THE KINDNESS OF OTHERS
Reading the column by Gilbert Taylor (“Cheers to our troops,” Dec. 20) should make every Canadian think of others who will not be ‘home for Christmas’ being a long way off. Because of my age I do remember those years between 1939 and 1945, when after saying goodbye to my three brothers before Christmas 1939 we didn’t see them for six Christmases more. My dad also went away, but to POW camps in Canada as a ‘vet guard.’ He was too old for overseas, but just had to do his part. This left our happy family of seven down to three. My mother was left to look after my brother, age nine, and me, a ripe 12. During those years, I grew from a child to a young woman, my brothers from young to well-aged and seasoned men. There was no getting home after a few months for a rest and visit. And no email or phone calls. The one who had it (I think) hardest was my mom. Her three sons away in a bloody war, praying they would come home. They all did but so different than when they left, battered and two wounded. But home. A picture I will never forget is watching my mom when at last the first one came home and we went to see him off the train. The reason for this letter is to remind the people who have let Christmas become so commercial, and have forgotten the reason we in Canada have celebrated for years, and to remember those who fought for our freedom and right to celebrate as we have for all these years. My family, of course, are all passed on now, my ‘kid brother’ the nine-year-old is in LTC and me, I am still hanging around in my home and will celebrate Christmas quietly and think about those happy days. Merry Christmas.
A. Heslin
Orillia
(We wish you a very Merry Christmas)
SAVING COPS
My son and daughter-in-law are both cops. I am 85 years of age. I would hate to get a phone call or a knock on my door saying you know what because politicians had not done the job that they should have done years ago. Reimpose the death penalty. If that saves one cop’s life, so be it.
Ed Frape
Campbell ford, Ont.
(The death penalty is not coming back anytime soon. But we should recognize the gravity of one officer’s death)
OPTIONS PLEASE
Unions do not belong in schools. Teachers need to be teaching subjects (math, English, etc.) for our future jobs. Parents need to be parents to their children, not transfer responsibility to teachers. Seniors over 70 years of age should have the option of transferring their education tax to senior care tax. Parents sending children to private schools should be given a tax credit. These schools are teaching, not parenting.
C. Anderson
(Some do give a tax credit. But the bigger problem is the stranglehold the unions have. We need choice in our school system)
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