Wednesday. September 17, 1997 — North Shore News ~ 7

pilano.

= “ébliegs
AT CAP

% Capilano College |

north shere news

VIEWPOINT

WHEN I joined the
' North Shore News early
in 1984 I had no idea

that I was starting the
most dramatic period of
what was to be nearly a

pal century in journal-
icc] had even less idea that
freedom of the press would
Come under such gross attack,

or, that George Orwell’s Big
cr would become i a reali-

ig, Brother, of course, is
a single person. 7
He is the Revolutionary
a Party, the Timid Tory
¢. Non Democratic.”
Party. tl a1 Jewi

ingress, B’Nai Brith, The
‘Simon. Wiesenthal Centre and

lins bids adieu te

speech is usualty OK as long
as it’s the speaker’s speech.

The message is that if you
are a columnist, don’t go
bevond the limits of conven-
tional journalism.

Admittedly, the gag in the
mouth is oiten tied on with
the best of intentions.

The Spanish Inquisition
existed in the name of Spanish
morality, It was necessary to
burn heretics to save society.

In Canada, federal hate
laws are necessary to save soci-

- ety. Politicians and learned

judges have said so.
Academics nave said so.

Tn B.C., hate laws have
been created that go further
than hate laws. For proof, see
the Human Rights Act. (How
Orwell wouid have loved that
terminology!)

They should have called it
the Heresy Act.

Tt was a long time coming

> batt it was written in the

socialist stars.

Thad not long been on the
News when Professor Robin
Ridington of UBC took me to

. the B.C. Press Council, com-

plaining that 21 columns were
net the sort of thing fit to be
seen in polite society. _
He didn’t get anywhere.
And it never occurred to him

hat press freedom is as

important as academic free-
dom,’ or that one cannot exist

dgcon to. a..fax
me because he

without the other, dreadful
though some of us scribblers
may

There were other appear-
ances before that council,
none of which led to my
mutch desired demise.

Advertising boycorts were
the next thing on the agenda,
ied by Aziz Khaki, late of East
Africa, who has federal funds
at his disposal. An Anglican -
Archbishop backed the cam-
paign. It too was a bust.

Then the demonstration
route was tried. No success
there, cither.

Politically correct colum-
nists, editorial writers and car-
toonists in the 3.C. media did
their thing. Also to no effect.

What to do? Launch the
Heresy Act, that's what.

No other writer in the
country has been the subject
of such loving attention. Not
that I sought it or ever imag-
ined it would happen. I simply
went on writing what I
thought. which is what
colurnnists are supposed to

lo.

Isn't it?

The critics made t two mis-
takes.

They hadn’t reckoned with

a publisher, Mr. Peter Speck,

10 refuses to be bullied. It
was not for nothing that this
company calls itself The North
Shore FREE Press.

~~ and much less bigoted than
his self-righteous critics.
Governments, of course,
always prefer hypocrisy to
plain speech. But, it is sad to
watch |i lightweight journalists
joining the government gang-
up on someone who has far
mote ener; , talent and char-
acter than cy do.
Jon Ferry
North Vancouver

LONSDALE QUAY.
NORTH VANCOUVER

988-6321

iinsurance
Services inc.

Mast newspapers would
have collapsed under such ar:
attack and thrown the trou-
tlemaker to the wolves.

Why bother with principle?
Why nor just take the moncy
from the ads and live a peace-
ful life?

Michael Elterman of the
CJC must have believed that
was the way things would go
when he made fis complaint
under the Heresy Act.

The second mistake was
that the critics didn’t know
how much public support
there was for free speech. As
the North Shore News
defence find shows.

Tt has been astounding.
One chap jumped out of his
car at Ambleside, stopped me,
and wrote a $100 cheque. A
lady met me coraing out of
the library —- I’m not making
this up, honestly! — kissed
my hand and gave voice to
unprintable, complimentary
things about what [ was doing

Lube, oil & filter change
Reg. $28.95 Peanzall 10W30
Not valid with other offers

for Canada.

Then there was the man
with the mid-European accent
who left some cash at the
News’ reception desk and said
he didn't want to leave his
name because the “secret
police” might get to know
about him.

Two people contributed
$1,000 cach.

The battle is not over so
please keep the support com-
ing and we shall win in the
end,

History will remember the
North Shore News.

My thanks and respect go
to Mr. Speck, Managing
Editor Timothy Kenshaw, col- _
league and former Editor
Noe! Wright, and all the staff.
It hasn’t been easy for them,
having me around.

And thanks to you, the
readers. You have given the lie
to the myth that Canadians
don’t care.

Goodbye and good luck.

on”:

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Open Horse

When was the last time
you had a cup of java at
a Philosophy Cafe? Or.
walked into a casino
that explained the odds *
of winning? How about
attending college
without being asked to
present a term paper or
write an exam? You can
de all these things and
much much more at
the Capilano College: if
Open House on i
Saturday, October 16.
The North Vancouver
campus is inviting you
to join us forafun--
filled (and educational) .
day from 102.m. to’
4p.m., with a free
pancake | breakfast
served up by our!
president, Dr.

Lee, at 9a.in.

will be prizes, 's

sports and a4

upcoming issie of The.
_ North Shore News.

Watch Out for the ©

: Wednesdays Ng
*. September 24 ($260),

Watercolour: Level |

- Mondays beginning -

Basketbail

Congratulacions to.
Greg Zavediuk, coach
of the Capilano’ :
College Blues women’s :
basketball ceam and’. ‘.
this year's recipient af
Basketball B.C.'s -
Coaching Award of
Excellence atthe /
college level. Catch the::
next ‘home game at
noon, Saturday,
October 4, when the
Blucs take on the
Universiry College of

CHRIS CARTER
Financial Advisor

925-5565

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