[scarberiankhatru]

Well, if the Hanlon Expressway's ever upgraded, it'd be ideal given that it leads to Guelph...

 

[smuncky]

Lisa: Hmm, thank you Bart, for yet another touching "Bart's People". Now, turning to...
Bart: I just think our veterans deserve a little recognition.
Lisa: That's what [the 416 Veteran's Memorial Highway] is for, Bart.
Bart: But is that really enough to honour our brave soldiers?
Lisa: Eh, heh, heh...they also have [The Highway of Heroes].
Bart: Oh, Lisa, maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong! The important thing is, veterans deserve a highway to honour them!
Lisa: They have two!
Bart: Well maybe they should have three. I'm Bart Simpson.

hahaha! perfect reference. nicely done.

 

[interchange42]

And Scarb's right about the Hanlon too: it's the perfect place for a Vet's Mem'l Hwy of another sort.

Hey - the Humane Society is just beside the DVP at Queen and River - maybe it should be the Vet's Mem too.

42

 

[adma]

 

[dowlingm]

The most important part for me is the Mayor's office couldn't be bothered answering the damn letter. But then they knew that if they answered in the negative there'd be a protest. Well, there's a protest now boys and girls.

 

[Hydrogen]

Yeah, and a silly one at that. We could go on forever renaming everything in and around the city to satisfy all demands. No one would ever be satisfied at that rate.

 

[Tewder]

Just got back from Quebec (Montreal and Quebec City) where seemingly every street corner and avenue and square and you name it comemorates something. It's overkill surely, but I certainly think we could do a little more of that in Toronto.

As for those here who condone the mayor ignoring the letter from veterans, I think the military should ignore Toronto (just like the federal government does) if they should ever be needed here.

 

[Tewder]

The 401 has already been named "Highway of Heroes" (ugh).

Too honest, or I suppose somehow too blatantly "American"?? What a shame that such a small gesture is viewed as too open a display of emotion or pride for some here.

The MTO spent money on Big Blue Signs out in the sticks, and after each on-ramp, there's new 401 shields, and below two shields, each in the King's Highway shape, with the red and black poppy, in English and French saying "Highway of Heroes". They're ugly. (I hope they stay off the MapArt atlases, hint, hint)

Actually they're quite simple and dignified and lend a little humanity. No harm in that.

 

[theman23]

As for those here who condone the mayor ignoring the letter from veterans, I think the military should ignore Toronto (just like the federal government does) if they should ever be needed here.

Then maybe the residents of Toronto should simply withhold paying their federal taxes, just to make things perfectly even?
Your justification of federal neglect, and the fact that you are perfectly willing to let parties get away with it, is a bit sad. You're unhappy this city won't support your political horse. We get it.

 

[BuildTO]

My guess is that City Hall's lack of response has more to do with not wanting to start another controversy. Perhaps it would have been smarter to make some sort of response, but the claim that it is disrespectful and shows lack of caring sounds to me like a calculated claim to force the issue.

I find the timing of this proposal suspect, coming on the heels of the wear red and yellow ribbon campaigns. The feds are doing everything they can to get people onside in the support for keeping troops in Afghanistan - something the majority of Canadians is oppposed to.

Lest I be accused of not supporting veterans or not being patriotic, I have a Canadian flag tattoo and my father is a WWII veteran. My father never complains about a lack of respect or acknowledgement. As was pointed out, we do have Remembrance Day.

 

[Prometheus The Supremo]

the last thing we want to associate veterans with is a congested parkway.

think about it. every time the word veteran is said, it conjures up memories of being stuck in traffic, being late for work, etc. and sure, this association can happen with anything but it is much wore widespread with a highway and it's not positive association.

I think the military should ignore Toronto (just like the federal government does) if they should ever be needed here.

not even worthy of a reply.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

As for those here who condone the mayor ignoring the letter from veterans, I think the military should ignore Toronto (just like the federal government does) if they should ever be needed here.

Gladly, if they will return the portion of GST and other taxation collected from the local citizenry. Nice to see your view of democracy as only helping those that support a certain party/ideology. I am sure that's the system the veterans fought and died for.

AoD

 

[Hydrogen]

Just got back from Quebec (Montreal and Quebec City) where seemingly every street corner and avenue and square and you name it comemorates something. It's overkill surely, but I certainly think we could do a little more of that in Toronto.

As for those here who condone the mayor ignoring the letter from veterans, I think the military should ignore Toronto (just like the federal government does) if they should ever be needed here.

On the first count, there was considerable renaming in Quebec on the basis of language politics. If I recall correctly Robert Bourassa referred to it as preserving the french fact of Montreal. Others need not apply.

Also, Quebec has a nice range of Mountains named after Lionel Groulx, a pro-fascist, anti-semite who was of considerable influence to many early separatists.

As for the mayor "ignoring" the veterans, do you know this for a fact, or are you letting your politics define the moment? As for renaming highways, is this all that there is to be considered as appropriate respect, or should we be waiting for other demands (from all possible groups) and pay them all tribute - or automatically be accused of disrespect?

There is a big difference between civic acts of renaming landmarks or structures as a form of commemoration, and making immediate demands for such things. When someone or some group demands that something be renamed, then there is an issue worth examining and criticizing. And if that demand is not met, it is not automatically to be construed with being disrespectful. That's nothing more than a shallow ploy for recognition.

 

[Tewder]

Your justification of federal neglect, and the fact that you are perfectly willing to let parties get away with it, is a bit sad. You're unhappy this city won't support your political horse. We get it.

My 'will' , sad or otherwise, has nothing to do with it, and does not change the fact that the federal government is little likely to spend significant dollars in a jurisdiction where there is no hope of return for them. This is not unusual and the conservatives are not the only party to strategically direct money. That said, getting back on topic, your justification of the neglect of veterans is what I find truly sad.

 

[Tewder]

My guess is that City Hall's lack of response has more to do with not wanting to start another controversy. Perhaps it would have been smarter to make some sort of response, but the claim that it is disrespectful and shows lack of caring sounds to me like a calculated claim to force the issue.

I find the timing of this proposal suspect, coming on the heels of the wear red and yellow ribbon campaigns. The feds are doing everything they can to get people onside in the support for keeping troops in Afghanistan - something the majority of Canadians is oppposed to.

You may be right about those issues BuildTo, and of course there may be more than meets the eye. On face value, however, I am not pleased with the city ignoring such a request and I don't feel that naming one major artery in the city as a comemoration is the outrageous crime that many here will spin it to be.