| Nazi-| Dear Editor: Leo Knight’s recent article (July 19) — describing the inhabitants of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside a3 “...the besotted, fallen whores and those who prey on those less able to protect themselves” and “home to a battsl- ion of Honduran crack dealers and Asian street thugs, not to mention our own homegrown white trash” — is an obvious attempt to dehu- manize and ostracize a whole segment of our society. This wpe of journalism is not unlike that found in Nazi Germany during the early stages of Hitler’s campaign to eliminate the groups he hated — Jews, communists, gays, etc. Furthermore, Knight’s article relies on lies and misinformation to further his hateful aims. Knight’s claim that “... simple possession of so-called soft drugs has been decriminalized for all intents and purposes for the past 10 or 15 years” flies in the face of recently released crime statistics. In fact — according to Stats Can's Crime Statistics in Canada, 1999 — cannabis offences accounted for three-quarters of all drug-related incidents reported in 1999, of which 66% were for possession, 17% for traf ficking, 15% for cultivation, and 2% for impor- tation. Furthermore, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics reported i in its Adult Criminal Court Survey that, in 1998-99, a sotal of 40,056 persons were charged with drug-relat- ed offences. Although it docs not distinguish between cannabis and other drugs, more than half of those charged were charged with pos- session rather than trafficking. And while 6,833 were found guilty of trafficking, 11,480 . were convicted for simple possession. A more MAIL Box— Knight's atiack a ike strategy detailed Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics publication — Illicit Drugs and Crime in Canada — reported: “The rate of cocaine offences has dropped by 36% since 1989. The rate of heroin offences, peaking in 1993, then { fell] 25% over the last four years.” I could just as easily and scientifically refute Knight's other wild claims — the percentage of THC content in the hydroponic crop pro- duced in this province outstrips the Woodstock version by over 600%; MDMA i is, essentially, a vile chemical cocktail of LSD and metham- phetamine; etc. — but to do so would take up too much of your newspaper’s valuable space. It is suffice to say Knight's lies cannot be sub- stantiated and are told for one purpose only — to inflame the public and, it would seem, fos- ter hate toward the residents of Downtown Eastside. Kwan should be applauded for attempting to reduce the harm suffered by people addict- ed to drugs. Knight should be condemned for his Nazi-like attempt to identify a whole neigh- bourhood/group of people as undesirables who should be ostracized, incarcerated and — I am sure if he had his way — eliminated. At least that is the conclusion one could draw from Knight's diatribe. PS. If you think my attempt to link Knight's views to Nazism is extreme read Drug Warriors & Their Prey — From Police Power To Police State authored by historian Richard Lawrence Miller. Richard Dow Toronto, Ontario rddow@home.com Sunday, July 39, 2000 - Nerth Shore News - 7 Traffic drives up frustration level Dear Editor: One of the things I have observed whilst driving on the North Shore is that the maxi- mum speed limit is taken by the vast majority (over 90%) as the minimum speed limit. The normal flow of moving traffic exceeds the maximum permit- ted speed. To interfere with this speed by driving at or below Phe speed limit spawns impatience, frustration, road rage, overtaking and accidents. Don’t get me wrong. Driving on the North Shore is patently far worse than it has ever been. It seems there are more high speed, reckless dri- vers than ever before (taxi dri- vers take note). The worst time of the day is between 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. This is when most abuses take place. Every day [ see several instances of red traf- fic light “infractions.” T consider myself to be a safe and considerate driver but I am a threat to faster moving traffic. Take the East 3rd Street hill. My car climbs this steep hill uncomfortably in the curb fane at less than 50 km/h. Nonetheless, I and other law abiding drivers are overtaken by almost every other vehicle barreling up the hill, deter- Shining Knight pulls no punches Dear Editor: . , Re: Leo Knight’s July 17 column, Federal Liberals could have a nice Day. “!... Tt has been my honour to get to know Leo Knight over -. the past few munths. We have had our disagreements, during which time. Mr. Knight went out of his way to be polite in expressing his views, prefacing them with “a criticism, if I may” and “I think you may be off the mark here.” In the end, 1 always walked away more enlightened for having talked with Mr. Knight. Thar is why I was disgusted to sce the vulgarity and ad hominem remarks Warren Kinsella directed towards Mr. Knight. It made. me realize how different the public and the private are. Mr. Kinsella, a pristine specimen of urbane eti- quette and righteousness on ~~ Cre > Cs op AtCaretctriclara i check = your Sngine, ropor findings & tune with acope reading & full ued teat? ow alts Sirs Senvice Coouna Syste Pressure tast rad, CK water pump, hoses, bes, “=: ) drain & renew antironze. New antirenze i P At No Charge | Aim CONDITIONING: Lupe, On & Furen . Check battery, antifreeze, belts & hoses "tires & brakes, visual inspection report’ sty¢, ae Possibly North Shores most professional lube ~ - All above with written B.C.AA,, inspection. —«, feport, rolate tires, top up ail fluids road test. :- OPT. ALIGN, CHK. PRINTED REPORT “he Finest cordless Hunter computerized "2, alignment, by certified technicians, F produces full before & after report & ; : technicians road test - = your choice @ mah Brake ft nings t mufflers carry a lifetine warranty. Prise covers most cars & lignt trucks. FREE RIDE HOME TALKIAG YELLOW PAGES 239-9009 aie. orton itorth Va. (8 bls South ef arine Dvive) camera, employs a rather differ- ent lexicon of vocabulary off camera. Mr. Knight, pulling no punches in his columns, is a ighly-refined gentleman when dealing with people out of the public view. There is also the matter of their work. Mr. Kinsella thinks much of himself for writing. and sermonizing about hate groups, who, in reality, spend most of their time i t draperies fighting amongst themselves. r, Knight continuously risks his life writing about orga- nized crime, an element which can and has used violence against those who would expose them. Do what you may, but I'll take Leo Knight any Day. Joe Fernandez Quebec quantrillafb@videotron.ca iS. LAURSEN & SON & blinds Itd. | _ Seing the Lower Mainland Sor over 28 5 years www_sldrapesandblinds.com Custom Rods, Upholstery & Bedspreads (Ask ai ha our Seniors Discount) For Free Estimate call SaE-A975 or 987-2966 Drapery Labour $14.95 per panel tined. mined to squeeze you off the road at the top where most carefil drivers allow their speed to fall off. This is were our crime-fighting police Hequent- ly lurk unseen to spring out and intercept curb-side traffic. Their pay must include a com- mission per ticket written. We would all like to see greater efforts to see the blatantly self- ish road abusers apprehended. However, this location is manned as a cash cow and has very little to do with reducing accidents. No one stops at “stop” signs any more. We should rec- ognize that it is not always nec- essary to stop when the inter- section is patently clear. We should take a leaf out of the enlightened Europeans books and replace “stop” signs with enforced “yield” signs. It will save fuel and reduce pollution. S.J. Stanley North Vancouver Golf Clubs —_ “Square Two” + Unbeztable Vatuell - Lifetime Warrantyll - Stainless Steel Headsi! - Graphite Shaftsil Call Mark at 922-7737 CORRECTION NOTICE In the July 28 West Van Feature home listing, the address of the home should have read 4741 Rutland Rd., ' West Vancouver and not 2397 Marine Dr. which is the office of Prudential Realty, the listing agents. The North Shore News . apologizes for any inconvenience. '~ s West Vancouver Yacht Club Summer Sailing Program August Classes ~Space Available~ @ Ages 8 to 14 @ 1 & 2 week classes For More Information Cail 22\- [27> = Retail Marketing co-op Pregram Capilano College's eight- ° month Retail Marketing Co-op program equips you for a challenging career in retail... 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