7 - Friday, March 17, 1989 - North Shore News Canadians should not treat immigrants as outsiders OPEN LETTER TO NOEL WRIGHT In your Jan. 8 column you recognized the ‘‘need for more taxpayers to share the burden of our social services, especially for tne elderly’? and saw relief in the form of new immigrants (specifically those from Asia) to our country. That made some sense. What Mailbox policy WHEN SENDING 8 ‘etter to the editor, be sure to include your name, written legibly, your full address and your tele- phone aumber. Due to space constraints we cannot publish all the letters we. receive. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, sccuracy, legality or taste. Preserve Maplewood mudflats Dear Editor: Thank you, North Shore News, for keeping us in touch with what is happening in the Maplewood area. We toured the area in December and marvelled at the opportunity on our own doorstep to create an area like the Riefel Wildlife Refuge. It is obvious that such a refuge would need to encompass ail of the land south of the Dollarton High- way to provide a much-needed buffer zone from other develop- ment and traffic noises in the area. The area still undeveloped is amaz- ingly small. The idea that the Port Corporation can develop part of it and not jeopardize the wildlife habitat is ludicrous. We call on the council and the people of the District of North Vancouver to do everything in their power to encourage the Van- couver Port Corporation to set aside development plans for the upland area of Maplewood. The plans of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee would make this an area we could all enjoy in harmony with the many species of birds and mam- mals who now inhabit the area. We would like to thank the dedicated people of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee and the Vancouver Natural History Society for all of the work that they have done on behalf of the people of North Vancouver. They make no monetary gain for all of their time and energy. They deserve the support of us all. Norma and Brian Sagar North Vancouver Fields safer OPEN LETTER TO NORTH VAN SCHOOL BOARD I wanted to take this opportuni- ty to thank you for your response to the requests of the sporting community to resurface the all- weather fields at the various school sites. It is my understanding that all the sites have been refurbished and our user groups report that, as a result, the playing conditions not only provide for better activities, but are also providing the partici- pants with a safer environment. Kieran MacLeod Chairman North Vancouver Commission Recreation followed in Sunday's column did not. Noting your fondness for adages, I would think you would have come across the one that says ‘beggars can’t be choosers.’’ Not only are you ‘‘inviting’’ these im- migrants (screened, of course, for their ‘skills, money or both’') to help shoulder the economic burden of an aging Canadian society, but you are also demanding the right | IMPAIRE Ardagh to be discriminatory concerning the number of individuals of a particular race that should be allowed in. If the applicant meets all the Strict requirements for immigration and has amassed the acceptable number of points in the point system, then he or she should be allowed in as an immigrant, regardless of country of origin. No, ‘‘preferring at least a slim Hunter Barristers & Solicitors #300-1401 Lonsdale Ave.. North Vancouver 986-4366 Free Initial Consultation majority of immigrants to be of its own kind (British)... and... en- couragine those of other cultures io assimilate into that of the new homeland” is not necessarily racist, as you point out, but is ethnocentric. It goes beyond loyalty to one’s own culture; it belittles the culture of others. When you ask non-Europeans to assimilate, you are asking them to JANET CUNNINGHAM WORK WERR MARCH 25 Men’s 531’s & 516’s Lad&es’ 531’s abandon their culture and become like the dominant group, no longer distinctive in their language, customs, values, traditions, habits, etc. If Canadians really wanted im- migrants to be more like them then they should not perpetually make them feel so much like outsiders. Angels Lee North Vancouver Deal with someone who cares ... ... you deserve the best! Call JANET CUNNINGHAM for all your Real Estate needs 925-2911 922-5878 ee Sussex Group - S.R.C. Real 2397 Marine Drive, West SALE ENDS MEN’S & LADIES’ 501's 39n STUDENTS’ 716’s 262.