To the editor:
Re: “Rob Ford deserves our empathy,” Nov. 8.
I compliment Mr. Garr and Dr. Gabor Maté for saying Toronto mayor Rob Ford needs our empathy.
In the old days, alcoholism was considered a moral failure but nowadays most health professionals regard it as a disease — an escape from pain, past and present.
Alcoholism and/or mental illness is not a character defect. It is a disease of the mind.
We do not know the origins and scope of Mr. Ford’s pain, but the fact he used alcohol and crack cocaine to escape it means — by definition — his pain/trauma was long-lasting and damaging.
We don’t laugh at — or judge — cancer, or any other disease. Why the double standard?
Peter Dixon,
Vancouver
