JUNE 13: LETTERS
I AM a 26-year-old woman who has been living in Toronto for six years. When
I was growing up, we lived in the country with enough property that going topless
around the pool was the norm since there was nobody around to see.
I have been reading about the Ontario court ruling that allows women to go
topless on public property, and decided to take advantage of this several times
at the beach.
My main reason for going topless is I hate tan lines. They can be a real pain
when it comes to evening wear, and my job forces me to be out for dinner four times
a week.
I have been going topless for a few years at a section of beach that is really
difficult to get to, making it all but deserted. Now the new ruling has drawn undesirable
people to the beach, which in turn is pushing longtime beach-goers away.
I specifically refer to the man who walked up to me, put his gym bag between
my feet and asked for a light. I apologize for "accidentally" spilling
my Coke in your bag all over that nice video camera hidden in there. I gave the
bill to my lawyer.
I realize it will take a while for some men to get bored of seeing breasts
on the beach and then I won't have them sitting 20 feet away in every direction.
It has been really nice to be able to buy an ice cream or a cold Coke or meet
and talk to people instead of being the only one on a desolate stretch of beach.
However, I guess for now I will continue to go to a deserted beach with my warm
Coke and soggy sandwiches to prevent being preyed upon.
A. Ryan
Toronto
(Hate to discourage you, but the oglers will never get tired of seeing breasts
on the beach)
AN ARTICLE in the Toronto Sun on June 9 quoted me on the topless issue. The
published quote does not reflect the opinion of Downtown Fine Cars Inc. I was under
the impression that the quote would not be published in the paper.
Lamis Govas
Toronto
(Whatever)
I WAS angered by Mike Harris' comments on women's toplessness. It is now recognized
as legal under the Canadian Charter of Rights. It appears he does not understand
the issue. It is against the law to discriminate against women. It is against the
law to publicly suggest we should discriminate against women. By commenting that
we should "draw a line" in connection with only women's toplessness is
to suggest we should continue to discriminate against women. If he feels a line
should be drawn in connection with anyone going topless, that is one thing, but
to say women should be treated differently is illegal, and he should keep his comments
to himself until he understands that.
Christopher W. Russell
(Call us cynics, but we wonder why women have so many male supporters on this
issue)
YOUR EDITORIAL position on women's newly acknowledged right to be free of
upper body attire is a glaring indicator of not only your editorial position, but
your hormone level. Your attitude to the recent warm weather-induced developments
is purely juvenile. Slightly more than half of the population of this planet is
female. This act makes breasts reasonably common, however, your attitude would indicate
this is something new to you. What did you think was under their garments? Now that
you know, leave these poor women alone. Let them have the freedom to do as men can
do without your photographers in tow. You chastise the few who choose to exercise
this right in view of dozens at the same time you push it in to the faces of thousands
through exploitive photos on your front pages. Which is exposing more? Which is
doing it for commercial gain? Women have the right. Women may choose to exercise
the right. Get used to it. Start putting some news on the front pages.
Malcolm Scott
Oshawa
(News is whatever people are talking -- or writing letters -- about)
IN MY opinion, a man going about topless on a downtown street is inappropriate
(if not tacky) -- and the same should apply to women. On the other hand, a man topless
on a beach is perfectly acceptable -- as it should be for women. And if restaurant
owners want to avoid having topless women patrons, they can simply post the standard
sign: "No shirt, no shoes, no service!"
Mara Maguire
Toronto
(And somewhere there'd be another Gwen Jacob to challenge that)