8 - Wednesday, July 29, 1992 - North Shore News

MAILE

30X

Blaming one culture
utterly preposterous

Dear Editor:

I was sent a May 13 copy of an
article by Doug Collins, ‘*Violence
acceptable for the ‘downtrod-

n.”

After reading the article, | must
first admit to a certain nausea but
was soon overwhelmed with ex-
treme surprise that such a piece of
vile bigotry would be printed.

As for the unfortunate events in
Toronto that have sparked the
present debate on racism, I do not
in any way condone the violence
and vandalism that occurred at
the hands of frustrated youths
from all races. However, it would
be extremely short-sighted to ig-
nore the underlying problem of a
generation of Canadians — black,
white and all others — that is be-
ing left with a bleak future and
few possibilities because of failed
and flawed economic and social
schemes.

To place blame at the doorstep
of one racial or cultural com-
munity is utterly preposterous and
serves only to fuel the growing
discord and frustration of a gen-
eral population that is seeing their
jobs, security and future quickly
eroding away.

1 would ask you and your
readers to take a closer look at the
. Situation and not allow the likes
of Doug Collins to fool you.

With regard to the issues of
immigration and multiculturatism,
I believe that these are questions
to which we must respond with
the Canadian tolerance and
respect that has set this country

Lions Gate
bike demo
justified

Dear Editor:

The bicycle demonstration over
the Lions Gate Bridge pictured on
your June 26 front page was not
organized by the Society Pro-
moting Environmental Conserva-
tion (SPEC), but by the Bicycle
.People. SPEC, a charitable status
society, does not organize civil
disobedience.

1 participated in the action, and
I have met with mixed reactions
since the event took place. Yes, it
was against the law (cyctists must
tide single file, at least in the City
of Vancouver) and it may have
inconvenienced many commuters.
But that was the point.

How many of those commuters
were alone in their vehicles? At
feast 75%. How many of those
vehicles use solar energy or elec-
tric power? Probably less than
1%. (Propane emits less smog-
producing chemicals, yet emits the
same amount of greenhouse gases,
according to Popular Science
magazine.)

And how many of those drivers
have access to public transit, a
bicycle, or even a car pool? A
conservative guess is 60%.

Cars contribute to at least 70%
of the air pollutants in the Lower
Mainland, which lead to increased
lung problems, especially in
Langley, Abbotsford and beyond,
but also here. Cars are also one of
the major contributors to at-
mosphere ozone depletion,
through coolant leaks in air con-
ditioning systems.

{ felt justified in demonstrating
that day. When will we collective-
ly realize that we've had it too
good for too long and change for
the better?

Andy Telfer
Vancouver.

apart from those many nations of
the world that have ignored the
value of diversity in the vain quest
of homogeneous purity. [ sincerely
believe that Canadians want to
mainiain and enhance the princi-
ples of acceptance, inclusiveness

and equality in the context of all

members of society.

As for Doug Collins, his article
only demonstrates that, where he
himself is concerned, the evolution
of civilization has not had a
perfect record. | do commend the

editor of the North Shore News @
for including the photo of Doug §
Collins (without the white hood) §j

— to prevent the chance that
someone might mistake him for
being anything other than a

stereotypical member of the white

male establishment.
Howard McCurdy, MP
Windsor-St. Clair

Queen flyer
promotion
poor taste

Dear Editor:

It was with shock and
dismay that | opened my copy
of the July 2 North Shore
News to find your flyer pro-
moting the merchants of Park
Royal.

Your front page picture of
what is obviously a reference to
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,
[ consider to be in extremely
poor taste.

1 am distressed and angry
that anyone would make such a
mockery of our sovereign.
What kind of example of
Tespect does this set for the
young people of our communi-
ty?

Canada is a member of the
British Commonwealth of Na-
tions, and as such we respect
our Queen. I, and others |
have spoken to about it, feel
that we — and the Queen —
deserve no less than a public
apology from the owners and
directors of the Park Royal
Shopping Centre.

J. Howden
West Vancouver

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