海角社区官网

So today, I thank those who were able to see my humanity. I thank them, on behalf of myself and of future generations, for correcting a grave injustice born out of Europe鈥檚 dark colonial past. The 5 million Palestinian refugees still living in camps today stand recognized; the thousands of Palestinian children killed by bombs and forced starvation stand recognized; the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who’ve been displaced from their homes and communities stand recognized. Although it was late in getting there, the federal government has undoubtedly done the right thing. I look forward to the future with hope: that our people’s stories will be heard and that we will be seen as equals. Thank you, Canada.

Ruba Moubarak, Toronto

Congratulations to Canada for its bold and historic decision to officially recognize a Palestinian state. This is a momentous event, reflecting our national commitment to peace, justice and humanitarian values. We now stand with Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and other countries that have recognized Palestine in recent months in helping to form an international consensus in favour of human rights and dignity. Canada’s decision constitutes a powerful expression of what most Canadians believe: life matters more than politics. While this step is cause for celebration, there’s still more to be done. The world must demand an end to violence, protecting civilian lives and holding wrongdoers accountable under international law. Hopefully we can encourage others to follow our path and stand up against needless suffering. History remembers those who act with courage, not complacency.

Hamid Siddiqui, Brampton, ON

U.S. political violence is a warning for Canada

The conversation about Charlie Kirk鈥檚 killer is going down a dangerous, misguided path, Sept. 23

The assassination of Charlie Kirk during a campus speaking event at Utah Valley University serves as a sobering reminder that political disagreements can sometimes intensify to the point of bloodshed. Here in Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees our freedom of expression, subject only to 鈥渞easonable limits prescribed by law.鈥� Intimidation and violence are not and should not be considered protected speech. You don’t have to share Kirk’s views to respect a principle that transcends partisanship: namely, that the proper response to speech we don’t like is more speech. This notion constitutes a moral and democratic imperative. Canada rightly prides itself on maintaining peace, order, and good government. Ordinary Canadians have a responsibility to uphold that standard by ensuring that ideas are met with ideas, not violence.

Jonathan聽Emerson-Pierce, Toronto

Ask not what our country can do for you

鈥楥anada First鈥� is really an 鈥業mmigrants Second鈥� movement, Sept. 19

This story presents immigrants as if they were perceived as second-class citizens, but I believe that the onus is on those who choose to move to a new country (or neighbourhood, or workplace) to find a way to fit in. I emigrated from the Netherlands with my parents following the devastation of the Second World War. My father was a machinist; he attended college for two years just to qualify for a job here. My parents didn’t have much money to bring with them to Canada, but they brought their skills and enthusiasm and willingness to work 18 hours a day. They strove to learn the language. They did local charity work. They were role models who knew what was expected of newcomers, and they taught me the values that would allow me to contribute to Canadian society. Those who seek to live in this wonderful country of ours should consider what they can contribute here, too.

Marion Bartlett, Singhampton, ON

The report card and the damage done

Why it鈥檚 time to get rid of grades from our schools, Sept. 22

Congratulations to Professor Denise Handlarski and the entire Faculty of Education at Trent University for recognizing the negative effects of grading students by letter or number. More than a quarter-century ago, as science learned more about how the brain works, we realized the importance of students鈥� belief in their ability to learn. My own research examined this belief among Grade 1 students, both before they’d received their first formal report cards and after. Most of them quickly learned that A, B and C weren’t just symbols that form words and sentences but indications as to whether or not they were “good” at a given subject. Students who’d once believed firmly that they could conquer the world soon started to avoid subjects at which they’d come to accept they weren’t “good.” So congrats again to Trent and聽Handlarski for drawing attention to this critical issue. We urgently need to stop the damage that grading and ranking students can do to kids.

Suzanne Pierson, Picton, ON

Talking trash about waste collection in Toronto

鈥楳agical fairy dust鈥�: A city report shows strong support for burning Toronto鈥檚 trash. Climate advocates are calling for the study to be scrapped, Sept. 21

My thanks to the Star for publishing this series on Toronto’s waste-disposal problems. It would appear that City Hall’s attitude toward this issue is basically “out of sight, out of mind.” The municipal government has evidently put very little effort into developing innovations to help us reduce the amount of waste we create in Toronto. While other cities are investing in public waste receptacles to improve the collection of garbage and reduce its noxious effects, these ideas seem to have elicited little more than a shrug from the City staffer whom the reporter spoke to about them. I realize 海角社区官网is facing many problems owing to chronic provincial underfunding, but this issue should be a priority. It will take thoughtful governance to find an environmentally safe solution.

Jim Gough, Toronto