A common soak: |
unity essential
in maintaining
our nat’! identity

Dear Editdr:

When I proudly took on Cana-
dian citizenship in .1989, I never
guessed that within two years I
would be missing one of. the char-
acteristics that 1 most disliked in
my former country, the United
States — active patriotism.

It has been an experience in
culture shock to watch Canadian
citizens and media commentators

discuss the possibility of our
_ country breaking up with apparent
‘indifference. In the U.S., even a
mention of such a possibility
would unleash a storm of
demonstrations of concern ranging
from individual flag-flying,
’ bumper stickers, and lapel pins to

;>.. Organized public. meetings and

rallies, all receiving extensive
media coverage.
. ‘-Tused to feel that such displays
Of patriotism were unhealthy, and
to the extent that they interfere
“ with’ individual rights or lead to
violence, they probably are.
‘However, I now realize that
_ thoughtful national loyality also
_ feflects a proper awareness of
, common goals and values and an

noe _ understanding that, in many situa-

‘tions, unity is essential in main-
‘ taining the strength of a society,
~ even though it may require indi-
* vidual or zegional sacrifices.
Perhaps some. Canadians are
“apathere: because they have
‘.- forgotten what common goals and
- Values - characterize - this country.
Those of us who. are more recent
ae however, do not need
: to. be reminded of what. fine
"values this country is famous for.
_.:. Even In tough. times, and. even by
“comparison with the. United

9! States, Canada is. respected for its

» outstanding basic fairness and tol-
‘ erance, its. cultural diversity, its
: good - material standard of living
-@hd- health for all,

‘ natural beauties and resources.

fies same ¢ thing as a:set of values,

Harebrained schemes.
will simply not do!

“Capilano "Highway Services are
to blame!”’ they shout as they run
for the shelter of the Ferry Cor-
poration’s plush executive offices.

So’ the Ferry Corporation: says
that night: sailings are a success. I
“guess: it ‘all depends on how you
“look at the numbers and what you
Lwanted - to. ‘achieve sin’ the first
“place.

. The. “highway-choking lineups
"are still ” there.. The. lineup

‘mayhem is still present. Capilano |

‘Holiday (Highway) Service student -
‘=? workers are there not to: assist you

‘in -your journey, .but to have a

““good time and catch some rays

‘this summer.’

“Night sailings were supposed to
have alleviated ali of this. Yes,
- ferry ridership may be up but that
is due to the ‘‘Tsawwassen by

Day, Horseshoe Bay by Night”
advertising campaign the Ferry
Corporation ran this summer..

’ : Of course; the Ferry Corpora-
tion loudly states that anything
going on outside their toll booth
gates is not their responsibility. It
is not their fault that something
goes wrong .when they summon
‘the’ public to an already over-
burdened ferry terminal.

its role as-
| peacekeeper in the world, and its:

Could we not defend and main-
tian those values, even if Canada
broke up?

Iam convinced that it would be
almost impossible to do so.
Though the U.S. is a good friend
and neighbor to Canada in many
ways, we must remember that it is

‘also an unopposed superpower .

with its own interests. The gov-
ernment of the U.S. would be
asleep at the wheel if it did not
have some contingency plans for
taking advantage of inevitable

weaknesses in the remyants of a

divided Canada.

We should ask ourselves
whether those contingency plans
are likely to involve much concern

for the well-being of Canadians,

especially those who are interested
in maintaining a language or
culture that differs from that of
mainstream America.

Remember that, behind their
glitzy shopping malis and materi-
alistic values, Americans are
burdened with their own stagger-
ing social and economic problems
— widespread environmental
destruction, intractable poverty,
highiy variable access to health
care

Though there is reason to fear

‘that our southern neighbors will

be opportunistic in their dealings
with weakened or squabbling
fragments of Canada, Americans
do maintain one scruple that we
can count on: the United States

does not want to be seen a3 a bul-

ly in international affairs.

Thus,. while Americans could
easily justify economic or military
intervention in .a sufficiently
“unstable” situation on their
northern border, they will
assurediy treat us with respect if
we demonstrate ou. will to remain
united and sovereign, as long as
we do so in a language they can

understand — overt expressions of
support for for our country.

. Of course, a nation‘is not quite, Jed Anderson .

“Barnaby, B.C. Do,

%

Simply put, no number . of

harebrained schemes dreamed up _

by some ‘underqualified boob(s)
will cover up the fact that the
present ferry. terminal needs:

1) the Nanaimo ferry run taken
out of Horseshce Bay and the
Langdale and Bowen Island ser-
vice improved, and

2) a multi-million-dollar rethink
of the present ferry terminal in-
cluding enhancement of all en-
trances, exits.and holding areas to
the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that
either of these -plans will be con-
sidered because of the current
management. at the Ferry .Cor-
poration and the current govern-
ment in power.

They’ll be too busy in court
spending public funds to settle
lawsuits brought against them for
unsafe operating conditions.

Martin Ernst
West Vancouver

Wednesday, September 2, 1992 - North Shore News - 7

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DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN

CUSTOM DRAPERIES
AND VALANCES

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unlined, $8.50 lined

CUSTOM BEDSPREADS
AND COVERS

Low, low prices on ‘blinds
and tracks
For FREE Estimates
Call 987-2966
Serving the North Shore for 22 years

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WHOLESALE WEDDING GOWNS

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SIZES 4 - 26

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OPEN 10 AM - 8 PM

Chateau Granville Hotel

| 1100 Granville Street 669-7070

CAP WEEK

a Are You a Caring
Person?

Would you tike to assist people -
with disabilities? There are seats
still available in the Personal
Care Attendant to People with
Disabilities Program. This two-
term, full-time health rraining
prepares you for a career. The
program starts Monday,
September 21, so call 984-4947
now for more information.

Free Workshops

To get a headstarton a successful
year, new and returning students
are encouraged to attend free ;
workshops on study tips, college
survival skills, time management,
student employment; managing
finances, and more. For more..
information about workshops
running Thutsday, Sept. 3 and
throughout the term, call
984-4945 or pick up an
Achievement Resource Centre
Workshop Calendar at the
Student Information Fair, on now

” at the Capilano College

Sportsplex until Friday, Sept. 4.

‘> Art, Theatre & Musle.

If you're planning to attend ‘this
year's Fringe heatre festival, don't
miss “Bea i ‘on hour hour of manic
fun and satire directed by Bill.
Murdoch from the Cspilano

jn
* (heme A, 2120 Main Street on tT
» these dates: Sepe. 12 az 4:15 p.m.,
Sepr. 14-15 ar 8:30) pm.; Sept. :

16-17 at 6:00 AD at
2:00 pac, Call a

-. year’s top graduates: The :.
. exhibition runs Sept. 830,..

9:30-4:30, Monday through:

.. Friday. The Studio Art Gallery is ~
Pie bili. Aa Admission .

- Capilano College Art fnarvctor
: David’ Maclagan has'a unique *
* ‘view of the world, having
travelled to 30 countries and all

the provinces and territories in .
Canada. Works from his book; ’
“It's a Watercolor World” will be
on display at the Cardinal
Gallery, 1500 W. Georgia in ©
Vancouver, Sept. 15-27.

" ‘The Bachelor of Music Transfer

Program’s Fal! 1992 Concert
Series gets underway Tuesday,
Sept. 22 with an alumni recital.
Guitarist Murray Visscher will
perform 1:00-2:00 p.m. in C
Building, room 148. Admission is
free. For more information about.
the series, call 984.4951.

CAPILANO.
COLLEGE

2055 Purcell Way.
North Vancouver
British Columbia

986-1911