Apathy rules Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Apathy rules Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion Apathy rules Re: , Editorial, Sept. 16. So why is there so much trash around the city, you ask? I blame foremost the Public Works Department because they set the tone.
Not only is there garbage throughout, but the grass and weeds in public places also never get tended to. Locals see this and think, “Why should I care if the city doesn’t?” Other cities, such as Halifax, have signs posted all over declaring fines for those that litter. Do you see any in Winnipeg? And if there were, would the law even be enforced? Apathy runs high in this city and it starts at the top.
Al Yakimchuk Winnipeg Keep teaching I want to commend the reflections of letter writer Mick Friesen (A teaching moment, Sept. 14) for his account of what he heard post-Banjo Bowl on the bus while travelling down Abinojii Mikanah. His intention to speak up the next time he hears people speaking in a racist and derogatory manner towards Indigenous peoples and their beautiful languages is good to hear.
Speaking up and addressing comments in public places, at work or during extended family dinners is a way of being an ally and advocate. I grew up as a Mennonite and one of the stances I’ve retained is a belief in pacifism, in working to intervene or foster change in a non-violent manner. This doesn’t mean being passive.
It means a disposition to use constructive words rather than confrontation, to “call people in” to a respectful conversation rather than calling them out and fostering antagonism. There are times when one has to speak assertively, speak to someone directly who has been disrespectful and racist. We don’t always know how people will respond because we don’t always know them.
This takes courage and the sense that these issues are important. I appreciate the writer using the Indigenous name for the highway and committing to modelling its appropriate use as a settler descendant. A next time to speak up and “call in” will come sooner than later.
This incident and your reflections on it will have gotten folks who read it thinking. Opportunities to share your learning are right around any corner..
. or on the next bus ride. Miigwech for sharing.
Peter Krahn Winnipeg Private investment Re: , Sept. 13. I agree with virtually everything Tom Brodbeck says in this article, with the exception of his statement that Portage Place was a “failed taxpayer-built shopping mall.
” While taxpayers did acquire the land and paid for the underground parking structure (which provided annual funding to The Forks over the past 30+ years), Cadillac Fairview, one of the most credible retail developers in North America, were the ones who built and paid for the Portage Place mall — forking out some $68 million (including tenant improvements — in 1984 dollars) to do so. Harry H. McKay Finnigan Winnipeg A brain with no mind In the Sept.
14 was a review of the Yuval Noah Harari book Nexus ( ). I have not read the book but it appears the reviewer did a good job in summarizing the text. However I have some concerns.
The reviewer noted Harari believes artificial intelligence (AI) is more important than the telegraph, the printing press or even writing. In his book, Harari noted that AI can make decisions and create new ideas. Perhaps these are the same as those decisions created by common people.
I make lots of decisions every day such as whether to drive an electric car or not. Does AI do better? Also I generate lots of ideas daily, such as, should I go to the mall or just buy local. Are AI’s ideas superior? I believe we hope AI will solve some problems that humans cannot.
To date, I don’t know of these important solutions. True, it can win in chess but AI, while able to check 200 million molecules causing diseases, is having difficulty producing new drugs. It was unable to help drug companies assist humans in this area.
AI can also check hundreds of paintings to help it make a new landscape and also hundreds of top authors to produce a new essay, but is such reproduction creativity? Human creativity produces something new to the world. Making new essays from hundreds of old ones is not creativity. AI has got to be trained before it can produce anything.
This is because it is presently mindless. As far as replacing labourers, it can do jobs that humans find dull, dirty or dangerous. Perhaps because it has only a brain and not a mind, it can work for no wages.
Let us leave AI to do what it does best, which is quickly observing hundreds of human creations. Best regards, Barry Hammond Winnipeg Sunlight disinfects Lubomyr Luciuk, in a opinion published in the Sept. 16 ( ), argues against the release of a part of the 1986 Canadian Commission of Inquiry on War Criminals, the part that names individuals and recommends either for or against further investigations and proceedings.
He gives examples, without names, of cases where the Commissioner has exonerated individuals. Luciuk recommends against disclosure on the strange ground that many of the innocent exonerated are long dead and can not defend themselves. Yet, of course, those who are innocent and exonerated have nothing to defend themselves against.
Whoever cares about the memory of these individuals should want their exoneration public. Nineteenth-century British philosopher Jeremy Bentham wrote: “Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity.
It keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. Under the auspices of publicity, the cause in the court of law, and the appeal to the court of public opinion, are going on at the same time. .
.. By publicity, the court of law, to which his judgement is appealed from, is secured against any want of evidence of his guilt.
It is through publicity alone that justice becomes the mother of security. ..
. Without publicity, all other checks are fruitless: in comparison of publicity, all other checks are of small account.” Jeremy Bentham was right.
Lubomyr Luciuk is wrong. David Matas Senior honourary counsel to B’nai Brith Canada Winnipeg Poor attitude I completely agree with the decision to remove Mark Wasyliw from NDP caucus. He demonstrated his horrible attitude when he wouldn’t shake hands with the premier when sworn in as an MLA.
He then went public with more complaining when he didn’t get a cabinet position and stated that, instead of serving his constituents, he would spend his time practicing law. Lawyers are often referred to as chasing ambulances. However, in Wasyliw’s case , when he speaks I hear the sound of a waa-ambulance.
Waa, waa ...
waa, waa! Werner Kroeger Winnipeg Failing to vote Concerning the Elmwood—Transcona election: Shame on you who never bothered to get out and vote. There were 191 polling stations, multiple days and hours to vote. Show some pride and concern for our riding.
Wonder what the lame excuses are? Dorothy Fife Winnipeg Advertisement Advertisement.
