8 - Wednesday, October 15, 1986 - North Shore News eep writing about outh Dear Editor: Doug Collins shouldn't write on South Africa because he’s never been there. So says Ms. Elaine Bunbury who gives the impression of having qualified herself to write on that country by very recently attending a local cattle auction. Pretty much a standard hard luck story you tell Ms. Bunbury, it works wonders when onc is trying to give the impression of being a crusader on a white charger in this country where people know so lit- tle of the real South Africa. Broken down by someone who knows better though, that story has you looking very much a bewildered and beaten Don Quix- ote. Ten years ago, South Africa was under the heel of the admittedly overbearing John Vorster. You're not all that far from the truth when you say that the country was close to being a Nazi state. But you never had the South African police raiding your prop- erty at night to arrest pass offend- ers unless they were ucting on specific complaints of rowdyism or other illegal activities on your property. You may well have had inspec- tors representing some local authority or municipality, they were active in that direction because of the revenues that were raised through fines. Yes, the frica, practice was inhuman and public anger was high, so much so that the central government ultimately stripped local authorities of the powers that had given rise to that reign of terror, I'd be happy to argue the point with you, we share a common background but I have the advan- tage of having served a 10 year period as a group Seader in the South African Police Reserve. For what it’s worth, I believe that I was strongly instrumental in ending that reign of terror and this brings me to another point. The law protects all citizens in South Africa, no one has the right to ex- pect special consideration regardless of race or position held. Possibly it’s a blessing that there were those of us who were prepared to fight intelligently for what we perceived to be right, very little would have been accomplish- ed if everyone had run away in ab- ject surrender and hysterical con- demnation. But even if you'd told your story properly in the first place it would stil! be incomplete and without value. You quite forgot to mention the fact that South African aban- doned the pass laws earlier this year in response to world pressures, they don’t exist any more. You want equal opportunity in a democratic South Africa? But it’s Park honors a ; Dear Editor: | pioneers One of the oldest settled place; in North Vancouver is undoubtedly Lynn Valley. It originated as a result of the beautiful tree stands which gave rise to early logging. Some of the better known pioneers are Fromme, Nye and Draycatt, who, in their way, made a contribution to the development of the area. In retrospect, it is sometimes difficult to honor everyone fairly. That is why it gave me great pleasure to make a motion on district council, which was passed, that the small park at the corner of Mountain Highway and Lynn Valley Road, now being upgraded as part of the ongoing beautification of Lynn Valley’s core, be named Pioneer Park, as opposed to naming it after one individual. It will give the people of Lynn Valley a sense of historical perspective, short as it is, and, at the same time, beautify a key area. We are also honoring the many ordinary citizens who settled, worked and raised their families here. They never made it into the history books but, in my opinion, they are the ones, who, in the final analysis, laid the groundwork for the livable community Lynn Valley is today. . Ernie Crist, Alderman District of North Vancouver Import Car Specialists COMPLETE MECHANICAL REPAIRS Tune-Ups - Oil Change Brakes - Clutches Transmissions Engine Overhaul — Electrical Open — Mon.-Sat. Giovanni Malara 104 Donaghy Ave., N.Van. Yukio Negishi 984-3083 Doug been 10 years hasn't it? | forgive you the fact that a very archaic no- tion seems te have snagged and stuck in your mind. You don't know that blacks now work at all levels of commerce and industry? Please believe me when | tell you that despite your misconceptions, Mandela is a lawyer and Tutu is a degreed theologian. Neither uses homemade degrees, blacks have every opportunity to study. After reading such self-justifying drivel written by an alleged knowl- edgeable ex-South African, I urge Doug Collins to give his pen free play. Whatever the result is, it’s highly likely to be somewhat more than a frantic appeal for friends of convenience. Peter du Plessis North Vancouver Plum’s The One... 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