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Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com

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Visa refused

Re Access Denied: Canada’s Refusal Rate For Visitor Visas Soars (July 9): What percentage of applicants who are granted visas do not return to their country of origin? Have those numbers also increased? Good for Canada for being more scrutinizing. The visa process to some is seen as just another door into this country.

Aaron Michaels, Grimsby, Ont.

An act of thought

While reading An Act of Kindness (Opinion, July 7), I was reminded of an observation I made some time ago – that the adjectives that best describe a person are those that the person typically uses to describe others. The words that come out of our mouths describe the thoughts that inhabit our minds. When I started being careful about the way I describe others, I found that it also changed the way I think. That is something to think about.

David Brown, Dundas, Ont.

Men’s tears

I read Rachel Giese’s column Fears For Tears (Opinion, July 7) with great sympathy: Men do need permission to become more emotionally expressive; we need to socialize boys better.

But I couldn’t help lament the implied threat to stoicism, a traditionally masculine trait – and a beleaguered one our culture could use more of.

As a cis-gendered, white, upper-middle class male, I often feel personally demonized as a presumed contributor to every social ill. I agree, toxic masculinity is malignant. But allow me to enjoy this one highly admirable element of traditional masculinity, as well as offer it freely to everyone, however the fluid nature of masculinity and femininity finds them.

Because we need more of it: stoicism, with its implicit forbearance, fortitude, restraint, compassion, and humility; with its teaching that virtue and wisdom are happiness, that behaviour counts more than words, and that while external events are random, our response is ours to control.

I cry at movies all the time. But with restraint and without any mawkish display. Is that so wrong?

Brian P.H. Green, Thunder Bay, Ont.

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I am a Grade 8 teacher and witnessed on my students’ last day of elementary school an outpouring of emotion rarely permitted for adults. At first, mostly girls cried. The tears of the ones who cried hardest were mildly ridiculed by some teachers as being “kind of ridiculous” and/or “uncalled for.” The boys tried to hold back, but eventually gave in.

Two boys, best friends who weren’t going to be attending the same high school in the fall, clutched at each other crying hard and openly, and it was beautiful and touching.

As some boys started to cry, more boys allowed themselves to feel the emotion. Even the “macho” boys cried. They cried in their collar but they cried.

As I watched my students openly showing their emotions, I hoped they could stay this way forever. Not sad and crying, but able to openly show their emotions.

One hopes there will be more encouragement in the media to let everyone be open about their emotions. It’s so important for mental health.

Michelle Bilton, Markham, Ont.

Air, not travelled

Re Canadian Air Travel Needs No Course Correction (July 9): Massimo Bergamini laments the enactment of the government’s passenger rights bill, known as Bill C-49. He states “that train left the station” without really addressing the issues he outlined.

Perhaps it would have been a more appropriate analogy for Mr. Bergamini, as a representative of the airline industry, to have said, “That plane left the runway.” Without the bumped passengers, of course.

Rod B. Taylor, Georgetown, Ont.

Get along fine ...

Re We Can Work With John Bolton (Opinion, July 7): I’m unconvinced by Prof. Michael Byers’s arguments, in fact, I’m alarmed. He states that U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton is a “pragmatist” and a “protégé of Jesse Helms.” Please! Pragmatism hereby defined as all of us believing in the holy scripture known to Americans as the Constitution and, therefore, we shall all get along fine. God help us.

Robert F. Swain, Kingston

Embrace the mosaic

Re Ontario Takes ‘Trumpian’ Tone On Toronto’s Migrant Issues (July 7): Reading Marcus Gee’s insightful article referring to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s statement that “this mess was 100 per cent the result of the federal government” made me cringe in disgust and despair. Most Canadians who have the privilege of living in such an open and welcoming country need only look back a few generations and ask ourselves: Why did my parents, my grandparents or my great-grandparents make the dangerous journey to Canada?

I would bet the majority came under duress, looking for freedom from persecution, a chance for a better life and, above all, respect for basic human rights. All of these attributes seem to be under siege in much of the world, and in particular in the United States.

Let’s not slip into the fear mongering and racist labelling that is taking root in so much of the world. Please, let’s hold each other, newcomers and refugees, in an embrace of understanding that we are a richer country due to the incredible mosaic represented in our population.

Susanna Uchatius, Burnaby, B.C.

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Maybe Doug Ford should just build a big, beautiful wall and have done with it. Maybe a wall around his office in Queen’s Park would be best.

Luke Mastin, Toronto

Pass the, um, hat?

Re In Like A Lamb, England’s Lions Emerge As Unlikely World Cup Contenders (Sports, July 9): At the end of June, Cathal Kelly presented us with what was modestly headlined Kelly’s Ultimate Guide To The Real World Cup, offering “bandwagon-jumping guidance from among those teams remaining (and England)” – yet-another cheap shot at English football. On an earlier occasion, Mr. Kelly said England was “not alone in its march toward desolation.” His “Guide” singled out end-of-Empire hysteria and schadenfreude as the reasons to support them.

England has made the semi-finals, so Mr. Kelly now wants to have it both ways. He talks of England’s “jaded followers,” but tells us that England is “expected to win” against Croatia.

Such chutzpah!

From his photograph, Mr. Kelly looks like someone who might make good use of a hat. I suggest he start preparing one so it is ready for him to eat. Just in case England wins the whole thing.

Nigel Brachi, Edmonton

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