Letters | Stop horsewhipping the trolley owners
Published Saturday July 12th, 2008
Since the picture and article appeared in this paper of Jake the horse, who had to be put down due to a fall, I have seen numerous letters against Leese and Mike, the owners.
I have worked the cruise ship dock for three years and have seen these two in action with their horses. As well, I first met them in 1998 when they were hired for our wedding. We had to lay out the route with Mike and Leese and it had to be approved by them. We were to not incorporate too many hills on each leg of the trip for the sake of the horses. As well, they wanted to be sure the horses got a break in between each leg of the trip.
They make a decision based on the weather as to whether or not to let the teams pull. If it's too wet and there's a chance of their horses slipping they pull them off until the weather improves. If it gets too hot they will pull them off until the weather agrees. Their trollies are not that large, either.
At the end of each tour, Mike sprays them down, feeds them and gives them each water. If a horse seems exhausted then that team gets returned to the barns. If a horse seems restless Mike can calm them almost like magic.
These fine owners treat their horses more like babies than money makers. So please, stop bashing them.
KEN DAVIS
Saint John
Universities need public oversight
We have been travelling in your fine province for a few days. It is instructive then that the same issues run from coast to coast. The comments in your paper and other media about university funding and academic independence reflect how far we have drifted from the founding standards in this country. Professors boast about their independence and about how this independence has benefitted society, but this independence was from the outset intended to be conditional on faithful allegiance to founding standards.
Universities were founded by churches or by godly Christian businessmen, and then passed to the public domain on the condition that the standards of righteous living be upheld in the lives of professors, the teaching and the examination of students. Instead, since the 1960s under the guise of academic freedom many professors have taught students to be immoral, and many students have drifted far from their upbringing while at university.
Independent peer review has failed to police depraved behaviour, and has failed uphold independence and opportunity for those who have stood for such standards. Universities belong in the public eye and under public scrutiny just as at the beginning. Authority rests with the provincial governments under the public eye. Remember, courts are subservient to legislatures, not the other way around.
THOMAS BAXTER
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Zoo could use bus service
I recently met a couple from Toronto on a city bus on their way to the Cherry Brook Zoo. I warned them that they would have to walk quite a distance from the university to get there. Last time it was a couple from Portland who found walking to the zoo an ordeal. I would like to know why those who run the bus service cannot see the benefit to the city of extending the service beyond the university.
As there are new developments in the area, it should not be difficult to make a short detour to include a stop at the zoo. I like animals and see myself paying many visits to the zoo, but have not been there for at least a decade, as I do not have a car and much time to spare walking there.
I feel that many seniors, families with small children, and tourists, would take advantage of buses stopping at the zoo. If the zoo sold yearly passes, it could increase the number of visitors and raise much needed revenue as well.
OCTAVIO RIBEIRO
Saint John
Editorial posed weak argument
Your editorial "An 'F' In Logic" (July 9) - particularly its reference to an "appeal to emotion-" is an unwarranted slap in the faces of the thousands of citizens, not to mention students, who campaigned to save UNBSJ over the past year. Those citizens represented a broad range and depth of experience, including satisfied alumnae.
In addition, the editorial reveals a questionable lack of respect for unionization, as well as the universal principle of academic (intellectual) freedom. On the latter a Supreme Court may have to ultimately decide for you - and the current provincial government - what your editorial board doesn't seem to understand.
In your rhetoric you espouse opinions which are not supported in any framework of analysis. Is New Brunswick the only province in Canada to be experiencing declining enrolment? Are the universities other provinces also "collapsing?" Have other provinces managed to hold tuition below that in New Brunswick? How broad was your survey of graduates who failed to advance their desired plan of study and/or employment? How does this survey compare with other provinces? How many successful students have you heard from?
When you can supply adequate answers to such critical questions you will have earned the right to imply that this debate is the result of faculty members who are not "conscientious." Name-calling, whether bald-faced or implied, is the first indication of both emotion and weak argument.
GREG COOK
Saint John
'Intermediate' isn't adequate
In the debate around French instruction, our education minister has argued that he continues his support for the embattled Croll-Lee recommendations because they are more equitable.
It was a shock, then, to read recently that the minister agrees that the Croll-Lee plan only aims at imparting a level of French ("intermediate") that, in fact, has no immediate benefits.
He says that's OK, though: students will pay for private lessons after Grade 12 in order to upgrade their French so they can be employed in bilingual jobs or study at a French-language community college.
Is this government's idea of an "equitable" plan really one that benefits only those who can afford private tutoring?
JOSEPH DOUCETTE
Lincoln
How much will Qplex cost?
In the past week the President of KV Minor hockey, in a CBC interview, added an interesting twist to the debate on the Quispamsis Qplex.
Apparently the president now sees a need for a "pick-up" or community-type hockey league to reduce declining interest. In spite of the much debated shortage of ice time, he wants players to sign up now. However, loss of interest in organized hockey and rinks is not unusual, as communities grow in size and diversity.
This revelation comes at the time that Quispamsis is about to commit to a $20 million project, money that could build 40 skate board parks or 20 soccer fields or equivalents in other, more inclusive and truly wellness-type projects. Hockey and convention centers aren't exactly known for "wellness" and the essence of Gondola Point's hard-won green space will be gone forever.
Unfortunately, the taxpayer has not been given any solid numbers as to how much this $20 million-plus operating expenditures will cost each Quispam household. Residents will be solely responsible for any debt or similar miscalculation by their elected council.
It takes strong-minded councillors to stand up to a bureaucracy that never faces an election. However, the town bureaucracy would benefit from the increased manpower and responsibilities that will, of course, require increased managerial salaries.
LEONARD MCLAUGHLIN
Quispamsis
Will Liberals heed copyright?
It is readily apparent the Liberal Party of Canada has become the recipient of added woes with the announcement by Green Shift Inc. CEO Jennifer Wright has filed a statement of claim to the Ontario Superior Court which alleges the Liberals are using the same name for their carbon tax policy. The Liberal Party is presently facing a lawsuit from Prime Minister Harper for $3.5 million with respect to the Cadman affair.
Total combined suits would be $12.25 million, which is not exactly chump-change by anyone's stretch of the imagination. Stéphane Dion declared he does not think the Green Shift environmental company is being hurt by his party's use of the same name. Mr. Dion says it is being used for the carbon tax policy, and "it will be OK". Green Shift Inc. owner, Jennifer Wright, begs to differ. Already in place is a cease and desist order forwarded to the Liberals, asking them to stop using or displaying any mark confusingly similar to the trademark, or as part of any trademark, trade name, domain name or otherwise. To date, the Liberals have so far ignored Ms. Wright's demands to stop using the firm's name and are still running the material on their official website.
Time will tell how this extraordinary development turns out.
RONALD YASCHUK
Quispamsis
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Unlike the 'townies' who have never tried to get a down horse up for no other reason than to save its life all I can say is that I have been there. They will never understand.
Nothing surprising here as two of the most selfish and domineering groups of parents happen to be Parents for French and Hockey Parents.
Using a phase from the language debate, both are only interested in the 'streaming' of their own kids at the expense of all others.
Can someone answer the logic of crying about the lack of ice time and at the same time trying to sign up MORE players?
It doesn't compute.
Because of low interest, Saint John just tore down one rink and outside communities are forced to help pay for their Harbour Station which is still not covering it's own costs,in spite of past promises of rink promotors. There will be nobody to come to the aid of Quispam tax payers.
The original 'declining interest' should have continued to read "due to the time and money required for organized hockey." Nobody in organized hockey can dispute these facts and the facts won't change. The money referred to, BY THE HOCKEY PRESIDENT, were to the personal cost to the player and the personal amount of required time. MOST KIDS TODAY HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO.
The second omission or revamp should have read the standing "up to an embedded hockey mafia in a bureaucracy that never faces an election"
'Hockey mafia' could be embedded in this paper just as well as town hall or elsewhere. This realization is important so as the tax payer know that they can be manipulated from many sources.
Another ommission was that there are ony '5000 homes' responsible for the $20 million