Al - Wednesday, April 4, 1984 - North Shore News EE mailbox [><] 2 Collins distorts reality Dear Editor We are writing to protest the inclusion of a column by Doug Collins, ‘‘Get this Straight’’, in your March 18, 1984, edition. To us, the heart of Collins’ article, “Why pay the bouncer to throw you out?’’ — is racist and an attempt to justify a policy of genocide which was practised by early European explorers against Aboriginal Peoples. When Collins writes: ‘“‘Where would they (Aboriginal People) be today if Captain Cook hadin’t stop- ped to rub noses with them? In the woods, freeziag that’s where.’’, he does several things. First he igmores the historical fact that Cook came to this country to take possession of it for the then powerful British Empire. Cook was a conqueror not a tourtst. He and his men did more than ‘‘rub noses’’, they left an epidemic of syphilis in their wake. Collins also over- looks the fact that it was the Native Indians’ knowledge of the land and the climate which kept the early settlers alive. Further, Collins justifies the complete destruction of a culture which had lasted hundreds of years without any help from ‘‘civiized Europe’’. He does sum up the results of Euro- pean domination by pointing out that Aboriginal People do have: a whopping suicide rate, a whopping drunk rate, a whopping in- fant mortality rate, a whop- ping jail rate and a whopping welfare rate." All the signs of a broken peopie. Rather than dealing with history in an ob. jective way so that we might learn from it, Colthns twists and distorts reality in order to play on the fears and uncertainties people may have This ts not fai com ment, tt is hate Jon Cates B.C. Human Righes C coalition Vancouver Dear Editor 1 find it hard to believe what | have been reading. Either my interpretation is wrong or something stinks as rotten as a bucket of month- old whale food, but these are the facts as I understand them. The Vancouver Parks Board came up with a plan of improvement and expansion for our dilapidated, old fashioned but much loved free zoo, then abandoned this plan completely when con- fronted by a small but vociferous lobby group representing a portion of the West End and precious little else. The Aquarium, already established and advertised as ‘tworld famous’’ was includ- ed with the zoo in all public meetings and parks board deliberations regarding ex- pansion plans, right up to the moment of the board’s great retreat in the face of ‘‘public opinion’’. The omission of the aquarium from this ‘“‘about face’’ was curious but enlightenment arrived a cou- ple of days ago when our courageous parks’ board, night in the face of the same Enjoys Collins Dear Doug Collins: I'm delighted to note you are writing for the North Shore News. As a_ regular hstener to your program on CJOR, which I always en- jyoyed, I was concerned when you were dismissed, simply because you had the courage to state your own opinion on whatever subject. { enjoyed your column March 18 regarding the In- dians demand to be given back Ambleside. 1 feel Ambleside should be left alone — the Indians are being well compensated for uw. | have felt in some instances the Indians have been unyust- ly treated, but those demands are unreasonable. VN look forward to your future columns in the North Shore News. Good luck and best wishes. Francis Murphy West Vancouver Don't chicken out! Dear Editor: it was a real pleasure to see Doug Collin’s hard hitting article. I hope you won't chicken out like CJOR because you'll need guts to Add some BOY to your life Single adults or couples who are interested in sharing their life with a 14 year old foster son can phone 984-4281 for information The payment to you will cover all the child’s expenses plus a fee for your services suck with him over the pro- tests of all the outraged groups who will demand you silence him. R.E. Underhill North Vancouver Ministry of Human Resources LAST WEEK We ll clean any sofa, regardless of size or number of cushions. for only S44 base Ubee Ghrans Sota und save at the Bay! Cour spocctal Chem bt solve ® gently, comaoves dulltere det It Ss Sete for ahem ost all fatoete even Cul velvet too tor ageboterss up prroneas: Kogehat few wc il athe Ode ae vs : foo. past S40) poe secthon ask about our Chem rp gard” protector too Remernnboer yout Burycarcd Phone today and you can charge ait all te 294 1490 Vin totta t/ chays a week © Beet Vertes et LIP® WLM. JV brea. ‘‘public opinion’’, gave per- mission for the aquanum to proceed with their expansion plan which encroaches on park land of much higher public usage than that to have been taken by the zoo plan. What prompted this sud- den defiance and what con- voluted logic leads to the un- necessary expansion of a perfectly sound and humane institution, yet condemns animals in desperate need of better conditions to more years of discomfort and ex- poses our zoo to the mdicule of the world in 1986? What is the point, at great expense to the taxpayer, of making elaborate plans if they are to be abandoned so hasnly in the face of such unvial opposition? Why not allow the aquarium to administer and develop the whole park? It obviously has the money and connections to do whatever it wants, regardless of public opinion or aesthetic considerations. 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