To the editor:
I have never been so sick of the media as this past week. My phone rings all day and on two days they were at my house. Most were very friendly but they had the same motive, what dish can we find about Alice Munro.
They missed the message from Andrea – child and women abuse goes on daily and society needs to do something about it.
The need is for victims to come forward and convict these monsters.
Instead they are asking if we will make changes to the Alice Munro Literary Garden.
What kind of a stupid question is that?
No is the clear answer. We honoured Alice for her great achievements as a short story writer, not as a mother.
The abuse issue is a mother and family affair.
Her Nobel Prize and recent death has given the media the opportunity to cut Alice’s fame to shreds. They were not interested in Andrea’s court case in Goderich when she took Fremlin to task. She tried, but they weren’t interested.
I was pleased to hear the reeve from Central Huron and my own reeve Paul Heffer tell the media no changes would be made. They know this was a stupid media question.
I sincerely hope Andrea gets the help, love and support of the family and her message – incest is not allowed and women are not going to stay silent anymore – is heard loud and clear.
All tributes to Alice Munro in Wingham will stay as they are, we are still proud of her accomplishments as the greatest short story writer in Canada and the world.
Verna Steffler, Wingham
(Editor’s note: a statement from the Township of North Huron indicates officials would be discussing recognition of Munro’s accomplishments in light of recent events. Central Huron Reeve Jim Ginn said he would consider changing his stance “if public outcry mounted.” See story on pages 1 and 2 of this weeks’ Advance-Times)
