Bill of Rights says all it needs

Editor:

As expected, my poem “A Roaring Boring Alice” was perceived by some as a kick at the bee’s nest. Unfortunately the third line was omitted in the printing process (due to a typesetting error). This line read, “But I bear the girl no malice”. I did not wish to hand her hemlock in a chalice nor did it suggest a motorcade through Dallas. It most emphatically did not employ a third and extremely crude rhyme alternative, something that Trump fans may have actually liked.

In order for democracy to work it relies on three things: Freedom of speech for everyone – platforms for that freedom to be exercised, especially community newspapers with their editorial comment, letters from the public and factual and honest reporting – and finally that we, the electorate, pay attention to the issues, discuss and form opinions on the issues and then get off our backsides and vote when the day arrives.

For more than 50 years we have had in place a charter of “Canadian values” known as the Bill of Rights. This was given to us by that great Progressive Conservative leader and Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. It still says all that needs saying. Talk to anyone who has been through the process of immigrating to Canada and passing the citizenship test. They probably know more about our history and our rights than we, who were born and raised here, do.

I apologize if I hurt the feelings of some readers, including Dr. Leitch, but I bristle at the thought of American style politics making inroads into my/our country. I wish all of you the best for your holidays and in the New Year. In the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us, everyone.”

Tim Armour,

Creemore.