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In the Trump era
If we learn anything from what has transpired in the United States with the election of Donald Trump, it is this: It should remind us that as citizens we have a great responsibility.
In our own country, we cannot sit back and watch whatever unfolds. We must speak truth to power; speak out and speak for justice at every town hall meeting and private party to ensure that the rights of all Canadians will be upheld and to support the enduring health of our planet. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Let's hope the people of the United States will take their responsibility seriously and work together to ensure that Mr. Trump leads with a strong recognition of the ideals set out in their Constitution. Leadership exceeds and goes beyond the window dressing, glitter and hype of the first days in office. I can only hope that now that he is actually the President, this seemingly unending deluge of words – about him and from him – will finally be reduced to its sensible conclusion.
Monica Cullum, Ottawa
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The best response to insults, lies and outrageous demands is to ignore them and stay on point. The best response to bullying is to never fawn and never back down. Canada would do well to remember this over the next four years.
Donald Hall, Ottawa
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On Friday, the oath of office put an oaf in office.
Bob McGorman, Ottawa
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It seems that everyone is up in arms because they are not sure what is going to happen with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Here is a news flash: He is going to try and do what got him elected – and just like all the other politicians who take office, it remains to be seen if he will follow through with his promises.
Let's wait and see what he does or doesn't do: Everyone who takes office is judged on their record. It's a given that Donald Trump is going to "shake things up." What remains to be seen is what will happen when he does.
Gregory Boudreau, Halifax
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To summarize Donald Trump's inauguration speech (apologies to Stephen Leacock): Lord Trump flung himself upon his horse and rode madly off in all directions.
In the Trump era, I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of it all.
Brenda Simmons, St. John's
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The real reason that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is shutting down is because they know they can't compete with the Trump circus.
Robin Moss, Ancaster, Ont.
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I'm putting Donald Trump on mute for the next four years. I'm interested in action, not bluster.
Amalie Jolicoeur, Winnipeg
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President Donald Trump and … prime minister Kevin O'Leary. How's that for a nightmare?
Tim Jeffery, Toronto
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'Angryphone' cliché
Re Complaints Filed Over PM's Answers (Jan. 20): It is considered perfectly reasonable for Justin Trudeau to respond in English to questions asked in French in Peterborough, Ont., but an unforgivable betrayal of the very fabric of the country to respond in French to an English question in Sherbrooke, Que.?
According to StatsCan, less than 2 per cent of the population of Sherbrooke declares itself unilingual English speakers, whereas more than 55 per cent identifies as unilingual French speakers.
Nearly all the rest are bilingual.
If hearing French in Sherbrooke, or English in Peterborough is offensive to someone, the person might want to consider moving or maybe learning a tiny bit of the language that absolutely everyone around him/her is speaking.
Most anglophones I know in Montreal are bilingual and bicultural. Even here in the West Island of Montreal, I have never met one of those much-vaunted and oft-cited hysterical angryphones who seem to monopolize the media.
Some of us are sick and tired of a small vocal minority digging up the tired cliché of the downtrodden Quebec anglophone.
Bernard Lahey, Montreal
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Brexit game plan
Re Team Britain's Brexit Game Plan? Score An Own Goal (editorial, Jan. 18): The British people were offered a clear choice: whether to remain a member of the European Union or to leave it. They chose to leave. Yet you hoped that the British government would "walk back" the voters' decision. That seems an undemocratic wish. You claimed that "it's not clear" the House of Commons was in favour of invoking Article 50. In fact, the Commons has already endorsed it overwhelmingly, 461 to 89, in December. Parliament will also vote on the final deal.
You are right in recognizing that the Brexit vote wasn't connected to anti-Muslim sentiment or a vote against free trade. Brexit was not about turning inward. The referendum was a vote for national decisions on laws, and control over the movement of people – freedoms that countries such as Canada enjoy and uphold.
Britain's culture and history is profoundly internationalist. It will remain so. While the U.K. will leave the EU, it will not be leaving Europe. The U.K. wants to construct a strong partnership with our European partners spanning trade, security, foreign and defence policy. Beyond Europe, we are members of NATO, the G7, the G20, the Commonwealth, and have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. We will continue to play a full role in the wider world as a truly global Britain.
Howard Drake, British High Commissioner to Canada
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My name is … Joe
Re When A Hostess Refused To Take My 'Difficult' Name, I Worried About The Canada I Love (online, Jan. 17): I came to Canada well before multiculturalism was policy; my name, Koppany, was uncommon even in Hungary. In grade school, I winced with embarrassment both for myself and my teachers and classmates who struggled unsuccessfully to pronounce its two syllables.
I shortened it to one syllable and anglicized the spelling to facilitate pronunciation. Hence "Kope" to rhyme with hope.
I met with limited success, as the shortened version is still uncommon. More often than not, I get a two-syllable "Kopi" or a one syllable "Cop." I get irritated that English spelling rules are beyond the ken of our multicultural population. Sometimes, when I am asked what "Kope" is short for, I pronounce "Koppany" and I can see the discomfort of anticipation: "I hope he does not expect me to repeat that."
Now that we have been thoroughly multiculturalized and uncommon names are common, the embarrassment is not an issue for me, but it remains one for the person trying to say it, hoping the mispronunciation is not insulting.
When a hostess asks me for my name, I routinely say "Joe" if "Kope" seems to stump her, recognizing that by the time my table is ready she will have forgotten how to pronounce it – and I won't recognize that I have been called. Ego has its place I guess, but consideration and accommodation cut both ways in the Canada I love. To me, Boluwaji Ogunyemi's worries are misplaced.
Koppany Inokai, Toronto