Wen are vio Dear Editor: Since Together Against Violence Month is approach- ing, I would like to express my unpopular views. As the mother of a son, I am very disturbed by the mass dissemination of © dramatic material that serves only to degrade the collective ‘self- esteem of boys and men. “Stop Violence Against Women and Children” says the ads on the bus, insinuat- ing that only fathers are vio- fent towards their children. The B.C. Council of Human Rights allows this public gen- der discrimination because it is supported by Statistics Canada, a government body that only serves to perpetuate biased information with selec- tive, diluted surveys. In B.C., I believe more women are vio- lent towards their children than men are. 7 just’ can’s prove it because the ministry either does not want to release that information or conve- niently has not related statis- tics, One comment | heard dur- ing a discussion was, “Well if women had some relic? from single parenting, if the fathers would take mere responsibili- ty, then they wauldn’t be so overwhelmed,” thereby mak- ing violence pardonable for women. Perhaps this ferainist should advocate for shared custody then. Is this woman on the Capilano Suspension Bridge deserving of the whop- ping child support payments she receives from her husband and of the custody of her chil- dren? Will the husband con-- tinue to pay child support to north shore news MAIL BOx the women who is suspected of harming bis daughter? Probably! Divorce should not be the means by which women gain economic status. Government initiatives like job training and equal opportunity programs would take that unfair respon- sibility off — ex-husbands. Gender specific language is left out of the act, but most victimized men know how the act is interpreted. The early lobbying that made the Divorce Act what it is today, was a way of passing the buck onto ex-husbands for the unfortunate cconomic status of women, : I find it insulting that fem- inists (I have withdrawn from the movement) can’t conceive of the fact that women can injure men. We sce images of lence victims too strong athletic women every: where (physiologically women have stronger backs), vet we don't accep: that women can injure men. You can bet they ¢an injure small children. Do we see mass dissemina- tion of dramatic, gender spe- cific material saying “Women, stop being violent towards your children?” Does the Ministry of Children and Families or any other commu- nity service organization of the North Shore offer anti- violence programs specific to women? Not publicly anyway. For this Together Against Violence month, could we please leave the gender out of it? It’s net fair to my 1 h-year- old son and half the popula- tion. Elise Roberts North Vancouver Reader irked over News columns Dear Editor: the generally ignore a lot of the opinions expressed in the Shore News, but two None articles prompted this letter. The first was an article - _ entitled “World population increase is slowing” (Sept. " 22), that : states “without even remote! straining agriculture, the world now has more food: ‘per capita than ever.” I don’t. know: where Mr. (Eugene) Kallis’ got this © ‘information, but jit is totally .° Engagement Rings” Layaway for Christmas *Sale includes all merchasdise in stere except some new orders, Lugaro value Red Tag items,** 4 false. Food production has not increased, in spite of new technology. Developing coun- tries are losing farmland, as Prosperity is increasing world demand for grain. The second article to offend me enough to write is Ilana Mercer’s, “Of pinheads and penis size” (Sept. 24). As ‘she is a regular columnist, the misinformation she -prints is particularly galling. I can spot the pinheads, Hana, it’s you _ arid Global News. These doctors are trying to establish a standard for penis size. That this could relate to race is not the point. The point is, Nana, that without a standard the doctors can’t document aberrant trends. There is growing evidence of an alarming increase in repro- ductive abnormalities, caused by hormone-mimicking com- pounds in our environment. The source is DDT, PCB, lastics and unknown count- less’ others. The doctor’s . © Diamonds "> e’Pendants ; a) Earrings © Gold * Fine Gem Stones ewe Let ONE LOCATION ONLY: selected watches, and repairs. —E R- Ienponers of Gemstones, Manufacturers of Fine Jewellery research is one small ste; understanding this problem, and it doesn’r deserve to be trivialized by somcone who doesn’t have a clue about this issue. J. Wilson North Vancouver 'vV HUGE SELECTION v¥ LOW WAREHOUSE PRICES Featuring Roper~Jennair~Inglis Frigidaite~Panasonic._— Kitchen Aid~Danby~ISE -. Dacor~Whirlpool-G.E. Magic Chef~Wolf~AEG Sub Zero~Goldstar~DCS NuTone~Faber-Venmar Kelvinator ~ Marvel~McClary v Compact & Full Size V Built-in & Free Sanding wv Gas & Electric v Most items in stock for immediate delivery/pick-up COLONY HOME. FURNISHINGS Saving you money since 1969 1075 Roosevelt Crescent . _- North Yancouver {2 blocks behind Avalon Hotel) Mon - Thurs 9 = 5:30, Fri9 - 9 Saturday 9 - 5:30, Sun 12 - 4 Sunday, October 10, 1995 ~ North Shore News — NV District's Dellarton question unanswerabie Dear Editor: Re: the $6 million question to be asked on our Nov. 20 tivie elections; “Are you in favour of the District of North Vancouver twinning the Dollarton Bridge with a new two-lane bridge and renovat- ing the existing bridge ?”° What kind of a lame deal is that? fr seems from the report in vour paper that our council doesn’t even know what the cost will be. Will it be $3 million or will it be $6 million? The big question is: What will council {carn from our response? On a “yes” vote, will they go for assistance from other levels of government and give us a deal at $3 mil- lion? Or will they go it alone for $6 million, and will they then decide to spend another $3 million on connecting roads? On a “yes” vore they are still left without any dirce- tion on how to proceed. Ona “no” vote, did people vote that way because they didn’t want the bridge, or did they vote that way because they are tired of having things jammed down their nccks without knowing the cost? I can only speculate that our new council will at least wonder what they have learned from the question, and I do pray that they do a little research before they ask another one. More than likely, though, they will just sit back and wonder why so few people go out to vote, Cecil Bund North Vancouver We Can Help. Family Services’ of the North : Families. Couples. Individuals.’ We're Available - Appointments ts avai venings and weekends as We're Affordable. fees are on‘a sliding scale acc income and number of family ~"e rs su We're Professionee Our experienced counsellors have Master's level training. They vail wo help you make the changes i in yo : seek. 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