What are we, the Economist?
Sirs,
How many grains does it take to form a heap? I read with interest your recent editorial on the movement to rename Lionel-Groulx Metro for Oscar Peterson ("Peterson Deserves Better than a Metro" 18.03.08).
What I object to, apart from the unsigned editorial's high-handed and disrespectful tone, is the use of the "slippery slope" argument to dispute the movement's aims.
The assumption made when asserting the existence of a "slippery slope" is that a trend or transition must naturally take place and that no grey area exists. It is a logical fallacy that refuses to take context into consideration.
Further, it is a fallacy at odds with natural justice, which forms the framework of our Constitution. Natural justice relies on the concept of procedural fairness, as expressed in the maxim audi alteram partem-let the other side be heard.
In other words, claims must be examined based on the merits of the facts involved, not on the fear, justified or not, of repercussion on future events.
I realize that history does not take place in a vacuum and there is a natural corollary effect of one event on another, but that is not an argument to ignore context and reason and give in to sophisms like that of the "slippery slope."
Best,
-Michael Citrome LL.B., moderator of Rename Lionel-Groulx Metro after Oscar Peterson
Snowball fight over Peterson
Dear Editors,
Are you really so silly to believe that renaming the Metro station for Oscar is just the start of a snowball ("Peterson Deserves Better than a Metro" 18.03.08)? Do you really think that this is the start of socio-political interests fighting over names in this city (or anywhere else for that matter)? Do you have any idea why Dorchester Street is so small? Cities will always choose what heroes they want remembered. In this case the people of the city, from all walks of life, have agreed just who they want memorialized, and shame on you for trying to claim that your judgement is superior, simply because it is the status quo. By the way, I'm looking forward to your future editorials about how since Metro stations are 'dinghy' they shouldn't be honoured with historical figures' names. Oh the irony!
-Kyle Bailey
McGill B.Sc 2007, Environment
2008 Woodie Awards
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