Kathleen Wynne’s call to confront hatred could hardly have been more timely.
uncertain
call → confront → hatred
Within days, gunfire erupted outside a Belleville synagogue on Sunday.
asserted
gunfire → erupt → Sunday
Jews gathering to worship on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar found themselves taking cover from gunfire, a police officer heroically protecting them was seriously wounded, and what might have happened without his presence is frightening to contemplate.
uncertain
happened → gather → presence
Wynne is right that hatred directed against any community is intolerable and must be confronted.
asserted
hatred → direct → community
Having known and worked with her for many years, I do not doubt the sincerity of her concern.
asserted
I → know → concern
However, condemning all hatred must not prevent us from acknowledging when one community is being targeted with exceptional frequency and intensity.
asserted
community → condemn → frequency
Antisemitism has risen to levels Canadian Jews have not experienced in generations.
asserted
Jews → rise → generations
Jewish schools, synagogues, businesses and individuals have increasingly become targets of intimidation, vandalism and violence.
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schools → become → intimidation
This is not about competing in some grotesque “hate Olympics.”
asserted
This → compete → Olympics
It is about recognizing the evidence and responding honestly to the particular threat before us.
asserted
It → recognize → us
All hatred is dangerous, but not all communities are experiencing it today with the same frequency, urgency or potentially deadly consequences as are we in the Jewish community.
asserted
we → experience → community
Whatever investigators ultimately determine about the motive in Belleville, what happened there underscores the vulnerability many Canadian Jews now feel simply gathering as Jews.
asserted
Jews → determine → Jews
I commend Wynne for addressing hatred in Ontario.
asserted
I → commend → Ontario
But today’s crisis of Jew hatred, demands urgent, immediate and focused attention.
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crisis → demand → attention
The shooting at the Belleville synagogue shocks us, but sadly it does not surprise us.
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it → shock → us
Bernie Farber, former CEO, Canadian Jewish Congress, Thornhill
In the big, cold city Grace can still shine through
My husband and I are in our late 70s and were in Toronto visiting family recently.
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husband → shine → family
We live in Ottawa and rarely order an Uber because we own our own vehicles and are rather technologically unsophisticated.
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we → live → vehicles
We found ourselves at the Yonge and York Mills subway station on Friday, Sept. 11 in the late afternoon and needed an Uber to get to our hotel.
asserted
We → find → hotel
Clearly we were struggling with the app when Grace, a beautiful young lady sitting next to us, offered to help.
asserted
Grace → struggle → us
Not only did she competently order the Uber, she offered to stand outside with us to make sure we got into the car safely.
asserted
got → order → car
Not confident about where the Uber driver would park, she crossed the street to hail the Uber driver to inform him where we were standing.
asserted
we → park → him
Luckily the driver parked near us and we successfully arrived at our hotel a short time later.
asserted
we → park → hotel
Unfortunately, Torontonians get a bad rap for being unfriendly.
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Torontonians → get → rap
Here is an excellent example that all it takes is one person to reach out to strangers and make a positive impression.
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it → take → impression
This young lady, Grace, should be celebrated by the city of Toronto for her generosity and kindness.
asserted
lady → celebrate → generosity
Good deeds like hers help to make Toronto shine in a world wrought with selfishness.
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Toronto → help → selfishness
Grace, wherever you are, thank you!
asserted
you → thank → you
Carol Lithwick, Ottawa
Why don’t we have a Commonwealth Trade Agreement?
asserted
we → have → Agreement
Fifteen of the 56 Commonwealth countries recognize King Charles as their head of state.
asserted
Fifteen → recognize → state
This is called the Commonwealth Realm.
asserted
This → call → ?
Canada, U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica among others make up the realm.
asserted
Canada → make → realm
I encourage Canada to pursue these conversations in parallel with our possible new relationship with the European Union.
asserted
I → encourage → Union
In some ways, it is quite remarkable such an agreement doesn’t already exist.
asserted
agreement → exist → ways
Although King Charles’ head of state role is mostly symbolic, surely his supportive voice would be helpful to make this happen.
asserted
this → make → state
This special relationship merits special trade relations.
asserted
relationship → merit → relations
Cameron McCuaig, Mississauga
Turbulence awaits if our airports are privatized
I am utterly frustrated.
asserted
I → await → ?
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said, “We are the masters of our own destiny.
asserted
We → say → destiny
Please don’t let this government destroy — or sell off — our home, because what will we come home to when all is said and done?
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all → please → what
I recognize Canada is facing serious economic pressures largely outside our control.
asserted
Canada → recognize → control
But privatizing four of Canada’s major airports is not the answer to our economic problems.
asserted
privatizing → privatize → problems
…and 32 more, not listed.
The Aporia
