24 - Wednesday, September 9, 1992 - North Shore News Leap of fa th Bizarre premise thought-provoking with refreshing non-Eurocentric point of view The Columbus Conspiracy, Michael Bradley, Hounslow Press. John Mocre ,BOOK REVIEW HIS JS a big year for { ~ navigational anniver- ‘8 . saries. The bicentennial of Capt. Van- couver’s historic survey of the Pacific Northwest, ‘92 is also the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ much-debunked but still most significant “discovery” of the Americas. . Liké William Shakespeare, Col- ‘“umbus remains, despite his fame, more mystery than history. -: The supposed son of cbscure . Genoese wool-carders doesn’t just wash up on a Portuguese ceach and start fraternizing th the focal nobility any more thas an obscure knight from the heresy-riddied ” Pyrenees is unanimously elected and accepted, even by the Pope, as King of Jerusalem after the First Crusade ....Or any more than a , | Nazarene nobody reads the riot ~ actto the Rabbis of the Jewish theocracy in the courtyard of their own temple... If this serendipitous reasoning makes sense, it’s probably because you've read books like Michael Baigent’s The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail, which argues that the “Grail’’ is not and never was an item of crockery but actually the sacred bloodline of direct descen- -dants of Jesus Christ and his wife, Mary Magdalene. For obvious reasons, a legitimate {even illegitimate) descendant of Christ, pedigree in hand, would discomfit the Roman Catholic Church at any time and, so the theory goes, over 2,000 years hundreds of thousands, even mil- lions of people have been involv- ed in the heretical secret and con- spiratorial protection of the Holy Bloodline. The theory is ingenious and entertaining, but tor one fun- damental kink: hemo sapiens are distinct from the animal kingdom in a number of significant ways, but ever since we got beyond the basic “gimme” grunt linguistical- ly, keeping a secret hasn‘t been one of them. Whether you believe that the CIA and the Mob killed JFK or that the Freemasons and Communists . were secretly allied against the Pope, the lure of ‘conspiracy theories’: is succinctly stated by’ Michael Bradley in his own foreword. The idea that “much of our history may have been moulded and shaped by an elite, clandestine group working toward some goal we can but dimly perceive” is very attractive when you live in violently chaotic times where a great many non-elite people are publically dying for reasons that seem unintelligible, even absurd. Despite its bizarre premise, Bradley's book is an informative and thought-provoking read. He does a good job of recapping the contenders who likely beat Columbus to the prize: Phoeni- cian-Carthaginians, trish monks, Vikings, Portuguese cod fishermen and explorers from the African empires of Mali and Zanj. His point of view is refceshlingly . non-Eurocentric to those who don’t read much contemporary . history, and he overcomes the’ most difficult hurdle of imagina- tion for modern readers by con- veying a sense of what the world’ was like before the advent of na- tion-states, As Bradley repeatedly points out, you don’t have to buy the whole theory to enjoy the book. Many of his extrapolations from the apparently irreconcilable facts — involve 2 “leap of faith’ that would qualify you for the Olym- . pics, but if you turn on the TV some Sunday morning soon and © see a guy in an Armani suit and varnished hair claiming to be the New Messiah by virtue of his fami- ly tree, at least you'll know what's going on before you channel-surf te the cartears. Art rental program displays collection tonight “po your tove art but can't afford -tobuyit?- “You don’t have io settle for pos: ‘ters. . “-For as little as $5 a month you -can hang original artwork on your walls. Check. out the latest ow rehouse of work. at the North : Vancouver Community Art Coun- cil’s next Art Rental program on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 6 to & p.m. in the gallery of Presentation ‘House. . Twe . hundred paintings by Lower Mainland artists will be displayed on modules for easy viewing. The collection contains - work by beth emerging and estab- lished artists. if you decide to keep your selection, rent can be applied to the purchase price. For information, phone 988- 6844, . , MENDELSON, MOZART & VIVALDI Saturday, Sept. 12 Sunday, Sept. 13 Z pm to 4 pm If either day is cancelled due to min, the concert will resume the following weekend. Come and enjcy this FREE CONCERT at Park & Tilford by The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra 333 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouver Tel. 984-8200 *a concert and not having it. . Trade doesn’t want the Van- Board of trade to host Aris Awards Luncheon IT’S NO mystery that arts groups are becoming increas- ingly indebted to the corporate sector. In many cases, cor- porate sponsorship can mean the difference between having the Canada Ceuncii, . will ° deliver the keynote address. Nominations are being ac- ¢ cepted in different categories © including a Sustained Support Award, recognizing long-term - partnerships between the arts. - and business groups, and an~. Arts Organization Award, which honors an arts group that’ has shown dedication in forging... partnerships with business. The Vancouver Board of couver businesses who support the local arts to go unnoticed. For the third year it is hosting its annual Business and the Arts Awards Luncheon, to recognize | the corporate sector’s involve- ment in the arts. Allar. Gotlieb, chairman of phone Linda Prize at 641-1257.: ; Submissions must .be received _ FOR LEASE | ® Industrial warehouse ® Up to 20,000 sq-ft. ... © 54 parking stalis ® 21 fi. ceilings every flexible’ terms! . 1525 WELCH ST., NORTH VAN This 1-3 zoned industrial: warehouse was: originally designed for Auto/RV related usés. Itis ona high visibility. ‘route and features: 18. ft. high bay doors, lots of f parle ing and. yard space. CALL FOR MORE DETAILS: - SAL ROMANO. DEAN LAPOINTE .. PAGER: 253-7596, #5311 _GODDARD & ult REALTY 683- 7535 - Restaurant ¢ Banquet — Cattng To obtain a nomination form; |