Readers Speak Out: June 2, 2019

Planning ahead

Your May 5 editorial on dementia suggested the government needs to prepare for the day when cases of dementia will increase due to an aging population, which brings with it increased health care costs, etc.  

I would suggest the government has prepared for it by legalizing euthanasia, which will be expanded to young people who may wish to die and to any handicapped people who may feel they are not wanted. Therefore, with all these increased deaths, a good portion of the population will be eliminated. 

As you may know, a large number have already taken this step.

Our super Canadian hero Jean Vanier hasn’t touched them at all. Pity!

Sheelagh M. Barry,

Victoria, B.C.

Peaceful dialogue

Re: “Let’s tell the truth about violence” (May 12):

I concur with Bishop Robert Barron when he says using reason is an excellent way to advance peace between Christians and Muslims. God gave us the gift of reason so we could dialogue respectfully in the pursuit of peace. Promoting inter-religious dialogue and mutual understanding employing reason, not violence, is possible since Christians and Muslims worship the same God.

A historical example of this was provided by St. Francis of Assisi  in 1219, during the fighting of the Fifth Crusade. Seeking peace he risked his life by crossing enemy lines outside the city of Damietta to speak to Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil, greeting him with the words, “May the Lord give you peace.” The sultan, who believed in God, conversed with St. Francis and the two became friends. 

Christians and Muslims must engage in reasonable, peaceful dialogue, emulating St. Francis and the sultan.

Claudio Ceolin,

Toronto 

Unfair article

Re: Pro-life group ‘goes too far,’ says bishop (May 19):

The article regarding the letter signed by the president of Campagne Quebec-Vie accusing Pope Francis of heresy wrongly disparages the pro-life group. The letter was signed by Georges Buscemi, the president, on his own. It did not represent the views of Campagne Quebec-Vie. 

The headline also goes too far in suggesting that the whole organization is being anti-pope.

Tom Kremer,

Bradford Ont.

Find a solution

Re: Climate Change stirs students into action (May 19):

Although I admire the students, I think it is also the responsibility of parents/teacher/elders to teach them that, if in fact climate change is a result of human activity, the best way to solve the problem is fix yourself first.  

Before students take to the street, they should develop a viable list of actions to reverse climate change. Criticism without solution is a waste of time.  

Who is a major polluter of the world? China. Then stop buying anything made in China. Fossil fuel is a problem, then tell your parents to reduce the number of vehicles in the family to one and don’t be driven or bused to school. Allow your family only one garbage bin every month. Buy only from your local market so as to reduce transporting food.  

Studies have shown that youth are major consumers — so stop consuming and it will be a good first step to saving our planet.  

John Rossetti,

Toronto