Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 14, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A10 EDITORIALS WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 Freedom of Trade Liberty of Religion Equality of Civil Rights A 10 COMMENT EDITOR: Gerald Flood 204- 697- 7269 gerald. flood@ freepress. mb. ca winnipegfreepress. com EDITORIAL R USSIA had wanted the opening ceremony at Sochi to feature a few glorified pages from the Second World War, possibly including a scene from the Battle of Stalingrad or the heroic defence of Leningrad. Sochi itself was on the front lines when Nazi soldiers fought their way into the area. The International Olympic Committee, however, ruled against such a display because the Second World War is still a sensitive subject for many European countries. No other country in the history of the Olympics has considered using the Second World War as a national branding exercise, but the Great Patriotic War - as the 1939- 1945 conflict is known in Russia - is the most sacred event in the country's history. Some 30 million Soviet citizens - about half the total killed in the entire war - lost their lives. That's why an independent Russian TV station was recently forced off the air after asking its viewers if Leningrad should have surrendered to the Germans. In another incident, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned a CNN correspondent for an official reprimand after the cable network said a war memorial in the former Soviet republic of Belarus was " the world's ugliest monument." CNN apologized, but not before a Russian commentator disparaged America's Iwo Jima memorial, saying the marines in the sculpture were obviously gay because of the way they were bent over one another. For the remainder of the Olympics, then, polite observers would do well to steer clear of the Second World War. The truth, however, is that while Russia suffered horribly and almost single- handedly defeated the Nazis, its wartime record is far from pure. Unfortunately for the Russians, their history also includes Josef Stalin, one of history's great monsters, whose legacy haunts the country still. In fact, Stalin's place in Russian history is still not clear, at least not to many Russians. Some high school textbooks, for example, portray him as a blood and iron leader who did what needed to be done to modernize the backward country and defeat the Germans. For this school of thought, Stalin was a necessary evil whose means were justified to achieve loftier goals. Russian President Vladimir Putin has even said Stalin was no different than Oliver Cromwell, the 17th- century British revolutionary who overthrew the monarchy and killed thousands of Irishmen. Yet the British, he said, had no qualms about erecting a monument to Cromwell outside the House of Commons. The president has condemned Stalin's " mass crimes" and labelled the former Soviet regime as " totalitarian," but he hasn't opposed the building of monuments in Stalin's memory. Like many Russians, then, Mr. Putin is ambivalent about Stalin's record. That doesn't mean he's a modern- day Stalin, as some critics claim, but his style of governing and his emphasis on " order and discipline" reflect Russia's weak respect for western- style democratic traditions. For Mr. Putin, the Sochi Games are intended to showcase Russia's power and progress, as well as his own ability to do what's necessary. In typically Russian style, it took determination and ruthlessness to pull it off. And yet all reports out of Sochi have observed the Russians are gregarious, fun- loving people who frequently cheer for Canada. They are congenial and friendly, with a strong sense of humour, but also a craving for security and stability. The Sochi Olympics began with criticism of Russia's anti- gay laws, its abuse of Ukraine and Putin's authoritarian style of governing. These are still valid observations, but the Games have opened another window that shows a people who aren't too different than the rest of us and who want many of the same things. Sochi has revealed two Russias, one longing for the past, the other optimistic about the future. How Russian. Release fire- hall info Why do Winnipeg taxpayers not have complete information on all infrastructure projects ( Firestorm over fire- hall study , Feb. 13)? Why are our municipal government representatives refused this information? Who are these administrators who decide what to release or not release to councillors and the public? GLORIA JOHNSTON Winnipeg WAG event begs perspective Re: WAG and the peril of yellowface , Feb. 12. We all perceive things differently, according to our own terms of reference. As a member of the East Indian community and a promoter of multiculturalism, I recognize the Winnipeg Art Gallery was trying something different. As a member of the WAG's board, I was happy with that. While I won't try to speak for the Japanese community, if it had been an East Indian theme I would have been very happy, as would many in my community. It takes courage and a big heart to try something different. Sometimes, academic and theoretical analysis or interpretation takes away from the good inter- cultural intent of the situation. In any case, the WAG and Stephan Borys have taken a noble step in trying to do something different, as well as in apologizing. MANJU LODHA Winnipeg Weighing in on attack ad It was refreshing to read Deveryn Ross' article Attack ad is baseless ( Feb. 12). Ross clearly isn't afraid to dig into past political history to seek the truth about the current provincial government's fear- mongering and blaming of the Filmon government, who haven't been in power for the last 14 years. In the last election they used similar attacks on former PC leader Hugh McFadyen; now they're trying to use the same desperate tactics on Brian Pallister. People are sick and tired of the proverbial smokescreens, multiple excuses and the blaming of past provincial administrations and the federal government. The public is wise enough to ignore the latest sanctioned attack ads. The majority of Manitobans aren't that stupid. TERRY MORRISON Winnipeg �� Deveryn Ross indicates there's no truth to the NDP claim that, during a previous government's reign, there were nursing jobs lost and nurses were fired. I was a nurse during those years. There were downsizing, ward closures, " staff- mix" ( a moniker for reducing the nursing ratio on wards), bed closures, and licensed practical nurse positions in some hospitals were removed. Much of this was taking place under the auspices of " streamlining" these facilities, but in reality was undertaken to reduce nursing resources. We saw nurses deleted, bumped, and laid off while watching nursing graduates leave the province, or even the country. Ross refers to " severe cutbacks in federalprovincial transfer payments" in 1999 as the cause. While partially true, the bulk of the layoffs, downsizing and closures happened before this - between 1993 and 1995. BRENDA LESYK Warren Federal budget fallout Re: Tories batten down hatches , Feb. 12. For several years, advocates for the care sector of the economy have waited. Those who devote hours of unpaid labour to the well- being of the young, sick, handicapped, frail, elderly or dying have been put on hold, told that their time would come. Those who volunteer in firefighting and search- and- rescue capacities are among the many who work for free. They represent roles not officially even called " work" by tax and labour definitions. Advocates want government to notice that these are essential tasks. They want recognition of the money saved, of the work done when the fire does not spread, the lost hiker is found, or the wayward child is nurtured and returns to health. We need a budget that recognizes the selfless work done at a personal cost to help others. It has been taken for granted, and judging by the most recent budget, it still is. BEVERLEY SMITH Calgary, Alta. �� How can anybody logically explain that the 2014 federal budget was a so- called do- nothing budget to the public- sector workers enduring pay and benefit cuts - to the tune of $ 7.4 billion dollars over six years ( Budget gives Tories, Canada new shine , Editorial, Feb. 12)? The logic behind this move, described as " playing on discontent among private- sector workers who do not share in the pensions and benefits enjoyed by most government employees," is a smokescreen to hide the Conservatives' anti- union policy. If the Conservative government wanted to level the playing field with the private sector, they would introduce legislation to change existing rules regarding private pension plans. The assault on public employee benefits continues; slaying the deficit, at least partially on their backs, is just not right. KIM TRETHART Winnipeg Seniors value schools Peter Manastyrsky's letter Don't lift school taxes from the elderly ( Feb. 12) expressed perfectly what I and my senior friends believe. Seniors have an interest in quality schools and are willing to do their part to have a quality education system. I can't understand why this government is thinking about removing this tax from seniors - unless it's with the shortsighted hope of buying seniors' votes. JOYCE CORMACK Winnipeg In no hurry to come back I recently travelled to Winnipeg and had the misfortune of receiving a speeding ticket for travelling 20 km/ h above the speed limit on the Trans- Canada Highway less than one hour after landing in the city. The speeding ticket rates in your province are outrageous, and a police service that doesn't offer a visitor a warning or even speak to the driver before issuing the ticket left me with a terrible impression of the city. The $ 312 " welcome to Winnipeg" left me feeling sure that I have spent my last tourist dollar in your province paying the fine. SUSAN ANDREWS New Westminster, B. C. HAVE YOUR SAY: The Free Press welcomes letters from readers. Include the author's name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited. Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, R2X 3B6. Fax 204- 697- 7412. Email letters@ freepress. mb. ca Letters represent the opinions of their writers and do not reflect the opinions of the Winnipeg Free Press or its staff. �� LETTER OF THE DAY In his letter STARS not needed ( Feb. 8), Darrell Horn states southern Manitoba does not fit the scenarios where helicopter evacuations make sense. What about isolated rural areas? As a rural fire chief, I invite Mr. Horn to join my volunteer firefighters at a multiple- casualty motor- vehicle accident while we wait for ambulances to arrive from several towns. He can then anguish over the patients' conditions while they make the 90- minute ( or longer) trip to Winnipeg. Maybe then he would realize the southern Manitoba he claims to know is vastly different from Winnipeg, where he can have an ambulance at his door in less than 10 minutes, and be at an emergency ward in another 20. Maybe then he would realize southern Manitoba needs STARS. NEIL YOUNG Cypress River Putin, Stalin and Sochi Rural areas need STARS JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES A STARS helicopter sits on a remote island in the Whiteshell. A_ 12_ Feb- 14- 14_ FP_ 01. indd A10 2/ 13/ 14 8: 13: 25 PM ;