Sun rises and sets despite daylight saving
Now that Premier David Eby says we are not trading with the U.S., maybe he will do what John Horgan wouldn’t, even though more than 90% of his constituents wanted it: Stop the idiotic changing of the clock!
The sun comes up, the sun goes down, the only thing it does is disrupt peoples lives.
William Buckle
Mill Bay
Show consideration for those around you
My wife and I attended Teiya Kasahara’s concert, The Queen in Me, on Wednesday at the McPherson Playhouse. The beautiful, witty, and poignant story of passion, struggle, and victory was incredibly inspiring. I was grateful to witness the story of this amazing singer.
We did, however, have an unfortunate experience after the concert. When the lights came up, my wife had her white stick showing she is visually impaired, and we were moving to the space behind our seats to wait for the house to vacate.
The couple next to us were visibly agitated and pushing for us to get moving faster.
I was standing behind our seats when, from the fourth seat on the row, a person literally vaulted over the row and angrily bolted past me.
Her companion followed. Neither of us had seen such inappropriate behaviour at performances such as this in venues such as the McPherson.
The irony wasn’t lost on us that we all had come to see performance by someone who has had to pushback against being relegated to the margins for being different — and these two people became angry at having to wait on a visually impaired person for two minutes.
While no heroic efforts are required of you, just being patient and waiting the 30 seconds to one minute it might take before you get to a space where you can move at your desired pace without shoving the person is a nice thing to do.
Please consider some additional courtesy to help a person with a disability who perhaps doesn’t get to move through the world as easily as you.
Jack Edwards
Victoria
No more room for new Victorians
Official Community Plan or no OCP, Victoria cannot support unlimited developing of (un)affordable housing or what other name you call it simply due to limited land available in this area.
The city is surrounded on three of its four boundaries by water and on the fourth side by high hills and farmland. This urban area can’t become another Vancouver by spreading out all over the south Island.
Building skyscrapers won’t work, either, so let’s put a clamp on the developing of new condos and expensive apartments for the influx of rich infiltrators.
Stop these people from locating here and running the average joe out of existing “affordable housing.”
There is no more room for new Victorians. Enough already.
Bill Kral
Victoria
The answer to hygiene is all in the hands
Re: “To lift the seat — or not,” letter, Sept 27.
It seems the letters page has stooped (as in Turkish toilet terms) to the level of addressing bathroom etiquette and antics of concerned citizens. I’ll back over this issue!
This letter writer has hygienic fears of toilet seats to the point of fearing to lift them by hand (or foot apparently) when using public toilets. A cr(ass) excuse for neglecting a simple thoughtful gesture. But there’s more!
He apparently sits on public toilets, likely with extreme anxiety, once in a while. When he is finished, I would like to know where his left hand goes to complete the deed. No toilet seat touched but this motion is much more risky hygienically. The answer: Wash your hands.
Why the left hand, you ask? Never sit at a communal Turkish meal and reach to dip your bread in the hummus with your left hand. It is much worse etiquette than not lifting the toilet seat!
Max Miller
Saanich
Kirk’s message to young men was powerful
The passing of Charlie Kirk has deeply affected many — particularly young men in Canada and around the world. His mission to inspire and guide the next generation was not only powerful but profoundly necessary in today’s social climate.
John Quincy Adams, son of founding father John Adams and an intellectual heir to Benjamin Franklin, envisioned a strong America built on the foundation of strong, principled young men. This vision — where faith and civic responsibility intersect — is one that Charlie Kirk embraced wholeheartedly. It was clearly echoed in the moving words of his wife, Erika Kirk, during the memorial.
She said: “Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West — the young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith and no reason to live. The men wasting their lives on distractions, and the men consumed with resentment, anger and hate. Charlie wanted to help them.
“He wanted them to have a home with Turning Point USA. And when he went onto campus, he was looking to show them a better path and a better life that was right there for the taking. He wanted to show them that.
“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life. That young man. That young man on the cross, our Saviour said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’
“That man, that young man — I forgive him. I forgive him, because …”
This message is not just a tribute. It is a call to action.
For Canada to move forward, we must invest in ideas and initiatives that support our young men. Kirk understood this deeply. He saw the crisis of aimlessness and isolation among young men not as a fringe issue, but as a national concern. His mission reflected that conviction.
The encouraging news is that his legacy lives on — and his movement continues to grow. I am confident that a Canadian counterpart to Kirk will rise to meet this challenge, bringing thoughtful, respectful dialogue back to our universities and public spaces.
Our young men need it now more than ever.
David R. Schneider
Saanich
That man, I forgive him!
These five words by widow Erika Kirk were the highlight of her husband’s memorial service in Phoenix, Arizona. It was a powerful testimony to her Christian faith.
About 80,000 persons attended the service with another 10,000 at an overflow location. Since then, Turning Point USA inquiries have reached more than 100,000.
Since its founding in 2012, according to the New York Times, Turning Point USA has become America’s “pre-eminent conservative youth organization.”
Turning Point USA’s mission is “to identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets and limited government.”
Many politicians and others are urging Turning Point USA crowds to carry on Charlie Kirk’s fight for faith and freedom. Kirk left a “blueprint” to advance the truth in the face of evil.
Virginia Gov. Glen Youngkin shared a message of hope and faith, telling students in the first rally since Kirk’s memorial service: “All of you will be the next Charlie Kirk.”
“You will carry the baton. You will engage. You will change minds. You will be that revival.”
Kirk will be remembered forever in America and beyond. At age 31, he was an amazing young man, wise beyond his years.
He was exceptionally intelligent, spoke from the heart and was totally genuine. Turning Point USA will continue with incredible growth and momentum.
Robin Mark Richardson
Esquimalt
BYD electric cars should be on Canadian roads
It’s time for Canada to eliminate the 100% tariffs imposed on BYD electric cars made in China.
Canadian consumers have the right to choose how they spend their money when buying a new car, without being shackled by government policies.
BYD cars are built in highly advanced factories that are almost fully automated; their quality is top notch. There isn’t any union labour involved, so the prices are not inflated to ridiculous levels.
Unlike those things that Trump’s Little Buddy makes, they also have attractive styling.
So enough talk, Prime Minister Mark Carney, start doing something useful and axe the BYD tariffs completely. We need to improve our trading policies with China for our own best interests.
Rob Schott
Victoria
Still possible to hear the urban design message
The 2024/2025 Urban Design Institute annual report states that: “Over the past year, UDI has made meaningful progress on several fronts – successfully shaping key provincial and municipal policy files, advancing important reforms, and deepening collaboration with government partners.” These are the actions of a lobbying group.
That the UDI has previously lobbied council and staff is beyond question. Further, the UDI frequently engages with city staff through various means, including one-on-one meetings and sponsored educational seminars.
These events are not designed to present a well-balanced viewpoint; they are designed to promote the viewpoints of the UDI corporate membership. On those occasions when elected officials and planning staff attend what are purported to be educational meetings, they are being lobbied, and, through membership and event fees, local government is paying to be lobbied.
Council must take steps to terminate the city’s membership in the UDI and monitor staff and council attendance at UDI lobbying events.
It defies logic that the city should pay, through membership and attendance fees, to listen to lobbyists.
Ken Johnson
Victoria
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
* Email letters to: [email protected]
* Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5
