6 - Friday, August 15, 1986 - North Shore News THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER Peter Speck Noel Want Barrett Fisher Linda Stewart Publisher: Editor-in-Chief Display Advertising 980-0511 Classified Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 . a Distribution ge6.i337 ‘Managing Editor Subscriptions 986-1337 Advertising Director wot! ty woe North Shore News, ': De ea at obeparriegentt 6, SUNDAY - WEDNESOAY * : eae wed 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 They're no angels HO’S REALLY making a racket Valley? Lynn Valley youth have been infamous for decades for being the biack sheep of the North Shore. The kids have been blackballed for ail sorts of hooliganism. Local parents insist that one reason for the area’s over-production of deviant teens is a lack of reere- ational facilities in the neighborhood. Recently a _re- quest to North Van District Council to build an ex- panded community centre, including a swimming pool, was turned down because of a fack of funds in coun- cil’s coffers. What Lynn Valley youth do have, at the moment, are limited programs sponsored by North Van District Recreation Commission. Included is a teen drop-in centre held twice a week at the local community hall. Unfortunately, sourpusses around the centre have sounded the alarn. and are complaining to council that the kids at the drvo-in are too noisy. Other drop-in centre beefs include reckléss driving, groups of youths milling about outside the centre (particularly when it closes at 11 p.m.) and cases of damaged prop- erty. The residents demand action. Like the unfortunate youth, the local residents should be doing better things with their time. Com- munity spirit needs to be demonstrated. Instead of complaining about the kids, residents should take an active part in creating opportunities for local youth. Neighbors could help out in a coffee house, help or- ganize theatrical productions, give lectures or workshops on hobbies which might interest the kids, volunteer time for teen picnics and other outings — in shori, get to know local youth. Lynn Valley teens are like teens from any part of the North Shore. All they need is a chance to shine and a ttle help and guidance from their parents, friends and neighbors. Entire contents © 1986 North Shore Free Press Lid. Alt rights reserved in Lynn 57,656 ‘average Wednesday - BS ; Friday & Sunday) Spee adit yt ua rita WEARING A CLOTH CAP INSTEAD OF A, HEMET ALLOWS ME TO HEAR E SOUNDS AROUND ME MORE EASILY... THE SOUND OF THE AMPAILANCE SIREN... TE POLICE SIREN... PRO LIFE PUBLICITY SEEKERS improved road Antics not newsworthy News is a result and unworthy of this level of news Dear Editor: Could we please have a moratorium on the publicity seekers of the Pro life group? They lost their legal attack on the Lions Gate Hos- pital at a cost to the hospital of some $100,000, money which could have been. better used for medical services. They lost electorally in their attempt to pack the hospital board. Having failed twice it appears that their next plan is to devise something which the media can be guiled in- to reporting as news. The screaming headline and photo in the July 6 reporting by any standards. The actions of one publicity seeker with a stick, some cardboard and the ability to print hardly rates front page headlines and a photo. If his antics must be reported at all they should be in the back of the paper after the drainage and rub- bish removal ads. There are more newsworthy items of interest to print thein, Donald M. Currie North Vancouver your readers. Please use your editorial judgment and ‘BIGOTED HYSTERIA’ AGAINST SIKHS Co Dear Editor: I read, with bitter dismay, Doug Collins’ Get This Straight column, in our July 2 North Shore News edition. As a newcomer to Canada, and as a Kurdish refugee from Iran, ! found Mr. Collins’ article teeming with reactionary assumptions, and misleading data, as well as biased and bigoted commentary. It must be obvious to Mr. Col- lins that there exists extreme repression in India, committed against the activist Sikh communi- ty, in the Punjab, and that Canada's humanitarian and respectful attitudes as regards those seeking political haven in your beautiful city of Vancouver, and couatry of Canada, is the in- ducement to come here for those hunted and persecuted by the gov- ernment of India. I found Mr. Collins’ repulsive, tacist assertion that Sikhs will be inclined to recreate Vancouver as a ‘suburb of the province of the Punjab’’, as further evidence of a trend toward unwarranted, bigoted hysteria. Such remarks are highly uncalled for. In addition, Mr. Collins seems to further his ridiculous proclama- tions by asserting that all ‘cheats come from alien cultures’’, forget- ting the historial importance “alien cultures’? have contributed to assisting Vancouver in becoming the great city it is, and Canada, the representative, and humane coun- try it is. Mr. Coliins, also, seems to put all Sikhs (or Arabs, lranians) and all those from ‘‘elsewherc*' in the category of ‘‘terrorist’’. What ab- surdity! It is obvious that well-meaning ex-patriots from various oppressive and murderous regimes truly find sanctuary and peace of mind in a country such as Canada, and it is your immigration inws that made this miracle possible Your legislators. therefore, are to be congratulated, not chastised, for being enlightened enough to do the research that enabled them to come to the conclusion that many Sikhs, Kurds, Palestinians, and many others from the Middle East, and ‘‘elsewhere'’, are truly repressed and tortured by their oc- cupier countries. Mr. Collins’ article reeks of the fascist attitudes that, indeed, caus- ed many of the political refugees, such as Sikhs, Kurds and Palesti- Pleasure to drive Dea. Editor: I wish to congratulate the North Vancouver District on a job well done. The improvement to Mount Seymour Parkway makes driving it a pleasure. (1 drive the section from the new bridge to Lytton). The icing on the cake would be nians, to flee from their own coun- tries, where such fascist attitudes prevail. What can Mr. Collins expect a political refugee to think when he reads in such a column as Collins’ — we are inclined to think, ‘‘Have | come to another fascist place, if such ideas are common?” ‘‘Have I just left one fascist country, to come to another?”’ ! would recommend that Mr. Collins spend more time resear- cig and learning about the ap- pressed esoples that are requesting political asylum and refugee status in Canada, and the tremendous repression the ‘‘host’’ countries commit against these refugees. I recommend Mr. Collins begin his education by learning more about the Kurdish peoples — he can contact me, and | will provide him with a list of 100 documents if the concrete retainer wall Separating the brow of the hill on the Parkway and Windridge could have climbing plants (Virginia Creeper or ivy) to cover the visual pollution. Keep up the good work. S.L. Patchett North Vancouver ilins reeks of fascist attitudes relating to the acts of discrimina- tion, bigotry, detention, torture and massacre by the governments of Iran, Iraq and Turkey, against the Kurdish peoples. Then, Mr. Collins can write an informed, scholarly column relating to the refugees coming to Vancouver, rather than simplistic, unverified, half-truths (or lack of any truth), misleading, hysterical, bigoted and racist nonsense. Even better, when I become a landed immigrant, North Shore News can hire me to replace Mr. Doug Collins, as I sincerely believe I can do a more professional job! “Canada Day to Punjab Day’’! “Canada Day to Kurdistan Day’’! Really, Mr. Collins, give your city, province, country and your readers more credit! Khadijeh Huseyni Vancouver