I'm with Joy and Jenny
Katie Riecken

Re: No Crush on Kwan (June 17, 2002).

To me, it does not seem logical to judge our politicians on the basis of their "oratorical talents." However, in his letter "No Crush on Kwan," Adam Yoshida implies that Ms. Kwan is a poor politician merely because he does not approve of her speaking style.

Personally, I would rather pay attention to the content of politicians' speeches, and I like what Jenny Kwan has to say. Day after day, she sits in the Legislature and confronts Gordon Campbell and his 76 Liberal clones as they attempt to remake British Columbia in their corporate image. If her speeches aren't perfect, who cares? The important thing is that Jenny Kwan and Joy MacPhail are in the Legislature and fighting for ordinary British Columbians.

In his letter, Yoshida also claims Kwan lacks a "grasp of . . . logic." I'd like to disagree with this. I think it's very logical to speak out against things like firing young teachers and nurses when we have a shortage of such professionals, and cutting the minimum wage for new workers. I also appreciate it when Kwan defends elderly couples who are facing separation as a result of government cuts, and speaks out on behalf of families on welfare who are having their already too-small shelter allowances slashed.

In conclusion, I'd like to say that despite Adam Yoshida's claims, I'm going to keep on supporting Jenny Kwan and the NDP - even if their speeches aren't perfect - because I like what they have to say. I'm glad that Jenny Kwan is in the Legislature so that she can speak up for people like me.

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