ɫɫ��

My initial reaction to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that Canada would recognize a Palestinian state was “maybe this will work to bring around a permanent ceasefire and return of the remaining hostages.” Then I thought a little harder.��

It seems to be predicated on a promise by Mahmoud Abbas on behalf of the Palestinian Authority that democratic elections would be held next year and that Hamas would be completely cut out of the equation. Given Abbas’ questionable dependability and effectiveness in the past, it’s more likely than not that he won’t make good on that promise, at least not in an acceptable way, if he even has the power to do that. What do we do then? Back out.��

If you’re buying questionable merchandise, doesn’t it make sense to wait and see if it works before paying full price? It’ll be tough to get a refund.��

��Michael Bines, ɫɫ��

Air Canada’s responds with a racist assumption

This woman claims Air Canada discriminated against her in a case of ‘flying while Black.’ Now her human rights complaint could set a precedent,��July 27

Of what relevance is it that the two Air Canada employees accused of treating a Black passenger badly were of Asian descent? Is Air Canada trying to persuade us that only white people are capable of discriminating on racial grounds? That in itself is a racist assumption. I don’t know if the treatment of��June Francis��was motivated by racism or was just the result of employees being frazzled, but many equally frazzled passengers can attest to dismissive treatment by airlines. Whether the issue was flying while Black or flying while human, I wish Francis good luck with her refreshingly modest compensation request.

Anita Dermer, ɫɫ����

And then there’s the naming of public hospitals

Corporate naming is taking over. Welcome to ɫɫ��, brought to you by Rogers,��July 15

While Edward Keenan disagrees with corporate naming of our entertainment and sporting facilities, he does not mention the personal naming our public institutions for example our public hospitals. Cases in point, Michael Garron Hospital, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, the planned Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital. Naming hospitals after major donors may be an easy strategy for fundraisers, but it fails to address the fact that the wider public through personal donations and government taxpayer moneys account for the larger share of health-care capital projects. This naming is almost always done without public input and entirely at the behest of hospital foundations and PR departments. ɫɫ�� East General Hospital was a name with meaning for the community. The new name after the son of a major donor has no connection to the community served by the hospital.

John Tagg, East York

Poilievre continues on the attack — this time it’s our justice system

Crown attorneys issue rare public response to Pierre Poilievre attack on ‘freedom convoy’ prosecution, July 30

Pierre Poilievre cannot help himself: any institution, in this case our justice system, which doesn’t act according to his Trumpian instincts, is seen by him as a failure. His narrative leads one to believe that if he were prime minister and that position had the authority to unilaterally pardon criminals (à la Trump with the Jan. 6 rioters of Congress) he would do so. After all, our rioters in Ottawa are part of his base who see any and every action from our government as proof of unfair policy.��

��Peter Pinch, ɫɫ����

Judge represents yet another limited and misguided truth��

I have been infuriated by sexual assault trials that demean the victim. The Hockey Canada trial was not one of those, June 26

Rosie DiManno ��attempts to denigrate and dismiss all who have expressed concern and consternation about the Hockey Canada verdict regarding E.M. and the hockey players in a London hotel room. E.M. has spoken of “her” truth, which Dimanno and Judge Maria Carroccia deem jumbled and inconclusive. However is it possible that the truth Carroccia claims to represent is yet another limited and misguided truth? It seems to show no awareness of the kind of of appeasement a vulnerable woman may enact, out of fear, in a room with five strong men who wish to take sexual advantage of her. Events such as this can sometimes take decades for a person to identify as trauma. That person may verbalize a range of defences they had to use just to survive. Somehow, Carroccia missed this essential truth. It may not always be possible to define another’s “truth” through the lens of legality, as both Carroccia and DiManno have seemingly done.

Carol Ann��Weaver,��Waterloo

The lesson here is we must teach our daughters and sons about respect and consent

I have been infuriated by sexual assault trials that demean the victim. The Hockey Canada trial was not one of those, June 26

Rosie DiManno ended her column by saying “For everybody who looks at this case and thinks, that could be my daughter, think also that could be my son.” Many people were not happy with the verdict that came out from that trial, but I think that the most important and lasting lesson is that we all need to talk to our daughters and our sons about respect and consent. If a few hundred thousand people do that, humanity will be well served. The Star published a letter from me a few weeks ago in which I suggested that I would talk to my 16-year-old grandson about drunk driving. Well, I did, and now I will leave Sunday’s newspaper on the kitchen table till next time he comes over.

Beverly Jones, Scarborough��

Disappointing to see the E.U. give the U.S. another win

How the US-EU trade deal wards off more escalation but will raise prices and slow growth, July 27

Another trade agreement that seemingly makes Trump and the U.S. the winner. I say seemingly because the truth is in the details . While a deal is a deal, it is disappointing to see the E.U. give the U.S. another win. It would appear that President Bully is getting his way and that is not a good thing. How much better for the world if all the countries had co-operated in dealing with Trump’s tariff war instead of negotiating individually, where common sense strongly suggests that the U.S. was in a dominant position to win. We now see that this is happening to all countries and the bully is further emboldened . There is strength in numbers but these countries did not have the wisdom and backbone to act in unison against the global bully.

Charles Campisi, Oakville

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ɫɫ��’s new Port Land’s park is truly world class

My favourite sign at the new Port Land’s��Biidaasige Park is the one that says “Fishing Area.” I never thought I would see that in my lifetime. The rerouting of the Don River with its extensive walking and cycling paths along with a stunning playground has created a space that is world class. I hope Ontario Place planners take notice.

��Tom Scanlan, ɫɫ��