A forum for
many voices

Dear Editor:

Rev Letter to the editor,
August 2. Columnists should
retlect diversity.

Reader Paul Russeli: com-
plains thar the News “refuses
to provide fair and equal rep-
resentation for the broad spec-
trum and diversity of opinion
in our community.” “This is

and unthoughtfu) generaliza-
tions, and it is simply false.
Has anvone ever seen an anti-
Liberai sports column or an
anti: NDP gardening column?
And, for the sake of inchusive-
ness and diversity, how about
an anti-Tory fashion column,
(Reader Russell, the champion
of diversity, forgets the Tories,
a citious omission.)

He claims thar the News
“owes this community some
effort to reflect all mainstream
tiews and perspectives ina Qir
and balanced manner”
Nonsense. Nonsense. first

because the whofe history of

broadsheets and newspapers
from othe Tater and the
Spectator in the 18th century
onwards is the history of advo-
cacy. Newspapers exist to put
forward points of view, to
make and win opinion. They
are not courts of law owing
due process, or debating clubs
obliged te follow strict rules.
Nonsense, second because
there is no such moral obliga-

MAIL Box:

(Russell, in an astonishing non
sequitur, suggests that it
comes from principles of
democracy, free speech and
open ewhange.) Phere just is
ao duty of fair play in’ this
respect governing, papers.
Nonsense, third because even
if there were such a daw of fir
play it: could hardly be as
Russell stated it, that is, a duty
to reflect all mainstream views.

Why only mainstream
views? Isnt this restriction to
mainstream views arbitrary,
and hence unfair? (And, as
ready noted, for Russell the
Tories aren't part of the main-
stream!)

however unpopular, to com:
pete and this competition
must be untettered. Brave to
the News for pnnting Russell’s
cranky views but please don’t

be persuaded by his bad logic
or his n.oral postaring.
Dennis Bes ington

North Vancouver
dennis_bevington@sfu.ca

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palpably false, as any long-time
reader of the News will affirm
ona moment's reflection. The
very fact that the News print-
ed reader Russell's ill-consid-
ered letter refutes the allega-
tion. The editorial page regu-

HELPING THE WORLD
larly bristles with :
and opinion at exids with the WRITE NOW

paper or its columnists. K)

Rut perhaps DP. Russell's
hasty and careless generaliza-
tion should be treated more
charitably for he goes on to sav
“Every one of your regular
columnists takes a pro-Alliance
{anti-Liberal, anti-NDP) view-
point.” This too is another
one of reader Russeli*s lazy

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FREE CONSULTATION

The point of freedom of
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tion, Where could such an
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