Re: “Proposed burka ban ignites freedom debate” Oct. 14, 2009

To the editor:

In the article there is a common misunderstanding stated by Shaimaa Ali, Islam awareness manager for Western’s Muslim Student Association that, “Canada is known to be a free country and it’s not expected in Canada to limit the personal freedom of anybody.”

I suggest talking with any First Nations people; I think that would get a completely different view on freedom in Canada. First Nations have been historically shut out of true economic development, land ownership and cultural practice; indeed, they have been willfully excluded by the colonial mindset that is still perpetuated by the government today.

—Kim Torkelsson Lundberg
Faculty member, Music