‘Angry and appalled’
Dear Editor:
RE: Local company receives threats, harassment over planned drag show, Jan. 19.
I am very concerned about your front page story last week about a local business owner facing hate mongering.
Fifty five years ago in his last sermon, Martin Luther King Jr. stated Americans needed to wake up to the injustices all around them and make demands for change.
Now here we are in 2023 in our small community of Elora, Canada facing an injustice for one of our local businesses in the form of hate, fear mongering and threats to safety.
I am angry and appalled. I am so very sorry, Marty VanVliet, that this terrible behaviour has been directed to you, your staff and the performers over the “Winter is a Drag” show scheduled for later this month. Sadly, I missed my chance for tickets for this show. But the very best to Elora Distilling Co. for a fun-filled night.
Canadians, friends and neighbours it is time to wake up to the injustices all around, especially when it happens in our own community. We need to speak out.
My thoughts are with you, your staff and performers, Marty. Will do my best to catch the next show.
Burna Wilton,
Centre Wellington
‘Pretentious displays’
Dear Editor:
RE: Local company receives threats, harassment over planned drag show, Jan. 19.
The article last week about how a business owner who wants to host a drag show was then victimized by a bunch of trolls on Facebook makes for front page news, really?
I can understand why there was a backlash. However, that does not excuse the verbally violent reactions.
Having said that, have you still labelled me a right-wing extremist, with no mind of my own yet? I know Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wouldn’t agree with me!
I’m still compelled to ask why? Why do pretentious displays of worldly grandeur such as a drag show fill some people’s hearts with joy? We should not glorify this hypersexualized demonstration because some think it’s natural.
Does that mean everyone is going to fit this mould, this ideology? Of course not! As a Christian, I know that there are going to be people, including myself, who struggle with the way they were created and the proper use of our bodies. They are called struggles of the flesh, and we all have them, some more than others.
All of this is of course my opinion, driven by my faith in Christ, and I know many will disagree because they don’t see fit to acknowledge God.
However, if I posted this on Twitter or Facebook, would the same sort of backlash come from alternate sympathizers? I should think so, after all, it is the world we live in. When, if ever, have we been able to disagree with people peacefully or civilly?
Doug Vanderveen,
Belwood
‘Two wrongs…’
Dear Editor:
RE: Local company receives threats, harassment over planned drag show, Jan. 19.
Concerning the article about harassing emails/calls to the Elora Distillery from unknown sources in opposition to a scheduled drag show, it is always a cowardly act to voice anonymous opposition to anything.
We live in a pluralistic society where the idea of respecting other peoples’ world views, beliefs, values and lifestyles is part of the cultural mosaic. All our personally held world views, belief systems and values are filtered through and influenced by some kind of lens. It could be faith-based or non-faith-based, political or apolitical, ethnic driven, sexual orientation driven, etc.
These will collide at times when one group’s beliefs and values seem to crosscut another’s values and beliefs. This is likely at the root of the treatment that Mr. Van Vliet has unfortunately experienced. Because pluralism is a pathway to values conflicts, the issue becomes how we communicate our disagreement in a civil way.
The problem with this article however, is that Mr. Van Vliet admits emails/calls were anonymous then proceeds to speak pejoratively of another group he thoroughly castigates. That group being Christians.
The accusation that Christians as a generalization are “far right” is inflammatory and painting a target of hate upon them.
I’m troubled by the irresponsible reporting in a community newspaper. While harassment or threats to Mr. Van Vliet can’t be condoned, one adage is inescapably obvious: “two wrongs don’t make a right.”
John Finochio,
Harriston
God’s laws
Dear Editor:
RE: Local company receives threats, harassment over planned drag show, Jan. 19.
It’s wrong to threaten or name call, but it’s also wrong to say we don’t and cannot have an opinion on men dressing up as women.
Some of us believe the laws God gave to mankind, and this is one of them.
Sharon Kerr,
Harriston
Christians guilty?
Dear Editor:
RE: Local company receives threats, harassment over planned drag show, Jan. 19.
I am walking a fine line by commenting on this article.
I see both sides of the issue as I personally know of three lovely gay ladies who are fine upstanding citizens. I believe gay people deserve to live their lives in peace and safety. We heterosexuals must respect them as we respect each other.
It concerns me that Christians were pointed out in the article as possibly being guilty of the hateful comments sent in response to the drag show scheduled at a local club in Elora.
I am a Christian and we are taught to love everyone. I am a member of the United Church of Canada and we welcome gays!
Brenda Demmans,
Fergus
‘Look in the mirror’
Dear Editor:
Having lived in that great Christian state of Alabama for five years and in the Erin area one thing amazed me: the hypocrisy of those claiming to be Christians.
Most I find now don’t know what the word “grooming” is except the Trump followers love to throw it out. He, after all, pays for sex. I do research and what is interesting is that many individuals that are charged with sex crimes are good Christians.
They are the “groomers.” Check out Jerry Falwell Jr. and the pool boy, for one. Check out the new Congressman in the U.S. George Santos – if that is his name, since he uses many. He is against drag, but was allegedly one in Brazil. The wonderful Duggar family, now there is a good Christian group.
What in my lifetime I have found is that those that yell and shout and talk about dirty sex, etc. are usually caught doing it themselves. The prisons are full of good Christians, like the one who killed his entire family in Utah after being investigated for abuse of his daughter. Hey, he was a pillar of the local church and a Boy Scout leader is how his obit, before it was taken down, described him.
So-called Christians should worry about their own behaviour and try looking in the mirror.
Jim Trautman,
Simi Valley, California
Extra flyers
Dear Editor:
With all of the environmental concerns going on in today’s world, with greenhouse gases and pollution, and the dumping of wastewater into our streams and lakes and ocean, plus all the plastic and the garbage dump the size of Texas in the ocean, do you think it’s time we as a town of Elora make it illegal to throw flyers wrapped in plastic on our property.
I as a concern citizen have tried to find out how to stop this with no luck. We already get the same flyers with the newspaper; why do we need more of the same thing?
I am sure I’m not the only one who feels this way.
Gery Thomson,
Elora
‘No quality of life’
Dear Editor:
RE: Not a private matter, Jan. 5.
I have never written a letter to a newspaper before, but felt compelled after reading Jack Moesker’s opinion on medical assistance in dying (MAID).
I can only assume he has not witnessed a dearly beloved one suffer, in agony and die, which my 64-year-old sister did on Boxing Day. She got the news of her pancreatic cancer in October, the day she retired. She worked 45 years at the University of Guelph – mainly in the OVC department. She had so many hopes and dreams for her future: travel, gardening, time with her beloved dogs. Instead she spent weeks at Grand River Hospital, General Hospital and finally Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
Before her death, my sister Susan moved in with us in Fergus. We were all hoping with chemo treatments she would have months, maybe a year to live, but it was not meant to be. For those two weeks I saw her suffer with severe back and stomach pain. She could hardly eat or keep food down. She steadily lost weight. Then Susan developed thrush, which made eating and drinking extremely difficult.
By her second week with us she could hardly talk, would try to sleep but pain kept her awake. Then Susan developed sepsis which weakened her more. I would have tended to her for months, but her pain was too great and no amount of medication helped her.
When Susan knew she was terminal, she had MAID put into place. It is not a “sign here on the dotted line” decision. At least two doctors had to interview her and a nurse was present. She had decided in October when she got her diagnosis MAID is what she wanted if the pain was too unbearable and it was a terminal case. Witnesses cannot be family members, so there is no coercion.
I am personally grateful there are doctors and nurses, who although they take an oath to save and preserve life, they realize what if there is no quality of life to preserve.
I will close this very personal letter by saying that my sister died from her cancer on Boxing Day, but was going to have MAID right after Christmas.
Linda Shaw,
Fergus
A ‘natural death’?
Dear Editor:
There are several things in the on going discussion of euthanasia. How does one define a slippery slope?
When medical assistance in dying (MAID) was first enacted, one had to be facing imminent death and competent to make a decision.
Now imminent death will not be required but you can request MAID for the future if in the future you’re not able to make the decision. Quebec doctors are now requesting that infants in their first year of life can be euthanized if it is forecast that they will suffer a poor quality of life. The infants don’t get a say in this.
Evidently some people think this extension of MAID is not a slippery slope. How would they define a slippery slope?
Making a decision under duress is not a free choice. Choosing death to relieve extreme pain that could be relieved but isn’t because you cannot afford the treatment is choosing between the torturer and the executioner. This situation is not uncommon.
A soldier being asked if he wished to die is not an isolated case. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition can provide number of cases if one wished to check their facts. The Euthanasia Prevention Collation can also provide cases of those being euthanized against their will.
Periodic depression is part of life. Just ask jilted teenager at the end of his/her first love or a person who has just lost a loved one. Clinical and periodic depression are different yet both people could request MAID. Imminent death is not part of either form of depression as people get over it.
Everyone is not going to agree on MAID and most are not going to change their mind. Is MAID a free choice? If you are an island free from all forms of personal engagement, free from duress, suggestion and influence then perhaps it is. Does this make it right? According to the criminal code MAID is a natural death. Most religions would differ.
Chris Woode,
Fergus
Report lighting problems
Dear Editor:
RE: In the dark, Jan. 18.
Centre Wellington Hydro maintains the street lights in Fergus and Elora. Residents can report street lighting issues by calling CW Hydro at 519-843-2900 or emailing enquiries@cwhydro.ca.
You can also use our interactive “report a problem” map found on our website at www.cwhydro.ca, which allows you to accurately select streetlights identified on the map and report other non-emergency problems.
Centre Wellington Hydro,
Fergus
‘We have a choice’
Dear Editor:
Your Jan. 19 editorial “Quite the cartoon” and Patrick Raftis’ coverage of Wellington Federation of Agriculture (WFA) chair Janet Harrop’s response to the county’s public meeting on proposed growth piqued my interest.
I agree with you, Janet Harrop, Jan Beveridge, and WFA vice president Barclay Nap in their recent letters to the editor. If we’re not careful, we could endanger our future food supply and increase homeowner and municipal debt.
We cannot waste farmland to achieve home ownership. At StatsCans’ current annual conversion rate of farmland to development, Ontario’s arable land will be gone in 100 years. Then what?
The pandemic, Ukraine war, climate change droughts and floods have proven we cannot rely on foreign food supplies. Our global food supply chain is unravelling as countries struggle to maintain their food stocks while competing for dwindling supplies, raising food prices. We are painting ourselves into a corner, assuming we can continue losing farmland and relying on others for our food.
The county’s proposed 15% urban intensification target to accommodate another 59,000 people is concerning. We need more compact neighbourhoods, relying on existing rather than new infrastructure. If you favour Milton’s sprawling growth, support 15%; otherwise, advocate for a 25% intensification target or higher to accommodate the 59,000 newcomers.
StatsCan says Canadian households are shrinking. Since 2011, one-person households have outnumbered couples with children. Increased divorce and separation rates, age, and life expectancy cause this trend. Ideally, we should build more apartments and condos to meet this demand. Instead, we continue building single-family homes in new subdivisions. Why?
Instead of building three- to five-storey apartments for practicality and affordability, we saddle homeowners with debt for a short-term mirage of prosperity and long-term liabilities to pursue the home ownership goal.
Municipalities increase infrastructure to serve new subdivisions and their tax revenue while acquiring more infrastructure to maintain and replace. This fast urban growth, scaled to the automobile rather than the individual, is a Ponzi scheme that delivers a short-term economic benefit in exchange for a long-term financial obligation that lacks funds for infrastructure upkeep.
Adopting a 15% intensification target maintains the illusion of wealth with sprawling subdivisions while increasing debt obligation. Alternatively, choosing a higher intensification target and building upon existing infrastructure at a compact scale allows us to reduce future debts while preserving farmland.
We have a choice: paint ourselves into a corner with 15% intensification or go with something higher that preserves farmland and our wallets.
Ian MacRae,
Elora