Readers offer their opinions on weeds in Saskatoon, a letter on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and a column by Doug Cuthand on changing street names.
Last year, I wrote a letter expressing my disgruntlement with the city over the lack of awareness to the weed problem (not marijuana) that has taken over boulevards, parking lots and sidewalks in recent years. Perennial weeds such as dandelions and Canada thistle that I’m sure everyone has seen polluting the city landscape.
To my astonishment a few weeks back I actually saw two city workers walking down bike paths and sidewalks with backpack sprayers spraying weeds. I was shocked! This was exactly what I had asked for. Maybe someone is actually listening. Could a better approach to potholes possibly be next?
Ted Gerwing, Saskatoon
Gaza analysis lacked perspective
Yet, he fails to acknowledge the massacre of 1,200 innocent Israeli civilians and the kidnapping of 251 hostages, many of whom have suffered or remain in captivity under inhumane conditions in Gaza. This omission paints a one-sided picture, focusing solely on Israel’s actions, while ignoring the atrocities committed by Hamas that triggered the conflict.
Fuller draws a parallel between Israel’s response to Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he does not mention Russia’s bombardment of hospitals and civilian infrastructure, instead choosing to detail what he describes as Israel’s “indiscriminate attacks on civilians.” This selective criticism suggests a double standard in his approach to international conflicts and the actions of state and non-state actors
If Palestinians are indeed experiencing such dire circumstances, a logical step towards alleviating their suffering would be to raise a white flag, return the hostages, and pursue a peace agreement. Such actions would signal a genuine desire for peace, potentially leading to improved conditions.
However, these steps have not been taken, raising questions about the true intentions behind their actions. Overall, Fuller’s analysis lacks balance and fails to account for the complexities of the situation, particularly the responsibilities and actions of Hamas
Les Sicherman, Saskatoon
Cuthand provides important lesson
I agree that “this is a story that must be told if we are to move forward,” as you say so well.
Lyn Goldman, Regina
Cuthand too conciliatory
Patrick Johnson, Vibank
(The last two letters were originally published in the Regina Leader-Post.)
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