Readers offer their opinions on trends in the strategy of the Saskatchewan Party government and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
According to Jason Stanley’s work, How Fascism Works, we may be seeing early warning signs in Saskatchewan:
— Distain for human rights (Indigenous rights, women’s rights, high poverty, homelessness, discrimination against the poor and addicted, cuts for disabilities and social assistance, refusal to fund safe injection sites);
— Rampant sexism (domestic violence, wage disparities, pro-choice shirts disallowed in legislature, women’s health devalued);
—Obsession with national security (no trespassing laws based on racism);
— Religion and government intertwined (funding religious schools by defunding public education, taking direction from religious right to implement discriminatory policies);
— Corporate power protected (industrial farms, fossil fuel, uranium, potash, agribusiness, real estate-government ties including the GTH land deal);
— Disdain for intellectuals and the arts (defunding schools and universities, contempt for experts, ignorance of arts, artists, art galleries, taxing art and cultural events, defunding the Saskatchewan film industry);
— Obsession with crime and punishment (highest rate of incarcerated women in Canada, over-representation of Indigenous people in prison, lack of preventive programs);
— Rampant cronyism and corruption (GTH land scandal, political donations from Alberta health centres), and;
— Fraudulent elections (inevitable if paper-ballot voting eliminated in favour of machines).
Meg Shatilla, Spruce Home
Russian, Israeli war crimes
This destruction is caused by leaders who are war criminals under the Geneva Conventions, ratified by 196 countries, including Russia and Israel.
These laws prohibit indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations and materials needed for survival (food, water, etc.).
Use of weapons that cause superfluous injury and unnecessary suffering is barred.
Hospitals, hospital staff, women, children and journalists are to be protected.
Impartial humanitarian organizations must be permitted to provide assistance.
Israel has modern armed forces with sophisticated weapons, including munitions that can accurately target military personnel and equipment.
If these assets were carefully employed, we would not see entire Gaza neighbourhoods flattened. If Israel allowed full access to humanitarian organizations, Palestinian civilians would not face famine or have to drink unsafe water.
The Israeli government did not exercise the restraint required by international law in fighting Hamas. Israeli leaders’ decisions can only be described as reckless revenge.
Russian President Vladamir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have knowingly violated the Geneva Conventions and should be tried as war criminals.
Lee Fuller, Saskatoon
Share your views
The Leader-Post welcomes letters to the editor.
• Letters should be limited to no more than 250 words.
• Include your full name, address, phone number and home community so we can verify your identity. Only your name and community will be published.
• Emailed letters are preferred but they can also be sent to 300-1964 Park St., Regina, Sask., S4N 7M5
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