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Letters
Dear Republic
Feedback to the newspaper from readers
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Dear Republic:
Thanks to The Republic for publishing the thoughtful article by Anne Roberts, reviewing some of the history of diVision in COPE during their term in power, from 2002 to 2005. This is one councillor we really miss. As a social justice organizer, I can attest to the fact that she is a regular attendee at events where opportunistic politicians rarely tread—anti-war vigils, fundraisers for the Palestine Community Centre, and the like.
Roberts, as a journalist herself, knows the importance of "following the money." To understand the current civic political scene, we can't ignore the roughly $1 million in corporate and developer funding that Vision received in the 2005 campaign. This included money accepted from gambling interests and a number of donations from Telus, even while that company was engaged in a vicious battle against members of the Telecommunication Workers Union.
Surely nothing "progressive" can be built while relying on the money of big business, and those who would seek to further take advantage of and exploit working people.
—Derrick O'Keefe,
Vancouver, BC
Dear Republic:
Having recently watched the film Castaway on DVD, I recognized right away who the image on that "Jesus-tree" of Napier street really is (Issue 157). Yes, it's actually a likeness of the character Wilson from that movie. To refresh your readers' memories, Wilson is the name given to a volleyball by the protagonist of the story (played by Tom Hanks).
Stranded on a deserted tropical island following a plane crash, that head-shaped figure becomes his sole companion, an imaginary friend of sorts, which ultimately helps him maintain his sanity. Which brings me back to the question, who is "Jesus" anyways? Is he (or she) just such an imaginary friend that stranded souls identify in order to stave off feelings of isolation? Otherwise why should people always think of "Jesus" every time an anonymous facial image appears on something? Since we live in a Christianity-based culture, the character known as "Jesus" becomes the default friendly figure. And what does that have to do with spirituality and religion? Nothing, it's just a psycho-social construct. The real answer to the question of who is it that is seen on the Napier street tree: Nobody!
—C Leduc, Vancouver, BC
Dear Republic:
When I first saw the Michael Nenonen article dismissing 9/11 truth, I was afraid that the otherwise astute Republic had fallen prey to a 9/11 truth-bashing crusade instigated by the right and appallingly mimicked by leftwing gatekeepers, either too chicken to discuss false flag operations or fearful of losing corporate funding.
Thankfully, the Republic isn't a closet corporate rag and gave fair voice to the many who challenged Nenonen's poorly researched assertions. The bottom line is that when 9/11 is studiously probed inside-out, the official conspiracy theory shatters into a thousand pieces. I don't recall a peep from the media when the Bush regime criminally destroyed key 9/11 evidence or when the FBI gag ordered firefighters and police from discussing bomb blasts at WTC. These, like the recently revealed Building 7-BBC debacle and numerous other holes in the official conspiracy theory, have conveniently gone censored by a media too engrossed in defending a lie than admit their failure to critically scrutinize the bounty of evidence contradicting the official version of events.
Considering all the crimes that the Bush regime has gotten away with under the carte blanche guise of 9/11, we ought to applaud, not smear, the 9/11 truth movement for doing the job the media brazenly failed to do. Simply put, there can be no peace without justice and there can be no justice in the face of lies. While 9/11 Truth—like any other movement—is far from perfect and of diverse opinions, we are unanimous that this is one lie that humanity can ill afford to sweep under the carpet of historical deception.
—Rukshana Enjjineer, Vancouver, BC
Dear Republic:
I was amazed at the anxious, censorious (and in one case even threatening) tone of the letters responding to Michael Nenonen's "What if the 911 Truth Movement is Wrong?" article of March 1. Surely this is a legitimate question, and asking it does not mean passive acceptance of the narratives the Bush government and mainstream media continue to feed us about those events. I am no expert nor even an amateur scholar of 9/11events, but examining in detail even a few aspects of one of the events (ie, Building 7) was enough to convince me that we have been purposefully misled about at least some of what occured. However, government deception, inept media coverage, and, in some cases, perhaps even complicity, does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that the whole thing was an insider job, a set-up. If it can be proven to be an American/renegade neo-con insider job, the implications are of course enormous, hence the understandable call for a massive public review. It is entirely possible (and quite likely I think) though that the attacks were indeed planned and implemented by fanatical extremists (from Saudi Arabia or elsewhere) intending to make a political point, exact revenge, start a holy war, etc. But even if that is the case, the anti-war movement, and the outing of the ongoing corruption and brutality of empire-building, is still crucial and legitimate. Although some of his supporting facts and superficial analyses may indeed be wrong, Michael Nenonen's point is well taken that the left might be dissipating a lot of energy, and, in the end, credibility, on something that perhaps cannot be proven. It's dangerous, and unnecessary, to put all of our eggs in that flimsy basket.
—Chris King, Powell River, BC
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The Republic of East Vancouver masthead
The Republic of East Vancouver supports no party, advocates
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