A6 - Sunday, December 25, 1983 - North Shore News EE editorial pag ¢ NEWS VIEWPOINT The real story The essence of Christmas has very little to do with the present, pleasurable though December 25 in itself may be for the fortunate ones among us. Everything truly worthwhile about Christmas belongs either to the past or, more especially, to the future. It’s the season that revives our happiest memories from days gone by — and the season when hope is born of ad- ding fresh ones to our treasure house in the days to come. This year, for too many of our fellow- citizens — the jobless, those on welfare and in the food bank line-ups, the sick and the lonely — Christmas brings little apparent cause for joy. Without the Christmas Bureau, the Santa Fund, the Salvation Army and similar bodies, backed by the generosity of countless in- dividuals, too many this year would celebrate the day with nothing BUT their memories. Their tables bare, their children empty- handed. Even so, the hot meals, food hampers and toys bestowed upon them by their luckier neighbors bring a more important Christmas message for receivers and givers alike than the relief of immediate hardship. They bring the message that there need mever be lasting despair so long as caring human beings in their thousands voluntarily make it their business to help and comfort fellow human beings in need. That was the message of the first Christmas Day in Bethlehem. Despite all human failings, it’s a message that has enriched mankind for two thousand years. ~ Giving to others is only part of the message. The renewal of faith in humanity and hope for the future — born of that giving — is the REAL Christmas story. Santa Kube Solidarity chief Art Kube may think he’s Santa Claus, but many of his audience will more likely applaud him as a deadpan stand- up comedian. His Xmas gift to B.C. is a plan for ending restraint without adding to the government's deficit. Simply hike everyone's income tax, says Mr. Kube. Ho, ho, ho! sunday . Display Advertising 980-0511 news Classified Advertising 986-6222 north shore == Newsroom 985 2131 news Circutation 986 1337 : Subscriptions 980 7081 1139 Lonsdale Ave . North Vancouver: BC VIM 24 Publisher beter Spe bh Assoctato Publisher HMoberct Canali Editor inChiet Advertising Director Noe Wright en ee Ce Personnel Director Herren blac Classified Director Tssent pestle: Circutation Otrector Verevevin nape PALE Mae © ae nave Production Directo: Office Manager Cris Photography Manage: JOR WSO (dcoeirvas Cancer eedy Verne y Pecterr: North Shove Nowa. tonsenteu i ce ee oe ee Ce 2 we ne Renepaper and qualified uncle Se tarhabe Hi Ma it Ma agape Ub Gt tee tecase Tine Act ois gmitotisiiesd cach Wooltwnahay ars Smenehey try Nevetl ono treo Prean (10) and dintedinstend to evercy choo cre Ula Neretfe Sabie) Deca Class Mar Hegisteation Nuria: ti Entire Contents | 1983 North Shore Free Preas Ltd All rights reserved “eastern apron orien Meret acne? Wert Varenionn es $.7* sevanebeat te oe [wor yen: Mastin, iste em perl Ne erg me onet aed y Ae erg etadd te vevese thee Chen) ssegateye cca anee te bee, eT) ee Co Sr ee oi. Ac cr ee oe CA OT hi, a PL ao wath get Member of the BC Press Council Gi1-2 $A TOO ser aur satseheny Loy SN. G THIS PAPER IS RECYCLABLE Wisc toe shay A THE XMAS MESSAGE — TAKE 1: To view the most Original (and almust certainly the most meaningful) Chnist- mas fighting decoration on the North Shore, diive after dark five blocks up 22nd Street from Marine Drive in West Van and turn ieft on King’s until you reach 2267. The owner, Tunya Audain, feels the message that's most vital for her neighbors this Yuletide calls for something a little different from a depart- ment store string of multi- colored bulbs or a ho-ho-ho cut-out featuring Rudolph and Old Whitebeard. Instead, she’s designed and erected a single big, six-foot peace symbol, fashioned from stainless steel flashing and outlined by blue lights — symbolizing the earth as the beautiful ‘‘blue pearl’’ described by astronauts who viewed it from the moon in Peter Russeli’s book The Global Brain. ““The most urgent need,’’ says Tunya, ‘‘is for people to acquire more of a global con- sciousness, for the purposes of peace in the world and for the preservation of this planet.”’ Unless the neighbors shout out in protest, she plans to leave the sign up permanent- ly. I hope they’ll think about her message with their heads rather than their lungs . . . nk Ok * THE XMAS MESSAGE — TAKE 2: This one arrived 10 days ago through the mail slot of West Van's Annelies Penz. Signed by one F.R. Caouette, an undecrling of cae sunday brunch by Noel Wright North Van City licensing director Frank Morris, it read: *‘Dear Madam: I have received information in- dicating that you wil be par- ticipating in the Presentation House Craft Fair ’83. It is the fair the chance to buy her ex- cellent wares for half the price they’d have paid in the stores. Remitting the $12 ‘‘under protest’’, she described the demand as ‘‘an act of theft and robbery by a City a 5S A “*PEARL” of a Christmas message with its creator, Tunya Audzin. policy of the City . . . to en- sure that crafts people obtain a business licence for such events. The fee is calculated at $2.40 per day. According to the information received, your licence fee will be $12.00. Please remit this amount as soon as possible.’’ Annelies is a senior citizen who does pottery as a hobby and sold it during the Christmas fair for the out-of- pocket cost of her materials, thereby giving patrons of the government’’. I thought she showed quite a lot of Christmas spirit by putting it so mildly. I wonder how many dollars it cost City tax- payers for Mr. Caouette to dictate his letter, have it typed and mailed, and pro- cess her payment. Let alone the time he spent (shades of 1984!) studying **information received’’ . . . * * * Somewhere there's a gentleman calied Arthar Evans who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. West Van police have photos of his birthday bash which were found on Marine Drive near Park Royal. They’ll be delighted to return them to whoever lost them if he or she phonies 922-4141. L *% “u OU HITHER AND YON: West Van residents who’ve splurg- ed on a burglar alarm system had better smarten up and take notice of Police Chief Joe Hornell. He says 98.7 per cent of burglar alarm calls prove to be false and a new alarm bylaw is under way that will set ‘‘stern rules’? ... There’s still a month to go for the Kinsmen Mothers’ March (January 24 to February 4) but by then North Shore supervisor Beth Lawrence has to find 3,000 marchers and 150 area cap- tains to cover her territory from Deep Cove to Lions Bay. Volunteers willing to canvass their apartment building or about 20 neighborhood homes should call 986-8159 or 986-7962 _ . . A better-late-than-never bir- thday card to West Van Legionnaire Robert Wyatt, M.M., who celebrated his 95th December 13 at the Kiwanis Senior Citizens Home ... Honored for ‘“‘more than 30 years of outstanding service’? to our North Shore hospital were pathologist Dr. Thomas Har- mon and radiologist Dr. Sascha Paraniosoff; both ‘ Yecently retired, who received commemorative plaques al the recent LGH Christmas Cabaret from North and West Van Hospital Soacty president Peter White ... Congrats to West Van's CONTINUED ON PAGE A7 The night before Christmas (Two months before, actually . . .) Away to the North Pole the reindeer they flew, By VALERIE K. GERRARD (A North Vancouver rhymster who has nothing personally against store managers but prefers to do her trick-or-treat shopping before the plastic Christmas trees take over.) “Twas the might before Hallowe on, and all through the store, Not a ghost could be scen. just tinsel galore Cthostmas cards were laid out by the store clerks with care Not even one witch hat could we find to wears The shetves were all laden with lights gicen and red. Whuilst vissons of profits danccd in the Manager's head Aad Ma tn her sucde shart and bain my jeans Wondercd who could ceomember what Christmas means Phen out in the Mall there arose such a clatter Phat the Manager went to sec what's the maticr Away to the shop front be flew like o Mash, Kinoked a pink plastn Chiistmas tree down with a crash Choistmas lights in the store obscencly aglow (eave a chints of cheap cheer to goods down below Then what to our shop soued cyes should appear Bata mintaturc slagh and caght tiny reandecr The driver seemed hall asicep and angry. with cause Thocw that a had to be Santa © laus bie looked at the sale signs and U felt a great shame, As he saw through the greed and he cafled ua by name “Avariuc. bxcess Profit Motive Consampuon Without Reason, Cash blow You're killing my Scason'”’ Hie cricd as tas sicagh flew all cound the Mall, “Now dash away. dash away Phe fanny hghts shorted dash away all'”' the fake holly died And then there was nowhere for faise hearts to hide With a sleigh full of tinsel and the Store Manager too The mghts they grew longer, near two months went by Stars (winkled softly in a clear Christmas sky Neighbours sang carols, the smiles bike sun beams, And children were dreaming thei bright Christmas dreams And then, in a twinkle, | heard on my roof The prancing and pawing of many a hoof 1 thought | saw double It seemed that the sum Of the Santas | saw was two and not onc! fach was dressed allan fur from his head to his toc. And it seemed that the skinny one’s cyes were aglow With a laughter, a happiness scldom now seen Now | knew where the missing Merchant had been his cyces how they twinkled) His cares how they'd flown It seemed that his whole very being had grown tic laughed as he gave away many a toy, So that just to see him gave me great joy The chubby one watched with a smite on his laps, And thought this the most successful of trips He had a wise face and a litth round belly Now he laughed and shook tke a bow! full of jetty They were a strange pau a Scrooge and Saint Nick Quite plainty the former's reform had been quick | «aught Santa's cye and he nodded and waved And gave me to know that Christmas was saved The Merchant was still absorbed in his play, Santa spoke not a word but uptoed away And laying a finger aside of his nose. And giving a nod, up the chimacy he rose te brought Christmas back. arfd tcf us with caring. And helped us remember the love and the sharing And J beard him cxclaim as he drove out of sight “Happy Christmas to All, and to All a Crood Night!"