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2012-09-04 at 14:18

LETTER: Police email shows systemic problem

Anita Fraser, Neebing
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"Misdirected levity," says (Thunder Bay Police Service Deputy Chief Andy) Hays? Abhorrent!

If it had been that officer's, or any other officer's father, brother or spouse I'm sure they would not have found any "levity" in the situation. It is racist in the nature of the way it minimizes the victim’s death and the tragedy of the entire event.

If not racist, than the email is obscenely insensitive to the family of the murdered man. Pathetic!

I suggest the Thunder Bay Police Service get some serious training is compassion and sensitivity. You clearly have a systemic problem if this officer even considered what he wrote to be appropriate

Anita Fraser,
Neebing

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Tbnewswatch.com(17)

Comments

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sagestorm99 says:
I totally agree...I am appalled on a daily basis with the racist comments that I hear..I was born in Scotland so clearly white skinned...my friends are mainly first nations but multi cultural as well...because I am so light skinned people give free rein on their comments of others...if you dont think racism is alive and well then you are living in a bubble..
9/4/2012 9:20:05 PM
Urban Guy says:
"Fresh Breath Killer" so that is what? A racist slur against mouthwash users? Go to that area and it is littered with bottles of things typically used abusively. Various mouthwashes, hair products, sanitizing products and often needles. They could have called him the "Finess Killer" I cleanup these areas regularly and the users of the proucts are sometimes there. You know what, I've seen a lot of different poeple of different races, backgrounds all abusing it. Not a single word could be taken as racist in that email. If you stereotypify that anyone who drinks mouthwash is of aborignal origin then you may be the racist or trying to incurr racial tension needlessly.
9/6/2012 2:53:20 AM
ringettemom says:
I agree, wholeheartedly.
9/4/2012 10:10:37 PM
meta says:
Lighten up Anita!

And top making issues out of nothing.

Murders are regularly nicknames. Green River, Zodiac,etc.

Just because the ethnicity of the victim and accused are aboriginal is NO REASON to make this a racial issue. It is not. So stop trying to make it one for personal or political gain.

The term "fresh breath" has NOTHING to due with ethicity or race so don't try to make the link.
9/5/2012 11:39:51 AM
billibie says:
Your absolutely correct. These people pull out that word "racism" at the drop of a hat and am pretty tired of it. I am a white male and if anyone should feel that they are targeted by racism it should be me!!!!!
9/5/2012 6:55:13 PM
TWM says:
You are absolutely wrong meta. Just because you do not feel or can empathize with with the opinions or feelings of others, does not make you correct in your statement. The link between racism attitude and "fresh breath" killer does exists whether or not you can detect it. This systemic problem can easily be noticed by those who have been at the recieving end of that.
9/6/2012 8:09:45 AM
tayjordz says:
thunder bay is the most racist city i have ever lived in my entire life to indigenous people. its sickening and its sickening that people agree with what you have to say. if it was a white person, it wouldnt be called the fresh breath killer.
9/14/2012 11:58:28 AM
Dontlistentome says:
You Dougall cowards!!!!
How you could invite public opinion then completely shut down the comments is truly Fahrenheit 451.
Pathetic and shabby journalistic behavior at its typical. You sure can tell how nan and all the special interest groups have ou hacks in their back pocket.
9/5/2012 7:07:33 PM
Shafali says:
Racism does exists however many comments could be perceived as racist even if not the intent

for example comment born in Scotland so clearly white skinned....what does than insinuate, there are European born of many races
9/5/2012 7:36:26 PM
dad3192 says:
I think that those who choose to see any link to race in this un-newsworthy item are themselves making it racist.
If you are so concerned that this is racialy motiovated, get out there and do something to fix the problem!I see white people staggering around that area too..why is nayone saying this is racially motivated?
If nobody cried wolf and played the card, would it still be newsworthy??
9/5/2012 11:38:58 PM
jasper says:
the e-mail makes no reference to a specific race and therefore cannot be racial! and as a side note in typical cowardly fashion this website makes comments unavailable if the articles are anyway related to aboriginals. grow some balls and let the people comment on such issues that affect all of us as a community.
9/6/2012 12:30:40 PM
dozerman says:
Where does the "race" card fall...before or after the joker?
9/6/2012 2:50:16 PM
nerdfacedg says:
This only became racist because somebody looked into it too deeply. Meta you know whats up.
9/7/2012 2:08:44 AM
canrebel53 says:
It doesn't matter what you say anymore, if someone want to find something racist about it they will. It's about time people start growing up, and stop trying to find fault in everything people say.
9/8/2012 10:35:25 AM
fan says:
If the fresh breath comment had been made anywhere other than NW Ontario, no one would likely understand its insinuation; because the issue of what "fresh breath" is implying is well known in this area, it's likely most people would understand both the comment's literal and interpreted meanings;
There is indisputably a stress factor and frustration associated with police work that, at times, can result in what may appear to be glib indifference. All the more reason for those officials doing this important work to apply even more to their careful attention to their respective comments.
9/9/2012 9:17:10 AM
Preems says:
Ok, so none of you would be offended if the next couple of white people who were found murderer where named "Jäger Bomber?" or maybe the "Boxed Wine Strangler?"
9/10/2012 9:05:55 AM
combatwombat says:
"Box wine strangler"!!! sounds like my wife after a box of wine , and i am the one that gets strangled!!
INDEED PREEMS YOU HAVE OFFENDED ME ( and my wife)
Mind you you still have no clue what,
race,
ancestry,
place of origin,
colour,
ethnic origin,
citizenship,
sex/gender (includes gender identity)
sexual orientation
age
religious affiliation/creed
marital status
family status
record of offences
political affiliation
physical characteristics
physical or mental disability....
or status in receipt of public assistance....

9/11/2012 12:55:05 AM
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