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Letters Feb. 23: Are we becoming ashamed of our flag?; Emergencies Act substitutes for good leadership

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Protesters waving Canadian flags rally against vaccine mandates, on Belleville Street in front of the B.C. legislature on Feb. 5. Letter-writers suggest the protestersÂ’ use of the flag has damaged its reputation and that of this country. DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST

A flag, and a wish for peace for all

Given that our Canadian flag has been so inappropriately used as truck and protest adornment over the past few weeks of unrest in Canada, it was such a relief to once again see it being waved with the well-earned and -deserved pride and respect by our athletes in the Winter Olympics closing ceremonies.

Also, the music chosen for the Olympics finale, Beethoven‘s Ode to Joy, was well chosen. His Ninth Symphony praises and wishes for peace, universal unity and co-operation amongst all peoples. Another good reason for us to wave our flag.

J.M. Melvin
Victoria

Ashamed of the flag after all these years

I took down the maple leaf flag that we had flown in the backyard for years. I’m so ashamed at how it has been degraded by a mob of yahoos that I find difficulty even looking at it.

As well, there are many folks who walk down the back alley close to our flag pole, and a school yard on the other side. Flying that disgraced flag might give some the idea that we support the occupiers.

My attachment to that flag went back a long time. As a student at the time, I recall watching on TV when it was first raised in front of Parliament and John Diefenbaker turned his back to it.

Now I’m doing the same thing, albeit for a different reason.

Lorne Finlayson
Cumberland

Give us back our maple leaf flag

I have been proud to call myself a Canadian citizen since 1974, when I chose to ask for, and was granted, citizenship. I am proud to fly the maple leaf outside our home; it represents what a great country we have.

Recent events leave me feeling that our flag has now been stolen and used by a small group of people to serve their own personal grievances.

By their own admission it was an attempt to bring down our elected government by a show of force. Blockading our cities and border crossings, and spitting on members of the media, are not the Canadian way.

The use our maple leaf has been usurped and misused.

I want my flag back.

Richard C. Parsley
Nanaimo

Name a street in Ottawa after Zexi Li

I’d like to thank all Canadians who have helped to end the nonsense in Ottawa and across the country. And here’s a special thank you to Zexi Li, for ending the honking, launching a lawsuit and helping to return her city to a place of civility and decency.

You’ve made a lot of Canadians proud of you.

Dave Ferguson
Victoria

Draconian legislation is poor leadership

In the late 1950s I started military flight training, and on the first day of ground school, the instructor wrote on the board, “Anticipate the Situation” and added the comment: “Failure to do so results in disaster.”

Never in the past 60-plus years has that been borne out more than the recent fiasco in Ottawa.

It appalls me that any major city, much less a national capital, can fail to anticipate a situation that was well known in advance and prove itself totally incapable of enforcing what are well established bylaws there and elsewhere.

Doing absolutely nothing allowed matters to escalate, and the current federal government now sees fit to enact the most draconian of all legislation to deal with it.

Perhaps that was the intent? I don’t know and hope it wasn’t, but Canadians have now been stripped of basic freedoms for the second time since the end of the Second World War, ironically under governments both led by individuals named Trudeau.

Some justification might be arguable in the earlier instance in 1970, but to implement such draconian measures because a national capital city cannot, or will not, enforce its own bylaws leaves me absolutely incredulous, as it does many others as well.

If this is an example of the leadership of today, we are indeed in a very sorry state of affairs.

James P. Crowley
North Saanich

Major differences between the acts

Re: “‘Freedom Convoy:’ Flash in the pan or budding political movement?” column, Feb. 20.

It is with some concern that I noted the careless wording at the end of Lawrie McFarlane’s column. After an otherwise thoughtful and balanced piece describing the current polarized views in Canada on the recent COVID vaccine mandate protests, he states: “Trudeau followed up by invoking the Emergencies Act (aka the War Measures Act).”

These acts are completely different. The Emergencies Act was crafted with great care by multiple party representatives after long deliberation in response to concerns of civil liberties that were violated by the War Measures Act in the October Crisis.

Specific differences include adherence to the Charter of Rights, the need for provincial government endorsement, mandatory ratification of enactment by parliamentary debate and mandatory retrospective review of its use and opportunity for reform/modification from lessons learned.

It may seem like a small sentence at the end of a long article, but it can enforce a narrative and entrench non-truths in the minds of many people who are easily swayed by McFarlane’s influence.

Nobody is perfect and mistakes are made, but I would like to see McFarlane hold himself to the same high standards he holds others in his writing, and correct this misinterpretation in a future article if possible.

Truth is very important. Especially in journalism.

Jason Wale
Saanich

Maybe it is time for louder voices to be heard

I know that there is no such thing as absolute freedom in this country, but I also know that we live in one of, if not the best, countries in the world.

I appreciate our government, our police forces, all our health-care workers, our grocery store employees, truck drivers and many others who have continued to work during the pandemic. Thank you!

I know that, at times, I must obey rules and laws that are for the good of all, even when I might not agree with them. My greatest frustration and anger with the Freedom Convoy was that they were “demanding” that mandates around covid be changed … demanded, and they held a city hostage to try and get what they wanted.

Did they ask the rest of us if we were OK with all those mandates being lifted? Do they think this is how they can effect change in the future? Do they actually think their actions were reasonable?

I am overcome with gratitude that I can live in this country and have all the freedoms that I do. Perhaps it is time for the rest of us to show our appreciation in some kind of a visible demonstration, to show to the Freedom Convoy that they are not the loudest voice in this country, and that we understand that it is the virus that is often dictating how we must live our lives in these times.

Yes, we may be inconvenienced, but that is the price we might have to pay to get out of this worldwide pandemic. I love this country, and I respect the efforts to keep our government a democracy.

Reta Grill
Fanny Bay

All the costs have risen for family doctors

I am a 77-year-old retired family doctor. I bought my house in 1982 — much cheaper back then. (l also spent $30,000 to buy a general practice in 1985).

How can a young doctor rent or buy in Victoria nowadays? l believe money laundering in real estate is a primary explanation.

Dr. Paul Brigel
Victoria

A special thanks to Dr. Bonnie Henry

I belong to the over-80s, a demographic deemed most at risk during COVID.

I have been triply vaccinated and escaped the pandemic without symptoms, my family who have all been vaccinated have tested positive and have all experienced only very mild symptoms.

Thank you for keeping us safe Dr. Bonnie Henry, from the bottom of my heart.

Allan Winks
Nanaimo

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