Family discussed the impact of

From pas act

The North Vancouver fami-
Iv took part in ‘Turn Of the
Violence Day — an annual

event on the third Thursday of

November, Part of ‘Together
Against Violence month, the
event ericourages people to
stop watching violent TV
shows, movies. and videos,
turn off violent music and
video games, and find peace-
able solutions te conflict.

‘Turning off the violence
also means recognizing verbal
abuse, like racist. or sexist
remarks. Marie said the family
talked about) the bullying
behaviour they learned about
through the DARE program,
too, induding name-calling,
exclusion, and gossiping.

According to Together
Against Violence figures, most
children have — witnessed
200,000 acts of violence on
television by the age of 18 —
including 18,000 simulated
murders.

The children — Sean, 7;
and Colin Whelan, 11; plus

Marie’s children Jennifer, 12:
David, 15; and ‘Tom Baynes,
13 — agreed that on Thursday,
they wouldn't: play violent
video games and would discuss
any vielent behaviour they saw
in their regular TV shows.

“E think it's a good idea,”
said Colin, who | attends
Sevmour Heights elementary.
“H you look around, there's 4
lor of vielence everywhere. [t's
a good chance for people to
fook ac difftrent things.”

Colin thought: the hardest
part about Turning OP? the
Violence would be cutting
down on TV shows — “but
there are quite a lot of anti-vio-
lent shows on tonight.”

The older children attend
Windsor secondary, Both
schools held a “dress purple
day” (the purple ribbon signi-
fics support. for ‘Together
Against, Violence) and sent
home brochures about the
program.

“A lot of the cartoons that
my litde brother watches are
more Violent than the other TV
shows.” said David. “There’s a

point where there’s too much
violenes, Peapic have an exces-
sive amount of violence that
they want to get rid of.”

Mane said that the kids vot
afong pretty well as a cule, and
thar she bad a “zero tolerance”
policy on “poking, touching,
amt ostame-calling ia the
hese.”

But she did worry about the
impact of violent: TV shows
and video games, especially on
the youngest children.

She said when Sean was
asked to pick a non-violent TV
show Ae chose Pokensen.

“told him that was violent.
He said, ‘Is 18°y7 she recalls,
“So Tet him watch it, but |
told him to wate down all the
violent stulfhe saw. He doesn't
think it’s violent at all, because
it’s a here who does it for
good, F said, ‘Would you solve
your problems that way?” He
said, ‘No, never’.”

“A lor of kids don’t: care
(about Turn OF the Violence)
said Tom, “They think violence
is cool, and that it’s funny.
They watch wresding... but if

they were ever hurt ther
woukdn't think it was cou, A
lot of kids are hypocnites.”

Tom said he was gitd he
and his amily got along se
well,

“To have one friend whe’s
really glad when bis brother's
not home. His brother's really
mean. There’s no understand
ing berwveen them. Every day
they just take up the argument
front vesterday.”

a

“They had a hard time find-
ing video games that weren't
violent,” said) Marie, Friday
morning, “We had a few
debates about what was vie-
fen.”

She said the kids switched
to “old sitcrans” for the night,
like Te Nanny and Frasier,
instead of favourites like Bravis
and Butthead or Drew Carer.

“Pim more worried about
the verbal insults and the rude-
ness,” says Marie.

“T think kids are more likely
to mimic the rude, obnoxicas
behaviour they see on TV.
They think that it’s OK, that

Wednesday, November 22. 20G2 — North Shore News - 5

it's appropriate.

“A lotofthe shows targeted
at teenagers, the girl are acting
badly: theyre gossiping and
arguing, fighting and: calling
names.”

Mare sald the family also

discussed the violent content of

“reabhte drama” shows hat
screen extreme activities; acei-
dents; hospital scenes.

“Do they make vou more
aware of vour own safety?” she
wondered, “or do they make

violence in TY and videos

to worry so much, Sometimes
people go honie scared. This
makes it better, You dons have
to be seared.”

Pes

enon studio

aed

vou less shocked at that kind of

thing:

The family couldn't reach a
conclusion on that one.

Marie believes in a ratings
system) for TV shows snd
videos. “A lot of parents say it’s
not necessary, because they
police their children’s viewing
themselves — but the majority
don’t have the time or the
inclination.”

So, why is turning off the
violence important?

Said 12-vear-old Fennifer,
“T think it’s important because
our community would be 3
better place, you wouldn't have

Candidates handle burning question of marijuana

From page’

provinces, provide a tax credit
incentive to post-secondary
students, replace the Young
Offenders Act, implement a
safe, water and safe air. act,
eliminate the personal capital
gains tax, cut taxes, and elimi-
nate the national debt in 25
years. ,

Each candidate was asked

about their. position on the

legalization of marijuana.

: McKay said “the tone
_ across Canada appears to be
that there is a. movement”
towards the decriminalization

of marijuana, but that he did- -

: Poinsettia « a pie

Choose from 4 colours

Roses

a’t know enough about the
downside of the health effects
to make a decision. “I will be
honest. with you,” he said. “I
am not a user .. 7 would
explore it and find out more
before supporting or voting
against it.”

Sawaidis said the NDP
position is that it is a health
issue, not a criminal issue.

Bishop said the Green
Party is in favour of the
decriminaiization of marijuana
and also feels it is a raedical
issue.

Manvel! said the PC party
does not have a stand on the
issue at this point.

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Said Reynelds, “I have sup-
ported the decriminalization
of marijuana for medicinal

urpuses.” He said he would
have his constituents polled on
the issue and would cast his
vote accordingly.

Said Bombois, “Its a
hypocrisy that marijuana is ille-
gal when alcohol is legal.
Addiction to drug profits is far
worse than the addiction to
drugs.”

Larsen’s stand on the issue
was obvious. “I would bring
big pot plants with me into my
office in Ottawa,” he said. “I
would go to Texada Island
during harvest time and do

everything f could to stop the
RCMP fron taking away these
people's livelihood.”

Larsen urged constituents
to seriously consider the
Marijuana party. “Voting me
in will bring headlines around
the world. You will be able to

_ tell your kids, ‘Hey, I helped

legalize marijuana’.”

Eckhardt Zeidler, a mem-
ber of the Association of
Whistler Area Residents for
the Environment, asked
Reynolds if he would call for a
moratorium on further road
building in the Sims Creek and
Upper Elaho.

“The answer to that is no,”

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