SSW Wy} \ NEWS VIEWPOINT Treats not tricks OW TO make Halloween a night to remember rather than a night to regret: @ Be of good spirits, not bad; @ Remember that it is an evening of magic and mystery for children: allow them to enjoy beth, but instil in them a sense of responsibility about their actions; - @ Drive with special care: the same high spirits that give Halloween that spccial edge of danger and excitement sometimes override youthful precautions; @ Treat fireworks with the respect that any explosive deserves; @ Expect good manners from trick or treaters; demand them of your own children; @ Respect the property of others; @ Keep animals indoors; e@ If you are planning to hold a family fi-eworks display, take the time to be sure that you are adhering to focal regulations. Follow safety rules. @ Play it safe by attending one of the fireworks displays sponsored by the North Vancouver District Fire Department, 8 p.m, at Norgate, Lyan Valley and Myrtle parks. Have a ghastly good time. Happy Hal- loween. LETTER OF THE DAY ‘Don't trivialize sexual harassment . Dear Editor: Every pass a man makes ait a This letter is in response to Brian Swarbrick’s article, ‘‘Is all ‘sexuality vile?’? (Oct. 20). After a “satirical depiction of the Thomas/Hill hearings, Swarbrick poses several important, although somewhat sarcastic questions re- garding the “‘correct form” for a- man to make sexual advancements toward a woman. lf Swarbrick concentrated less on the politically correct tactics and more on the reasons women are demanding them, he might come closer to some answers, Ac- Publisher Peter Speck ceptable uchavior will come natu- rally with a respect for women and an understanding of the prob- lems they face. What problems? Despite huge feminist gains, our society is still man-made, still man-run; and, to a large degree, women’s sexuality is still defined not by women, but by men. The power of self-defini- tion is not in the hands of women. (And you wonder why they have fire in their eyes?) Women want the power to identify themselves as sexual individuals on their own terms. Display Advertising 980-0511 Distribution woman carries with it centuries of men’s domination over women. It also carries a threat — the poten- tial for that domination to become a personal reality. You think I’m over-reacting? I think a man’s first mistake is to laugh at and trivialize the issue. Women are not rejecting sex- uality. They are rejecting the con- cept of sexuality which degrades and suppresses them. Suzanne Anderson North Vancouver 986-1337 Gau North Shore Nation in peril as politicians play word games WHAT EXACTLY do Quebec and Ti2 Rest of Canada (TROC) have to quarrel about? Fundamentally, the answer boils down to one word. NOTHING. The Son-of-Meech brainwashing exercise now being conducted coast to coast is the sole creation of a bunch of politicians headed by Brian Mulroney to serve their own selfish ends. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the reality of Canadian life in the 1990s for both Francophones and Anglophones. The reality is that Quebec has been distinct — in language, culture and civil law — ever since Jacques Cartier set up house on the St. Lawrence in 1541. George II was smart cnough to refrain from rewriting history when he confirmed that status in the 1774 Quebec Act. And on this basis Quebec entered Confederation in 1867. After 1960 the unique character of La Belle Province, along with its role in Canada, advanced with giant new strides. During the Trvdeau years TROC calmly ac- cepted official bilingualism, sent its kids in droves to French im- mersion schools, watched Quebec fourish in business and the arts, and cheered warmly when its separatists seemed finally defeated in the 1980 referendum. Urging the other 75% of Cana- dians, therefore, to recognize Quebec as a distinct society is like urging them to admit the earth is round. They haven't the slightest doubt about it. The root of all today’s constitutional agonizing lies in acts of political cowardice by two frightened political uj:co0r- tunists. ; Quebec wants more powers from Ottawa. So do most other provinces. Right or wrong, that’s negotiable within a federation like Canada. But when Rebert Bourassa brazenly defied the Charier of Rights by banning outdoor English signs in 1988 to appease . Jacques Parizeau's separatist mi- nority — and Mulroney let him get away with it to save his own hide among his vital bloc of Quebec Tory voters — ‘‘distinct society’ suddenly took on an om- inous new meaning. Quebec was not only distinct. It was now to be superior to other provinces — following its own rules, regardless of the cost to all. This, in a country whose two founding races-have proved they can prosper economically and in many other ways from their his- Noel | Wright HITHER AND YON toric partnership. A country so admired by the outside world that it thinks us out of our minds even to be contemplating a break-up. Yet today we're a nation being edged toward suicide by a handful of gutless leaders playing games with a simple, straightforward . word. Quebecers and TROC alike - deserve something far better. — eee WRAP-UP: Tiny North Van goblins and witches can prepare |< for the big night Thursday, Oct. .~ : 31, at the Histiowe'’en Party for ‘ two to five-year-olds from 5 to 6 p.m. in Delbrook Rec Centre, 600 West Queens, with face-painting between 4 and 5 p.m. — call 984-4181 for info ... Saturday, Nov. 2, brings the opening of the Christmas bargains season with the Mt. Seymour United Church _ Country Craft Fair, .10 a.m. to 2 — p.m. at 1200 Parkgate Ave... Over in Tiddleycove the same day West Van Senior Secondary stages its Craft Fair ‘91 from 10 a.m. to. - 4p.m., featuring works by 79 B.C. artisans ... And if you can spare two or three Good Samari- tan hours next month, the Cana- dian Diabetes Association (cal! 732-1331) urgently needs volunteer canvassers for its November door-to-door campaign. WRIGHT OR WRONG: The |” trouble with being a good sport is that you have to lose to prove it. Managing Editor .. . Timothy Renshaw Associate Editor Noel Wright Advertising Director .. .Linda Stewart Comptroller Doug Foot North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper ana qualified vender Schedule 111, Paragraph It of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Fiiday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Ltd. and distributed to every door en the North Shore. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3885. Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per ear. Mailing rates available on request. omissions are welcome but we cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited material including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped. addressed envelope. Newsroom V7M 2H4 Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Fax Teak VORCE OF WOWTH AND WEST WANCOUYER SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY -smoAy s 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, ~~~ North Vancouver, 8.C. Subscriptions 986-1357 inanaged 985-3227 Administration 985-2131 MEMBER SN’. 985-2131 a 2 SDA DIVISION 61,582 (average circulation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) Entire contents © 1991 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. ” ment. es ROBERT BOURASSA. Canada-wrecking by appease- JACQUES PARIZEAU... Canada-wrecking by intention.