Readers discuss Liberal hypocrisy on the Israel-Hamas war, banning God from Canada's military, and why Rachel Notley shouldn't be believed
Re: As Israeli innocents are hunted and murdered, certain Canadian ‘progressives’ choose to celebrate — Terry Glavin, Oct. 8; and The Trudeau Liberals’ deafening silence in the face of Hamas horrors — Vivian Bercovici, Oct. 21
What strange and hypocritical times we live in when a teacher can be removed from his or her job and have his or her career ruined for addressing a student in their birth name instead of their new chosen name but we can have demonstrators in the streets supporting a vicious terrorist organization and calling for the death of Jews and Israel.
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What have we become? Freedom of speech and assembly is one of our pillars but not when it supports or calls for violence against another ethnic group.
Where is our virtue-signalling federal government in all of this? England, France and Germany have all empowered their security services to look at who is participating in these tasteless demonstrations and if necessary deport them from their countries.
Don Elliott, Richelieu, Que.
My respect for French President Emmanuel Macron just went up a notch. Despite having a large number of Palestinian sympathizers in his country, he travelled to Israel and condemned Hamas.
Meanwhile, our prime minister cannot even be bothered to condemn threats and intimidation by Hamas supporters in his own country, leaving that to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.
How embarrassing!
Terry James, Vegreville, Alta.
How many Canadians would have imagined that antisemitism in Canada would be like Germany 1935? Even the people in the streets supporting Hamas would not have believed it could be like this a few years ago. But don’t they see themselves? Here they are, waving antisemitic flags and calling for boycotts of Jewish businesses, as it started in Germany. What next? Forcing businesses to close and running them out of town? Public lynch mobs because the Canadian government won’t “solve the Jewish problem” for them?
Fortunately at present, our Liberal government is taking the opposite tack of Germany’s Nazi government and will protect Jewish citizens in this country. But the hypocrisy is outstanding. Someone makes a rude comment about Islam on Facebook and loses their job, but people can call “death to the Jews” in street rallies and nothing happens? Not even government condemnation of such? What’s happened to Canada’s “hate speech” laws? Where’s the Canadian Human Rights Commission on all this, besides being silent?
How bad do things have to get before that antisemitic tide is turned in Canada? Or on we on a slippery slope to repeating history in spite of 75 years of “never again”?
Tony Borbely, Calgary
Re: Trudeau admits Liberal caucus divide over Israel-Hamas war. Says differences are ‘source of strength’ — Catherine Lévesque, Oct. 21
Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, is absolutely right when he observes that the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and Russia’s genocidal war on Ukraine are linked as part of a greater conflict led by Russia, and supported by China and Iran.
Hamas and Russia want to annihilate the Israeli and Ukrainian nations respectively. They thumb their noses at international law while indiscriminately killing civilians, raping women and children, taking hostages, and engaging in torture and other atrocities. Furthermore, Hamas and Russia exhibit little concern for their own people, using them as cannon fodder or human shields. Finally, both lie compulsively to their own people to cover up their own corruption and incompetence. Neither wants peace, and cynical calls for a ceasefire are only meant to allow for a regrouping and preparation for the next attack.
Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel was atrocious. However, it would not have been possible without sponsorship from Iran and Russia. In fact, Russia is the driving force behind these wars and much of the disruption in the world. Russia has clearly stated imperial ambitions, but is too weak to achieve them alone as evident in Ukraine. So it needs to distract the U.S. and the West by fomenting chaos everywhere it can, with the hope of diverting Western attention, resources and weapon shipments from Ukraine to Israel.
It is time the West acknowledges that Israel and Ukraine are ultimately fighting the same enemy, Russia. It is not an either or choice, both need the West’s support to repulse the enemy seeking their destruction. It is a zero sum game: either Russia wins and we lose, or Russia loses and we win. The choice seems clear to me.
Wasyl Wysoczanskyj, Toronto
Re: Is it a war crime to kill civilians? Only sometimes. Here’s what international law really says — Tyler Dawson, Oct. 20
The “rules of war” … the ultimate oxymoron, legal “scholars” parsing the English language to the point of arcane intellectual speculation akin to determining how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
The folly of distinguishing war crimes from crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression or genocide, agonizing over the law of proportionality, determining who is “lawfully allowed to kill” or what are the bounds of “lawful violence” between state versus non-state actors are fatuous exercises designed to dampen the horrors of war and assuage the consciences of the participants, but applicable only to those who are official signatories to the “rules.” Utter nonsense!
Morton Doran, Fairmont, B.C.
Re: Directives to military chaplains urge expunging God, religion from Remembrance Day, public ceremonies — Bryan Passifiume, Oct. 27
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces were told they should not call upon God during public prayers, to prioritize inclusivity and diversity. Apparently, the department of National Defence has indicated that public prayer must reflect the spiritual and religious diversity of Canada. Additionally, chaplains have been directed that they should not use the word “God” to ensure that all feel included and able to participate in reflection no matter their beliefs.
It is an obvious attempt to secularize the military. But what about the freedom of religion, which Canadian military members should be entitled to practice? Prayers occupy a significant place in the world of the military. It is vital as a means of asking for protection from the dangers they face, and it ensures spiritual fitness. It seems there is now no place for Christians in the military, but inclusivity should also include God. What next, banning the Lord’s Prayer?
Roger Cyr, Victoria, B.C.
Re: UCP’s Alberta pension plan would rob Canadians of stability — Rachel Notley, Oct. 25
Rachel Notley asks, “Why would an Albertan not only want to jeopardize their own retirement but also that of, say, their brother in Regina, their uncle in Moncton or their grandmother in Nanaimo?“
Perhaps because the federal government has taken it upon itself to consistently stymie Alberta’s economic prosperity and selfishly punish the province for being a Conservative stronghold to the point that they have a bigger chip on their shoulder than even the Québécois people. A feat even former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau couldn’t accomplish, despite his attempts.
Take what Rachel Notley says with a grain of salt. She is a politician and no stranger to engaging in propaganda herself. Same for Danielle Smith. Exaggeration is what politicians do best.
Do I agree with Danielle Smith? No, I think her plan is foolhardy, but I understand Alberta’s resentment toward the federal government 100 per cent. I, too, am sick and tired of the incompetent, corrupt and self-righteous dumpster fire that is the Liberal government and they are certainly going to have hell to pay in the next federal election.
Corey Needer, Vaughan, Ont.
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