iE Viewsia Tin Gon. e NEWS VIEWPOINT A family affair : T THE heart of any society is the fam- | ily. It transcends religious, economic, di: cultural and political boundaries; it is ‘the core of our civilization.:: The United ‘Nations has decreed 1994 as “the International Year of the Family, and Sunday; May. 15, as International Family Day.:..: In! ‘doing so, the international body has reinforced the importance of the family structure i in world societies’, _.- Here on the North Shore, the family — ; regardless of media accounts to the contrary "continues to be the. stabilizing force in our community's growth and prosperity. - _Often referred to as the smallest democra- cy in society, the family is where we.all turn ‘for strength, support and knowledge. Social agencies may:support these needs, _ but familial bonds cannot, be replaced by the- ‘ heavy. and demeaning bureaucratic hand of government assistance. -Apart from providing the essential nurtur- ing to new members of society — our chil- dren — the family links past and future gen- erations. In Western cultures, a power. struggle i is on. to distribute power in the family’ more demo- cratically. Issues include who will maintain the home, cook the meals and manage, the finances. Recent reports draw the conclusion that such changes represent, a disintegration of the family. But they really reflect the ongoing evolu- tion of the family structure, And like the plant adapting to.a change in its environ- ment, it is an evolution that will make the family unit stronger. And likewise our society along with it., LETTER OF THE DAY We have right to defend our culture Dear Editor: «Well, we've arrived, This is the other countries. bend to suit those who come fram Singapore of six lashes with a bam- boo stick if one is aught vandaliz- day when we can no longer speak : for the preservation of our own race and culture without being called racists. I’m white, by the way. We can’t say that we feel more comfortable dealing with our awn on a daily basis without being judged and discriminated against. Now a cater-to-the immigrants councilman in Surrey has proposed that any fegion that “discriminates” should lose its liquor licence. ‘Obviously this stems from the tur- ban issue — a how we, the white people, must Publisher.. Managing & Associate Editor . Salen & Marketing Comptro! clear example of Peter Speck jothy Renshaw Noel Wright Linda Stewart If we attempt to hang on to what little dignity and difference we have, we are belittled. If we white people (or any other people) were to emigrate to, say, Saudi Arabia, we would have to conform to their culture, It is their law, for instance, that out-of-wedtock couples may not. walk hand-in-hand on thvir streets and may not be caught cavorcing or in any way relating to cach other affectionately — a freedom we take for granted here. And what about the law in Display Advertising 980-0511 986-6222 Fax Classified Advertising 985-2131 Newsroom North sho News, tounded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 114, Paragray Tax Act, is publishad each : Sunday b distribute: yaph 411 of the Excise | ednesday, Friday and © North Shore Free Press Lid. and © to every door on the North Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mait Sales 1139 Lonsdate Avenue North Vancouver B.C. Distribution Real Estate Advertising 985-6992 Subscriptiors Administration ing? Other countries show no for- giveness to us immigrants and our ways for it is not our right to impose ourselves on them and attempt lo change their customs. They have a right to their culture in their own countries and we have aright to our own culture in our country, We have a right to be who we are and we have a right to speak up when we want to maintain our own individuality, A. Brewer West Vancouver 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 985-2131 MEMBER eT Lk “SOA OIVISION * Product Agreement No. 0067238. Mailing rates available on request. Submissions ara welcome but we cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited materia! including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope, V7M 2H4 Nonh Shore Managed 61,582 (average citculalion, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) Entire contents © 1994 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. South Africa will re ain an explosive AS SOUTH Africans vote during these momentous days, this armchair expert’s thoughts on the future of thelr beautiful, tortured country sre probably as reli. able as those of the next six dozen experts. A knowledge of Sbuth Africa derived solely from a decade of Lloyd Robertson, Maclean's and newspaper reports does have one advantage: at feast you don't get so absorbed in fine detail about today that you lose track of what yester- day can mean for tomorrow. Whichever way you shake it,: South Africa remains an explosive mixture. Regardless of the immedi- ale outcome of the present election — the first ever for the 29.6 million blacks who outnumber whites by over five to onv —- all the evidence suggests that nothing can quickly change the country’s tragic poten- tial for violence. . Nelson Mandela, destined to become South Africa’s first black president after this weck’s vote gives his African National Congress (ANC) a decisive muajori- ty, has been powerless to check the vicious pattern of slaughter com- monplace among his supporters. His arch-rival Mangosuthu Buthelezi, despite a temporary * truce with Mandela, has condoned “and exploited violence — with 10,000 dead since 1984 — to fur- en ASC PCD 66 All the evidence suggests that nothing can quickly change the country’s tragic potential : for violence. 99 ther his Zulu nation’s claims. A proud warrior race forming not far - short of 30% of the biack popula- tion, the Zuius fiercely oppose the strong Communist element i in the ANC. | To these, add white right- wing extremists — Afrikaners organizing their own paramilitary force to back their demand for 4 white “home- land” within the federation, No Johnay-come-lately colonial exploiters, their Dutch ancestors settled there 350 years ago and South Africa is the only home they have. Keeping peace among these hostile clements will be the daunt- ing challenge facing Mandela’s black majority government, most of whose members will be totally - inexperienced in tunning a modern democratic state. Moreover, Mandela himself — the mast mod- crating element in the picture — is already 75. His years in control are obviously numbered and his black Successor rernains unknown. Meanwhile, the scars of apartheid —- the grinding poverty Noel Wright a HITHER AND YON. of the township slums and wide-. ” - spread illiteracy — will be slow.to heal. Even South Africa’s impres- . * sive economic infrastructure may *: need years before it can provide all | its 74% of black citizens with the: living standards enjoyed sofarby -:. the white minority. iu , But witha black’ majority gov- ernment in power.at last; impa-"_” tience for fast change among the . newly enfranchised black masses - could very quickly boil aver. If that”, : happened — resulting in continued * violence and political instability. ~~ international invesiors Would begin. ot . to pull out, making desperately ~. needed living improvements’ for black South Africans that much / slower and more difficult’ to” achieve. moe Maybe this armchair observer will be accused of overlooking . some important positive factors. : Certainly, South Africa’s long- ‘ delayed conversion to iniversal- ‘ democracy richly deserves to suc: “- we ceed. wh In the short term, however, it’s impossible to.ignore the recent.his-_ tory of the entire African continent; which offers few reasons for opti- mism about South Africa’s more immediate future.: “This week's noble experiment : was as inevitable as apartheid was wicked. tn theory it is unassailable, But in practice it will be unfolding for quite a time yet in the middle of © a minefield. POSTSCRIPTS: No lack of trea- sures to hunt for this Saturday, April 30, beginning at the St. Pius Flea Market from 10. a.m. to 2 |’ p.m. at 1150 Mt. Seymour Road ... Move on to the Salvation Army Bazaar from 1! a.m, to 2 p.m. at 105 West {2th for household items, clothing, books, baking, plus an. inexpensive lunch ... Wind up from 10 a.m. to 3 p,m. at Collingwood School's Spring Fair, 70 Morven Drive atop British Properties in’ West Van for fun, games, shopping and food (and free shuttle bus for seniors fram West Van Seniors’ Centre) ... Meanwhile, give some- one a life Friday, April 29, at the blood donor clinic 2:30-8 p.m. in Cap Mall (northeast fashion mall) .. Many happy returns of Friday, April 29, to West Van Kiwanian Dadley Samuda ... And more of the same Saturday, April 30, to Mt. Seymour Lion Bill Harbourne. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Success is hiring someone to mow the fawn while you play golf for exercise.