Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 19, 2007, Winnipeg, Manitoba All people have right to life i have just finished Reading Nancy hansens column titled i am feeling increasingly vulnerable dec. 13 and could not agree More with Hansen. She rebuts the plethora of editorials praising Robert latimers actions with eloquence. It worries me As it does Hansen that there seems to be some kind of life Quality scale that determines an individuals worthiness to exist. All humans simply by virtue of being human have an inherent right to life regardless of any ability or perceived Quality of life. Any notion that threatens this is disturbing and i would agree with Hansen sickening. Well done is. Hansen thank you for your insightful and eloquent expression of an Issue of such Paramount importance. Cheryl Doiron Winnipeg nuke reporting one sided re isotopes of Hope dec. 17. In asking the questions who knew that Canada produces half the worlds Supply and All of North americans Supply of medical diagnostic isotopes and that this news was never shouted from the rooftops the Winnipeg free press and its other Canadian Media colleagues can look in the Mirror and take a lot of responsibility for that sorry Lack of knowledge among canadians. Whatever seems to be reported in the Media about the nuclear Industry in this country invariably appears to come from an actively sought out viewpoint of criticism from experts such As David Suzuki. Too often such people Are Given the last word either in television interviews or newspaper articles so that theirs is the impression that Sticks with either the viewer or Reader. Its a pity that the free press has to find out that theress really something in fact a great Deal to be proud of in Canadas nuclear Industry by seeking to Chase Down yet another bad news Story. Maybe it should try chasing Down some Good news stories for a change and do All canadians a much needed Public service. Les crosthwaite Pinawa politically Correct Christmas tis the season for the annual debate is Christmas a religious Holiday or has it become merely a cultural tradition Are we right in wishing others Happy holidays or should we come right out and wish them a merry Christmas today amid a politically Correct and consumerist Christmas attitude we Are allowing ourselves to be stripped of our traditions the Dearest and most venerable the oldest and sweetest the truest and most Beautiful so that carelessly through neglect we Are abandoning Christ to follow the latest futile fad. Christmas is not just a Holiday we celebrate but a holy Day the birth of Jesus Christ. The word Holiday is a derivative of the term holy Day. On its own Happy holidays is merely a term of exclusion signifying nothing other than the Happy wish to have the Freedom to do As one pleases i. E. To have a Holiday from whatever it is that binds. Taken to its logical conclusion this is a wish for anarchy. In contrast merry Christmas is All inclusive. Its about Faith prayer and offering. Its about rediscovering Joy and the Solidarity of Friendship the human tenderness of relations and the piety of souls of enchanted children and adults. Just As Jesus Christ came to Earth and stripped himself of divine glory in order to become poor for men of All races creeds and colours so merry Christmas is an expression of that same holy gesture which we extend at Christmas toward people of All faiths and cultures. In advancement of Faith family and fraternity May we All strive to keep Christ in Christmas merry Christmas everyone. Paul Kokoski Hamilton ont. We need the miraculous in his article Christmas Star Miracle or just a Supernova dec. 15graeme Morton broadminded by asks who says you cant have both despite prof. Phil Lang Illus suggestion that the magic of the spiritual Story can be retained if the miraculous is voided theress no Story left Worth telling. Many scientists today hold the Assumption that the universe is a closed system of cause and effect. Because god is thereby ruled out miracles become myth. As Lang Illus comments show speculation is preferable to considering the universe As an open system in which god can act in new ways creating new and redemptive things contrary to our experience like a Star or a Virgin birth. Naturalistic assumptions concerning the miraculous void the Christmas Story and the whole Bible of the divine and to suggest that a spiritual Story remains after the details touching history and the Cosmos Are negated is woolly minded. Rather than As a Quarry of gutted religious sentiments examine the hard headed biblical perspective on its own terms if Christ did not Rise from the dead your Faith is vain. Robert Weiss Winnipeg aboriginal Mother responds re parenting skills lacking dec. 11. I am aboriginal and have a five month old child. I read the letter written by Jay Bruneau. Stating that aboriginal parents Lack parenting skills is ignorant. I was outraged. I love my child and i am a great Mother. If this person knew about the feeling of being alone and being without having a family to turn to he would know Why those kids were placed with family instead of with strangers. They can learn about their culture and so Many other great things by being with their aboriginal family. And if you want to know where these Loving aboriginal families reside come to my House. Ill show you Kathryn Compton Winnipeg Neil Youngs Sweet tribute ism a former Winnipeg Ger now living in new York City and recently i went to see another former Winnipeg Ger Neil Young perform in Harlem at the United Palace theatre. The United Palace theatre is a magnificent venue for a concert ornate intimate and built to carry sound. Something that a snot lost on Neil Young which is what i wanted to share. Early in the first set during a break Between songs Young commented on the Beauty of the theatre and compared it to some of the places hers played Good and bad big and Small. But it was this glorious theatre in Harlem he said that was so special to him because it reminded him of the places he used to play in Winnipeg. Young then picked up his guitar and went on to make some Beautiful music he has a Talent for it. But hearing that was for me the sweetest sound of the night. Paul Janzen new York City courting minorities s Hame on those dastardly conservatives. They re vigorously courting the ethnic vote even though they know those ballots belong to the Liberal party of Canada. The nerve thatus the line of thought from St. Boniface Liberal my Raymond Simard who accused the Federal conservatives of trying to learn More about Manitoba ass francophone while seeking the support of ethnic minorities in general. According to or. Simard the tory overture is not about wanting to get to know a Community better. Its trying to get their votes. He went on to say that ethnic communities Are seeing through the charade. It is hard to imagine a More preposterous set of accusations in the history of Canadian politics. Since when is it wrong for a political party to broaden its Appeal by reaching out to new canadians or those with a special interest in minority rights or. Simard seems to think the Federal conservatives Are disqualified from appealing to minorities because they Are insincere although there is no basis for such an allegation. In fact it is or. Sim Ards ridiculous tirade that seems phoney and deceptive. The conservatives do not need an invitation to seek the support of Franco Manitoban since the party has twice represented St. Boniface federally As Well As other Ridings with Large francophone communities. Moreover the political concerns of new canadians have matured with ethnic groups now considering political parties on the basis of issues As opposed to historical perceptions. During the last Federal election for example a group of Muslim clerics withdrew its support from the Liberal party and advised its congregations to vote on the issues which for Many new canadians involves questions of foreign policy As Well As civil liberties. Many jewish canadians have also drifted away from the liberals in favour of the conservatives because of Stephen harpers Strong support of Israel and his willingness to fight terrorism. The Canadian Bill of rights a precursor to the charter of rights and freedoms was enacted in 1960 by conservative prime minister John Diefenbaker an Early advocate of minority rights in Canada. Brian Mulroney was a courageous advocate of special status for Quebec while prime minister Stephen Harper apologized to the chinese Over the head tax and made it possible for Winnipeg to build the Canadian museum for human rights. The Beauty of democracy is that it forces All political parties to broaden their Appeal and soften their hard edges if they wish to forge a sustainable coalition of support. A political party is free to snub any group or people but such a faction is unlikely to last very Long. No one needs permission to learn More about their Neighbours. Indeed All canadians should seek such understanding. It is a prerequisite of Good citizenship. Renew the ramp the Royal Canadian mounted police is a Canadian institution recognized and admired around the world but there were few tears shed when a National task Force recently recommended a sweeping overhaul of the 133 year old Force. And with Good reason. The mounties reputation has taken a beating in recent years on a variety of issues including its poor showing on air India the Maher Arar file allegations of misconduct Over the forces pension plan and the abusive management style of former commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli. While the task Force focused on recent history the fact is the forces integrity and reliability began to unravel at least 40 years ago. The Only Surprise is that it has taken this Long to recognize the need for a major shakeup. In the 1960s, the Force engaged in numerous unlawful activities and acts of questionable judgment on the grounds of National Security particularly separatist agitation in Quebec and the fear of communist infiltration in Canada. A subsequent inquiry in the 1970s concluded that the Force was suffering from a Lack of civilian control. The scandals eventually led to the creation of the Canadian Security intelligence service but the fundamental challenges facing the ramp remained and it continued to operate like a secret service immune from the Normal requirements of accountability and transparency. But that could All change if parliament adopts the recommendations of the task Force on governance and cultural change which spent six months studying the rom pcs problems. In a report issued earlier this month the task Force recommended the establishment of a civilian Board to oversee the ramp while recognizing that it is not just another government department and that it requires greater Independence to do its Job. Ramp commission ire William Elliott a civilian with no police training has indicated he supports most of the task forces recommendations a necessary first step before renewal can begin. There is still considerable Goodwill for the ramp among canadians who can see for themselves the Good work the Force does in thousands of communities. That kind of National support should make it easier for the renewal that must begin if the mounties Are to remain one of Canadas proudest symbols. Bob Cox / publisher Margo Goodhand / editor Patrick Flynn / Deputy editor Winnipeg free press est 1872 / Winnipeg Tribune est 1890 vol 136 no 40 � 2007 Winnipeg free press a division of up Canadian newspapers limited partnership published seven Days a week at 1355 Mountain Avenue Winnipeg Manitoba r2x 3b6, pm 697 7000 a member of the Manitoba press Council the free press welcomes letters from readers. They must include the authors name address and Telephone number. Letters May be edited. Letters to the editor 1355 Mountain Avenue Winnipeg r2x 3b6. Fax 697 7412. E mail letters free press. My. Ca letters represent the opinions of their writers and do not reflect the opinions of the Winnipeg free press or its staff. H ave y our s a Winnipeg free press poll to Days question vote online at wow. Winnipeg repress. Com yes 88% / no 12% / total 1,126 previous question is the chief pegu is Trail Extension where projected costs have risen to $ 64m from $ 34m in less than a year out of control As coun. Dan Vandal says. Have you finished sending out your Christmas mail yet Freedom of Trade Liberty of religion e editorials Equality of civil rights a 10 w Winnipeg f ree p Pressw wednesday december 19, 2007 comment editor Gerald flood 697 7269 Gerald. Flood free press. My. Ca Winnipeg repress. Com concert left me cold last week i attended my grandchild is Public school Winter concert. Ism assuming the event was typical of to Days average pre Christmas school event but i have to admit Ive been out of the school concert Loop for a Good number of years. The performances ranged from excellent to adorable but a number of things took me by Surprise. If the word Christmas was spoken even once by any of the students i did not hear it. Instead one class Sang about Scrooge lovingly counting his Money while several others anticipated huge helpings of Holiday food in fact one class ate so much they got the Holiday blues. The grand finale of the program was a presentation of the traditional song we wish you swinging Holiday and a hip hop happening new year. I was told by a school official that the religious aspect of this season was deliberately kept out of the program. Nevertheless in an apparent attempt to de Christmas Christmas the substitution of amused tolerance toward Mise Liness and gluttony seems a bit extreme. Whatever happened to Santa Claus snowmen and starry nights or even those universally acclaimed themes of generosity towards others less fortunate peace on Earth and Goodwill toward Humankind by All Means prepare a Winter concert. But present it in january or february when we need a musical respite from the Long cold Winter. A december concert devoid of any mystery or uplifting themes a concert reduced to blues hiphop and Hoe Down a concert designed to offend no one this concert left me cold. Joanne Thiessen Winnipeg letter of the Day Ahn Young Joon / associated press ;