At sea on Navy logic
Re Navy To Draft New Rules For Sailors In Wake Of Misconduct Allegations (July 16): Since Noah's Ark, sailors have been going ashore after having been cooped up at sea and "misbehaved" on shore. Why are we wasting tax dollars on such petty issues? I'm sure that San Diego, home of one of the world's largest naval bases, has seen the odd drunken sailor misbehaving in town. From your report, the incidents appear to be minor.
What do we want from our Navy? A bunch of wimps? This is another example of political correctness going overboard.
Robert Temple, former naval officer, Ottawa
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You'd think the Navy would have done the math and sent the few alleged naughty sailors back by bus instead of bringing home the entire crew and leaving the international RIMPAC exercises early.
Peter Froislie, Ottawa
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Duality's downside
Nowhere in his article does Sherif Fahmy mention that his brother, Mohamed Fahmy, is a citizen of both Canada and Egypt (Canada Can't Remain Quiet – July 16).
As a dual national, Mohamed Fahmy, when in Egypt, is an Egyptian citizen subject to the laws and whims of the government of Egypt, like any other citizen of that country. It is far more difficult for the Canadian government to decry the treatment of an Egyptian citizen. People tend to treat dual nationality as an advantage, but ignore the responsibilities associated with this duality.
E. Alan Garbe, Markham, Ont.
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Sex has its price
The premise of Swedish law is that prostitution amounts to sexual exploitation by financial means; therefore, the exploiters should be punished, not their victims (New Bill? Still Worse Than The Old Law – editorial, July 16).
Justice Minister Peter MacKay's proposal creates some of the same offences, but it is permeated by the belief that prostitutes are corrupters of society who need to be punished. So please, do not call this the "Nordic model."
David Arthur, Cambridge, Ont.
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Like many of my feminist colleagues, I recommend the Nordic model and safety through exit strategies, not pimps and brothels. The police don't take wife beating seriously; there is no reason to assume they would take violence against prostitutes seriously when it occurs in brothels.
What will work is the Nordic model, as the Native Women's Association of Canada, the Elizabeth Fry Society and Vancouver Rape Relief recommends, none of which are part of the moral right.
We want to live in a country where women are not bought and sold in brothels on the outside of town, but offered exit strategies instead. What could be safer than being offered a way out?
Collette Oseen, Athabasca, Alta.
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Historically, true conservatives believe sex should only involve married couples for the purpose of procreation, with the lights out. Bill C-36 looks like the first step to incrementally raise the morality bar, till that utopia is achieved. How long before we have to start covering piano legs again? The Harper government has finally given Queen Victoria something to smile about.
S.I. Petersen, Nanaimo, B.C.
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While I'm a staunch conservative, I have difficulty accepting the proposed laws and the continual demonizing of "Johns."
What about the poor chap who's lost his wife? Or the fellow who has been transferred from overseas for a six-month stint? When they come together with a hooker, they're consenting adults. Let's stop being judgmental.
R.C. Whiting, Mississauga
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Doctors-in-waiting
Re Red Tape, Fees Give Headaches To Foreign Physician Recruiters (July 16): It is bewildering that hospital recruiters find it difficult to get foreign-trained doctors because of changes to the temporary foreign workers program.
Ontario has thousands of immigrant physicians already here. To practise here, a doctor must complete a year of residency training in Canada. But residency positions are elusive. Every year, more than 1,000 foreign-trained physicians apply to be "matched" to an available position: Fewer than 10 per cent get one.
These are immigrant doctors who already have met the educational requirements and passed all the required exams. The residency requirement is a bottleneck.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario should work with the government of Ontario to enable more practice-ready assessments. Such assessments determine whether someone with previous experience is ready to enter the profession.
For years, Fairness Commissioner Jean Augustine has advocated for alternatives to residencies and for practice-ready assessments. The TFW program is not the solution to the problem.
Nuzhat Jafri, executive director, Office of the Fairness Commissioner
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Lobster tales
Re The 9 Dilemmas Of Eating Lobster (Life & Arts, July 16): Even in this age of hardly caring for each other, let alone all living things, I was appalled by this article.
Research has shown lobsters do feel pain, including a study on crustaceans done at Queen's University Belfast.
Lobsters' responses to being boiled alive or sliced in half while alive are not simply reflexes. They are real reactions to the pain and suffering humans routinely cause these creatures.
Don Kearney-Bourque, Acton, Ont.
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Ian Brown is overthinking the whole lobster thing. There is no "dilemma" as regards eating lobster. Not for me anyway.
I boiled my first lobster years ago right after reading the bible of crustacean cookery, How To Make Love To A Lobster. I still use the same crude propane burner on the back deck; I've even learned how to make a high-pitched squealing sound for the benefit of neighbours who actually believe lobsters scream when plunged into boiling water.
I encourage guests to abandon all pretexts of civility and let loose all the sucking, shucking and clucking noises they have for so long repressed. Bibs are strictly an amateur affectation. I strongly suggest work clothes – especially since a variety of tools are called into play. There is but one beverage served: draught beer.
There is no moralistic fussing or tortured indecision – only glorious lobster, wonderful draught beer, charmingly naive neighbours and the satisfaction one gets from further simplifying the already simple task of cooking a lobster.
Daniel J. Christie, Port Hope, Ont.
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Beer plus, bitte
Re Taking Radler For A Ride (Life & Arts, July 16): In the past, Radler wasn't offered in Germany (Austria, Switzerland) as a premixed drink. It was mixed at home or by the bartender or server with whatever beer and sparkling lemonade they had.
I do the same here: I order my favourite beer plus a sparkling lemonade (7-Up or Sprite is fine, too) without ice and a extra glass for mixing.
Or try a Cola Bier: half and half beer and cola. Doesn't look inviting but tastes great.
Siggi Hager, Tottenham, Ont.