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A friend indeed
Dear Republic:
I just found your newspaper at the Seabus terminal in Vancouver. I'm so glad I picked it up, you know why? Because every time I see these now I'm going to throw them in the garbage. And I get all the listings for where they are on the back page. So too bad for you, it's going to be a lot less readership for you because I'm going to throw them away every time.
- Anonymous, via phone message
Plus ça change
Dear Republic:
Re: STV vote result was perfect (Issue 114). I concur whole-heartedly. I too was going to vote against it, but started wavering in the week before the election/referendum. I decided to hold my nose and vote for it just a couple of hours before I cast my ballot(s). While I saw STV to be quite flawed, I considered that it could be tweaked in the future to better suit our community. On the other hand, voting against it would imply a satisfaction with the FPTP system that we are presently stuck with. The status quo has no good status in my view.
The referendum seemed to be a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario, but the outcome has set us on the path to a more reflective system. I believe that we are much better served by minority/coalition governments- as evidenced by the current structure in Ottawa. Let's all keep up the pressure on our elected MLAs to invoke change.
- K Smith, Vancouver
How indeed . . .
Dear Republic:
Jennifer Matsui is always well worth reading, but two questions: What is "Hannitized?" How does a swastika wield a bat?
- Alexander Daughtry
Reform this
Dear Republic:
If any of your journalists have time, I would love to see some analysis of the "none of the above vote" idea as a form of electoral reform. Thank you for your engaging and thoughtful articles.
- Camilla Berry
Different movie
Dear Republic:
Junius saw a different movie in Downfall than I did.
What really stuck in my mind from the film was Joseph Goebbels stating, and I paraphrase, “the German people gave us a mandate, and they get what they deserve.” I hearkened back to Lyin' Brian, the supposed mandate we gave him, and the one we just handed to Steady-at-the-wheel Campbell. How Junius could see Mrs Goebbels as noble, is beyond imagination. She's more cold-blooded than Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth, and without remorse!
Could some lunatic watch a film depicting the destruction of Germany and think to himself, “Wow, that was a Golden Era?” Possibly . . . Could Junius watch the same film I did, hear the narrator state that it's the responsibility of each person not to allow such a thing to happen, (I paraphrase) and see the film as pro-Nazi? I guess so . . . .
The rest of us however, will follow the narrator's advice, be responsible, try to make a difference, and be amazed at the lunatics that surround us. Downfall is a brilliantly realized film that deserves to be seen. It is no more propaganda than is Conspiracy, a drama concerning the Wannsee Conference. It's history, learn from it or repeat it. Most, I hope, will do the former.
- Ken Dresen
Real issue
Dear Republic:
Instead of misconstruing Potvin's analysis of Gordon Campbell's Maui behavior as an attempt to besmirch the premier, letter-writer Bill Bush (Issue 114) may want to look at the real intent of the article. And that is to point out the media's overt negligence in reporting on the comings and goings of our representatives in this Liberal "puppet regime."
From the premier's drunk driving charge, to the firing of a BC Hydro whistle blower, to shady BC Rail dealings, mainstream (read: right- wing) coverage has been less than mediocre. If this had been the NDP, you could be sure they would have reporters working full-time on all these files and then some. To think the last government was brought down through an unfounded and flimsy smear campaign on former premier Glen Clark, in which the media itself was complicit- can anyone forget those invasive TV shots of the premier in his private home- it becomes obvious to all but the most obtuse who the media are working for. As for Campbell being a "made-man" as Potvin suggests, that may well be beside the point. The real problem is mass media control and ownership being in the hands of the corporate elite, and their own agenda. But of course, that has been going on for years.
- Charles Leduc, Vancouver BC
Ads bug
Dear Republic:
First let me say I appreciate your newspaper. Keep up the good and vital work. Death to The Province.
But I do have a bitch; that being your layout. Can't you keep the ads on the side or some such thing? As it is the layout is kind of cheesy, with the ads dominating and distracting. I realize ad revenue is very important and without it the Republic might be unable to continue.
Anyway that’s my two cents worth. Imagine a BC with the two papers being The Republic and the Tyee.
- Dirk Buchholz
Laughing
Dear Republic:
Thanks for the laugh! (Open letter to Peter Mackay, issue 114). You have inspired me to deep thought many times, but this is the first time you have made me laugh out loud while reading one of your pieces! What a beautiful piece of writing. I hope the frat-boy gets to read it. In fact, I think that I am going to forward it to him!
I'm still laughing!
- K Smith, Vancouver
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