JUST ADD WATER. Ss SOMEONE who has’ attempted. to-chronicle and | cémment on the struggles of my'sex; I can get really dis- _ couraged at some of the pro- . nouncements' made by soul sisters in the name of women’s rights. ‘Take the comment of Chris Rahim, community organizer for Vancouver Status of Women, who reacted to MLA Judy Tyabji’s loss of custody of her three children with: “I think it will stop women from entering into potitics and entering into positions of power because they have to chink about their children,” ' Gosh, so women will have to think about the innocent, vulnerable human beings they choose to bring into the world! What a drag. Fortunately, Rahim's absurd whine for women was offset by the ‘sane and sensitive reaction of Vancouver lawyer Jane Shackell, a director of the women’s group. LEAF (Legal Education and Action Fund). She,said custody decisions are ‘unique to cach specific case and, all else being equal, judges usually side with the parent who has more -time to g.ve the children. police ‘officers! ecause the crimes hey are eeeting to prevent or ft ane are almost d oftey a trivial fee witht the catastrophic ‘As many of-your readers will prow. first-hand, there. was just ch’ a: lunatic chase in: West Vancouver at lunchtime on Tuesday, « vat speeds of approximately 100 mph {I'm told) through - Dundérave and other. busy areas of West:Vancouver. ‘The “erime’ Paid was a suspected, car theft from. Park jared this time; “thank. goodness, but. it Cand out b have turned 0} Do,we really want toh: differently: ©. ; three‘police cruisers chase two éenagers suspected of stealisy a-car through busy residential/com- ercial areas at extraordinarily dangerous speeds? * - oo “Do we-really. want to have.these same officers draw their ‘revolvers to facilitate the, eventual arrest of the suspects with all the . tisks attached to that sort of -TV-inspired LAPD hype?. " *=T hope that this latest extravagance will-be thoroughly investigat- ed and’‘an explanation made public to justify the need for such a vio- ‘lent police reaction. “E.G. Byrd “West Vancouver, ‘If you have $50,000. or more to invest, you are invited .to a special | Juncheon that answers this question. PLACE: Park Royal Hotel, River Room , DATE & TIME: Friday, April-8, 1994 — 11:30 a.m. Please call: 844-5729 DOUGLAS J. TAYLOR SOVEREIGN INVESTMENT PROGRAM Because you deserve it all. - 500- 1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3X1 “Edon't think it would mean that another woman who is a politician is not being a good parent,” Shackelf added. “4¢ would depend on each case and what that spouse is doing.” None of us who has followed the ‘Tyabji-Sandana cus- tody bacle through the media magnifying glass can pass any sort of fair judgment on these two individ uals as parents. Even though Tyabji wrote to Sandana in a 1992 Father's Day card, “You are such an incredibly excel- lent father and a great husband, The children could not have a better father,” I'm sure Sandana has his shortcomings as a father. ‘And even though the judge in the case cited two incidents where Tyabji failed to adequately watch her children, who got into danger while swimming, } have to believe’ Friday, March 28, 1994 - North Shore Naws - 7 she has her strong jwints as a moth- er. What Judy ‘Tyabji and her defenders can be challenged on is thinking that because you're a 66 What Judy Tyabji and her defend- ers can be challenged on ts thinking that because you are a woman, you have absolute rights to children. 99 mother, you have absolute tights to children. The judge's decision acknow- ledges that children need time — as much time as possible -— with a parent, particularly at the start of their lives (the Tyabji-Sandana chil- dren are six, four and two). When emotionally healthy par- ents are there for children, children its soul sisters wrong feel secure. We don’t need yet another child psychologist telling us that — it should be obvious. Apparently, this basic need of children isn’t obvious to Tyabji’s fan club, including partner ‘Gordon Wilson, “It's mind-bog- fling,” be said of the fudge’s decision. “This is a blow to every working proles- sional woman, and man for.that matter, in - this country. “To suggest that somehow your ability : : to care for the child cannot exist because of your career: is staggering.” ‘To pratest the Tyabji decision * on the basis of women's rights is to miss the heart of the matter — thal women who are lucky enough to be - free of pressing economic pressures ' have to be responsible for their : _ choices — especially if those choices involve children. Approaches the key to new cros sing Dear Editor::. » The title given to. Kevin Gillies’ article “North Shore gives nod tu - double-deck Lions Gate. proposal” is misleading and. biased. Mr. Gillies stated in previous articles and in his own contacts with. cur. committee, that his responsibility as a reporter on the crossing issue was ‘to educate the public by providing unbiased information regarding the ** different crossing options. Mr. Gillies is presenting a con- clusion based on a questionable survey conducted by the North Shere News. Due to the high per- . centage of chosen respondents from .West Vancouver, about’ 60%, it -would have been-appropriate to name your article,““West Vancouver gives nod to double-deck." _ Even then, are 43° respondents - considered a fair size sampling ‘as: to what the: people ‘in West Vancouver would like to see as a . solution for the crossing? Were the: 72. respondents informed } about the ' other options? It took our committee numerous meetings amongst ourselves, and discussions with several opposing experts, to realize that it did not matter how wide the actual crossing’ _ would be over the inlet. What mat~. tered were the north and south approaches to the crossing. Could these approaches handle the addi- . , tional traffic without destreying the - North Shore News Mailbox policy LETTERS TO the editor must be legible (preferably typewritten) and include your name, full address and telephone number. . Due to space constraints the North Shore News cannot publish all fet. ters. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, accuracy, legality ..- and taste. Letters can be faxed to 985- 2104, but still must be signed and fully addressed. adjacent communities and their environment? of . The answer according to the’: ‘Vancouver, ‘West End’ Traffic ° ‘Committee, the Lower Capilano’ Steering Committee’ and “the Council of the District of North ‘Vancouver, is no. : Dalia Gottlieh-Tanaka - Lower. Capilano ‘Stecring Committee... DSad North Vancouver. a L SEST ACTOR” ) BEST SONG _ | PHILADELPIA | Nightly 8:30pm - . 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