PARDON THE cynicism, but it is difficult for Doubting Doug to be enthusiastic about glasnost and the ‘‘full- blooded democracy”’ now promised by the boy For months, we have been treated to upbeat news and com- mentaries about Mellow Mikhail, sometimes referred to as ‘“‘Gorby, aterm of endearment that in itself should dissuade us from kissing the guy on both cheeks. The last time this sort of thing happened was when Nikita Krushchev and Nikolai Bulganin took to traipsing around the world after the death of Stalin. They too were seen as ‘‘liberals,’* and the Western press fell for them. They became Krush and Bulge, your friendly commissars. ‘U, nder glasnost, there has been some loosening of the noose in Latvia and Estonia as far as the voicing of national Jeeling is concerned. But Moscow would never willingly sanction the freeing of those_prisoner States. To do so would spell the end f the whole Russian pire. The Ukraine tise i would break Sree. It is not to be denied that changes are taking place in the U.S.S.R., of course. It has to mean something when men like Grim-Grom Gromyko are criti- cized in public, when the stupen- dous crimes of the Stalin era are acknowledged, when the Russians may confess to having murdered 15,000 Poles in the Katyn Forest, and when Old Joe is once again being denigrated as the bastard he was. But Pll believe the ‘*full- blooded democracy”’ that Gor- bachev talks about when [ see it. Democracy is more than talk. If talk meant anything, the U.S.S.R. under Lenin, and the Soviet Constitution introduced by Stalin, should have ushered in the freest country in the world, In the present case, the freedom tap, if indeed it is a freedom tap, is being turned on by one man — good old Gorby. And good old Gorby could also turn it off, Freedom and democracy have to grow. They have to come from the people. They cannot be imposed by edict. COLLIN Ne) HOUSE of FOOLS 11a. 220 Donaghy Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. (HOL® south Ot Dice dav put your waste on a diet RECYCLE 9 - Wednesday, July 20, 1988 - North Shore News ~WOUG Yr rare BRITISH COLUMBIAN OPERATED BRITISH COLUMBIAN OWNED sin Moscow. That is why they have failed in Africa and why it is nonsense to talk about ‘tone man one vote” in South Africa. Nonsense, that is, as far as Westrainster-type gov- ernment is concerned. It took us a thousand yea develop the education and parliamentary customs that make democracy possible. ft involved the rights of the knights, respect for private property, the rise of capi- talism and the cutting off of the head of a king. And not until this century did we have the full fran- chise. In the case of the ULS.S.R, democracy would spell the end of communism, and vou can’t tell ine that Gorbachev or anyone else in the Kremlin is going to risk that. The moment that risk appears, the mask will come off, His own pronouncements con- firm it. At the recent Soviet Cam- munist Party Conference he said that the changes he was proposing — or ordering — in the political structure would not entail any weakening of the party's role, (En- thusiastic applause!) He can’t have it both ways, no matter how much the Claque Corps in his own country or in the West cheer him. The Polish example showed that. The Solidarity movement threatened the regime, and it was the Solidarity movement that was put down, not the regime. Then there's the question of the Russian colonies, in other words, the Baltic states and the whole of Eastern Europe. Under glasnost, there has been some loosening of the noose in Latvia and Estonia as far as the voicing of national feeling is con- cerned. But Moscow would never willingly sanction the freeing of those prisoner states. To do so would spell the end of the whole Russian Empire. The Ukraine itself would break free. None of the above means there is nothing to be pleased about. Whether the leaders admit it or not, the changes mean that what Winston Churchill called ‘‘the dead hand of socialism’’ has been exposed and that Gorbachev is try- ing to save something from the wreckage. But we should not kid ourselves that the millenium has dawned. ADIVISION OF OVERWAITEA FOOOS ts to PRICES EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY JULY 20 TO SATURDAY JULY 23 / 8, VE SAGSAGRAGING ei Ot ANCA EES ES ER OEROERO There may even be a secret ballot. But how free would you consider it to be if the secret ballot in Canada restricted you to voting for one party? Don’t make me laugh, Gorby.@ any major competitor's ad- vertised prices on Case Lots (identical brands). & MACHINERY for the discriminating woodworker. See our vast selection of books. Gerertia ee tatint baie BURNABY o> BAR MOST a COQUITLAM LOUGHE EL a Cavan d we An TOMIONHHT 7 Ci NORTH DELTA OTM GUMEET HAR TORMDrIGHT 2A AE be CHILLIWACK «6020 vw vace HOAD BAM TOMIDNIGHT 6 OAYS AWEER CLOSED SUNDAYS N. VANCOUVER .. HAM TORMEUIGHT oO WHALLEY vo BART TO RNDNIC EET LANGLEY . HAGER HIG Htar HAM TOMIODHGH “Oars A WEB} RICHMOND fens TMD ED OL i ae Met hue THAYS