More Shwarma Less Sharon
Re: Hillel aims for the heart by going after the stomach, (Nov. 3)
Although the slogan “More Humus, Less Hamas” is no doubt witty, Hillel’s goal of promoting peace and understanding between Jews and Muslims is unfortunately marked with bias. It is without question that Hamas’ suicide missions have been a major obstacle to peace in the region. However, to blame only Palestinian extremists for the entire region’s “warfare, bloodshed, and terror”- as suggested by Hillel’s campaign-is completely hypocritical.
If Hillel were really keen on “fostering relationships” and “promoting peace” among both sides, it would be equally assertive in criticizing Israel’s extremists, whose denial of Palestinian rights have plagued relations for years.
This is the biggest shame when discussing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict-both sides tend to overlook their own extremists while lambasting others. If we are concerned with justice and international law, we must be equally critical of the occupation as we are with suicide bombings. If we’re interested in peace, we should be honest and fair: the world would be a better place with less Hamas and less Sharon.
Aasim Hasany
Commendations for cannabis
Re: From cannabis to carburetor, (Oct. 30)
have zero tolerance for cannabis (marijuana) prohibitionists and their terrorizing ignorance, and was pleased to read From cannabis to carburetor. I have a picture of Henry Ford hitting his hemp car with a sledgehammer to demonstrate its resiliency, which could have been produced since the 1930’s, except for the government’s ignorance. Government’s war on cannabis is worse than ludicrous, it’s Luciferous.
North America needs credible drug law reform, now, and at the very minimum, that means government and their police should focus on real honest crime, instead of real honest farmers.
Stan White
Dillon, Colorado
Hooray for hemp
Re: From cannabis to carburetor, (Oct. 30)
Fascinating perspective, fascinating article. Unfortunately, that’s not the direction of the current USA administration. Unfortunately, the hemp plant also produces (oops) marijuana.
Medical marijuana, which offers unique benefits in countless medical conditions, can be grown anywhere by anyone at little cost, and is non-patentable, scares the living daylights out of Big Pharma.
Did I hear that Mr. Bush received in 2000 some 500,000 dollars (US) from the pharmaceutical industry? And hemp and cellulose scare many more big industries: textiles, paper, oil, and chemicals.
I wonder how much Mr. Bush got and/or is getting as electoral funds from which other sources?
I hope Canada resists the current pressure from south of the border about the legislation on marijuana (read hemp). Italy is further away, but far from away enough.
Giovanni Borla
Milano, Italy
Marching is good exercise
Re: Sports: an important part of a complete education, (Nov. 3)
Physical activity and recreation are clearly important to university life, as Russell Field and Catherine Scandrett convincingly argue. They note that over 3,000 students play extramural sport and 795 are on varsity teams-that is, over 3,795 physically active students who could be expected to vote in favor of the mandatory stadium levy in last year’s referendum. Yet only 1,123 out of 6,097 voters across the campus suppported the Yes side. Students obviously take a pragmatic approach to financial priorities and time management in the face of escalating fees and cost of living in Toronto. Marching to Queens Park to demand a tuition freeze might become the new pattern of regular physical activity.
Helen Jefferson Lenskyj
OISE/UT
