DISAPPOINTED WITH DECISION TO PUBLISH HATE-FILLED LETTER

Editor:

I recognize your right to publish a wide range of opinions, however
reprehensible they may be. I also recognize that the opinions of your
letter writers are their own and not necessarily those of The Times. I also
affirm the value of free speech in our society.

I cannot understand, however, why you would include a sentence
condoning the cruel persecution, torture and murder of innocent people
holding a particular religious belief in a letter ostensibly calling
for the repeal of laws dealing with victimless crimes (The Times, Oct.
1).

The letter writer failed to make any logical connection between his
main idea about prostitution and drug dealing in our community and his
conclusion that all Christians should have been murdered.

Surely, you know that the Criminal Code sets limits intended to
protect Canadians against the promotion of hatred and considers
advocating genocide a very serious crime. The published statement "I
think we should have kept feeding the Christians to the lions" seems
to go beyond reprehensible and approaches criminality.

Would you include Taliban fatwas in letters about the conditions of
the local hospital, or wistful longings for the Nazis' "final
solution" in opinions on TransLink?

While the comment may provide readers with an insight into aspects of
the writer's character, I believe you failed as an editor, in
including a hateful comment along with the writer's other opinions.
I'm disappointed that you, as a leader in this community, published
such an offensive statement.

S.C. Brouwer, Langley