Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com
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Sexist jokes
Re Science, Sexism And The Nobel Laureate (June 16): When we all get to laugh as women make sexist jokes about men in science, then – maybe – it will be okay for men to tell the sort of mindless jokes they've been making about women since forever.
Ruth Brady Gibbs, Toronto
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Nobel laureate Sir Tim Hunt is just the latest sacrifice on the entrail-bloodied altar of political correctness. What a sad end to a brilliant biochemist's career.
Instead of being referenced for what he did – pioneering work in cell division – he will be known in every Google search hereafter for what he said.
Hounded by social media. That altar is getting very crowded.
Sarah Campbell, Edmonton
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Motherless?
The proposed Cape Breton war memorial known as Mother Canada has created quite a division throughout the island and the nation at large (Not Mother's Nature – letters, June 16).
Remembrance is more personal than commemoration. Few know the actual horrors of war; those who've lost a loved one remember every day what was lost.
Commemoration has long been used to provide a moral foundation for participation in war, and one can hardly expect the state to commemorate war as the hell that it is. In the absence of the names of those who died, this is a means for those in a position of power to transcend horrors and dance in the light of virtue.
If you wish to take that stage, try this exercise: Design a memorial for the Third World War.
Miles Tompkins, Antigonish, N.S.
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What is the imperative for a Mother Canada monolith in one of Canada's national parks? Surely it can't be the necessity of a war memorial, as Canadians do an excellent job remembering and respecting the sacrifices of those who died in foreign conflicts.
It boggles the mind that this private venture could have been approved by the federal government on such a pristine, protected, natural geologic treasure. This decision must be overturned.
Patricia Rubin, Tatamagouche, N.S.
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How is it not a conflict of interest for Peter Mansbridge, CBC chief correspondent and anchor of The National, to be an honorary patron of this "Mother Canada"?
Bruce Amos, Ottawa
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We now know that CBC's Rex Murphy not only favours big words and big oil, but also big Soviet-style monuments and big parking lots – at least in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Where is Joni when we need her?
Moira Walker, Victoria
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Campaign. Repeat
The Liberal Party is backing some guy called Trudeau. The Republican Party in the U.S. is backing a guy called Bush (Jeb Bush Kicks Off Presidential Campaign – June 16). As a kid, I was taught that history repeats itself but, please… Could somebody wake me up from this nightmare of privilege?
Sebastian Grunstra, Ottawa
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Greece stays and …
Re Greece Must Be Saved For The Sake Of Europe (June 16): How about this? Greece goes bankrupt, but stays in the euro zone. Those who contemplate a U.S. state going bankrupt do not assume it will necessarily leave the union.
Shaul Ezer, Vancouver
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Climate calculations
The B.C. government is not the national leader on fighting climate change but it is the leader of a game called bait and switch (It's The Economy, Stupid – editorial, June 13).
While lowering personal and corporate taxes, the government of B.C. brought in the carbon tax and doubled premiums on the Medical Services Plan (a fancy name for a regressive tax). A host of other fee increases (hydro, ferries, ICBC) make the idea of "revenue neutral" a political joke. This isn't good economics, it's stupid.
Kip Wood, Nanaimo, B.C.
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Your editorial on carbon pricing makes a lot of sense, as far as it goes. A reality check is in order.
Canada's greenhouse gas emissions represent a virtually insignificant proportion of overall global emissions. Success in meeting the two-degree Celsius maximum global temperature rise by 2100 will be determined for the most part by the actions of large emitters, such as the United States, China, India, Russia etc.
This does not mean Canada should do nothing. We have a responsibility to do our share, no matter how little impact that may have.
Practically speaking, geographical and economic considerations suggest that Canada's policy on greenhouse gas emissions should be closely harmonized with that of the United States.
Tony Manera, Ottawa
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No surprises here
It's no surprise that Alberta's Tory leader would react negatively to the NDP's modest budget, however, Ric McIver overstepped the mark with his absurd assertion that banning corporate and union donations could be seen as anti-democratic (NDP Lays Out Agenda Of Tax Hikes, Restrictions Of Political Donations – June 16).
Money buys influence, and corporations, unions and other large entities have the resources to influence elections and legislation in ways the citizenry cannot. That is what undermines democracy.
Good for Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.
Now, to take on the lobbyists.
Dennis Casaccio, Clementsport, N.S.
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Re Union Station Upgrades Are Behind Schedule And Overbudget (June 16): Oh, and by the way, the Pope is Catholic.
Nelson Smith, Toronto
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God(s), offended
Yes, it is frightening that in the 21st century there are people who believe earthquakes are caused by offended spirits (On A Mountain – letters, June 15).
I am frightened any time people with political power believe a supernatural being has material influence in the real world.
I am disturbed that they may call upon this spirit for guidance prior to their deliberations.
I am worried this antiquated worldview may reflect a pervasive inclination toward irrational decisions.
Still, at least the Malaysian politicians are upfront about it.
Kishore Visvanathan, Saskatoon
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'Neologismsgalore'
Re Union Station Upgrades Are Behind Schedule And Overbudget (June 16): Word warriors have reluctantly swallowed "upgrade" as a synonym for "improvement." The Globe has decided that bringing in a project over its estimated cost is common enough to merit its own neologism: "overbudget."
On that reasoning, completing a project well past its due date is surely an experience so universal as to merit its own joined-up word: "behindschedule."
Lynn Horton, Toronto