This is in response to Anonymous who would take a baseball bat to the person who made comments to a woman wearing the burqa thus criticizing the wearers culture and religion. (A veiled approach to intolerance, Dec. 15 Rants.) That person may have been me. When I see a woman covered from head to toe, negating her individuality, I often mention to them that in Canada womenhave a rightbe seen and heard. I do so with the knowledge thatin most instancesthey cover themselvesdue toduty and not choice. It is not a fashion statement but an obligation. Human rights (womens rights included) have precedence over religious dogma and a culture that denigrates women.(Would any man put up with this restriction?) Women in Canada faced prison to get the right to vote. In 1929women in Canada fought for and obtained the right to be persons (individuals). This is the law. There is a saying that children should be seen but not heard. Wearing the burqa disrespectsCanadian women who, in our history, fought so hard for womens right to be seen and heard.
M. Wales, via email
Re: A veiled approach to intolerance: If you think violence is the answer to fear ignorance and intolerance, take your baseball and knock yourself out.
Jess, via Rantline
Id like to thank the dog lovers who take their dogs for a walk on Dunbar Street and dont bother to pick up after them. Thanks to them, somebody stepped in some of the dog crap, tracked it into my store. Were in the middle of Christmas selling and I had to lock the door for three hours, lose business, while I cleaned up all the dog shit that was all over my store. If you want to have a dog, clean up after it. Dont expect me to do it.
Anonymous, via Rantline
Im tired of servers in restaurants and clerks in stores bugging me. I was in a store in Metrotown. One clerk came over with her talk; we said we were just looking and moved away. Then another one came over. This went on until four clerks had annoyed us. In the end we left not buying anything. On to the next store; the same thing happened. We left. On to the third store (Lush) where no one came (thank God). When I had a question I looked over to the lady, she came over and answered my questions and I made a purchase. I was so relieved not to be chased out of the store by these annoying and hard-sell employees.The same thing happens with restaurant staff: How is everything?I dont mind them asking this once and when my mouth isnt full of food. I told one waitress I could not answer with a mouth full of food and she told me I could have put my thumb up to indicate it was good. Frankly I felt like putting up a finger, not a thumb.What is wrong with these employees? Whats even worse is when they come over two or three times during dinner. If youre a server, know this annoy me and I wont tip you.
Fed Up, via email
I lost my passport shortly before I was about to leave to visit my family in Africa. The wonderful staff at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Passport Canada provided me with a new passport in an unbelievably short time, and I was able to make it to my birthday party with old friends and family. The level of service I received was excellent, and not just for a government department but for any service provider. Thank you.
Ryan, via email
To the 20-something fellow on Burrard at 5:45pm Monday: I was on the far right of the sidewalk and you were too but heading in the opposite direction. You stopped dead and stated, I am not an obstacle. Well, actually, you were. The proper etiquette is to walk on the right. If you must walk on the left, at the very least it is you who should step aside for all females, anyone older than you (me by 40 years), children, disabled, etc.You are not alone in your rudeness, however, as it seems to me that the majority do not follow acceptable rules of etiquette.
Leah, via email
