Balance of rights

Im anti big government.

Im for free speech

Im all for peaceful protests

I support the right of ALL people to live, work and play in a racist- and bigoted-free world.

I support the idea that a system of law and order as mandated by the majority of people is the foundation for a peaceful and successful society.

I support the fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by mandating that face masks be required if you are out in public places and cannot maintain social distancing.

I support the right of people to disagree, but would support a government initiative to make wearing of masks mandatory based on the recommendations by medical/scientific professionals.

I support the right for people to point out that my first sentence is in conflict with a government mandating mask wearing, but my fifth sentence deals with this. Im convinced that the majority of Canadians would agree.

Malcolm F. Brown, Dartmouth

Normally, I would not counter an opinion letter to the editor, because I believe everyone has the right to express an opinion, but Gavin Giles criticism (Stop sniping from sidelines, July 6) of Professor Tom Urbaniak requires examination.

Urbaniak does not snipe from the cheap seats, as Giles put it in his letter. He suggests that this highly qualified professor somehow does not have the right to be critical of our government. Because of Urbaniaks depth of knowledge in political science and government, he is more capable than most to see flaws. And we are lucky he shares his insight with the public.

Urbaniak understands government structures that are intended to promote the democratic process. Premier Stephen McNeils authoritarian proclivity has been evident time and time again throughout his two mandates. His centralization policies, use of legislation to abort collective bargaining, shut-out of the media, contempt for elected opposition MLSs, his hyper-control of ministers and neutralization of committees have culminated in government by one or two people.

Giles letter supports unilateral decision-making. But the best decisions are made through a democratic process, where all the players get to participate, because the wisdom is in the group. And Tom Urbaniak understands this.

Jane MacNeill, Ben Eoin

On July 1, in your article Hundreds take to Halifax streets with Indigenous activists, your photo script stated calling for an end to apartheid in Palestine.

The term apartheid is from the Afrikaans word for apartness. It was a policy via legislation for strict racial segregation and discrimination. It was best illustrated in South Africa, where it obtained a meaning of hardhearted oppression. South African Judge Richard Goldstone wrote in October, 2011, while there exists a degree of separation between Israeli Jews and the Arabs in Israel, there is no apartheid. Nothing there comes close to the definition of apartheid under the 1998 Rome Statute.

Concerning the territories, Goldstone wrote that the situation is more complex. But here, too, there is no intent to maintain an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group. Goldstone also wrote in that New York Times article, the charge that Israel is an apartheid state is a false and malicious one, that precludes, rather than promotes, peace and harmony.

To claim that apartheid is going on in that land is a war propaganda phrase, which tries to portray the war as a quasi civil rights dispute and has the purpose of delegitimizing Israel.

Larry A. Riteman, Bedford

Link:

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE JULY 16, 2020 - TheChronicleHerald.ca