Lighten up, let’s not be Grumpytown
Re: “Deuce Days message is a confusing one,” Letter, July 25.
The letter suggests that it’s not consistent for Victoria to welcome this event because it is perceived as environmentally negative.
Aren’t we perhaps taking things a bit too seriously? Should people on cruise ships and driving RVs be told to stay home because of their carbon footprints?
The beautiful cars seen at this event are not used as daily transportation and are the products of huge effort and expense, provided by talented and enthusiastic owners having fun and celebrating a distant time and culture.
If we look hard enough we’ll find fault with anything. My advice? Lighten up and enjoy the good parts of life. Otherwise, Victoria may start to look like Grumpytown.
Donald MacGregor
Duncan
Deuce pollution? It’s not a big deal
Re: “Deuce Days message is a confusing one,” Letter, July 25.
What the writer was complaining about could be a valid point, but there are some things readers should know about these so-called polluting gas guzzlers.
Most of these 1932 Fords are really new-built vehicles. They are not like the stinky cars of the past. The majority of the hot rods seen today have brand new crate motors bought from automobile dealers.
For years, the American government has been trying to ban hot rods and modified vehicles based on so-called pollution, but the old car industry is worth billions of dollars in after-market parts and accessories and every attempt to shut it down is defeated.
Furthermore it has been determined that the majority of hot rods are not daily drivers and any emissions they are putting out is overall less than the family car, based on mileage driven.
My own vintage vehicle drove less than 100 miles last season.
William Jesse
Victoria
Victoria’s traffic brings chaos, noise
If I were a psychologist, I could tell you to what degree the road chaos in Victoria contributes to road rage.
If I were a business association, I could tell you to what degree the road chaos in Victoria translates into lost revenue and job reduction.
If I were an earth scientist and/or a physician, I could tell you to what degree the idling cars contribute to global warming, increased lung disease and fuel consumption.
If I were Jane Jacobs I could tell you exactly what the city is doing wrong.
I am none of those things, but I know, in my gut, that Victoria’s city planning needs some expert help. I’m just a citizen who cannot open her windows this summer due to the bumper-to-bumper traffic on my street in Victoria.
Sandra Glass
Victoria
Think of what money could do for the world
The world is getting smaller, no doubt about it.
Now, more than ever, if a butterfly flits its wings on one side of the planet, there is a reaction, however small, on the opposite side.
Shouldn’t we then consider our fellow men, everywhere? What if we can do so and at the same time make a smart investment for the planet?
Canadians have shown time and again that we care, and we have a unique opportunity to do so again through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
One might be tempted to think that Canadians are not affected by these diseases, but given international travel, and the presence of TB in our First Nations communities up north, we are all at risk.
It is time to make it known to our MPs and the prime minister that this is a matter of great importance at home and abroad.
In terms of making this a great investment, it was estimated in 2016 that for every single U.S. dollar invested in the Global Fund, there would be a $22 return in terms of annual health care costs globally. Let’s make this world a better place for all!
Connie Lebeau
Victoria
What do they mean by reconciliation?
I much enjoyed Charla Huber’s recent column about Premier John Horgan joining First Nations paddlers on one of their Tribal journeys, in itself a worthy act and obviously appreciated by his hosts.
Reflecting back to the 1930s as a young child occasionally interacting during the summer holidays with others from reservations here on the beaches of the Saanich Peninsula, a question I would propose to the premier is, what do governments really mean when they talk about reconciliation?
Does such in their thinking conclude that our Indigenous people continue for further generations to live on reserves and the remainder of us elsewhere?
To this day, 80 years beyond my times on those Saanich beaches, First Nations kids leave for home after school in one direction and the rest another. Why?
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) states that “reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country. In order for that to happen, there has to be awareness of the past, an acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes and action to change behaviour.”
In my dictionary, reconciliation means the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
I truthfully can’t envision compatibility associated with the present seemingly entrenched system. Where is the will to actually facilitate and create real change to the benefit of the Indigenous people? Obviously not from succeeding governments.
We are all given wings. Why not the same opportunity to fly?
Politicians nowadays employ the mantra on every public occasion being “grateful for standing on First Nations traditional territory,” likely a well-intended courtesy, but tell me seriously, what does it achieve other than postpone positive action and perhaps soften the guilt?
Graeme Roberts
Brentwood Bay
Long-term is nice, but we have needs
Re: “Fixing primary care? Help people help themselves and others,” July 21.
Dr. Trevor Hancock says that if we reduce preventable diseases, we need fewer doctors — but by promoting that opinion, he might be diverting attention and resources from this clear and present crisis of disappearing medical options for our families.
Certainly our society should work hard to reduce disease burden through all social and economic tools but even with that, we are left with our region having fewer resources for our families to get the timely access to medical help they need.
Apparently, the demographics of the new doctor workforce suggests that we may need to find significantly more new doctors to replace the physicians who leave because the replacements are demanding better work-life balance and additionally, some of the near-retirement doctors are reducing their workloads.
Esquimalt is in the forefront of communities grappling with this issue but in spite of the best intentions of the municipality, of public health experts and of provincial initiatives, there is proving to be no feasible way to reopen closed medical clinics and to replace disappearing medical access.
We need medical “boots on the ground” sooner rather than later: More doctors and nurse practitioners, as well as new structures and processes, including urgent primary care centres, patient medical homes, primary care networks, etc.
So while Hancock is right to say that we need a stronger commitment to public health and clinical prevention, this long-term effort is not a substitute for resolving the current crisis of providing adequate medical care in our community.
John Newcomb
Victoria
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