\

i
\
Sor

Michae! McCarthy
Contributing Columnist

LET’S kick off the new
year on the right root
by putting the boot to
the idea of boot camps
and harsh punishment
for young offenders.

With violent youth crime
rominenr in the news, there
as been a fot of smoke and

thunder from people in posi-
tions of authority about
locking up kids — as young
as 12 in some circumstances
— and throwing away the
key.

If it wasn’t such a danger-
ous proposal you could call it
ludicrous, but this is clearly
no laughing matter.

As research for a project
on street life I once spent
several months working in a
safe house with young
offenders.

+ Some of these young men
were in serious trouble with
the Taw for going “fag bash-
ing” in the West End when
intoxicated.

In no uncertain terms it
was explained to them that
any such behavior would like-
ly: result in revocation of their

Gooling Sy

Compiete rad

parole and instant incarcera-
tion, Yet they didn’t learn.

Whar I learned, as a jour
nalist and a youth worker,
was that there are no easy
answers.

Many of these kids had
been born with FAS (Feral
Alcohol Syndrome) which
severely impaired their mem-
ories and ability to learn.

They would forget in five
minutes what staff had spent
a week teaching. Many had
acquired addictions as early as
age four — glue and gasoline
sniffing, drinking, pills, smok-
ing dope.

Many had been beaten
from pillar to post by drunk-
en parents from an early age.
Few had any homes or

stem Service

lush plus oil

& filter change, including all materials

1362 Marine Drive 9320-9115

tMon-Sat 8:00arn-6:00om, Sun. 9:00am-5:00pm

Expires Jan 14, 98

Call

DEREK A. CAVE

Trial Lawyer

Get the settlement

you deserve.

2508, Kapilano 100 Buiiding
100 Park Royal, West Van.

925-7880

DRAPERIES & BLINDS
BY S. LAURSEN 8c SON

Another one of our designs.

Ask about our Seniors’ discounts. §
For Free Estimates
Phone 987-2966

Serving the North Shore for 25 years

friends to which they could
return.

The possibility of impris-
onment was not a deterrent.
Jail meant a warm bed, three
squares a day, fraternization
with friends, aot having to
take responsibility for day to
day lite — a more attractive
option than life on the
streets,

In jail they can associate
with their role models, the
older criminals who teach
them the tools of the trade
(and introduce them to more
serious drugs like heroin and
cocaine).

Forgetfulness can often
lead to unfortunate results.

Quite often when we lis-
ten to police, politicians —-
even publishers — who thun-
der on about punishment and
discipline, we forget that they
have a vested interest ia su
doing.

It’s their job.

Keeping kids out of jail is
up to someone else — the
social workers, teachers and
parents. Unless we are pre-
pared as a saciety to lock
these kids up and throw away
the key — life sentences ior
stealing, drug dealing, assault
or murder — why do we stll
suggest incarceration as 4

J SPECIAL

Does anyone really think
cold showers, drill sergeants,
boor camps and military dis-
ciptine mean anything te
these kids?

Then we release them
back inte society to continue
their violent lives.

MAD DADS are the
fathers of sons who have
been murdered in gang and
drug wars. Instead of press-
ing tor longer jail terms and
More prisons, they go out as
a team to hang with, mentor
and act as father figures to
kids on the streets. In the
process they have reduced the
teen murder rate by as much
as 100% in some American
cities.

Starting out in trigger-
happy Texas, and now with
40 chapters in 12 cities,
MAD DADS is a grassroots
initiative that would make a
great addition to our com.
munity, where parents who
should know better still
want to put the boots to our
kids.

-— Michael MeCarthy
writes about youth and positive
stnity initiatives at

change@skyb:s¢.com.

Timothy Reustszw is an hol-
iday.

CHANGE we)

Includes 5 litres of 10W/30 Pennzoil & ater |

| Plus

Brake Inspection
*Tire Rotation i
* 2] point inspection

¢Carwash j
eVacuum

981 Marine Drive |

North Vancouver
(beside Aamo) j
Bart

| SERVICE |

BSS 931-8166 6 J

CARTER

SNANCSAL

Income Kat.

* Our best income investment ideas
* 7 Steps to building your

RRIF portfolio

* Special report on today’s -
investment climate

¢ Guide to RRSP conversion rules

¢ RRIF versus Annuity comparison

CALL 9

25°5565

MIDLAND
WALWYN

BLul Cate teen niNGy

™Biue Chip Thinking is a trademark of Midland Walwyn Capital Inc.

Mamher-Canadian

investor Protection Fund

Sponsored in part by:

Fidolity

investments

Sunday, January 4, 1998 — North Shore News - 7

Library crumbling

Dear Editor:

In January the West Vancouver Memorial Library will be
forced to extend its closures further to Monday mornings. I
am disturbed by this looming event that signifies, to me and
many others, the spiraling disintegration of services being
imposed upon our library and its patrons.

I find chis state of affairs incredible, considering that our
distinguished library is the “busiest library i in North America”
and sits in the wealthies: district in Canada.

As a 30-vear card holder, a volunteer and a Friend of the
Library, | have noticed staff reductions and a general break-
ing down of services that is regrettable.

1 urge patrons to write and protest to West Vancouver
council of the budgetary starvation that is crumbling the
pride and joy of our community.

Beverly Holman Oswald
West Vancouver

| FITNESS RESOLUTION SOLUTION J

No need to regret holiday feasting when all you need
to do is give us a c2il...the right fitness program can
help you shed those pounds and keep them
off...while other gyms have come and gone, we've
been helping our members reacii their fitness goals
since 1965. Try our introductory offer and see why
Gold's is the largest and strongest family _

of fitness clubs workdwids Ss

FIEMBERSHIP TRADE-INS?

FOR COMPETITOR'S FITNESS CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
Gold's does not have time limits on cardio equipment.

Fitness
Por! |
Everybo