Our heroes
Re: Harper exploits the hero’s hell, Nov. 13
Josef Szende is right about one thing: war is not glorious. However, last time I checked, Canadian soldiers were in Afghanistan with a goal a bit more specific than glory: helping the Afghan people rebuild their country. We promised to help these people, and yes, it certainly is tragic that many of our soldiers have died while fighting the Taliban. I’m not a fan of the vast majority of Stephen Harper’s policies, but to imply that he snatches up unsuspecting Canadians and thrusts them into war to die is offensive to the many willing and brave soldiers who fight for the people of Afghanistan. I also liked how Szende compares, at length, the situation of Canadian soldiers to a character from Greek mythology; it was an excellent mix of irrelevance and pomposity. I can hardly imagine how terrifying it must be for our soldiers as they fight the Taliban, and I can hardly imagine how a soldier feels when an Afghan man or woman says “Thank you.”
Eric Woodend
Thanks, kids
I wish to express my utmost and sincere thanks to all the students who stopped to help me. Thursday evening, November 9, on St. George Street near Willcocks, I had a bicycle accident and badly broke my arm. I was almost helpless. Students stopped and helped, called 911, called my family, looked after my bike and briefcase, comforted me and stayed with me until the ambulance arrived. I did not get any names, so I can only thank the Good Samaritan students via this public notice, and share with you a Shakespeare quote that I recall from my high school days: “The quality of mercy is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”
George Luste
Physics Professor and President,
U of T Faculty Association
