THE WEEK IN LETTERS

Every week, the Post receives hundreds of letters to the editor,
providing a snapshot of our readers' collective state of mind. In the
column below, our letters editor highlights some of the more
passionately argued letters we received last week that did not make it
into the paper.

A gritty portrayal of drug addiction and homelessness in downtown
Victoria by reporter Brian Hutchinson touched a nerve with many
readers, especially those in the B.C. capital.

"Your treatment of the drug-addict situation was dismissive, cold and
offensive," wrote a reader who identified himself only as Garry. "The
article avoided addressing the root causes of the situation and
proposed only that the addicts be merely disposed of. Such
insensitivity might appeal to the people who want this 'problem'
removed from their vicinity but it will do nothing to help those
suffering from drug addiction."

Other Victoria residents, however, agreed that getting tough with
problem youth is the way to go.

"The majority of drug addicts and homeless people in Victoria are not
suffering from mental illness," wrote Michael Butler. "The homeless
that Mr. Hutchinson was referring to are criminals and should be
treated as such. Their lifestyle of drug abuse and criminal activity
is a matter of personal choice. They must be held accountable for
their actions."