Letters to the Sun: Saturday, May 4, 2024

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Re: One of our own barriers: Pop star Diljit Dosanjh sells out BC Place

Taylor Swift may have sold out the stadium, but Diljit Dosanjh united generations. When grandparents, parents and grandchildren attend a concert together, it really speaks to Dosanjh’s mass appeal. He has sparked the interest of the next generation in his culture, religion and heritage.

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The positive influence he has on South Asian youth in following their dreams is undeniable. Young Aanakh Bhullar planned his outfit well in advance and after his bhangra lessons, he would even practice at home while pretending to be on stage with his idol. Dosanjh made that moment happen.

He also demonstrated how meaningful this concert was to him personally in multiple speeches to the audience in which he congratulated the audience on reaching this milestone: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made this dream come true. My dream and yours. And for our children, you made their dreams come true. Give yourselves a round of applause. You created history today. I didn’t do it, you did this. You created this for the next generation so they know they can fill stadiums too. Because they can not?”

His emotional connection with the audience was palpable, especially during his incredible performance of Main Hoon Panjab, which literally translates to “I am Panjab.” She pointed to the crowd as she sang the song, implying that we are all representations of Punjab and that our achievements make Punjab proud.

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Neesha Hothi, Burnaby

Re: ‘We knew we’d be fine with one’: Why one-child families are now common in British Columbia

As with the well-adjusted 80-year-old only child, I found this article extremely interesting for a variety of reasons.

For each of these families, it makes sense. I wonder, however, what decision these only children will make when it is their turn to choose the number of children they will have.

For me, the advantages of being an only child were many. My parents, by the standards of the time, were older when they had me, 40 and 35, so there were no options. I have always been extremely independent, responsible and good at being alone.

However, for me the reality is that I knew I would have more than one child. I would have had three, but my husband (one of six) insisted on only two. Even though my son and daughter argued like siblings, when I watched them interact, I knew even more how much I missed.

I am now a happy (and lucky) grandmother of five children.

Jean Lawrence, West Vancouver

Re: Randall Denley: Generous Liberal budget is miserable for disabled people

Organizations that support the country’s disabled are understandably angry at how little Ottawa plans to send to poor disabled people: up to $200 a month. Should disabled people have to wait until the next election (18 months) for this situation to change?

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Judy Lindsay, Vancouver

Demonstrations should not dominate shared space

My husband and I are considering liquidating a portion of our life savings to help our daughter purchase a home in Maple Ridge. The higher inclusion rate of the new capital gains tax means we will have less money to give to our daughter. As retired teachers, we are not the richest 0.13 percent.

This new policy looks less like intergenerational justice and more like a cash grab.

Naomi McDonnell, Maple Ridge

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