“Imagine thousands gathering on our streets to call for peaceful resolutions, reasoned dialogue and a willingness to live in harmony.”
It is stressful and painful to follow the daily media reports of escalation in hostilities, rising war casualties and uncertainty about what the future holds.
It is particularly distressing for those who have family members in regions engaged in warfare, whether in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Ukraine and elsewhere.
It is not surprising, as we have recently witnessed in Montreal and around the world, that tensions erupt as emotions overwhelm and sometimes result in intimidation and violence.
What seems missing in these fraught times is a coming together of people from different sides and loyalties to send a strong message of peace. Imagine thousands of people gathering on our streets calling for peaceful resolutions to conflicts, safety for all, reasoned dialogue and a willingness to live in harmony no matter our identity or loyalty.
Imagine what our city would look and feel like without rage, vandalism, hatred and strife.
Goldie Olszynko, Mile End
Say hello to ‘Bonjour-Hola’
Louise Harel, head of a committee mandated by Mayor Valérie Plante to make recommendations for a new action plan to promote French, is quoted as saying: “In the example of an Argentine festival, you could, for example, greet people with a welcome that is both in Spanish and French.”
So, according to Harel, “Bonjour-Hola” is OK? I wonder whether the same privilege would be accorded to “Bonjour-Hi.”
Allen Rubin, Westmount
Concrete failures raise red flags
Is it just a coincidence that Montreal’s infrastructure has so many failures of concrete
used in construction?
We’ve seen concrete chunks falling off bridges and overpasses, and now the degradation in a concrete support at the St-Michel métro station. This to me suggests a lack of quality control during construction.
Awarding contracts to the lowest bidder can result in contractors cutting costs at the expense of quality and safety. Taxpayers are entitled to know who picks up the tab for repairs and remediation.
John Hall, Montreal
Big thank you to health workers
After my wife suffered a stroke in the Dominican Republic, I took her to the Lakeshore General Hospital once we returned home. They admitted her for tests and found a Spanish translator to examine the report from the hospital in Punta Cana. She’s now under the care of a neurologist.
This month, I had an eye operation at the Montreal General. I received nothing but great care from doctors, nurses and staff from different cultures working together and making me feel reassured.
Yes, our medical system has problems, but in general it works. And I want to thank all those dedicated individuals who choose to work in health care.
Steven Rozza, Pointe-Claire
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