= Don’t encourage

loutist behavic

Dear Editor: ;
Being that 1 enjoy your newspaper very
much, it’s unfortunate that I feel compelled to
write to you for the first time with a criticism.
This is with regard to the Oct. 30 “Youth
Views” column. It was irresponsible of you to
print Robyn Gray’s article the day before
Halloween, Timely, I realize, but quite simply
_an effective inspiration for rude and dangerous
behavior on the part of those who do not need
much encouragement.
, Pm in no way judging Robyn Gray himself,
or suggesting that he would ever act out in a
harmful way. Naturally he’s entitled to his
opinion and he put it forth in an articulate way.
» But it wasn’t him or teens like him that my
husband and I encountered while taking our
\ child out trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
If ’'m not mistaken, wasn’t it in a fairly
‘recent “Youth Views” column that a teen

fe expressed his frustration over the way in which

adults look at younger people with such fear
and suspicion?
: His logical point was that we cannot make
sumptions’ about one group of people
because'of the actions of some of them.
Keeping that in mind I tried to shake off my
immediate reaction of annoyance while watch-
ing very young teens racing up and down the
treets screaming and lighting firecrackers and
ther small fireworks. .
=: It was difficult, but just because I was irked,
didn’t feel I had to “share.” One puts it into
Perspective and gets over it. It wasn’t until we
came upon a group of older teens, (I’m trying
‘© squelch my desire to say-“gang” ) that that
perspective changed.- .
Tt felt. absolutely insane to merely stand
ere while they fired Roman candles and such

into an unsuspecting resident’s yard.

Thick hedges, trees filled with dry leaves
and the roof of the house were all subject to
flames and sparks raining down on them.

My husband shouted once which caused
such indignation among them that it was
almost amusing. While we went to let the resi-
dent know what was occurring, the group
threw as many more firecrackers as they could
into the hedge before they had to flee.

At least the resident was warned of the
potential fire hazard.

One boy in particular became quite agitat-
ed and aggressive in response to someone dar-
ing to comment on his unsafe and plainly stu-
pid actions.

Pm extremely curious as to that boy’s reac-
tion on Halloween night 20 or 30 years from
now as he looks out his window and sees a
pecr-supported, candy-fucled weasel gleefully
aiming a Roman candle into his trees, hedge or
maybe on to his roof.

Will he shake his head while good-natured-
ly chuckling, “Kids will be kids”?

{ don’t think so.

If he’s somehow grown into adulthood
hanging on to the same ideals of idiocy that he
acted upon as a teen, chances are he'll storm
outside and try to beat the hell out of the first
kid he can lay his hands on.

But if he’s grown and changed into a man
who has respect for people, their safery and
Property, and simply expects the same for him-
self, he'll pick up the phone and call the police.

A prime example of an adult lashing out at
teenagers? Far from it. I would have nade that
call when I was 15.

K. Chutter

‘North Vancouver

Faux feat

Dear Editor:

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Women welders inspirational

Dear Editor:

‘Lam responding with great
joy to the Sunday, Nov. 17,
News article titled “Women’s
Work.” a

For the past seven years,
throughout four jobs in vari-
ous trades, I have consistently
been one of the “token”
women working on cach crew
— it’s lonely out there.

With groups like this per-
meating the — traditionally
male-dominated workforce, 1
am bound co find more
, female comradeship. Like
) Trine Whist, I have come
across both support and
objection by males on the job.

Unlike my. male co-work-
_ers, time and time again I have
had to prove my abilities to

B.. work in the trades, Two of
» these former jobs I have even

been refused training, because
T was a woman. Therefore, it
is refreshing and even thera-
peutic for me to read about

such progress.

In addition, it needs to be
acknowledged that the
women shipbuilders during
the Second World War are
largely responsible for open-
ing the doors for us.

At our North Vancouver
dry docks, women were
welders, electricians, sheet
metal shop workers, jitney and
truck drivers, bolt threaders
and riveters.

The acconiplishments
made by these women deserve
great praise. They endured
the unsafe conditions and the
heavier, bulkier tools of the
day.

Moreover, they learned
and demonstrated that the
trades are a ficld in which
women can, and do, excel,

Congratulations to the
graduates of the all women’s
welding class of 1996, Anne
St. Eloi who put forth the
proposal, the corporation that

accepted it, and all those in
between. Oh, and thanks for
the inspiration!

Tiffany Wightman

North Vancouver

A dirty word

Dear Editor:

Re: amalgamation. As far
as citizens of the city are con-
cerned it’s a dead issue, Why
would we want higher taxes,
poorer representation and a
land banking administration?

People in the city realize
they already have good gov-
ernment which translates into
a low voter turnout, burt
equating that to a yes vote is
absolutely ridiculous.
Interesting isn’t it that most
articles about shat dirty word
are written by those who live
in the district. and probably
wish they didn’t.

N. Bartley
North Vancouver

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