160 — Wednesday, June 30, 1999 - North Shore News Dear Editor: In our sociezy today, we are becoming too used to the violence thar has secured a permanent spot in our daily lives, This is horribly apparent in the recent tragedies in Colorado and Taber, Alberta and even closer to home with the bomb threats in Surrey. Perhaps our thoughts hav been caught up too much by our notion of a “free society” so chat we are over protecting the rights of potential prob- Jem issues or potentially dan- gerous groups, Individuals are permitted to own registered handguns in Canada, moreover guns can be purchased easily at corner stores in some parts of the U.S. What is a “tree sovi- ety” without public safety? To begin with, totally banning the handgun would have a small negative impact on some minority groups such as gun clubs but would rug addiction is nota Dear Editor: Thank you so much for Ilana Mercer’s wonderfully brutal skewering of the notion that drug addiction is a discase (Stop making excuses for drug addiction, June 7 Fair Comment column) and that, as a result, taxpayers have to pony up the cash to help them. Her article brought to mind the ald joke, “Support mental health or Pu kill you.” The drug activists’ current mantra scems to be “Support drug addiction or they'll rob you” or disease “Support drug addiction or they'll infect you with AIDS.” That said, I was very disap- pointed that Ms Mercer chose not to discuss the issue of drug prohibition and how Prohibition taught us it is the prohibition of drugs that caus- es nearly all the harm — crime, disease, deaths, corruption — and not the drugs themselves. , _ legalize north shore news MAIL Box Public safety needed for free society Schoo] racisi a Subtle affair have potentially huge positive effects im) our society. cialized gun or hunting club members could be per- mitted to use and then store their registered weapons at their organization's head- quarters when not in use. Only law enforcement ofti- € should be allowed to carry handguns anyone else caught carrying a handgun should be regarded as a crim: inal. To am as 45-year-old Japanese male who left Japan when I was 15 years old to study in the U.S. for eight years. | then immigrated to Canada. There are so many things which I disagree with in the Japanese education system. However, one element which I strongly suggest to import into the Canadian education system is a program called “Dotoku” which translates to “social morality.” This class could be implemented at the early stages of the education system to make it a legitimate part of the school curricu- lum; it could be taught from kindergarten all the way up to high school. “Dotoku” helped many young Japanese learn about mutual respect as well as deal men & women with human contlict, family issues, sacial problem ete. In our western society are dealing with nce ands crime — by imereasing the severity penalty; this “quick not long term neither is it preventative. Perhaps the difference in the western and Japanes approach to dealing with vio- lence can be compared to the difference berween wi “ and preventative approach of herbs and diet. On the other hand, I think that we must ve both elements to tackle very complex problem of violence in today’s society. In Japan today, duc to western movies and the influ- ence of the media, the types of crime which the Japanese are experiencing are becom- ing more similar to North American crime, but the homicide rate in Japan is still not even close to the rate in the U.S. or Canada. This is a result of a very strict gun control law as well as an edu- cation system that continues outside of the school grounds. I love this country which is now my home. How my wife and I would just like to feel a sense of security when we send our children off to school and when we tuck them into bed at the end of the day. Kik Yamaguchi West Vancouver 183 Pemberton Ave. 985-7195 ] ORMOTIVE at BCAA, LRA, LCB.C. Approved SUMMER SPECIALS , Dear Edito Does racism no longer st in your community, or haps not at your school at te Many people would say that bullying occurs occasion- ally, but it is not chat serious to be categorized as racism, nor hold the attention of peo- ple who are noc directly involved. To am writing on behalf of all confused immi- grant students who might want to have a chance to ask themselves whether the treat- ment they are receiving at school is a type of racism or not. When a person with difter- ent skin colour, traditions, and especially a different lan- guage is new to the environ- ment, he or she is separated from others. This is a very natural thing that can happen when that person is nor fully adapted to the new surround- ings. However, what I would like to point out is, besides may people who help immi- grants zo fit ourselves into the community and let us be part of this world, some are still being immature cnough to make us feel much more lonely and desperate to go back to our homeland. When doing a group activ- ity or an event, immigrants are rarely welcomed to join and fully participate. It may scem like we are given chances, and it is just our fault co not use them wisely TALKING Catt e % ‘2 Lupe, On & Furer Check battery, test antifreeze, check tires & brakes, visuat inspection | R, Super Lube All above with written B.C.A.A., inspection report, rotate tires, top up all fluids Replace front pads or rear pads or shoes, ™ ‘ by a certified technician. Diagnose A/C operation. Test temp. perfor: we Airn-Conp. & COOLING mance, check refrigerant level, check com ressor belts, hoses, gases, radiater cond., luids & report. ALIGNMENT a %y High tech, full 4 wheel computer check out, with print out & road test ‘Prices cover mest cars & light trucks All service by Govt. registered technicians TALKING PAGES YELLOW dpa. Appointments 176 Pumbarton, North Van. (5 biks South of earine Drive) 9G5~ 7 455 and effectively. The truth, m our perspective, is the opposite. The pressure comes from looks from other peo- ple’s and their atticude toward ous. We're not stranger: The second — problem involves the speaking of dif ferent languages. Making fun of names with unusual pro- ouneiations is very disgrace- ful. From my own eaperience, some students even attempt to try to repeat what [am saying in my native language, using exaggerated accents and funny tones. I personally find that very disappointing. It is a natural consequence that people from different parts of the world speak dif- ferently. In fact, English is not the official language of the Earth after all. Thirdly, some people think that immigrants cannot understand Canadians’ feel- ings because we have a totally different way of life. That is the factor that makes it hard- est for us to assimilate into Canadian society. Immigrants often gather ourselves and make it hard for Canadians to contact us, or is it society’s fault to let us wander into this situation in the first place? What is your eniteria for racism? Does racism no longer exist in your commu- nity, or not at your school at least. . Younoh Lee North Vancouver ni EESTI