In Review LOOKS AT BOOKS The Cost of Free Speech by Simon Lee published by Faber & Faber $12.95 The British author of The Cost of «Free Speech makes the obvious point that free speech is not free. ht costs. That is hardly news but is worth examining in detail, which he does. THIS STORY is being touted as a Christmas classic by its publishers, but although the siory has been retold in different forms since its first publication in 1947, it's not likely to take its place beside Dickens’ Christmas Carol just yet. The book tells of the true story of a 12-year-old boy who took upon himself the responsibility of placing his five siblings in foster homes after promising his dying mother that he would do so. While the book spans seasons, For governments are not the on- ly villains in suppressing tree speech. Censorship has been privatized. The pressure groups practise it. So do journalists. So do you, perhaps. A book of mine on immigration was often stolen from Hlbraries. Not by people who liked | was told, but by those who didn’t want others to read it. Author Simon Lee also shows how silly is the saying attributed to Voltaire: “I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death...”", etc. Most people are prepared to defend nothing. Not if it costs them. How many are prepared to defend the Keegstras. Zundeis and Rosses? What we hear is the how! of the ducking- stool artists, a howl supported by attorneys general, academics and editorialists. Incidentally, the Voltaire quote Children’s tale takes harsh look the highlight of the drama takes place at Christmastime in 1868, in Eureka, Wisconsin. It is sure to be enjoyed all year ‘round by followers of the Litthe House on the Prairie books, but others may wish to bring home Canadian tales rather than stesping their children in too much American history. To its: credit, the book is an unvarnished fook at the hard life experienced by the Scottish im- migrant family in Eureka, and deals with issues that often affect children today, too, such as fam- Collins considers the cost of freedom is phoney. Voltaire never said what most people think he said. Mr. Lee is no “pure free speech” advocate. Neither am [, for that matter. And indeed there is no such thing. The British pov- ernment forbids the airing of TV documentaries directly featuring IRA members. In Canada, Pierre Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act when the FLQ was on the loose. The best-known free speech issue is the Salman Rushdie book and the ensuing Fatwa or death sentence passed on Rushdie by the Ayatollah. The author con- dems that, of course, but makes much of the Muslim case for ob- jecting to Rushdie’s work. He even makes a case for the book-burning by Muslims in Bradford. That, he says, cannot be compared with the Nazi book-burning. The Bradford ily economic problems, death in the family and sibling bickering. The result is an honest and in- teresting read, but not one that Vd particularly want to share wiih toddlers on Christmas Eve. The story was the subject of a movie in 1958 (Ail Mine to Give), and on screen the characters and plot probably attain a depth that is more likely to pull at our heartstrings than the narration found in this short book. - Peggy Trendell-Whittaker is a writer for the North Shore News. Through the calorie-laden backstreets From page 26 portable Table Hopping statue of Bacchus. Thursday night: Burn incense and lie atop a bed of nails as a penance for overindulgence. 2 2 New Restaurant featuring: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, Fish & Stir-fries & Seafood. BREAKFAST $5.95 Daily - Ham to 10pm BISTRO Daily - 10pm to 1:00am Chips, Burgers, Pasta, Home-baked Quiches. i 8-llam, daily, Eggs Benedict LUNCH & DINNER Prepare for a full weekend of | Table Hopping and Hipping... In the next instalment of Eat This... readers will ride shetgun on a weekend of Table Hopping, ex- perience the horror of a dirty fork, PeTbOADGind ELC2OBIUOLEEUUPOOOARSARDULLDUE#AN OM DUEONUUROCURLITOSESGHEENEaLENNt4¢Ns9BeCQrOLADEOCDLoAtLSeasmeo eNyEuGALEON cana aneTisvusceEes as ML bet ENNLCUNREEOUUG:SSENDUGELLFOrEO+4=%" +>osoos orssouocant neg yun DUOUAQCAATANIDOSMASOHEBOEEEPAOORAL JED ORCA LSOGAQUCQTENSAELCONAU IMEI MUILS, Deep Cove’s 4355 Gallant Ave’ vUHARHQOUGHUOTEGSUOVHOGUCONONHUASeOeEHG¢ Houten ne yauged sea Pace anUCUDonPasadUCuééAsonannsLivubeAUDOLGeUOULSpanO4gSaQé2C{ceuuneyebg.daedsasecteessuusUcendedUeaesaUasdatveRerussendogetteag raven dGuvOQQOUQ est UCEMTOATGESHAFOOEU OANA GSUUTESRUUEEOPCEALESLOUTEA GES TAAL DUNN Oe TELE OTe the desperate pleas of an inade- quate waiter and the wonders of special Table Hopping post-dining breathing exercises. Until then: forward into the pasta. z 2 : 929-4677 San STOLL CAE MRA MAUNA AULT Muslims were not a government and what they did can even be seen as an expression of free speech, What he doesn’t point out is that they would do that and more if they were a government. He is in favor of hate laws and supports Britain’s restrictive Race Relations Act. tn short, he is a ducking-stool artist himself where race relations are concerned. But he doesn’t mention that multiculturalism was imposed en the U.K. by idiot politicians with no reference at all to what people wanted, just as it has been in Canada. One result is deep resentment. Another is that a Muslim leader in the U.K. could call openly for Rushdie’s killing without being prosecuted, while the member of a Tory constituen- cy executive who objected public- ly ta “a bloody nigger’ being imposed on the constituency by London as a parlimentary can- didate is being prosecuted. 1 disagree with many of Mr. Lee’s theses. But he does present an intelligent analysis of important issues. So in the interests of free speech } recommend The Cost Of Free Speech. — Doug Collins is a freelance col- umnist for the North Shore News. ON @ our West coast culinary style, milled black pepper. pineapple and papaya salve. RANZT ANA BURNABY ° elie and a homemade clessert ? ONLY oC Ss ae 2 PHARPIST— WEDNESOAY NIGHTS ¢ SUNDAY BRONCH GUITARIST — THURSDAY, FRIDAY "hf Be SATURDAY NIGHTS El @ HORIZONS IS FLEASED TO OFFER A SAMPLING OF OUR NEW DINNER MENU The grilling of meats & seatood over green aldenwood brings out the thavour, adding a delicate smokey taste that is truly a unique pact of ALDER GRILLED SALMON with lemon, orange and fresh 15.50 ALDER GRILLED TRIO of fresh fish local and imported, 17.95 ALDER GRILLED MAHI MAHL, tomato and cucumber 16.95 relish, ALDER GRILLED HALF CHICKEN, olive ail and fresh 4.95 herb marinade. rhubarh and apple chutavy. 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