ny RY iy f { b. . i - j } { j if ‘ E cE . | mailbox [><] Citizens not so free Sta says thank you Dear Editor: Since there seems to be a bit of a holiday Jull in the ' furore regarding the disagree- “ment between Collins and Ridington, now resolved at _least temporarily by the Press ‘Council . pronunciamento, perhaps an innocent bystander might be permitted _ 4 word, First, let me say that I think the Council made the correct decision in finding that Collins’ opinions do not exceed the appropriate limits to freedora of speech. I do so ‘-. because I accept the old prin- ciple established by John Stuart Mill over a’ hundred “years ago which states that, ” ‘in’a'democratic society, each person ought to be free to do whatever he or she chooses as long as it doesn’t harm others. Mill added that no freedom could ever be totally | . Praise f for the SPCA 7 Dear Editor: . Re: the recent criticisms of cL ‘the North Shore S.P.C.A. I ““tecently’ had. occasion to enlist: their help ‘when ‘my much joved Dalmation was missing from-my Pet-sister’ 's home overnight. I was treated. with’ such sympathy and kindness fhatl. $50.:c have sent:‘them tion towards: the-furtheranci of their work. T° hope’ that: ‘thats: “Lyla Bessner “Lions Bay - ‘Charm f Unneniver unlimited, but that such limits should only be drawn where such freedom causes or is likely to cause direct and significant harm to others, Just what does constitute suf- ficient harm to justify the curtailment of a person’s freedom to express his views will always to the subject of ferocious debate in a democratic society, but of one thing Mill was certain: a feeling of digust, a turmoil of mental anguish, a sense of revulsion—none of these are enough. Now I confess that | fird Collins’ style of argument quite tedious, consisting as it does of a tendency to call anyone with whom he disagrees a long series of names; and | certainly find his point of view contempti- ble, since it consistently displays a virulent hatred of anyone: who is. unfortunate | ‘enough to be disadvantaged or oppressed, and even more of. anyone who strives to rec- _tify those~ conditions. But tedium, contempt, disgust aren’t enough. There must be clear evidence that what he’ says actually does inflame his readers to harm. in. some direct manner those he so loathes. And that, as far as } can see, is not the case. I fully admit that | may be mistaken; that I am limited in my perspective because | am comfortably male and anglo;: that were I female or native _Andian_ or Asian, I might, be - aware ‘of. instances .of , pre- ‘judice,' harassment or assault "directly: attributable :10 Col- “ lins’ diatribes, take the view that freedom of “expression ‘is too important to permit it to be jeopardized by siving way to disgust, But’ at this” ime.I am not so aware, and I -, ter without deletion. as their ‘free’ press! however vividly felt. A final point needs to be made, however, concerning this notion of freedom of the press so dear to us all, but most especially to those who control the presses. It must be clear that citizens are by no means equally free to en- joy this freedom. For exam- ple, Collins’ freedom of ex- pressicn vastly exceeds mine. To put it more b/