8 —- Wednesday, October 7, 1998 — North: Shore News north shore news ______.MAIL B No support f Nisga’a Dear Editor: Did the Black out of the North Shore News begin with the Sept. 27 Viewpomt pages, three fong editorial items alll uving to excuse Mr (David) Black’s cemonsbin of Niseva Treaty discussion? The first, anonymous, editorial claims that) Mr. Black's critics sav bis Sactions wpift the danger of corpo- rate Ownership of papers.” The editor says not to worry - Mr. Black “is one man, not Q corporation,” The. critics’ concern is not whether the entity is one man or a corpo- ration. [tis that concentra- tion of power allows the owner, in this case Mr. Black, to dictate the spin given to the views expressed by his British Columbia newspa- pers. A face illustrated by these three editorials. Neat, in his column, Mr. Wright says “for editors in a which consisted of democratic society to be muzzled In the boss who signs their paycheques surcly has to be the ethical equiva- fent of chicks being caten alive by their mother hen.” He is neht. Be then, howes- er goes er to say that because his views on the Nisa Treaty are similar to those of Mir Black and/or because Mr. Brack fas pabh- cally revealed his dictate, muzvling is now cthical. The third column is by Mr. Renshaw who says thar Mr. Black has told the edi- tors af all his BoC. papers to cun “only opinion and com- mentary appeased to the Nisgva agreement, no pro- agreement counter columns or editorials would be toler- ated. Mr. Renshaw then adds “Lo sav good for Mr. Black anyway. Confound the ethies of it all.” Mr Renshaw also reports that letters to the editor and sound drug strategy doesn’t need money Dear Editor: The agreed “anti-drug” strategy is to ask the government for more money. (NV City backs drug strategy, Sept. 9 News) Typical, but hardly imaginative! Before formulating a strategy, we could review current policies in the light of the following facts; There is not now, there never has been and there never will be, a world that is either bug-tree or drug-free. Both concepts are totally unrealistic. This means that we should stop thinking about getting rid of drugs. For the last few decades we have regulated, taxed, and lived with ovo of the most addictive and deadly of all drugs: cicotine and alcohol. Our strategy has been to te! the truth about them — and it is working. Our voung people are like young people every- where: they can handle the rath but detest being told lies. If our “anti-drug” strategy is to succeed it must take account of the facts. No money is required for that. And, what’s more, it just might work. Pat Dolan Vancouver pdolan@pop.intergate.be.ca ere \ CANADIAN MENTAL .