Mail bag: 03/26/26
‘Double standard’
Dear Editor:
RE: Morally reprehensible, March 19.
I read Murray Stevenson’s letter with jaw-dropping consternation, such was the selective amnesia and the situational and self-serving ethics of the author.
He noted that Trump was “duly elected” to the presidency, but conveniently failed to mention that when Joe Biden was selected via the same legal process, Trump incited a violent insurrection in a craven and desperate bid to retain power.
Stevenson then proceeded with an absurd delineation between the recently assassinated Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran, as an “actual dictator” and the “hateful” comparison to Trump in a political cartoon previously published in our local journal. So upset was he with this juxtaposition, that he demanded an apology from the publisher.
Hogwash! We have freedom of the press here. I agreed with the artist’s depiction. As American journalist Finley Peter Dunne said, “The purpose of a free press is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.” Trump has gone to extreme lengths to muzzle press freedoms, an undeniable characteristic of a dictator.
Any crime that Stevenson attributes to Khamenei, I can likewise ascribe to Trump: extrajudicial murder (blowing up alleged drug boats); threats, intimidation, imprisonment and killing of civilians (ICE agents); imperialist aggression (unilateral and illegal incursions into Venezuela and Iran, the illicit oil blockade of Cuba, annexation threats toward Greenland and, of course, Canada).
One gags at the egregious double standard.
Whatever platform of moral superiority the author claims to occupy, I regard it as a shaky and unstable structure. I respectfully suggest that this is what happens when loyalty to an ideology clouds the critical thinking process.
I will not remain silent in the face of this flawed reasoning – not in my community, not in my country.
Allan Berry,
Fergus
‘Narcissistic, tyrant’
Dear Editor:
RE: Morally reprehensible, March 19.
I can understand how many would reflect the murder, atrocities and disregard for legal standards and human rights initiated by Donald Trump during the first year of his current United States presidency, to the horrible things done by the Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei throughout his 39 years in power.
Aggression, as a general rule, only escalates over time.
My own personal caricature would have displayed Trump with the brush-over hairdo and toothbrush mustache of the Nazi leader responsible for the Second World War, Adolf Hitler. Both criminals, each staging a failed coup to seize control of the country, finally gaining leadership through continued demagoguery (rabble-rousing), and ultimately leading the world into chaos and war. That is the decay of democracy that Trump has brought to the United States and world.
As Hitler did, Trump gained ultimate support with claims of making the country strong again. Using his own discriminatory standards to shift the blame for the country’s financial situation to a select minority of the population, he began establishing a country-wide prejudice to allow for their oppression.
With the people now “conditioned” to overlook the action, he implements a policing force (to round up his undesirables) and actually justifies them to kill in their actions. He has deported thousands of immigrants to any country that would take them and detained many more in what, by today’s standards, would be concentration-camp conditions.
We can only hope he doesn’t escalate that to the level of Hitler’s “final solution” before the civilized people of the U.S. rein him in.
All through his current presidency Trump has worked to remove anyone in positions of authority throughout the United States that have ever shown political opposition to him, and placed only those that unquestionably support him in those positions.
To date he has created chaos throughout the world with attempted annexation of allied countries, illegal tariffs and military action for his conquest of other sovereign countries. Now he has started an illegal war against Iran, and is trying to convince allies to join the war.
It is certainly understandable how his narcissistic demeanor and disregard for democracy is reflecting the negative traits of many tyrants throughout history. Who knows what his agenda is next. I don’t think he knows himself; he makes up his mind from minute to minute it seems and has the military powers to force his will.
Ya, I can see some Ayatollah in him also.
Paul Dunnill,
Fergus
‘Nation of free speech’
Dear Editor:
RE: Morally reprehensible, March 19.
With apparently no sense of irony, Murray Stevenson of Guelph calls for the immediate dismissal of a cartoonist whose opinion he disagrees with. Last time I checked, this is still a nation of free speech, and everyone is allowed to express a viewpoint without being “banned for life.”
Love it or not, the current U.S. administration is engaged in similar attempts, on a much grander scale, to permanently silence their critics. It is unfortunate that Mr. Stevenson is so offended by a political cartoon that he has failed to fully appreciate the value of being able to express an opinion, no matter how popular or unpopular, without fear of reprisal.
The time may come when we cannot take this freedom for granted. No apology required.
Ann Hollings,
Guelph/Eramosa
Cartoonist is ‘funny’
Dear Editor:
RE: Morally reprehensible, March 19.
I have put off for some time congratulating your cartoonist, particularly after the Family Day pictures with everyone preoccupied with their cell phones.
This cartoonist belongs in the big leagues. He’s sophisticated and funny.
Seeing the attack on the Trump cartoon has finally initiated this letter. A duly elected president indeed. Hitler was also duly elected.
Obviously, I suppose, calling us the 51st state and wrecking trade relationships with us, hurting many Canadians, is okay.
Rick Steves and Anthony Bourdain in their travels gave a great look at Iran on their TV shows. I guess the real issue is what constitutes the morally reprehensible.
David Courtney,
Belwood
*Editor’s note: Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany in 1933, though the Nazi Party did win the most seats of any party in elections the previous year. In a 1934 referendum, 90% of voters approved Hitler’s consolidation of power by merging the offices of chancellor and president, but the referendum was rife with intimidation and propaganda.
‘Substantive’ issues
Dear Editor:
RE: James Keating Construction celebrates 70 years in Centre Wellington next year, March 12.
James Keating Construction deserves sincere congratulations for its 69 years of service to Centre Wellington and for the positive contributions the Keating family has made to our community. Their long-standing commitment is genuinely appreciated.
However, the Advertiser’s March 11 article, “James Keating Construction celebrates 70 years in Centre Wellington next year,” unintentionally framed the concerns raised by Elora-Salem residents about the proposed 25-unit townhouse development at 191 Wellington Road 7 and 290 South St. as stemming from “fear of the unknown.”
This characterization overlooks the substantive, policy-based issues residents have raised regarding the proposed over-intensification of a low-rise, low-density stable residential area located within the urban boundary of Elora-Salem.
Residents are not opposed to growth. They support modest, appropriate and policy-compliant intensification that aligns with the Provincial Planning Statement, Wellington County Official Plan, the Centre Wellington Official Plan and with current township planning precedent.
To that end, residents have submitted an alternative proposal for modest-density infill consisting of two single-detached dwellings fronting South Street and 12 cluster townhouses located behind. This approach provides meaningful intensification while respecting neighbourhood character.
The alternative proposal is consistent with township planning precedent and demonstrates that appropriate intensification can be achieved responsibly, transparently and in conformity with planning policy.
The community’s concerns are grounded in good planning principles – not NIMBYism – and deserve fair representation in public discussion.
Bob Jackson,
Centre Wellington
Support town ‘chiller’
Dear Editor:
I’m writing this letter on March 22, World Water Day, the UN’s annual celebration of the critical importance of fresh water to life. Water is life, as Indigenous people have been saying for millennia – nothing in the world can live without it.
It’s pouring rain, cold and bleak in Erin today and, after a long and bone-chilling winter,who isn’t aching for the warmer, sunnier days of spring and summer?
However, knowing that average world temperatures for the past 11 years have been the 11 hottest in recorded history – an extraordinary streak – it’s a good bet we’re in for some stifling heat waves in the months to come.
Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting an Ontario summer “with temperatures projected to be well above average, and hot conditions anticipated to rival the record-breaking heat of 2023 and 2025.”
One species we know that likes it chilly – less than 19ºC, even on the hottest days of summer – are the brook trout living in the West Credit River that flows through Erin, where it joins the main branch of the Credit at the forks near Belfountain, then down through Mississauga and into Lake Ontario. The West Credit is one of the few remaining rivers in the province cool enough to allow brook trout to thrive.
To help protect this native species in its cold-water ecosystem, especially as summer heat intensifies, the Town of Erin has committed to installing a “chiller” to keep the outflow from its new sewage treatment plant to less than 19ºC. So far, however, no installation date has been confirmed.
Cool water means life, and survival, for the brook trout. We urge everyone to support Erin’s commitment to install the chiller – and well before the first heat wave of 2026 arrives.
Liz Armstrong,
Erin
‘Things to hide’
Dear Editor:
Having worked in Freedom of Information for many years, I know that there are already too many barriers to accessing government information. Access to government records should be made easier, not harder.
The only logical reason for Premier Doug Ford to restrict access to his records and that of cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants and their offices is that the government has things to hide.
Corruption grows in the dark and the Progressive Conservatives are turning out the lights and providing the fertilizer.
Peter Meyler,
Brampton
‘Very necessary’
Dear Editor:
Recently, Ontario Premier Doug Ford decided to re-institute paper report cards. Perhaps he could provide us with updates on his own provincial aspirations.
I would like to know the status of his tunnel beneath the 407; his four-lane highway to Sarnia; the state of the new Ontario Place; and the progress made regarding affordable housing from Toronto to Thunder Bay.
Alas, a quick update on the Highway 6 bypass in Morriston would be handy.
Ford has also announced his desire to construct a mega convention complex on the Toronto waterfront that will require new legislation and the reclamation of some of Lake Ontario with questionable excess fill. This project’s progress will be reported in the 2032 government report card.
As an election approaches, it is very obvious that “The Doug Ford Convention Centre” would garner much more positive attention and many more votes than “The Doug Ford Centre for the Homeless.”
After all, a highway, a tunnel and a convention centre are all very necessary epitaph inclusions .
Jim McClure,
Crieff
Should save lives
Dear Editor:
Approximately 100,000 Canadians have been euthanized according to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
On April 13 at noon, speakers will present arguments opposing euthanasia and supporting Bill C-218 at a rally on Parliament Hill.
Parliament will be debating Bill C-218 directly following the rally. I will be attending as I strongly oppose any acceptance of euthanasia or assisted suicide.
Health practitioners should not be in the business of taking peoples lives. Their role in society is to save life and that is what their training was meant for.
Hopefully, I’ll see you there.
Pat Woode,
Fergus
Gushing over ‘gumption’
Dear Editor:
RE: Many roles, March 19.
After reading Dave Adsett’s editorial last week I could not help but have myself a good laugh – and a flash from the past.
It was the usage of the word “gumption.” I cannot remember when I last heard or read anyone using gumption in a sentence. Maybe you just have to be from an older generation, such as I am, like my dad’s generation perhaps.
I heard that reference lots of times “back when” in the old days when I was but a kid. We should use gumption more often.
Now, if I just had more gumption I could get a lot more done in a day. So, thanks Dave for the memories!
Liz Hughes,
Puslinch