Today’s letters: Heritage building ‘eyesore’ should be demolished

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We owned 501 Cole Ave. for over 30 years. It is where we raised our four children. But we owned it at a different time, when Highland Park was a different neighbourhood. In fact, we fell in love with this house not only because of its inherent character, but also because of the character of the neighbourhood to which it belonged. That neighbourhood no longer exists.

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Sadly, 501 Cole Ave. has been allowed to fall into disrepair by its most recent owners, to the point of becoming an eyesore — a rather obvious and convenient means to an end.  And while that’s a shame, I believe that it would be better to tear it down now rather than to cling desperately to a past that has already slipped away.

Agencies that confer heritage designations on properties have it backwards. They should protect the neighbourhood to protect the house. Not the other way around.

Barry Sterparn, Ottawa

Shut down hateful gatherings

Re: Ottawa protest cheering Oct. 7 attack draws condemnation, Apr. 23:

We are all aware of the right to peaceful and organized protesting. However, Saturday’s pro-Palestinian protest and others which promote hate and intimidation must be stopped.

The Prime Minister is quoted as saying “this rhetoric has no place in Canada,” and Marco Mendicino said “it must not be tolerated.” All strong words, but I read nowhere in the article of any plan of action to have these types of protests disallowed.

It is reprehensible for anyone in Canada to publicly promote hatred and intimidation or support terrorism, regardless of where it has taken place. The government and municipalities who give the go-ahead for peaceful rallies and protests should as well be prepared to immediately shut down gatherings such as the one on Saturday.

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Pat Tierney, Cardinal

Anti-Israel protests can be reasonable

Israel has killed more than 30,000 civilians, encouraged starvation of the local population and damaged the area’s major hospital. This is a reasonable reason for concern, criticism and even some anger as is occurring in many democratic countries, including Canada, irrespective of the cause of this latest conflict and who started it.

Canadians who support Israel have a right to their opinion, but they should also expect and accept to be criticized without using antisemitism as an excuse to limit reasonable protests.

Francois P. Jeanjean, Ottawa

A teacher’s cautionary tale

Re: Anonymous complaints ended his 23-year career, Apr. 14

The question that usually follows when I tell people I teach music is: “In high school?”

Aside from my aversion to mass musical instruction, the destruction of Richard Smith’s unique and helpful educational vision through what amounts to prejudice reminds me of my solid decision decades ago as a male person not to even consider the public system.

My brother who supply-taught as a music teacher was dismissed when he physically tried to help a student who had fallen carrying a heavy and bulky baritone sax case. Um, no touching!

The problem is not the teachers.

Thomas Brawn, Orléans

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