Opinion

Every time a new year begins, I always wonder whether politicians will change their behaviour when it comes to some key issues over the next 12 months.

Dear Editor: Re: Christian upset over billboard, The Record, Friday, Jan. 3. Mark Jaskela, the Christian upset with the atheist billboard, says, "Lying to coerce others into basing their lives on lies ... that's hate speech." Yes, Mark, you're right.

Dear Editor: Re: Christian upset over billboard, The Record, Friday, Jan. 3. Praise the Lord. Think of the recent hate ad "Dave 27:1" as free advertising. As you know, people will believe what they want, and sincere Christians will not be offended.

Dear Editor: It is interesting that Mr. Jaskela concluded that the advertisement placed by the Centre for Inquiry Canada (CIC) was founded in hate as opposed to being a counterpoint on a debatable issue.

Most of the world now marks the beginning of each new year as the first day of January. Although, like all of the other dates still held as new starts by a number of cultures, it’s really quite arbitrary from a cosmological point of view.

There’s not much point at looking back at the big political stories of the past year. The stunning result of the May provincial election pretty well dwarfs everything else. The election result almost redefined B.C.

Dear Editor: Re: No harm from coal facility?, The Record , Dec. 27.

Dear Editor: I recently watched a TV news piece about another snow skier going out of bounds. The Emergency Search and Rescue did their best and were successful. I realize they do not fine skiers who break the rules/law on the mountain.

There were some significant departures in the New Westminster school district this year, but money trouble is what 2013 will likely be remembered for. John Woudzia, who has spent more than eight years leading the district, is moving on in February.

It was meant as a gag; a satirical lampoon in the grand old political tradition of using a crazy stunt to gain attention.