Kim Jong-il (The Reclusive Head Of A Hermit State – Dec. 19) in the same issue. One man helped lead his people to freedom and inspired others around the world with his courage, dignity and grace; the other suppressed his subjects, sipping cognac while they starved.
May Vaclav Havel rest in peace – he made the world a better place. As for Kim Jong-il, he got off easy. To quote Aeschylus, in death, he found "a milder fate than [the]tyranny" to which he subjected North Koreans.
Geoff Read, assistant professor of history, Huron University College, London, Ont.
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It's ironic that Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong-il have both gone to their respective eternal rewards on the same weekend. But I think it's a safe bet they won't have to face the awkwardness of accidentally running into each other in the same location.
John Lazarus, Kingston, Ont.
The despot
The death of Kim Jong-il won't change the geopolitical risks of North Korea's nuclear program or the oppression of North Korea's population. In a year of ever-changing political landscapes, this status quo will remain. Our thoughts and prayers should be with the people of North Korea.
Daniel Kowbell, Mississauga, Ont.
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Kim Jong-il's most incredible feat occurred the first time he golfed 18 holes at a 7,700-yard course in Pyongyang. Government media reported an astounding 38-under-par performance, including an incredible five holes-in-one. Apparently, being the Supreme Leader comes with at least one lesser-known advantage: You get to keep your own scorecard.
Jeffrey Peckitt, Oakville, Ont.
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The Kim is dead. Long live the Kim.
Chris Purdye, Toronto
Canadien politics
Re In Montreal, No French Behind The Bench (Dec. 19): Geoff Molson, owner of the Montreal Canadiens, is in the beer business, where maintaining/improving brand loyalty among one's customers is mandatory. Why, then, did he poke many of his hockey customers in the eye by hiring a unilingual head coach? This error is grievously compounded by the fact that his hockey team is a major promotional tool for his products.
And finally, the coach's communication with the French-Canadian public, press and players is likely to offend because he has to use his audiences' second language or an interpreter.
How many minutes for really, really bad marketing?
Tim Jeffery, Toronto
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Do the Habs' coaches and general managers need to be bilingual? Of course not. The Stanley Cup is all that matters. In its absence, the fans and journalists will attack everything: playing skills, managing skills and French skills. Did Frank Selke, Dick Irvin Jr. and Sr., Toe Blake, Scotty Bowman and Sam Pollock speak French? A few had just enough for the two-minute post-game interview.
But the Stanley Cups kept coming and the language issue was never even mentioned – unless, of course, your name was Clarence Campbell.
Claude Gannon, Markham, Ont.
Canadian unity
John Ibbitson is right to draw our attention to Stephen Harper's plans to alter the historic nature of the federal government's transfers to the provinces (For Ottawa, Health-Care Funding Has Hit An Immovable Wall – Dec. 19). These transfers have contributed toward equalizing the quality of life of all Canadians.
Mr. Ibbitson says Mr. Harper will back out of this cornerstone of Canada's collective identity because he's from the West, and because most of the western provinces send out, rather than receive, equalization payments. But for the first 37 of the 40 years this program has been in place, Ontario paid out to equalize the country's have-not provinces, including several in the West, without massive complaint.
The concern is not the amount of money that's transferred. It's that the Conservative government is picking apart the historic foundations of Canadian unity, one stone at a time.
Erna Paris, Toronto
Out of the past
Is Allan Gregg pulling my leg (Telling The Naked Truth Is Good Politics – Dec. 19)? You simply can't be a successful politician these days if you're honest, self-righteous and morally upright.
Norman M. Ostonal, New Westminster, B.C.
Back to the future
You are to be congratulated for pointing out the inefficiency within Canada's health-care system (Access Should Match Privileges – editorial, Dec. 19). This is a major stumbling block to improved patient care that has long been under-recognized. But I take issue with one point.
You suggest "physicians could blitz backlogs by working extra hours." Being an incredibly busy surgeon myself, with one of the longest wait lists in my city, I would be hard-pressed to find extra hours to work. And I can't think of a single colleague who also isn't working flat out.
Where should these extra hours come from? Family time? Rarely used vacation time? Should we work longer into the night and start earlier, too? Are you truly saying Ontario's doctors aren't working hard enough?
Brian Rotenberg, London, Ont.
And no cartoon
So Hollywood is bemoaning fewer receipts at the box office (Movie Attendance Falls To 16-Year Low – Arts, Dec. 19). Think that has something to do with paying $25 for two matinee seats and $9 for two small Cokes? Or being assaulted by all those ads and the horror of an "interactive" moment where the app-happy mobile phone carriers could respond to another ad where users could be demographically charted with their "cognitive" labour captured for free?
Think that'll have something to do with staying at home to watch movies while enjoying a nice pinot gris?
Brian Dedora, Toronto
The end. Really
Sign posted on an empty lot on Saturna Island in B.C.: "No trespassing without permission."
Al Vitols, Sidney, B.C.
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Sign on private property in Conception Bay, Newfoundland: "Trespassers will be violated."
Frank Crewe, Toronto
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In a pub in Durham, England, I saw a vending machine for condoms. On it was the British Standards Association logo and the words "Conforms to B.SA. standards." Above this someone had scribbled: "So did the Titanic."
John Forster, Kanata, Ont.
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At the Four Dead Crows Studio (which specializes in the occult) in downtown St. John's, a sign in the driveway reads: "Witches Parking Only, All Others Will Be Toad."
M. Caskenette, Edmonton