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Even the Chief JusticeReaders comment on judicial fallibility, FIFA cleanups, the youth social media ban, a museum controversy, Canada's secret power, and moreLast updated 5 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Judges — even those on the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Richard Wagner — do not get to declare themselves above criticism, writes Erin Thiessen. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK / PostmediaEnjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorChief Justice Richard Wagner has taken umbrage with anyone questioning the legitimacy of courts and judges, but he seems to have missed the point made by his critics in that he fails to make a distinction between an institution and the humans who serve that institution.Institutions are designed to be fit to serve a specific purpose over time frames far longer than any individual lifespan. If well designed and well cared for, an institution can prove robust. If abused for other purposes, an institution can be hijacked. History can provide many examples of both.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againHumans, on the other hand, are fallible by nature. All humans have biases and ways of understanding the world around them, determined by their genes, their experiences, and their environment. They also have a strong tendency to want to believe that their strongly held views are the only correct ones. This is how institutions get hijacked.Current jurisprudence has moved into “living tree” law arguments and hypotheticals that undermine law as written (and perhaps this, in turn, has made written law less robust because it is assumed the courts will change it anyway). Nonetheless, judges — even those on the Supreme Court — do not get to declare themselves above criticism. They are not the embodiment of “justice.” As soon as judges fail to acknowledge their potential shortfalls as humans with appropriate humility, they have proven themselves incapable of distinguishing themselves from the institutions they serve. At this point, they are no longer fit for purpose.Erin Thiessen, Kanata, Ont.I believe in forgiving one’s old enemies, and appreciate that Conrad Black and I have gotten past our differences! However, in his June 13 opinion piece, he was optimistic about how much we agree on.For instance, he claimed I don’t like gender and decolonization studies at university. However if these new courses encourage students to learn about ethics, history, literature, economics and other topics, then I am for them. I have been a long-time advocate and supporter of higher education. We need to encourage today’s young people to think factually, not emotionally!Conrad also said that we agree on climate issues, but this is not the case. I do not believe that climate change is “fiction.” I have 101 years of experiencing the weather, and it is not normal to have fires and floods every year. Neither is it normal to have heat waves in May.Climate change is a real “horror story,” and through philanthropy I give millions of dollars to address it and protect the environment. I have installed geothermal heating in my own home and find that it works even better than oil. I encourage you all to follow my lead, because it is cheaper, too.Here is what I think we agree on: I think Canada’s taxes are too high and lead to high earners leaving our country (and discourage others from coming); I think the government must be made more efficient; and I think we need to quickly move beyond being a resource-based economy. All these things need to be fixed if we are to be competitive and attract investment dollars! Also (while I’m at it), we need to give each person in Canada an equal vote — democracy doesn’t work if people in the rural areas have the equivalent of five votes, while those in the urban centres have only one.Stephen Jarislowsky, MontrealIf the Canadian Museum for Human Rights proceeds with its planned exhibit on the Nakba, fairness demands that it also present the Israeli perspective.Visitors deserve a fuller understanding of the conflict, including the repeated rejection of two-state proposals by Palestinian leaders, the displacement of Jews from Arab countries following Israel’s creation, and the atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Presenting only one narrative on such a complex and contentious issue risks turning education into advocacy.This raises a second question: Why has a Canadian museum chosen to devote exhibit space to a foreign political conflict in the first place? Does the museum routinely feature exhibits on other international conflicts and humanitarian crises? If not, Canadians are entitled to ask why this particular issue has been singled out.A museum dedicated to human rights should strive to inform rather than persuade. Presenting multiple perspectives would better serve Canadians and strengthen the museum’s credibility as an educational institution.Alan Roadburg, Thornhill, Ont.Re: FIFA comes to Toronto, VancouverSuddenly, after years, construction delays have been removed and street people have found homes in Toronto!I for one am particularly grateful for the relocation of a certain person from York and Wellington streets downtown. Now the thousands who go to work each day on York Street no longer have to navigate around food and human waste. The odour at that intersection had gone beyond unpleasant to be a health hazard.Please tell me this is permanent and not simply window dressing for FIFA. Hopefully we are doing this for Torontonians and not just a temporary optics fix for visitors.Further, if we have found the funds to move our street people to hotels, possibly we could arrange permanent accommodations and care for those with real needs?Thomas S. Caldwell, TorontoThe Honourable Harry S. LaForme’s support for the Jewish people is a much-needed voice of moral clarity and intellect in response to the anti-Zionist, antisemitic chattering classes found on college campuses, in debating societies (e.g. Oxford) and on social media. His eloquent description of indigeneity and colonialism should be required reading for all Canadian youth, enabling them to challenge their misinformed and woke-obsessed educators.That Prime Minister Mark Carney failed to acknowledge LaForme’s tremendous potential to serve our country as governor general over the new incumbent, who was clear in her condemnation of Israel in defending itself against a terrorist scourge (Hamas), is a gross error in judgment.Please know, Mr. Justice LaForme, that Canadian Jews are deeply grateful for your allyship and that of your Anishinaabe peoples.Susan Silverman, TorontoPeter Shawn Taylor laments the deliberate placing of obstacles, like cones, by city planners to obstruct traffic. I note however, the difference between driving in Toronto when I first came to this city in 1973, and driving here now. Then, people — both drivers and pedestrians crossing a street— were courteous, and driving was a pleasure. Now, with the huge growth in population and cars, both drivers and pedestrians have lost patience and take undue risks daily.This seems to be a variation of what happened in a psychological experiment when too many rats were put in a maze or confined space. The result was extreme social stress. Perhaps the city fathers are just trying to slow down traffic to a safer mode. Then again, what additional frustration does this practice engender?Eli Honig, TorontoPotholes are frequently making headlines these days.I walk a lot in Montreal, and what’s immediately obvious is that the more potholes there are on the streets, the slower cars become (which makes sense, as drivers don’t want to damage their vehicles). They play a similar role to speed bumps, which are a traffic-calming measure. And what happens when cars drive slower? Well, there are fewer accidents, fewer deaths.How many lives have been saved by potholes and speed bumps in Quebec’s major cities? Researchers may one day be able to tell us.Every cloud has a silver lining.Sylvio Le Blanc, MontrealAlcohol is not safe. Children are not allowed to buy it, drink it, or possess it. However, if somebody purchases alcohol, and brings it home, and a child at that home drinks it, it is not the retail outlet that sold it nor the manufacturer who made it who is to blame.If the government wants to ban children from social media, they should prosecute the adult who provided them with the device on which they accessed social media.Prosecuting the social media sites for failing to prevent children from accessing social media when an adult in their life gave them the opportunity and means, is like prosecuting the brewery if a child steals a beer from the fridge in the garage.And is likely to be just as successful.So no, Carney is not to be applauded. The law will not protect children. If you want to protect the children, make the parent responsible.Graham Haig, TorontoInstead of dining on red-wine-braised beef with a choice of edamame ragu or pearl onion and rosemary roasted red potatoes, or pan-seared salmon with lemon and herb couscous and broccoli, perhaps the prime minister and his pals could eat a few sandwiches on their flights instead, and we could afford to keep our Snowbirds in the air.Marcia Green, SaskatoonMaybe it’s time we put our cards on the table and spelled out the costs of becoming Trump’s 51st state.Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of American politics knows the balance of power teeters on a razor’s edge. Control of the Senate and Congress is rarely more than a few stray voices co-opted, leaning one way or another. That balance would be seriously upended if Donald Trump’s 51st-state rhetoric had any chance of seeing the light of day.Considering Canada more often than not votes Liberal, we in essence would become another left-leaning, California-sized political headache that would most likely tip the scales of power in the U.S. Senate, the House and the Electoral College as well as determining the legislative agenda in D.C.While I’m sure Democrats would salivate at the prospect, Republicans would cringe. Now if only Mark Carney et al would realize the power they really have and apply a full court press. Let the real games begin.Paul Baumberg, Dead Man’s Flats, Alta.National Post and Financial Post welcome letters to the editor (250 words or fewer). Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Email letters@nationalpost.com. Letters may be edited for length or clarity. 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