6 - Wednesday, October 18, 1989 - North Shore News Racism may land you on a psychiatrist’s couch A FAVORITE WEAPON nowadays of minority groups which don’t get everything they want is to lay a guilt trip on those who dare to question their demands. That goes especially for im- migrant groups. So the subject to- day, class, is turbans for Mounties. This summer RCMP Commis- sioner Norman Inkster, apparently bowing to pressure from ethnic do-gooders and his political bosses, announced that an official turban for Sikh officers would be introduced in about 18 months. Since Sikh-Canadian citizens make up, at Jast count, only 0.3 per cent of the population, at least the bill for the new headgear is untikely to swell the deficit much. But principle is another thing again for Calgary Tory MP Bar- bara Sparrow, whose views on the matter are shared by more than a few of her party colleagues. Last week she tabled in the Commons a petition signed by nearly 69,000 people which told our rulers loud and clear: ‘‘No turbans for the Mounties!’* She was promptly dumped on, however, by fellow Tory Al Johnson, also a Calgary MP, using the classic guilt trip formula. Wr- inging his hands, Mr. Johnson allowed that the petition’s sup- porters might not be racist themselves. But their action, he moared, was fuelling racism. So shame on them. Ms. Sparrow retorted that her aim was merely to protect Cana- dian culture — of which a Moun- tie’s dress hat is the ultimate sym- bol. Any other RCMP plumage simply doesn’t fit our international image as the world’s boy scouts. Imagine Mrs. Thatcher's reaction to a demand that Buckingham Palace Guards should swap their bearskins for turbans! Racism used to mean being rot- ten to immigrants simply because their skin was a different color. Photo submitted CONSECRATION...Burrard Band leader Len George (far right) with other Indian elders and native carver Simon Dick (left) sanctify with traditional dance and song the log which Dick will fashion into a 23 ft. Kwakiutl canoe for the Anthropological Museum in Berlin, West Germany. Women’s victory N INJUSTICE facing Canadian working women has finally been righted. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled recent- ly that pregnant employees, like anyone else, are en- titled to sick benefits. It comes as a surprise how little attention this land- mark case for women has received. Seven years ago, three Winnipeg Safeway employees LO AAH, LEAVE Him ALONE, .-HES GOT ENOUGH TROUBLES ALREADY. But for our bleeding hearts like Mr. Johnson the definition is now infinitely wider. To them you're ‘‘racist’’ if you think immigrants welcomed here should make some effort to adapt to establishing Canadian ways — rather than established Canadians bowing to newcomers’ ways. Your’re ‘racist’? if you think merit, not skin color, should win the job. You're “‘racist’’ if you're allergic to knife-wielding Asian Street gangs. You're ‘‘racist’’ if youre mad about being unable to afford a home because overseas real estate czars have driven local prices through the roof. And you're definitely ‘‘racist’’ if you figure the simple solution for Sikhs who don’t find RCMP dress uniform good enough for them is to seek other work. For all such sins related to the dreaded R-word the masters of our True North Strong and Free wiil now punish you with a load of guilt heavy enough to land you on a psychiatrist’s couch. Unless, of course, you yourself decide to emigrate. To New Zealand or the Falkland Isles! eke SHORT TAKES: The 99-year Jzase ploy to evict tenants of a Van- couver apartment block unable to cough up $250,000 or more wen’t be tolerated ‘‘for a second’”’ in West Van, says Mayor Den Las- skail — a former 99-ycar lease en- thusiast who, albeit in different circumstances, eagerly granted one last year at 320 Taylor Way to 9 wednesday world ©. > " C GARY Payne ...tribute to a sightsaver. “Fawlty Towers’’ developer Newcorp ... Just back from India is North Shore moviemaker Gary Payne after filming the 50th anni- versary ceremonies at the Argoya Varam Hospital in Sompeta, seat of Operation Eyesight Interna- tional founded by the late Dr. Ben Gullison of West Van. Special guest there was Dr. Gullison’s daughter, Marilyn Heel of West Van ... Art Jones emcees North Van Arts Council's ever popular annual auction Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the North Shore Winter Ctub — with an island hideaway, a Wiiistler weekend, a carol cruise and many other entic- ing items on the block ... And very happy 42nd anniversary tc- day, Oct. 18, to Woodcroftian. Jack and Phytlis tnsull. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Nothing appears to enjoy its work so thoroughly as a revolving door. first brought their case against their employer, com- piaining that denying womer: full medical benefits under their company’s disability plan was discriminatory. The Supreme Court, rightfully, agreed with them, ruling that pregnancy discrimination is sex discrimina- tion because only women are capable of having children. The decision means that bosses can no longer tell women that since pregnancy is a ‘‘self-inflicted’’ con- dition, if they go home feeling ill they can’t collect disability pay. It also means employers can no longer tell women employees they will only be paid leave for inju- ry-related illnesses and not pregnancy illnesses — that unemployment insurance would have to suffice. The decision will no doubt result in an added ex- pense to employers, but it comes as a huge benefit to working women and their families. It’s astonishing to think how long it took to reach this state of equality, but represents another victory on the road to full equality for women in the workplace. 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 Display Advertising Classitied Advertising Newsroom Distribution Subscriptions Publisher Managing Editor... . Barrett Fisher Associate Editor .... 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