Kimberly Rogers Inquest Alerts

Globe and Mail
Letters to the Editor

October 18, 2002

A Tragedy Written Off
By Chris Bradshaw
Globe and Mail, Friday, October 18th, 2002
Print Edition page A18

Burnaby, B.C. -- In the process of answering her own question (Who killed Kimberly Rogers? -- Oct. 17), Margaret Wente retreats to the safe haven of all good social conservatives: "Kimberly Rogers killed herself when she was depressed."

After chronicling the tragic events surrounding Ms. Rogers's life, it is baffling that Ms. Wente can reach such a narrow-minded verdict.

It must be comforting for conservatives to write off this tragedy as a perceived personal weakness. In doing so, they can justify all manner of Draconian public policies in an attempt to protect their precious tax cuts.

Fortunately, the rest of society is not so dim. We understand that an injury to one is an injury to all -- especially when carried out in our name by a government representing all citizens. If only Ms. Wente would understand this fundamental principle of democracy.

A Tragedy Written Off (#2)
By Vincent J. Guihan
Globe and Mail, Friday, October 18th, 2002
Print Edition page A18

Ottawa -- An even better question than who killed Kimberly Rogers is: Who bears the responsibility?
Does she for overdosing? Does her doctor for prescribing the pills? Do the Ontario Tories for their Draconian welfare reforms? Does the voting public for electing them?

As a society, we all bear a little responsibility in her death by perpetuating capitalism, a system that puts money ahead of people, a circumstance that most reasonable people despise. It fosters the depression and alienation that proved fatal in Ms. Rogers's case, and not in hers alone.