Buy Canadian veggies

It is becoming more and more difficult to buy Canadian, or even products from North America.

Recently I settled for a jar of Bick’s sweet mixed pickles, product of the U.S., at a cost of $2 more than the no-name brand of equal size, which was a product of India.

On the front of the Campbell’s vegetable soup label, the company boasts that its soup is made with Canadian potatoes. I wonder where the carrots, tomatoes (for the paste), corn, green beans and celery come from.

Come on, manufacturers. Canada is a land of plenty — with many, many vegetables grown almost right in our own neighbourhood. Do your bit, so we can do ours.

Barbara Dow

London

Widow needs closure

Regarding the letterJustice was served (April 1)

It is easy for some to say that a grieving widow did not get revenge and that justice was served. But if you are the widow of a young officer who took the oath to serve and protect, but died doing so needlessly — what do you say to her and her young son, now without a husband and father? Justice may have been served, but the young widow of Sgt. Ryan Russell may still be seeking closure.

At the end of the letter, the writer mentioned medical help for the widow. It may be safe to say she does not need medical help, but does need answers as to why one human being could commit such a senseless act, causing the untimely death of another human being. Let us all hope she does not lose faith in humankind as a result, but that she becomes an advocate for change.

Mel Mapp

London

Muslims in denial

So the Canadian terrorists killed in Algeria are from London. As Islamists, they seemed to have a different take on “jihad” from that of Nusaiba Al-Azem in her March 16 Islam View column, Reclaiming right to be true ‘jihadist’ a struggle.

But the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” approach seems to be the standard party (or religious) line of local Muslims. Examples are: “Extremists are not Muslims,” “Suicide bombers are not Muslims. Muslims do not commit suicide” and, in response to a question about Islamism, “Islamism? How do you define that?”

Isn’t it about time that Muslims faced up to their dark side? For the rest of us, the best criterion by which to judge who is a “good” Muslim may be whether he or she supports the new Canadian organization, Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow.

Bob McDaniel

London

Women belong in kitchen

Regarding the article American star slams Canada hosting 2015 World Cup (canoe.ca, April 2).

Women soccer players shouldn’t be worried about whether the game should be played on real grass or artificial turf. They should be concerned about how qualified they are to look after kids and cook good meals for their husbands. Let’s get back to reality, for heaven’s sake.

Sam Wright

North York

Horse racing must return to a simpler, better time

When I was a kid, my parents would take me to the Top of the Fair for dinner while they watched the horse races.

When I came of age, I would go to the races with my friends and watch a young Dave Wall dominate. All this was before the introduction of the slot machines. How was the race industry able to sustain itself for decades before the slots?

Surely they can do it again.

Brian Aziz

London

Extending Pope’s concern

My ideological opponent, Herman Goodden, in his March 30 column Secret vote necessary for Catholics is being rude in his reference to “abortions for everyone”.

With much-lauded concern for the poor, it would be wonderful if Pope Francis could consider the plight of women who lack means to control their fertility, and at the very least endorse effective methods of birth control.

One hardly needs to belabour the tragedy of annual births when there are no means to feed or care for existing children. Does a loving God also deny condom use to prevent the spread of AIDS?

Mary McKim

London