Sunday, April 21, 1991 — North Shore News - 9 A Place To Go When You're Pregnant And Need Support: Clark knows the antomime of praise B 229 Lonsdale g North Vancouver 687-7223 | BIRTHRIGHT | all $87-7313 » Free Preenancy Test « F In Vancouver Call E Specializing in: © Private Nursing Care B® Homemaker Services 987-0861 24 Hours leads elsewhere EGO-BOOSTING bellows somewhere within Prime Minister Mulroney’s sanctuary have been emitting typhoons of praise lately about Joe Clark’s general brilliance. Prime ministerial unction wouid have us believe that only the greatness of Clark can save Canada, With this wind at his back, it should be simple for (‘‘i-used-to- be Prime Minister’’) Clark to float from his Lester B. Pearson Build- ing headquarters on Sussex Drive for a short walk across the Ottawa River. We are now being told by the PM that Clark has done such an astonishingly good job in External Affairs that there is nothing much left to be done. But he’s just the guy to save Canada, in that he is so mightily respected in Quebec. The voters in Quebec don’t know this yet. For that matter, that will come as big news in the Alberta constituency of Yellowhead, which is currently poised to dump Clark in favor of the Reform Party. Some of Joe’s slapstick mo- ments on the international stage will remain part of Canadian folklore. As Opposition leader, he once went on a fact-finding mission that not only mislaid the facts, but planes were missed and lug- gage was lost. During this trip, while he was meeting with then {sraeli Opposi- tion leader Shimon Peres, his host was interrupted by a call from the Knesset floor. Peres rushed from the office, leaving the door open behind him. The Canadian entourage, in- cluding press, sat in the outside foyer with the receptionist, while Clark waited, fidgeting in view of all After what seemed like an eter- nity, Clark politely leaned out of the office and asked the secretary, “Is he coming back?’’ It was during this visit that Joe discovered the ‘‘fact’’ that the Canadian embassy was in Tel Aviv and not the capital; Jerusalem. He failed to discover similar “facts’’ about the United States, Britain, France, Italy and an assortment of diplomatically de- liberate residents of Tel Aviv. Therefore, he could not ask the BIG question: ‘‘Why?’’ When he later promised that a Conservative government would move the Canadian embassy to Jerusalem, he was thunderstruck at the vehemence of the reaction. The world of Islam — 800 mil- lion strong — were insulted. His target audience — Canadian Jewry — publicly appreciated the kindness, but privately shook their heads at the mind-numbing naivete of it all. At the height of the debate, as Clark babbied his apologies and explanations, my suggestion was that Joe could put the embassy in a Winnebago and drive it around the Holy Land stopping at various shrines, temples and mosques. Mulroney’s discovery during the past two weeks of Clark’s distinguished record seems sharply at odds with the events im- mediately following the Persian Guif cease-fire. While the front line Arab states, Israel, the Soviet Union and the entire western world were con- demning the Palestine Liberation Organization's complicity with re Gary Bannerman OPEN LINES and support of Saddam Hussein, Joe Clark flew to Amman, Jor- dan, where he joined the losers. Along with King Hussein, Libya, Lebanese factions and assorted reputed terrorists, he an- nounced that there can be no Middle East peace without the PLO and their leader, Saddarn’s good buddy Yasir Arafat. Complete stupefaction boomed north from the victorious United States White House. Prime Minister Mulroney hastily called a press conference to totally con- tradict his External Affairs Minister. You might gather from this that Clark limits his magic touch to the Middle East. This is not true. Canada determinedly made sure it was the last country to recognize the changing force of Eastern Europe. While Polish, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Ser- bian, Croatian, East German and Bulgarian democrats cried for at- tention, we remained loyal to al! of the murderous regimes. eee But I’ve saved the best for last. Clark expects that some day his- tory will judge his African per- formance as a great chapter of statesmanship. He is well regarded by most black African states and he sup- ports them all, even the tyrannical and the bloody. Many of these small, impoverished nations are fighting a decent and heroic struggle. They like Joe. Unfortunately, Ciark doesn’t discriminate. Some years back, as millions perished from famine and a maniacal, bloodthirsty govern- ment in Ethiopia, Joe was photographed having a giant feast in Addis Ababa with the heavily medalled, colorfully-attired mili- tary murderers. There are many heroes on the Dark Continent. Africa can only be saved by strengthening the healthier nations: Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and the greatest hope of all, the fabulously rich and sophisticated Republic of South Africa. Clark has been afflicted by his usual monomania. He sees salva- tion only through one element, the African National Congress. Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and other ANC personalities have demonstrated greatness. But so has Chief Gatsha Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the six-million strong Zulu society. Clark has insulted and shunned this major world figure. Canada has also been oblivious to the emergence of the first Afrikaans leader since Jan Christiaan Smuts to earn not only the acceptance, but also the ap- plause of the democratic world. Prime Minister Frederik Wiltem De Klerk has courageously em- braced reform. It is too soon to remove all pressure on a white society bred into and saturated by racist pro- cedures, but country after country is rewarding De Klerk with com- pliments and the removal of sanc- tions. This is encouraging his society into ever greater reforms. Joe Clark seems determined that Canada will be the last coun- try in the world to lift sanctions. As we return from External Af- fairs to Internal Affairs, the pan- tomime is elegantly simple: Mutroncy is in the process of fir- ing Joe Clark, And Clark knows it. SE oe Have You Examined All Your Options? FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION There may be another way ... Call us to review your alternatives. For a free initial consultation, contact: Harofd Saunders, Trustee or Susan Newbury, Manager at (604) 681-5500. CAMPBELL, SAUNDERS LTD. RECEWER & TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPICY 1200-650 West Georgia Street. 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