U.S. dairy farmer says thanks
Sir: I live in a small town in South Indiana, just across the Ohio River from Louisville, KY.
While reading the news I read what your city did for the U.S. rafters who got pushed across the St. Clair River to your city.
I wanted to tell you that I personally appreciate what your city did. Your city showed what it means to be a good neighbor.
I have never been to your city, as you can imagine a dairy farmer’s wife doesn't travel to Canada much, but if I ever get the chance to come to Canada I will sure visit your city.
It would be the least I could do to show my appreciation. You and your city can hold your head high.
Thank you for showing the good in life.
Paula Hamilton
Lanesville, Indiana
Editor’s note: The above letter was provided by Mayor Mike Bradley and is reprinted with the author’s permission. Mrs. Hamilton, in a follow-up, told The Journal she has marked Sarnia on her map.
“Thank you again for being a light in dark times,” she said.
................................................................................................................................
Tory record on women clear
Sir: Re: MP Marilyn Gladu’s Sept. 8 letter.
MPs do not represent “the majority view of constituents,” they represent all constituents.
The majority of this riding’s voters did not vote “Conservative.” A significant Liberal majority was attained with millions more Canadians voting.
Gladu’s database and the “two thirds of the inputs received” do not indicate a majority, nor necessarily, support for her views.
Voting against pay equity, while claiming to fight for women, defeats her Status of Women role.
Here’s a sampling of Conservative governmental policies:
* Attempted to remove “equality” from Mandate of Status of Women Canada (word reinstated under pressure).
* Shut 12 out of 16 Status of Women offices.
* Cut funding for women’s advocacy by 43% since 2006.
* Cut emergency shelter budgets, and eliminated second-stage shelters.
* Eliminated funding of legal voices for women and minority groups, including The National Association of Women and the Law, and the Courts Challenges Program.
* Terminated funding for “Sisters in Spirit” database.
* Buried a 2013 report on poverty (affecting elderly women), violence (affecting rural, immigrant, and indigenous women, and pay inequality, including the statement: “Women between the ages of 45 and 54 earn on average about $23,600 less than men in the same cohort, which is virtually unchanged from where it was five years ago.”
Today, a political woman might want to emulate Flora MacDonald, rather than Phyllis Schlafly. Flora, a Progressive Conservative, was widely respected across party lines. The Green Party’s Elizabeth May stated Flora’s example was the reason she entered politics.
The present Conservatives paid some attention to MacDonald’s funeral (Harper did not attend). In contrast, Schlafly, who supported Donald Trump before her death, divided women while working to defeat the U.S. Equal Rights Amendment.
To whose detriment does one align with the extreme right? Have "Conservatives" suddenly changed from conquering policies to earn respect like Flora, or are they banking on public amnesia?
A politician worthy of respect not only claims she’s for pay equity but also votes for pay equity. She puts her constituents above her party’s fear of criticism.
Repetitive party “clarifications” ring hollow to voting women.
Kathy Thompson
Sarnia
......................................................................................................................................
Did board consider all the facts?
Sir: I have a few observations on the Sept. 8 story “New high school gets off to a good start.”
Regarding the name of the consolidated high schools, it is interesting to note that, “not a single trustee spoke in favour of the name at the Aug. 30 meeting.”
Trustee Bob Murphy, who chaired the ad hoc naming committee, was absent from the meeting and “no one in the room offered a rationale for the choice.”
Furthermore, trustee Dave Douglas who, as naming committee member, was asked to proceed in Murphy’s absence, “refused to present the report or support the recommended name.”
Can we conclude, that like every other verdict this board has made, they rushed into a decision without considering all the facts? Once again, in the words of trustee Lareina Rising, we are learning that the process was flawed and had insufficient community input.
Am I the only one who finds it disturbing that Brian McKay, superintendent of business, will not have news until October about two grant requests?
One request is to renovate the former St. Clair building. Pardon me? How is it that a decision could be made to close SCITS and renovate St. Clair when there was no guaranteed funding?
As for the second request for funding to “build an entirely new school.” This makes absolutely no sense, financially. Especially when the article goes on to state that, “the Ministry of Education released an assessment of how much capital is required to repair the two school buildings.”
A school with a low ‘Facility Condition Index’ rating means that school needs fewer repairs than a school with a higher one.
According to the ministry, SCITS’ rating is 22% and St. Clair’s rating is 38%.
Déjà vu anyone?
Claudette Gasbarini
Sarnia
........................................................................................................................................
A school name nobody wanted
Sir: I find it interesting that not a single trustee spoke in favour of the name chosen for the consolidated high schools.
Yet they chose to forge ahead.
Was there a bargain on a sign if they came up with something by the end of August?
The students had to start the first day of school, with or without a name. So delaying the naming process by a week or two wouldn't have been the end of the world.
I feel the trustees were just tired of the long drawn-out process. So the taxpayers and students end up on the short end of the stick. (aka - a name no one wants/likes)
I understand there are guidelines. Sometimes common sense needs to be used. This would have been a time for common sense.
Good luck to the other schools selected for closure.
Anne Learn
Sarnia
............................................................................................................................
Between these weeds, flowers grow
Sir: Thank you for the recent insert about gardens in Sarnia.
Thanks to Glenn Ogilvie, the page sponsors and most of all to the gardeners whose gardens made the project possible.
It is a keeper.
Dorothy Plumley
Sarnia
.............................................................................................................................
Building a better and honest world
Sir: Having spent more than seven years in university, having spent many hours listening to the wisdom of many great scholars, having been directed in life by many wonderful people, the following advice I got from a reformed alcoholic has stuck with me through the years: “Don’t build your house by tearing down mine.”
Much too often individuals and/or groups racing for top positions in business, sports, education, politics, religion, entertainment, etc. will use any means to gain their goal. A sad commentary of our society today.
Everyone should have a vision or a goal in life but not at the expense of others or their reputation. This is wrong. The media does a great job showing us our inhumanity towards one another in this respect.
Maybe the words of an old proverb would caution us on how to deal with one another: “Lord may I do all the good I can, to all the people I can, for as long as I can.”
Something to think about if we want a better and honest world.
Rev. Lloyd A. Murdock
Sarnia