NovemBer 15, 2005

Comrades;

I should be taking this time to work on one of my many essays that are due this month, but after reading the “Hammer and Sickle”, oops I mean “The Cadre”, last week there are a few issues that I don’t think I could live with myself ifT didn’t address... I’ll start first with an explanation for Brad Deighan and Zain Esseghaier, who both wrote logical, courageous letters to the editor last week, of why our “beloved” SU doesn’t feel it necessary to provide the students of this university with a breakdown of the budget. It is because, like all authoritarian regimes: once they gain power, they know what is best for all of us, and they aren’t responsible to their people. Prove me wrong SU, I know you can! But that isn’t the main reason why I’m writing. I wanted to provide some feedback to Will Cooper for his article “Food for Thought’, because he asked so politely for it, and I think there are some major questions that need to be posed of the picture of global communism that he paints. First off, what does Mr. Cooper mean by “we live in a secular world”? I myself may not embrace any religion as my own, and Canada (thankfully) is a secular country, in the fact that it recognizes the division between Church and State. But what about theocracies like Iran? Do you think they would want to jump on board with your idea? What would “we” do if they refused? Also, who decides what is best for this New World Order? “We do”, you say? Well what if there are those among the world’s population that don’t want to be coerced into doing something just because “The Many” decided it was right for them? Would there be some kind of “Island of Individuality” for them in the Pacific, or would we just shoot them in the back of the head?

To tell you the truth Will, I don’t think you’ve ever thought about what freedom is, or how you would be living right now if this “prison” (very insulting) of Canada didn’t protect you

LETTERS TO TH

from the coercion of others by observing your individual rights. You have obviously noticed that, although there may be subtle differences in appearance, people are made up of the same things physically. But what I think you ignore is that mentally we are not the same. I and many others don’t believe that “we” all share a collective consciousness, though there are SOME people who may believe we do (which proves my point! ). Personally, I am glad that people choose to have different opinions and belief systems, but I won’t stand by and twiddle my thumbs when someone, who I’m sure isn’t-evil deep down, proposes an evil idea such as taking away my right to exist as an end in myself! Many of us do care about preventing wars, starvation, and unsustainable environmental practices, but you can’t force other people into caring, no matter how much it upsets

_you. I was once a lot like you: young,

unrealistic, and seeing the world as a prison, because I cared very much about other people and the state of the world. I still care, but ’ve realized that the only way I’m going to change the world is by putting work into it myself and not sitting quietly while someone is proposing something that will affect the lives of myself and others negatively. That’s why I’m writing, I hope you can take something positive away from this; life is what you make it.

Thank you, Brent Slater bslater(@upei.ca

Sir:

Although I am trying to reduce my dependence on my car, I often need to drive when commuting to my job at the UPEI Library. When I do, I normally use the Belvedere Ave. entrance, opposite the Famers’ Market, and I am getting very alarmed about the dangerous situation arising from people jaywalking across Belvedere to and from the Market parking lot. I have

4+ EDITOR

witnessed two very close calls in the past week alone, and believe it is only a matter of time before someone is injured or killed.

The danger is greatest, of course, to those crossing on foot, but those doing so are also putting others at risk. One morning last month, for

example, I was pulling into the left-

turning lane on Belvedere when an oncoming dump truck swerved to avoid a pedestrian about to dart out from UPEI, and very nearly hit our car. My wife and two small children were with me at the time: let’s justsay the moment stays with me...

Now, yes, the truck could have been going slower, and, yes, some of the other incidents I’ve witnessed were, in part, due to driver error, and, yes, it’s a dangerous intersection anyway. All that aside, there is absolutely no safe way to cross any major traffic artery on foot (especially when there’s a turning lane in the picture) without using a designated pedestrian crossing. So, I have a deal to offer those who use the parking lot at the Market. My commitment to you:

- As a motorist, I will approach the Belvedere Ave. entrance to UPEI with every ounce of care, caution, and attention I can summon (I think I was doing that anyway, but this will be a

reminder to me, and a public promise to all of you).- As amember of the UPEI community and a citizen of Charlottetown, I will lobby for changes and improvements to be made to that intersection so that it’s safer for all of us. In return, I ask — no, I beg — that you PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE use the rails-to-trails crosswalk on the other side of the Farmer’s Market (and if you’re already doing so, God love ya). I’m a pedestrian some days, too, and I’ve timed it: using that crosswalk, instead of cutting straight across Belvedere from the Market parking lot, adds all of one minute to the walk. One minute. It’s a dangerous world, and

THE CADRE ¢ 8

we’re all blessed with a finite amount of grace and good luck. How much of that blessing — both yours and other peoples’ — do you want to squander trying to trim 60 seconds off your run to and from campus?

My family and I thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely, Simon Lloyd UPEI Library

PS: BTW, if the safety argument doesn’t do it for you, consider that - when — and it is a case of when, not if — somebody does get run over jaywalking from the Market, it’s a good bet that that lot will be closed to non- Farmers Market parking quicker than you can say, “Goodness, where did that truck come fr ...?” Proposed changes to class scheduling at UPEI would mildly disregard many people’s lives and livelihoods.

Any such Changes would be relatively disruptive to affected students’ other schedules with regards to work and home.

While most employers are extremely reasonable when working around an employee’s class schedule, the sample of the suggested rescheduling that I saw defies reason.

Families will suffer as well from the upheavals in life’s routine incurred when one, and often two, parents decide to attend UPEI. Proposed schedule changes would further exacerbate the stress these families already experience as they juggle personal schedules daily.

Any of the above concerns also apply to professors, who, of course, have lives beyond the class.

May I suggest no changes to a perfectly convenient schedule, a schedule conducive to achieving our personal goals.

Thanks for your audience, Nancy Cudmore