Readers offer their opinions on the demolition of a historic University of Saskatchewan building, the election of Donald Trump and gun licence renewal.
I am devastated to learn the University of Saskatchewan has announced they intend to demolish the former Lutheran Seminary complex located on the riverbank, designed by John Holliday-Scott.
This complex is one of the most significant and beautiful modernist designs on the Canadian prairies. To many, this has always been one of the character-defining pieces of architecture at the university, blending an optimistic and forward-looking modernist design with beautiful Tyndall stone that seamlessly meshes with the surrounding architecture and riverbank.
I had dreamed this could be the future home of a school of architecture at the University of Saskatchewan. The complex is listed in the university’s own heritage register, where it is recommended to be protected.
Though severely vandalized in the last few years, these buildings should be cared for and repurposed, so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Luke Ryalls, Saskatoon
Trump election blamed on sexism
Shall we go with the misogynistic moron or with the intellectual female for president? Gee whiz — let me think a minute. That is a tough one, you know. Those intellectuals with their high-fallutin’ ideas, they really confuse a person. What are they all about anyhow? I never feel comfortable when they’re around.
Misogynistic moron, on the other hand, has a ring to it, don’t you think? It’s alliterative, if I recall my Grade 5 English teacher correctly. Yeah, it just rolls off the tongue — say it again — misogynistic moron. So masculine, so manly! Not like having a patronizing female mothering the nation. What would the world think of us?
Who is going to respect a leader wearing skirts, even pantsuits? Give me someone who plays a good game of golf. A man can do a lot of serious thinking out there in his golf cart, solving the problems of the world in a single afternoon, just like he said he would. Yeah, that makes it easy — X it for the big guy. Hooray!
Gordon Wensley, Saskatoon
Renewing gun licence an indignity
Once again, as I do every five years, I suffered the indignity of renewing my firearms possession and acquisition licence. I always remember when I first applied for one. I challenged the federal program and received 100 per cent on the written exam.
The RCMP sergeant told me the licence could be a very important piece of photo identification that could be used for a variety of things. In fact, I discovered the opposite. It is completely useless for anything except purchasing .22 shells.
Take my word for it, no one accepts a firearms licence for anything! And I went online, as that is the method they prefer, to renew it, only to discover a veritable morass of RCMP security protocols.
After 30 minutes, I finally surrendered to confusion, printed off the paper forms, filled them out and sent them by snail mail. And now I read that the Liberals have managed to spend $67 million of taxpayers’ money on their extremely unpopular prohibited firearms buyback program — without ever buying a single prohibited firearm!
And they are now fielding questions from concerned parties, including the auditor general, as to just where $67 million has been spent!
Pete Foster, Craven
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