Separating the public from the private A GIRL who writes for the Globe and Mail did a gossip column the other day about a prominent Ottawa politician. The question seemed to be, had his wife stopped cheating on him yet? The writer said she didn’t believe the wife was playing around. She didn’t have any evi- dence that politician was drinking himseif blind either. “IT must here admit that if it’s going on, I don’t know about it. None of my sources has breathed a word about the Bnss falling over at meetings or slurring his words at breakfast ... At public events (his wife) is usually at his side, svelte and aduring ... (but) ... I don’t believe any of the fascinating rumors now current in Toronto (and, for all I know, the rest of the country).” The writer’s lone firm convic- tion is that gossip is not nice and to prove her point, she uses another thousand words to repeat all the gossip she’s heard. Her report, if that’s what it can be called, included the name of the wife’s reputed lover and refer- ences to unproven character Naws of other named Ottawa politi- cians. All were offered as examples of how wrong the press might be and all served to introduce a few thousand readers to gossip they hadn’t yet picked up in public toilets. It is worth putting in perspec- tive the prominence accorded to this non-story. It appeared front page on the Pocus Section and jumped, pants off, to an inside page. Length was 1,100 words. The Globe’s lead editorial on Ca- nadian education was 700 words, an editorial on the Quebec budget was 500 and a thoughtful letter to the editor on the role of the monarchy in Canada rated 500 words. With editors making judgment calls like these, the ordinary cus- tomers had better begin asking themselves how they’re going to find people who will stand for public office in this country. Don't ask me. Don’t ask the editors of Canada's National Newspaper. Ask yourself. Are you willing to be an alder- man, an MLA or a prime minister if it means standing tippy toe ina septic tank, trying to keep your mouth and nose above the sur- face, whimpering, ‘‘Please, please, don’t make waves’’? If this politician’s wife is un- faithful I’m sorry, but not very. It’s none of my business. [It was nobody’s business that one Amer- ican president fusted in his heart for strange women or that the wife of another president had an alcohol problem. Odd as it may seem, it’s not your business or mine if a politi- cian goes home and gets heavily into the cooking sherry, as many do. The time for the voters to be concerned is exactly the same time an employer can properly concern himself about an employee’s drinking — when it begins to af- fect the performance in the work place. Even then some of us will Parade kicks THE 1991 Hose Reei Festival kicks off at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow with a parade of antique and modern fire trucks as well as mar- ching bands. The parade begins at Victoria Park in North Vancouver City, Paul St. Pierre PAULITICS & PERSPECTIVES remember that some men drunk are better leaders than other men sober. Surely in Ottawa there are enough high-priced reporters to tell us if politicians are showing up drunk for committee meetings. They can, tuat is, if they can tear their attention away from gossip about the politicians’ families, gossip of the sort we used to ex- pect only in National Enquirer. Only in North America are pol- iticians’ spouses and children dragged into the public arena. When did you last read about the private lives of Maggie Thatcher’s husband, or President Kohl's wife or M. Mitterand’s family? In Europe there is an element of restraint, sometimes called natural decency, which prevents the press from poking around in the bedrooms of their rulers. In Canada and the United States, the line between public duties and private rights of politi- cians has almost disappeared. The Vander Zalm affair in Brit- ish Columbia is an example. The press did itself proud by constant- ly probing, pressing and asking until it was finally revealed that the premier was a stranger to the truth. Itis a clear right and duty of the press to inform the public if leading politicians are telling lies. Left to go their way, liars can destroy the entire structure of public trust. But, having performed that du- ty, the press had to go further. We had the unlovely spectacle of a television team interviewing the premier’s son on the day the disgraced man resigned. The son was near tears. What else? He said he was loyal to his father. What is wrong with a son believing in his dad? The real question was, what rights did you or [ have to intrude on that man’s privacy? Canadian newspapers are now atwitch and atwitter about some recent libel suits. We are told these have caused libel chil! to fall upon our proud, free press. If libel chill is what is needed to separate public from private mat- ters, let’s have more of it. Let’s have a whole damn winter. off festival proceeds north on Lonsdale to lth Street and then heads west on 17th Street to Mahon Park. The festival is a full day of fun and fundraising events hosted by the three North Shore fire departments. Friday, May 10, 1991 - North Shore News - 9 SKIN REJUVENATION Heaithy Younger Looking Skin European Facial Waxing (for Waxing over $20.00) Sculptured Nails Valid with this ad only Other services: Acne treatments, wrinkle reduction & contrel pedicure, lash tinting & make up. - ima Chez fle ESTH ETICS ionaal 922-1225 TREAT MOM TO SUNDAY BRUNCH lOam-4pm OR. .Mother’s Day Special It’s a Snap for Mom! MOTHERS DAY DINNER} 3% x5or 4 x 6 Prints Quality One Hour Photo Finishing with this coupon SG 100-24 Exp. 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