4 - Friday, April 12, 1991 ~ North Shore News Let’s get real: the search for the ‘right’ ones A SIMON Fraser University professor doesn’t expect Premier Rita Johnston to do much for her fellow women. Trevor Lautens GARDEN OF BIASES Veronia Strong-Boag is quoted in the Sun as likening Mrs. Johnston to Margaret Thatcher. And, says Prof. Strong-Boag, described as a history and women’s-studies specialist, **That- cher did nothing for British women,”” Odd. I'd have thought that, apart from anything Mrs. That- cher did for the population at targe — such as shaking snoring businessmen and union-strangled Britain into prosperity, and in this country we hardly know what a genuine, jolly old union strangle- hold is — she did quite a let for women. She was prime minister. Surely that made her a — how vou say it in Jargonspeak? Ah, yes. Arole model. Sureiv ce did that? No. Surely not. That, as we all know, is the book on Mrs. Thatcher according to feminist ideologues. Prof, Strong-Boag explains: “The situation for such women is they become ju St as tough as the boys.” This is pretty well the off-the- rack feminist dismissal of women like Mrs. Thatcher — though there are precicus few women like Mrs. Thatcher, and no men like her at all. f repeat: odd. J'd have thought that being ‘tas tough as the boys” is exactly the goal of the said feminists — as long as they’re on the correct side of the ideological divide. Would they prefer a gentle, beautifully coiffed woman dressed with elegant understatement and furnished with a lively intelligence and subtly witty and ironic con- versational gifts? A woman from the top half of Upstairs, Downstairs? No. It’s clear that that’s not the kind of woman the feminist ideologues have in mind. So there was Margaret That- cher. She was prime minister. And she was a woman. But she wasn’t the right woman. And neither, as Prof. Strong- Boag immediately predicted, will Mrs. Johaston be the right woman. This is not the only example of what has become one of the rest- less themes of our times: the in- sistence, in these cases, that even though a woman rose to be prime minister of Britain, that even though a woman has risen to be premier of British Columbia, somehow they are not the women — the elusive women — that were demanded at the revolutionary ris ing of the feminist moon. This, by the way, cuts across idvological lines. The organization REAL Women of Canada, as its carefully chosen name shows, claims to be the real, real women. Another example is the relent- less search for the real indian. I was struck by this afresh when interviewing Bruce Clark, the lawyer for Robert Satiacum and the Indians arrested at Jast year’s Pemberton road blockade. Although Mr. Clark speaks feelingly, forcefully —- too force- fully, in the view of some judges — about Indian rights and the profound souts of tndians, as he said he had learned from living on an Indian reserve for seven years, it's obvious thar there are Indians that he doesn’t consider to be the real Indians. The Indians democratically elected by band members are not the real Indians. They are the puppets of the department of In- dian affairs, of the white govern- ment, says Mr, Clark. OF course he doesn’t hold the patent on this view. Some others, Indians among them, agree. Saul Terry, head of the Union of B.C. indian Chiefs, which has refused to take pari in current negotia- tions with the B.C. government, very clearly believes chat the In- dians who are taking part aren’t the real Indians either. Mr. Clark apparently thought he had once made contact with a real Indian. This was a chief of a tribe in northern Ontario, The two became blood brothers But, years later, they hacl a fall- ing-oul. This devastated Mr. Clark, who quite obviously thought the chief wasn't as wholeheartedly devoted to the Indian cause as Mr. Clark himself. So the chief didn't turn out to be the real Indian, the authentic Indian that Mr. Clark thought. (incidentally, Mr. Clark has an inactive suit against the tribe for services rendered over those many years onthe chance that it will win in its longstanding claims.) And so the search goes on. For the right representative of women is the Sunshine Girl, after all, closer to the genuine aspirations of women than Prof. Strong- Boag? —- and for the real Indian and for the authentic voice of Quebee and for the true spokesman of the working class and for ... Why is it, then, that I have the fecling that at heart the searchers know exactly whom they're look- ing for, that we human beings always know that the unassailable representative of our cause is very close at hand? In the mirror. THIS IS FIGHTING THE WAR ON DRINKING DRIVERS COUNTERATIACK weather! Waterproof, pack, with detachable briefcasedaypack (NOt exactly as shown). What 2 selection And incredible prices too! Wayfarers Granite A classic! in men’s and womens. Walk the streets and trails — or mountain bike with the proper support. An extraordinary value at this special price! Even your morning or evening stroll will become a warm and dry adventure — in any windproof and breathable outer shells. A ‘must’ for everyone who wants to enjoy BC's great outdoors. womer's ‘Urban Jacket Jakarta ‘Carry-On An overnightsized travel 30% SISTERS EA EIN ZF ERIS STO ye $4995 O Son of Beina! Love Me. that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My Love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant. Baha’i Faith anylon Selkirk’ 2 Ibs. Polarguard Fill Superlight and exceptional quality. 4°C. (not exactly as shown) WW 13995 © persor as shown) Top loading Tough Kodra top-loading Be a kid again. Walk through puadies instead of around them. 2 Class V Waterproof! And breathable A larger ‘Kodra’ nylon ® daypack. {not exactly as shown) PTE ‘Quicksilver’) Dome Tents Light-weight exceptional quality and absolutely weather. tight. Lifetime guarantee}! $4FQ95 | 3 + pewon “199 |