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Re: We Are Less Free Today Than 40 Years Ago; The Social Justice Threat To Liberty, Ryan Alford, both, April 16.The United States Bill of Rights is based on enlightenment political theory: the natural rights of John Locke; Jean-Jacques Rousseaus The Social Contract; maybe Immanuel Kants moral principles based on human autonomy. All uphold the principle of inalienable human rights. To suggest a right is granted but can be limited, subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society, is like suggesting one can be a little bit pregnant.

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Rights are generally designed as a buffer against government overreach. When government can override rights with a notwithstanding clause, we have no individual rights. A right is a right, or it isnt. You cant suck and blow at the same time.Larry Sylvester, Acton, Ont.

Kudos to Ryan Alford for nailing the most important constitutional issue of our time: should the government and courts be deciding social justice issues, or should individuals, through their own deliberation, decide for themselves. Liberty and freedom should rest in the peoples hands as was originally conceived by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Freedom of speech is the most essential cornerstone of democracy. Trust the people.Patrick Skillings, Victoria.

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Re: Ukraine Burns, Canada Hesitates, John Ivison, April 19.Ukraine needs help now. Canada has a supply of light armoured vehicles in storage, but rather than providing immediate aid to Ukraine by sending them, Defence Minister Anita Anand is thinking about sending new ones for which there hasnt even been a contract awarded to build them. Ukraine needs help now, not months from now.

When first elected, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada is back, yet there has been very little to support this statement. His government should do the humane thing and get those light armoured vehicles out of storage and over to Ukraine as quickly as possible.Barbara Cantlie, Toronto.

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Re: The Problem With Banning Holocaust Denial, Terry Glavin, April 14; Holocaust Denial Ban Likely To Be Pointless, Chris Selley, April 16.A number of National Post columnists have expressed doubts as to the legality and effectiveness of legislation being proposed by the Canadian government, and already adopted by several European countries, to ban Holocaust denial. Although they acknowledge the evils of antisemitism and Holocaust denial, little is offered on how to stem the tide of antisemitism other than public education.

Statistics indicate a troubling rise in antisemitism around the world. It must never be permitted to reach the levels it did in the 1940s. Certainly education is vital, but whose freedom of expression is impeded, other than antisemites, by the proposed language in the budget, condemning those who wilfully promote antisemitism by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust?Sam Mitnick, Cte-Saint-Luc, Que.

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Re: No, Poilievres Populism Isnt Racist, Adam Zivo, April 16.Its early days in the Conservative leadership race, so there is more hype than scrutiny around what Pierre Poilievre has promised at this juncture. His musings about the Bank of Canada and its independence would be a game-changer, and not in a good way. His promise to speed up the accreditation for foreign workers is a non-starter, as the provinces control the accreditation process and it is there for a good reason. There are standards in our various professions and trades, and many immigrants coming in simply dont meet those standards. There is no fast track to becoming qualified in Canada as immigrants must pass the same exams as everyone else.

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Poilievre has to get through the leadership election in September, and then spend three years or less trying to convince voters to choose the Conservatives next time out. This will be a big ask, as the more right-wing element of the party that former prime minister Stephen Harper spent 10 years keeping power away from will most definitely be a part of Poilivres cabinet if he succeeds at defeating the Liberals. It would seem unlikely that voters would consider a party that would have anti-abortionist, anti-vaccine and pro-gun advocates in its cabinet.Jeff Spooner, Kinburn, Ont.

Re: Sweden, Finland Edge Closer To Joining NATO, April 14.Russia has threatened to move its nukes and hypersonic missiles closer to Europe if Sweden and Finland join NATO. But arent these the same missiles that can easily cover long distances? Having Russian missiles on Europes doorstep, rather than many kilometres away, is a distinction without a difference. The question is: will Russia ever deploy them?

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Russian President Vladimir Putin knows that NATO has no offensive designs over Russian territory and is no threat to Russia, per se. The present madness stems from the realization that NATO on Russias doorstep means its doorstep will stay right where it is.Mike McCrodan, Langley, B.C.

Re: 40,000 Deported By Force, Says Mariupol Mayor, April 19.The city of Mariupol, Ukraine, has reportedly been almost completely destroyed by the invading Russians.

There is a town in France, Oradour-sur-Glane, that is the site of a Nazi atrocity during the Second World War. In 1944, the retreating Nazis herded the population into the towns church, barred the doors and set it on fire. Then they razed the village to the ground. After the war, the French left the destroyed village at it was, never to be rebuilt. Now it stands as a memorial to those killed by Nazi atrocities.

When all of this is over, and Ukraine has survived, something like that should be done with at least a section of Mariupol: a memorial to the insanity, and the victims, of Vladimir Putin. Never to be forgotten.Murray Bowman, Vancouver.

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Letters to the editor: True freedom does not have loopholes - National Post