Letters to the editor

More power to animal lovers

To the editor:
RE: Real issues need real help

How does this hurt or affect you? You obviously don't place the same value on animals as do the couple who are trying to rescue this dog. Good for them! If you choose to not donate, so be it. You don't have too.

While I agree that we do seem to be inundated with requests for help, where would you propose the line be drawn and who is going to draw it? Your right is to just say no and if no is how you really feel then so be it and don't feel guilty.

However, for those who do choose too, why is that a problem? It's their money.

You mention that there are far more serious issues that deserve our attention but that is a matter of definition and is indeed personal.

Someone can correct me on this but I believe it was Ghandi who said that you could judge a society by how it treats its poor and its animals. Well, we don't treat either very well and both groups deserve better so I say "more power to the animal lovers of the world".

Indifference is the bane of society. Don't turn your back on God's creatures just because you don't have that "gene" that makes your heart glad when you see a puppy or read about those who would risk all to save a "mutt".

But most of all, don't get in the way.

Peter Haslock

Yard waste a big waste

To the editor:
RE: Free yard waste upgrades available

Yard waste a big waste of your tax dollars.

"This is a free upgrade that we will be offering this year," says Utility Services Manager Don Degen.

Residents will save $55 on the cost of the cart if they take advantage of what Degen calls a "one time offer."

I ask, who is paying for the new larger yard waste carts? Were they given to the city FREE of charge? Is there no cost involved with the delivery of the new bin and the pickup of the old bin? It sounds too good to be true - it must not be true.

And, Councillor Robert Hobson says the whole process has been a learning experience for the city and he says they are going in the right direction.
He also went on to say, "I think the adjustment you have suggested for this year is a good one and again, I think we should follow the recommendation, try it for another year and see what the response is."

Could we not have tested the carts the first time to make sure they were large enough? Will we find that the second larger FREE cart will not be large enough and have to be replaced with a third FREE cart, then maybe a fourth?

Maybe we should replace our city Councillors with new FREE ones.

Ernie Slater

Community needs leadership

To the editor:
Dear Mayor Shepherd & Councillors,

I am writing you today to ask you to move forward with a plan of action for our Cities downtown core. The majority of you stated during the 4th reading of CD21 that you LIKED the CD21 Plan but some of you had some reservations with it's entirety while a few others felt it needed further discussion. It is vitally important that you proceed with the development of our city core now or it will continue it's downward spiral and decay. I ask you to take the decisive action needed to make the plan for our downtown a reality.

It takes great leadership to have the vision to move forward with a plan of action and great leaders achieve results. I encourage you to gain the information and input you need now to approve the development of the downtown.

I am reminded of the quote by Friedrich Engels that, "An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory". At this time, our community needs your leadership!

Nicole Rustad

Not your regular roast and potatoes

To the editor:
I see most of the rabbits taken off of Enterprise are living it up at a shelter now and being cared for. It's nice to see people donating their time for this, and money too, but what is the ultimate goal of this? As long as they aren't mixed together the 700 should stay as is, but these are rodents, edible ones too. If these were cattle or sheep or pigs we all know what would be happening and it wouldn't be a petting zoo we're opening.

There is a quick solution to this and it's along the lines of Lobster Month at the Keg, instead it's Rabbit Month done up 10 different ways. Why wouldn't the winery restaurants be getting involved here and carving these critters up for specialty dinners? Sell them off, have events of "all things rabbit" to raise money for TRACS. I'm sure the skins could be put to good use along with rabbit dinner & wine pairings. Ethnic community could play a big part in this also to introduce the masses to their specialty foods.

We do this with fish, pork, beef, lamb---everything! Sorry if I offended anyone but come on, are these rabbits really going to die of old age? Just a little thinking outside the box here could go a long way to opening eyes to food that is different than your regular roast and potatoes.

Todd Cosar

They Came

To the editor:
The World…
With their cameras, their athletes, their visions, their dreams,
..some with judgments.
YET
All came to dominate, to win, to show us
Who they were.
BUT..
Instead found a country who just then…
Discovered who we were.

SO..
In the mix of them showing us
Who they were
..we woke up!

All our magical senses suddenly burst
into being ONE country.
This dirt we were born to..or adopted,
This dirt that has fed and sustained us,
Suddenly took on yet another nourishing role
AS ENERGY
which
EXCITED OUR BEING.

How could we not have known our connection to each other?

CANADA
Suddenly, our boring anthem took on a new life – same lyrics,
…But sang differently
YET
the same.

We started identifying with the athletes.
They were our voice, our face
Our connection
To each other.

Those 17 days which started years before,
Suddenly shone a light
On the collective,
On one soul.

Each one so important to the makeup of this identity.
YET
When we look at the love that was extended to each visitor,
Welling up from this new source,
We came face to face with
OURSELVES
…and we saw we were pretty good!

Its more than pride
..pride in itself is nothing.
BUT,
this was a coming home..
A belonging...We’ve arrived!

So many sacrifices were made by many who came.
Some who labored and participated in their sport
..had spouses laboring at home giving birth to their son and daughter…and maybe more?

One had tragically lost his life doing what he believed in.
One mother died which gave her daughter the biggest spotlight on her life…
And she shone..didn’t she?

This journey which started with an idea,
to the flame
Across this great country,
To now…the aftermath of this huge event..
IS the miracle which lit up Canada for the world to see.
AND YET
In that same light
We were the ones who found our connection,
Anchored in our fertile rich soil
…and to each other.

NOW...WE BELIEVE

Rosalie Chalmers