Differing opinion not ‘ignorance’
To the Editor,
Re: Refugee family to arrive ‘soon’, Feb. 18.
I definitely take offence of my opinion being called ignorance because I talk about the refugee situation that is coming to the Alberni Valley.
I believe that from what I read in the newspaper and see on TV about other countries that are taking in refugees and their plight to change the place that is welcoming them, is plain enough to me to be giving my opinion without being called ignorant, or afraid of the unknown. I find it offensive as a citizen of the Valley to be referred to as such.
I have my opinion and I will stick to it regardless of somebody else’s opinion; this is Canada and do not forget it. Maybe that is why we are so opinionated in this country, because we are allowed to be.
Remember this is Canada, and we have freedom of speech regardless of what the situation is, and the situation in this instance, in my opinion, is not good, according to TV and media reports from around the world. Or would you say that they are ignorant also?
This is our Valley and we have a say in it, regardless of whether someone else likes it or not.
Dave Noble,
Port Alberni
Enforce rules for cyclists
To the Editor,
I certainly hope that the city’s managers can justify the waste of our tax money when they decided that the Gertrude Street bridge needed fixing.
I hope that the bridge is in need of urgent repairs, because the bridge does not get that much use on a daily basis.
Now for the bicycle right of ways. First of all you need to enforce the rules and the non-rules. Cyclists do not seem to know how to obey the road rules. I know a lot of Port Alberni’s drivers are just as bad but if they are in an accident they may have a chance. Bicycle riders do not have much of a chance in an accident and pay no insurance.
Until the city managers rectify the large truck situation, bicycle riders will always be at risk.
Steven Reiter,
Port Albern
Break free of clothing conformity
To the Editor,
Thanks to the mayor of Coquitlam for his gender-equality initiative (wearing the same suit every day for 15 months), but I beg to offer t’other side of the coin.
For indeed, women have more accepted freedom than men to express their individuality through their style of dress.
Keeping pace with fashion trends, women have to be creatively innovative: a powerful trait that’s valued in a competitively entrepreneurial business world.
Men, on t’other hand, are slaves to a comparatively boring dress code: the suit and tie. Or, as Dad used to call it: the monkey suit.
So while we recognize gender equality between men and women, let us free our brothers from their noose-tied collars and ridiculous layers of clothing, especially in summer.
With more open collars, perhaps there would be more open thinking between diplomats and warring world leaders.
Liz Stonard,
Port Alberni
