Young people need space at Remembrance Day

I was very impressed by the number of young children at the Remembrance Day ceremonies held at Veterans Memorial Park in Langford.

I have always thought that the youth need to be aware of the many lives sacrificed by our fellow Canadians through all the past wars, up to and including the one being fought in Afghanistan today.

Growing up, I was very much aware of the sacrifice of my grandfather’s generation in the Second World War.

We have been blessed not to have to deal with war on an every day basis here at home and I often wonder if the children today really stop and think of those who have to live with the awful memories of war or those who have given their lives to enable us all to live as we do today.

Prior to bringing my three young children to the cenotaph, I explained to them what Remembrance Day was all about while watching the national ceremonies with them on TV.

Upon arrival at the park in Langford, many adults stood in front of the children or the parade marched in and stood in front of them.

I could hardly see myself so you can imagine just what the children saw, the backs of other adults. Could we not have roped off an area for our children to attend so that they could see and relate to the wonderful ceremony of us honoring those who have given us this very freedom so many take for granted today?

Corey Lange

Langford

West Shore-CRD commuter rail not viable

In the recent Colwood municipal election, residents voted overwhelmingly on a referendum question in favour of joint federal and provincial government support to improve the E&N railway for commuter service into Victoria.

Regrettably, voters were not made aware of the cost and viability of this idea.

With only 18 per cent of the area population in the West Shore, questionable “ridership” (number of rides per day from origin to destination), and undefined portion of the population density that would support rail service, the prospect may not be viable.

Additionally, “total installed cost” from planning to commissioning and training, to implement the project would run into tens of millions of dollars which may not be available to justify the expenditure.

Fortunately (or not), there are other pressing budgetary questions at the federal and provincial levels that will curtail such an effort for the foreseeable future. Promoters, pundits, punters and politicians would be well advised to do the homework and develop accurate and complete estimates prior to proposing ill conceived projects.

Pierre Vallee

Colwood

Velodrome needed along with playing fields

Re: Parks and rec project caught in confusion, Letters, Nov. 12, 2008.

It is sad to see that Juan de Fuca soccer Glen Davis has only one idea about West Shore recreation, that is to have only soccer fields everywhere.

The velodrome is a very important and much needed area of West Shore area.

My kids have tried all sports including soccer, softball and night league basketball to name a few, but they have decided on triathlon as their main sport. The velodrome is a very important place for them to learn and master the skills in a safe area needed to race at a high level.

Granted we do need more fields to play on, but we also need the velodrome for those kids and adults that what something different to do other than soccer.

Steve Kennell

View Royal

Barack Obama brings politics of hope

President-elect Barak Obama will soon lead the United States based on a message of hope after years of terrorist generated fear.

We saw evil on Sept. 11, 2001. A few suicidal insane psychopaths plotted to hurt us all. They killed 3,000 people and caused $100 billion in immediate financial damage. Their goal was to incite fear and turn us on ourselves. They temporarily succeeded.

Laws were passed that extended the control of the government over peoples’ lives — in the name of homeland security.

Armed patrol boats were placed on the Great Lakes. Open borders were constricted, sometimes so tightly as to functionally close them.

The U.S. engaged in war on two countries, losing thousands of lives and amassing $10 trillion in debt without being able to withdraw. The resulting fiscal chaos now rivals the issues of the Great Depression.

Our leaders failed to see that fear is for immediate flight or fight responses — and that is all. Righteous anger and fear-based reactions are not enough.

For our own long-term well-being, we must embrace the politics of hope. Hope is the only well from which true planning and problem-solving action spring.

Eugene Parks

Victoria

Time to adopt Italian homelessness approach

The Globe and Mail recently ran a brilliant article entitled “Crushing Addiction” Nov. 12.

It outlines the highly successful therapeutic work community in San Patrignano, Italy who have had an amazing 20,000 people graduate from their program.

San Patrignano is a model for what Richard Leblanc, founder of the Creating Homefulness Society, is trying to create in the Capital Regional District.

This potential for triumph over our current homeless situation is astounding and thrilling. The West Coast is ready to embrace such a proven, innovative concept now.

By improving the lives of our fellow citizens and helping them reintegrate and contribute back to society, we will assist in alleviating the burden on our social and emergency services, automatically aid local downtown businesses and create something amazing for a community to be proud of.

But more than all of these enrichments, we will be a part of something greater than ourselves, we can begin to turn the tides on a culture whose obsession with material wealth has things out of balance.

Let us have the courage to view human relationships as wealth and offer our neighbors a hand up.

Lisa Grant

North Saanich

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