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Home To the Editor Your Opinion

To the Editor

Gustafson family fights the good fight

Wednesday, 31 October 2012 08:40 Bruce Rowe, MLA
Re: "GuZoo receives zoo permit," The Capital, Oct. 17.
Dear Editor,
As MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, I would like to congratulate Lynn and the entire Gustafson family.
Standing up for what is fair and right should not be this difficult. The Gustafson family has been the target of a concerted campaign of intimidation by a group of organizations seeking to profit and gain media profile by attacking a family-run business.
When faced with such baseless attacks, one would expect the provincial government to step in and defend both this family as well as its own fact-based permitting process. Sadly, this did not happen, leaving the Gustafsons alone to defend their rights at substantial legal cost.
Here in Alberta, it is becoming increasingly obvious that big government is more inclined to work against its citizens rather than for them. The Gustafsons, more than most, have been victim to this trend.
However, they have persevered. They have continued fighting because they know that the truth is not a luxury. I agree with them. Facts matter. Fairness matters.
Sometimes it is easier to accept injustice than battle for fairness. But that's not how we do things here in Alberta. We speak up regardless of the consequences. Through their struggle, the Gustafsons have reminded us all what it means to be an Albertan, and I applaud them for it. I am proud to be their elected representative.
Bruce Rowe, MLA
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
 

Cease wild horse cull

Wednesday, 24 October 2012 10:08 Wayne Krejci, Shelby MacKenzie
Dear Editor;
I am writing to encourage all Albertans to continue with the journey of forcing the Alberta Government's cull of Alberta's Wild Horse to cease.
The wild horse populations in Alberta date back before the European settlers arrived dating date back to a Spanish horse foundation. Why does the Alberta Government refuse to see the value in protecting our natural resource and a major part of Alberta's Heritage?
In the eyes of the Alberta Government these magnificent animals are considered "feral". Webster's dictionary defines feral as "having escaped from domestication and become wild". How could these horses have escaped domestication over 200 years ago when the west not settled nor explored. Alberta's Wild Horses  are a true heritage species and need the legislation to protect them.
Please write or call Honorable Diana McQueen of Environmental Sustainable Resources at 1-800-542-7307 or email at [email protected] and demand that we start protecting this species, having them designated as Alberta's first Heritage Species.
The last two cull seasons 350 head have been removed and taken to slaughter. Her department claim there are 770 head left in the western foothills. Two more cull seasons, this Alberta Government will have wiped out the wild horse population, taking with it the unique gene pool that has evolved, and wiping out a complete section of the natural food chain.
Please write or call her office to stop this senseless slaughter and protect a species natural to Alberta.
Wayne Krejci,
Shelby MacKenzie
Innisfail, AB

Beauty etched in stone

Wednesday, 24 October 2012 10:08 Dr. S.N. Zahir
To the Editor;
I am Dr Syed Naim Zahir, an Orthopaedic Surgeon and father-in-law of Dr Husain, who is working here in the health services. I came here as a visitor and happened to go to the Rocky Mountains last week. The place was so beautiful that the poet in me wrote something which I want to share with the residents of Three Hills through the medium of your news paper.
BEAUTY ETCHED IN STONE
(My tribute to the Rocky Mountains, Canada)
If ever God created a masterpiece of shear beauty
On the easel of nature.
It was here in Banff and its surroundings.
Snow capped mountains and the
Colourful lakes, like the tear drop of an angel,
Waving the  display of visual colours and designs,
On each sunrise and sunset.
The clear blue sky providing a perfect background.
The winter will of course bringing a complete change in the scene.
The lakes - namely Louise, Moraine, Emerald and Minnewonka,
And innumerable others seen or unseen,
Have such a calming effect on the disturbed and tired mind.
All these have to be seen to be believed.
No photograph or poem can do justice to it. The beauty is beyond words.
The mountains with white silver tips
And the pines on the slopes
Is really nothing but stone,
Yet it gives you an impression of immense power and even fear.
Still their vivid size, shapes and beauty is beyond imagination.
The Indian trails and their names are kept alive by
The Canadians who have mingled progress with the heritage.
God has bestowed on Canada vast lands, good culture, and proud heritage like Rocky Mountains written
In courage and beauty, this has moulded the life of Canadians at large, whom I found to be one of the best people to talk and to live with.                LONG LIVE CANADA.
Dr. S.N. Zahir
Orthopaedic Consultant

Applause needed for supporting Motion 312

Wednesday, 24 October 2012 10:07 Henry E. Goertzen
To the Editor;
A related follow-up on last week's article.
Rona Ambrose, Minister for the Status of Women, needs to be applauded for her courageous vote to support Motion 312, a private member's bill to strike a committee to review when life begins in conception.
This has brought about a storm of protest in the House of Commons by opposition parties calling for her resignation, or asking the Prime Minister to fire her. It was even stated that the Minister for the Status of Women should be a Pro-Abortionist, thus ruling out the many women who support the Pro Life view. Again, if you take any other position, you are bigoted or homophobic. There is no room for Freedom of choice, which is a central value of Canadians. There is no tolerance for any other view. Tolerance isn't just a one-way street where only one position can be expressed.
Many comments made, in asking for Rona Ambrose's resignation, leave the impression that all women in Canada support this position. The vocal minority again take centre stage. One protester stated that this was such a needless exercise and waste of taxpayer dollars and we should forget to look back to the past. But looking back, according to an archaic law, a child is not considered a human being until it proceeds completely from its mother's womb. Canada has no law against abortion and because of this, it is completely legal to kill an unborn child at any time during the pregnancy. Some are ignorant of the fact that abortions are paid for by our tax dollars, whether we agree or not?
Akin to this is the recent outcry over Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy's support of the historical, biblical definition of marriage between one man and one woman. This same standard has been approved by voters in 32 states in the US.
Chick-Fil-A- is a restaurant chain, with 1615 locations in 39 states, opening their first restaurant in 1946. This is a family-owned chain and they have always been transparent about operating on biblical principles. According to Decision magazine, their corporate purpose is "To glorify God by being a faithful stewart of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-Fil-A." Last year their sales topped over $4 billion.
In an interview, Dan Cathy, President, affirmed their company's support of the sanctity of marriage. He never said anything negative about same-sex couples. Yet he was viciously attacked by gay and lesbian advocates, politically correct government officials and a liberal media sympathetic to the homosexual agenda and various University students. In addition, the mayors of Chicago and Boston declared that they would oppose any attempt by Chick-Fil-A to open a franchise in their city. Cathy's remarks were assumed to be anti-gay and lesbian. Yet he affirmed that all were welcomed in their restaurants.
But there is an encouraging turn of events. Former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, stepped in this disgraceful and unprecedented situation, by calling on Christians to show their support for Chick-Fil-A and Dan Cathy, by flocking to these restaurants on a given Sunday. The response was overwhelming as an estimated four million rallied. This was the biggest turnout they had ever had in a day.
In closing, I would like to quote James Emery White who said: "It is a fascinating progression that has taken place in American Culture. First, classical Christian Orthodoxy was marginalized. Second it became ostracized. Third, it became demonized. Fourth, it became penalized. And now the move would seem to have it criminalized."
What is happening to freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of choice? It is being seriously challenged and threatened. We must speak up and be heard to defend these freedoms.
Henry E. Goertzen

That's like calling the kettle black

Wednesday, 24 October 2012 10:06 George E. Thatcher
To the Editor;
Re: Mr. Henry Goertzen's letter dated Oct. 17/12
Mr. Goertzen calls me "intolerant" because I don't support MP Kevin Sorenson's political and religious views. That's like calling the kettle black. "He who lives in glass houses should not cast stones". However, I am intolerant of those individuals and organization who try to impose their religious and political beliefs on others. I have as much right to state my opinions as he does, and just because he is a "committed" Christian, he is not entitled to restrict or prevent me from stating my viewpoints.
"Save the children!" is the constant mantra of the extreme right conservatives and their religious supporters, but they never bother to mention that there are thousands of unwanted children abandoned every year in North America, and thousands are stuck in foster homes, and thousands of boys and girls run away, each year, from their homes and foster homes because of physical and sexual abuses, and many of the young runaway girls wind up as child prostitutes
Of course, people like Mr. Goertzen don't want to mention that before abortions were legalized in our country, women who chose to terminate their pregnancies were forced to see backyard "butchers" (many lost their lives to them) or from doctors who secretly performed such operations. Even Barry Goldwater, the most right-wing of Republicans, an Arizona senator, admitted that he paid for his daughter's illegal abortion, and now that Goldwater's are one of the biggest supporters of planned families in that state.
How about Mr. Goertzen and his followers supporting foster children who are waiting by the thousands to be adopted, or how about helping the thousands of homeless people in our society? Hmm? Talk is cheap Mr Goertzen.
As far as Mr. Sorenson is concerned, I don't vote or support a political party; I vote for the best qualified person for the job, unlike so many people in "conservative" Alberta who vote strictly along party lines, regardless of qualifications. Being "religious" or being a "committed Christian" should not be a reason for voting for someone. There are many examples of so-called "born again" Christians who claim they're religious, yet violate religious commandments to suit their purposes. Examples: 1. Ex-Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford (GOP), used taxpayers' money to finance his relationship with his mistress in Argentina. 2. Herman Cain, GOP presidential hopeful from Alabama, was forced to quit the campaign because the revelations of his extra marital relationships and his sexual harassments of several women. 3. How about Newt Gingrich (GOP)? He has married and betrayed several of his ex-wives (adultery), yet he claims he supports "Christian" family values. A month doesn't go by where a religious leader or politician in North America hasn't been caught cheating on his/her partner or embezzling funds from their followers or from the taxpayers. So, when I hear the term "committed", I ask the question, "Committed" to what?
As a voter, I want to know how my hard earned dollars are being spent by the politicians; I don't want to know his/her religious persuasion. Keep religion out of politics! So-called religious politicians in America have severely divided the country, and that nation has become so dysfunctional, at the state and national levels, that the country has gone bankrupt. We don't want or need that in Canada.
How come the Harper gov't recently rejected a parliamentary committee's recommendation for transparency of the federal budget? Why are we spending billions on an American warplane that will cost us untold billions, yet our federal gov't can spend millions on ads claiming what a great job it has been doing while cutting back on pensions and jobs for civil servants?
I would like Mr. Goertzen to tell his followers that "committed" Christians were killing each other in Europe for centuries, and if they weren't killing each other, they were persecuting Jews and other non-Christian minorities.  "Committed" Catholics and Protestants were killing each other in Northern Ireland and Scotland for generations. "Committed" Christians supported slavery and fought to prevent the integration of non-whites in American society. "Committed" Christians stole land from the natives of North America, and when WW II started, the properties of Japanese-Canadians and Japanese-Americans were confiscated, and they were lucky to have gotten 10 cents on the dollar for their lost properties.
So, don't tell me about "committed or born-again" Christians. If one is truly religious, he/she doesn't have to wear a tag or an emblem, or boast to show that he/she is truly committed to helping others.
Lastly, I like to remind you that politicians serve "us", and not the other way around. If he won't explain his position or the government's position on money matters, he doesn't represent "all" of his constituents (In my humble opinion of course).
Sincerely,
George E Thatcher
Page 12 of 39

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