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Prep those zingers
Re Ad Wars: Where The Real Battles Rage – April 28: War and political campaigns, including advertising, are the same. Ads are equivalent to a military attack, albeit they soften the passions, ideas and perceptions of the audience.
The Conservatives could use this line targeting Liberal leader Justin Trudeau: "Back to school." Liberals could use this to target the Conservatives: "Stale, tired, arrogant." The NDP line could be: "None of the above." Words in politics are everything – let the fun begin.
Elie Mikhael Nasrallah, Ottawa
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Lawrence Martin inspires the creative juices for zingers to be used in the pending federal election campaign. Here are some prospects: "Seasoned Party Leadership Gets You What?" "Stronger, Prouder, Freer – Really?" "Divide and Conquer" "More Skeletons than Closets" "Tough on the Vulnerable," for possible subjects (pick one): aboriginals, health care, environment, cities, transit, science, energy, resource development, defence. Lots of room for the opposition to counter with big-data analytics.
Brian Yawney, Toronto
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Lawrence Martin's delightful list of advertising slogans reminds me of the bumper sticker in the United States during the 2004 presidential election campaign: "Re-defeat George Bush."
Matthew Airhart, Toronto
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Thalidomide funding
For some time, my heart has gone out to the thalidomide victims and their families, and sadly must continue to do so (Thalidomide Victims Worry About Funding After Ottawa Meeting – April 28). Given the Harper government's ongoing reluctance to clarify the details of a funding initiative, which it approved last December, the remaining 94 victims should know that this is a growing shame to any compassionate Canadian.
The government's failure to honour its own commitment in advance of the coming election will, for me, render this issue a "canary in a coal mine" harbinger of perhaps even more egregious moral violations to come.
If it turns out that they do indeed carry us into such dishonour and disrepute, I trust that Stephen Harper's government will lose considerably more votes than those to be cast by the 94, their families, and their friends.
Charlie Sager, Ottawa
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Reports from the ongoing Mike Duffy trial illuminate the travesty that is our Senate. Senators make at least $135,000 a year, have a gold-plated pension, are eligible to work to age 75 (to do what, one might ask?) and are allowed large "expenses" with little or no oversight. Meanwhile, groups such thalidomide victims and veterans who have put their lives on the line are left begging for fair compensation. A just society this is not. Shame on Ottawa!
Deb Pichora, Kingston
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Food for thought
The underlying idea that we have control over our health by "proper diet and exercise" is really the biggest con game foisted on the public (So What Are We Supposed to Eat? – Life & Arts, April 27). While lifestyle extremes are probably unhealthy, one should keep in mind that health is a gift and is not earned. We are raising generations of people who think that they can stay healthy and ageless by doing the right thing. This is sheer folly and gives rise to an industry filled with magical thinking. People around the world eat all kinds of diets, even extreme ones (such as the wholly animal diet of the Inuit) and live on. Let's stop being arrogant, thinking that our meagre efforts have any effect on the ways of nature.
Frances Leung, MD, Toronto
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The pattern of eating suggested in Canada's Food Guide is evidenced-based and designed to both reduce the risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases and minimize the risk of inadequate nutrient intake. The recommendation to include milk does, in fact, confer health benefits. Critiques that suggest that Canada's Food Guide is not designed to enhance public health do a disservice to those trying to a choose a diet that will support their health and minimize the risk of chronic diseases.
Mary Bush, Ottawa
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Baltimore riots
Re Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Rioting In Baltimore – April 28: It is incredible that the rioting was allowed by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who instructed the police force, she explained at a Saturday news conference, to let the protesters exercise their freedom of expression and "give them space to destroy."
The question is: Who will pay for the rioting violence and damage, the insurance companies (that is, the public with increased premiums), or the politicians who chose not to fulfill their duty to protect the citizens and their property?
Jiti Khanna, Vancouver
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Skipping PEN
The right of author Michael Ondaatje to not attend next month's PEN American Centre gala is not being criticized, but the reasons for non-attendance are questioned (Agree To Disagree – editorial, April 28). Does freedom of speech that illustrates some harmful and oppressive principles within a religion give way or be subdued because of an infringement of someone's feelings or sensibilities in that religion? By agreeing with critics of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, the rights of people to hear from scholars, satirists, thinkers, journalists are oppressed. The extremists of Islam do a victory lap when learning about actions such as that of Mr. Ondaatje. Salman Rushdie is correct; his choice was "horribly wrong."
Roy Sullivan, Sudbury
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Stuck on transit
The City of Toronto and the province of Ontario urgently need to get together to develop a public transit infrastructure plan (Sheppard LRT Unlikely To Open In Next Decade – April 28). Money needs be allocated for these projects, but without a plan how is this possible? Toronto is the economic generator in Canada, but both the province and the city are making important infrastructure decisions based on no more than a whim, or political needs. Maybe the Finch light-rapid transit line is needed, but does it take priority over a downtown relief line, or the Sheppard LRT? I don't know, and I don't think the city or the province knows. We'll pay a very large penalty if we can't get this right.
David Bell, Toronto
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Mano a mano
So, former prime minister Jean Chrétien is to meet this week with Russian leader Vladimir Putin (Chrétien to Meet with Russian President – April 25). Mr. Putin, ex-KGB, martial arts expert, tiger wrestler and all-round macho man. Mr. Chrétien, creator of the "Shawinigan handshake." My money is on Mr. Chrétien.
Marty Cutler, Toronto