Letter to the Editor

February 2012

It seems all but certain that Stephen Harper is set to hike the qualifying age for the old-age security (OAS) from 65 to 67. For our most vulnerable seniors, that means they will go without $30,000 of much-needed support for two additional years. For you, it may mean significantly altering your plans for retirement. And you are not alone.

Over the next 10 years, more than 4 million Canadians will turn 65. Unless you are set to retire with an annual pension of more than $112,000, Harper is telling you to rethink your plans. He is blaming the baby-boomers. But as the retirement wave peaks in 2031, increased spending on the OAS will only increase by 0.7 per cent of Canada’s overall economy.

Harper is the same guy who said the Canada Pension Plan should be scrapped in 1998. Government involvement in the financial security of Canadians stands counter to his ideology.

As Conservatives choose to take benefits from seniors, Liberals continue to fight for balanced pension reforms that will ensure Canadians financial security. Liberals will fight for a voluntary supplemental CPP that will provide a low-cost, high-return, universal option that Canadians can rely on.

—Hon. Judy Sgro, MP

Liberal Party Critic for Seniors and Pensions

Letters to the editor

July, 2010

Response to our June editorial, “CEGEP teachers betray mission in targeting Israel for boycott,” has been overwhelming. Below is a selection of the mail we received, edited for space:

Israeli commandos storm the lead ship in the aid flotilla challenging the blockade of Gaza, killing nine and wounding dozens and you blame the victims rather than the aggressors.

The expulsion of Palestinians in 1948 a byproduct of war? Not so. Ilan Pappe, the Israeli historian, documents the plan for expulsion of Palestinians by the Zionist high command and the terror campaign that was unleashed to promote that aim. You cite other examples of population transfers in order to justify Israeli policy, forgetting that two wrongs don’t make a right.

Palestinian rocket attacks, over the years claiming the lives of 15 Israeli civilians, had virtually ceased at the time Israel launched Operation Cast Lead in which much of Gaza’s social and economic infrastructure was destroyed and nearly 1,400 civilians were slaughtered. You accuse Hamas of intransigence. But it has repeatedly offered not only a ceasefire but also a negotiated release of the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

There remains the unequal status of the Palestinian minority inside Israel. The aim of the BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions) campaign is to mobilize world opinion against the unconscionable siege of Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank. — Dr. Robbie Mahood, Côte des Neiges

I must express amazement at your editorial reprimand of our CEGEP teachers for their approach to BDS vis-à-vis Israel.

Your argument that CEGEPs are not the place for such topics is at best facetious. Our youth in these days of the Internet are much more aware of global issues; hence they need exposure to them.

I have yet to see any objection raised by our media when Jewish boys and girls are sent to Israel to be indoctrinated.

I realize your paper is addressed to the senior demographic, who would certainly cheer you for this reprimand. In all earnestness, time is ripe for a paper such as yours to encourage free thinking. Many of your readers are fervent supporters of Israel and it is their choice. But this editorial was disingenuous and a vain attempt to rewrite the history of a four-decade-old conflict.

Israel holds a world record in defying numerous UN Resolutions and charters. The well-crafted and balanced UN Security Council Resolution 242 is a dead letter. One hardly hears from Prime Minister Stephen Harper or, for that matter, any of the political elite on the necessity of implementing this basic plan to achieve a just peace in the Middle East! — S. Naseer Alig, Montreal

I admire your tenacity in defending Israeli policies and actions no matter how offensive and violent they are. Fortunately, there are saner elements among world Jewry who are getting tired of silencing any legitimate criticism of Israel, the new “Golden Calf.” Your ethnic myopia is pathetic and even pathological. — Robert Morgan

On a positive note ... God bless you for explaining Israel’s situation with such clarity. I hope many will read your editorial and think twice before condemning the only democracy in the Middle East. Long may you continue to inform the public with honesty and clarity. — Phyllis Vassall

Letters to the editor

June, 2010

I would like to thank you for the wonderful, encouraging article you wrote about Linda Turner and Cangrands. It sure told it like it is. There are more of us out there who are raising our grands than society would care to admit.

—Denise Morris, Seaforth Ont.

I would like to thank you for the article featuring Linda Turner, who is raising her two grandchildren.

It was nice to see her picture as well. I still get emails for the chapter leaders and I follow their progress though my grandson, who I have raised since the age of 16 and who is now almost 23.

Betty Cornelius, founder of Cangrands, devotes an unbelievable amount of time to this organization and it is important to know that she does this strictly on a volunteer basis – no salary, no perks!

I truly wish that some people who donate out of the country to such organizations as African Grannies would look at this organization when thinking about giving.

No money goes to administrative costs or advertising and the summer camp is a break for both the caregivers and the children. It is also a time to learn as speakers and workshops for the caregiver are both informative and apply to their needs.

For the caregivers, it has been pointed out that they basically abandon their social lives, as raising children does not fit into the activities of many of their friends.

For those caring for more than one child, I truly admire their strength and love.

Thanks you for informing many seniors and others of this group.

—Gail McDowel

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That was an excellently written article. —Big hugs from Cangrands.

Thank you so much for the article re: Linda Turner grandparenting her granddaughters. There are more of us than most realize. We all have our struggles and rewards in this role we had not really planned for our future.

It is important to tell these stories to help us as a group make people/government aware of this tear in the fabric of our society. Grands raising babies with and without physical, emotional and psychological challenges need support.

—Margaret C. Kavanagh, 56-year-old custodial grand- parent of Ryan, 2, and Walker, 6.

ERRATUM: An incorrect address appeared in the Cangrands article published in May. The group meets at 6350 Terrebonne. The Senior Times regrets the error.

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

I picked up the current issue of The Senior Times and am impressed by all the columns and features. There is something for everyone.

I was particularly interested in Neil McKenty’s forthright comments about the pope and his blind eye to anti-Semitism. Whatever Bishop Williamson may say, no matter if he recants, the man is clearly removed from sanity and a disgrace to the Roman Catholic Church.

What is more troubling is that I’m not hearing much fuss about it coming from my own Anglican Church or other churches. There should be a storm of righteous indignation. Have I missed it? On another note, I do appreciate the generous font at The Senior Times online. What a comfort not to have to call up my magnifier.

– Phyllis Carter

Heaps of praise from younger reader

Dear Editor,

I was just looking through the February issue of the paper and needed to write to you immediately to say how much I enjoyed it. Those stories about seniors sweeping themselves and others into action to address the serious issues of our times, the moving history lesson, the thoughtful editorial, the unusual amount of space given to political-economic analysis from a point of view other than the Fraser Institute’s... even a paean to vinyl... wow.

Your paper is a much better read than any of the mainstream media – or other local papers. Thanks so much and please keep it up.

I forgot to mention that I’m not even in your readership demographic

... early 40s ...

– Judith Shapiro

Hospital story moves reader

Dear Editor,

I was deeply moved by your article “What I learned one weekend in September” (Senior Times, Oct. 2008) about the sudden illness of your daughter Molly (as talented a travel writer as her mother) and her experience in Santa Cabrini Hospital emergency. Thank God for her quick recovery. I hope she will never get the “spasms” (or whatever it was) again and continue to produce many more travel narratives.

— Jan Weryho

Molly's Istanbul sparks reader's memories and reflections

I was deeply touched by Molly Newborn’s June travel article Istanbul – the magic, the madness & the mosques. I was in Istanbul in 1958, exactly 50 years ago, my head full of Pierre Loti, taking a summer course in Turkish for foreign students at Istanbul University. It was the most beautiful city I had seen, at least its skyline of domes and minarets.

By the way Bosporus is a strait between two seas, not a river (Mr. Richler, please correct me if I am wrong) although it may look like a river if you don’t taste its salt water.

Ms. Newborn’s first impressions were bitter. She was hassled by peddlers offering to sell her a carpet and by cavaliers hoping to date her. They could tell she was a tourist. Maybe the way she was dressed in jeans or her typical tourist behaviour, looking around with curious starry eyes the way no local would. Judging by her photo we would expect her to draw admiring glances not only in Turkey, though we can’t expect her to accept an invitation for a date, especially a crudely formulated one from a stranger. She goes back to her hotel room to cry for the rest of the day. She is obviously a sensitive young woman. It may be her weakness as a journalist, but it is her strength as a writer.

Well, carpet sellers or other peddlers did not run after me. I was a student, and students, even foreign students, were not expected to have much money.

Ms. Newborn is rescued by Ahmet, a former Turkish classmate from UCLA, who gives her a guided tour of the city. She is “stunned” by the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia. I remember how excited I was, as a Christian, seeing what was perhaps the most beautiful Christian church ever built. Mehmet the Conqueror had transformed the church into a mosque, adding the first of the four minarets. The secularist President Ataturk turned it into a museum.

A house of worship has a soul that a mere museum cannot have. Something Ms. Newborn missed. She shows us a photo of the Blue Mosque, illuminated at night, displaying the inscription “DONYA AHIRETIN TARLASIDIR” (“The world is the ploughed field for after-life”). Yet, one of the wonders of the Hagia Sophia is its Christian mosaics which had been plastered over during the four centuries when the building was serving as a mosque. The subject matter may not have been objectionable to the Muslims who venerate the Prophet Jesus and his Mother but a mosque may not contain any pictorial representations, viewed as idolatry. To most if not all Turks, it would have been tantamount to a symbolic surrender of the city to the Greeks, a nightmare, which had almost happened at the end of World War I. Ataturk’s victory over the Greeks and their British and French allies saved the city for Turkey and for Islam.

When visiting the Blue Mosque, Ms. Newborn feels “uncomfortable” at being asked to cover her head. Come on, young lady! Haven’t you ever wrapped your head with a scarf to protect yourself from Canadian wind? I don’t remember whether Western women tourists were asked to cover their heads when visiting mosques in Turkey in my time. I remember that we all had to take our shoes off.

Ms. Newborn is not much impressed by the Islamic call to prayer, appreciated by so many non-Muslims, including Byron who had fought against the Turks in the Greek War of Independence:

“’Twas musical, yet sadly sweet...” (The Siege of Corinth)

On her own Ms. Newborn takes the train across the Galata Bridge to the Dolmabahge Palace. A train across the Galata Bridge? I am sure the “train” here is a misprint for tram, or is it an innovation since my time?

After her guided tour of the city Ms. Newborn spends the night partying with Ahmet and his friends in the bars of Taxim (her spelling). That is quite in character with the society. Unlike most Muslims (Arabs, Iranians, Pakistanis) the Turks drink openly, without inhibition, even taking pride in their drinking prowess. Except that those were strictly men-only sessions. It was not considered dignified for Turkish ladies to drink raki. I wonder if there were Turkish girls partying that night?

Please note the spelling: Taksim. There is no X in Turkish. It is an Arabic loanword meaning “division” or “partition.” Taksim Square is the centre of Pera or Beyogiu, the formerly “Frankish” suburb of Istanbul with more bars than mosques.

In the end Ms. Newborn forgets her initial disappointment and is won over by the city: “Istanbul is magical. There is no other place that compares.” I haven’t been back to Istanbul for 50 years.

Ms. Newborn has captured the spirit of the place and brought back precious memories of my youth.

Thank you, Molly!

Çok tesekkür ederim!

– Jan Witold Weryho, NDG

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Dear Ms. Weryho,

You are so very welcome! I was delighted to learn about your experience in Istanbul 50 years ago. It seems as though things haven’t changed too much.

We were asked to take off our shoes and cover our heads upon entering all mosques. Taking off my shoes made me as uneasy as covering my head. There were water fountains outside all mosques where the men washed their feet (and face and arms?) before entering. I found a crowd of about 30 women jammed into the ladies’ restroom with three sinks outside the Blue Mosque washing their feet. As a foreigner it is not my place to complain, especially since entering the stunningly beautiful mosque negated any uneasy feelings.

Ahmet presented me with my first glass of Raki during our lunch under the Galata Bridge. The first of many. There certainly was no shortage of alcohol for the ladies in Taksim! There were girls in Ahmet’s circle of friends who joined us in the festivities, and they could have easily passed as Americans. This took me by surprise since I was advised to “cover up” while traveling around Turkey, but when it came to Istanbul the girls definitely weren’t shy to be sexy. This is a far cry from Urfa, which I will be writing about in a future issue.

I did come to enjoy the Islamic call to prayer. It was a bit of a jolt when I heard it for the first time without  warning. It was a constant reminder wherever I went, saying “Listen! You’re in Turkey!” And I certainly appreciated it when it woke me up to catch my flight.

Thanks again for your reply! I am so happy we were able to share our stories with one another.

– Molly, Los Angeles

Sanctuary from what?

I must disagree with your editorial supporting Canadian sanctuary for deserters from the war in Iraq.

You use the term "illegal war", which is essentially redundant, and often used to heap scorn on any country's military actions, right or wrong. In any conflict, one or both sides did something illegal.

The Iraq war is an extremely stupid one. The only benefit has been that Saddam Hussein has become one of the very few murderous tyrants of the last hundred years to have been brought to justice. It wasn't worth the price. But it has happened, and we all must deal with that — wisely, one hopes.

Unlike during the Vietnam War, the U.S. military is now all voluntary. There is no draft and therefore there are no draft dodgers. Any deserters signed up of their own free will and must have understood that they would have to follow orders which may possibly put their life and well-being in danger. A military cannot be subject to its staff deciding that they have changed their mind, whatever the reason.

There is a big difference from the circumstances of the Vietnam era. I fully support our courts' decisions not to make Canada a repository for these people. If they don't like the war, they could quit the military at the first opportunity and try to request alternative service in the meantime. Until then, they should do what they voluntarily contracted to do.

– Ken Frankel, Montreal