A7 - Wednesday, May 30, 1984 - North Shore News Hi mailbox >< Dear Editor: As we are confronted by the possibility of nuclear catastrophe, it is normal to have a feeling of overall help- lessness and hopelessness. However, 1 will not allow myself this cop out anymore. Even though I have never before been involved in politics in any form, the time has come that | feel I must. Finding the time for this with two demanding young children at my feet is not easy. However, just feeding, clothing and loving our Peace Dear Editor: I do not know whether to be amused or outraged by Miss Scott’s letter in your 6 May issue. Some of us have ‘‘marched for Peace’’ since the early thirues when Japan invaded Manchuria, Italy conquered Abyssinia, and the Spanish civil war occurred. Through the decades our condemna- tion of war has led our critics Sgt.-major kissed ‘em! Dear Editor: May | offer three rousing cheers for Doug Collins and his latest article on the North Shore Women’s Centre and all other societies of that ilk. I am all in favor cof women’s lib up to a point, but regrettably that point has been reached and passed long ago, and all we have got out of it seems to be a brood of screeching harpies who spend their ime looking for trouble where none exists and seeing a potential rapist inevery man It is too bad that some of them were not in the army during the last war Our troop sergeant major used to come into the orderly room every day and kiss all the girls ‘*Gsood morning’’, and never once do | remember anyone complain about “sexual harassment”’ We loved it, but then we were normal Dhank you Margaret Mclotyre North Vancouver children is no ljonger enough. 1 want to make sure that my children ‘‘grow up and-den’t blow up’’. The only way anyone can do anything about nuclear arms race is by doing something about it. First we must educate ourselves on the facts of military, medical! and scientific aspects of nuclear weaponary. Then we mustn’t be afraid to talk to people and make our knowledge public. Write a letter to your local newspaper as I have done. We miustn’t under- estimate the value of one let- -- Jeave to label us in turn, pro- Chink, pro-Wop, pro-Nazi, pro-Jap, fellow travellers, pro-red and less printable perjoratives according to the fashion at each time. Miss Scott now dismisses us as ‘*dedicated Communists’’. She lauds the ‘‘strong and friendly nation south of the border’, ignoring the fact that Reagan's intemperate language and military adven- ter to our local member of parliament. Our opinions do influence those in power or those who want to be in power. Massive rallies in Van- couver and all over the world have shown leaders that peo- ple are informed, concerned, and ready totake a stand against nuclear weapons. And the political climate is changing. The Prime Minister has responded to our concern by undertaking his important peace in- itiative. We need to speak out again and again. The risk of Speak out for peace nuclear war has never been greater. This is my effort to pro- mote world peace. | hope my effort was not in vain. Maybe someone who reads this will make an effort and do something themselves. ‘‘Nobody made a bigger mistake than he who did nothing because he could on- ly do a little’? (Edmund Burke). Lisa Ingram West Vancouver choice to me tures alarm his European allies, his Canadian neigh- bours, and his own Congress as much as do the Russian crimes in Afghanistan. A person without religious or political affiliations, | am simply more terrified by Reagan than by anyone else. I have not yet been forced to opt in terms of Miss Scott's silly and tired old slogan Parent viewpoint Dear Editor: Your report (May 6) of the meeting to discuss the Educa- tion Ministry White Paper on graduation changes reported in great detail the comments of those who are directly in- volved with the system: teachers, trustees and former trustees, and principals. While it is typical for the con- sumer/parent point-of-view to be ignored in school systems, | did not expect your paper to follow sunt. With such treatment, parents feel they are ai voime tn the wilderness. I spoke as a parent with 12 years experience in B¢ schools and I summarized my main points made at the meeting: 1 Tighter standards for Girades fi and 12) are welcome, but there should also be tougher standards tn earher grades, as well as tor teachers, principals, and teacher training 2 Since parents feel intima dated at large education draperies by S. Laursen meetings, | suggested that the Ministry commission an inde- pendent poll of parents to supplement the special in- terest input predominating at the hearings so far. 3. That a voucher system be instituted so that parents may shop for the school of their choice. This would quickly produce desired results of improving ex- cellence and relevancy. You can't reform a mass system by small adjustments, | said. 4 The present monopoly system should be restructured so that parents have a better chore of alternatives to choose trom and that the mix of private publi should be present schools the rndepen raised from 4% PRIME RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITY e View space/quality m bidg. f° 14,000 perm popn. with little competition ° Strong add’! summer traffic « One of Vancouver Lower Mainiand’s § highest resid. rowth areas in ‘‘rather be dead than red’’. As one who detest totali- tarianism as much as the new imperialisms, | do not know what my choice might be if ever | am allowed such a choice. But | very much ob- ject to the Miss Scott’s of this world making that choice for ine. Dennis Davis West Vancouver ignored dent/96% ratio. I would be pleased to send my brief to interested readers. public schools Tunya Audain West Vancouver we NEL AMBLESIDE HOBBIES & CRAFTS 1425 Marine Dr. West Van 922-3512 6 days a weer 30-6 0.m. STOP SMOKING THE EASY WAY ~ Thousan evelopment of t It only takes 30 minuté your time so call now to - 986-4217 Or drop into our clinic at 102B-1124 Lonsdale Ave., N. Van You can’t afford not to try our method. 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