~ Wednesday, March 27, 1996 — North Shore News

anal

ABS Maree te ita Mea

PORT oe eT

READERS RESPOND TO YOUNG ‘RACIST’ ADVISED COLUMN

Scuntarkae Col

Dear Editor:

Reading the letter from = the young woman quoted in Doug Collins’ March 20 column, I felt a profound sadness that these two intelligent people should fall into the ancient pitfall of scapegoating, of blaming their own disappoint- ment and discomfort with life on” the other, the stranger.

. Just to set the record straight, we called the recreation centre to make sure we had all our facts, and were told that there were also free lessons for anyone interested, taught by stu- dents, and that the Farsi program consisted of four free lessons only, offered by a professional instructor formerly ‘from Iran.

He had hoped to encourage peo- ple who are not yet assured in their command of English to come in, and start to feel comfortable using a facility meant'to'serve all the com- munity. -

Rather than criticize the Farsi~ speaking volunteer’s willingness to donate: his. time, could we not applaud his effort to use his skill as a swimming instructor and his com- mand of Farsi to encourage his

neighbors to make a step towards

‘fuller integration?

We are justifiably proud of our volunteer tradition on the North Shore. Do we believe it should only be done by those speaking English on behalf of those speaking that lan- ‘guage? -

1 am perhaps most puzzled by the apparent objection by this young woman to. information in other languages outside the provin- cial courtrooms. Is it the thought that someone having reason to be in - the courthouse (possibly as a wit- ness, victim, relative, incorrectly accused, as weil as an offender)

might, in a strange. stressful envi- ronment, need direction in their first language? Or is she assuming this is a sign that large numbers of accused are immigrants?

Why does she fix on this as a symbol of what is wrong with her world? It is a courteous, practical and sensible means of both serving the public and adding to the effi- cient running of the system. Not everyone masters English overnight.

There are legitimate fears for the future stability of our lives, in a world that seems to be changing so rapidly, but blaming immigrants or visible minorities is neither just, logical, nor productive.

Margaret Third Executive Director North Shore Multicultural Suciety

Qo0-

Dear Editor:

In the March 17 and 20 issues of the North Shore News, the always controversial and seldom: interest- ing Doug Collins has once again honored us with his wisdom. In the March 17 issue he has sought to alert us to the failing judiciary sys- tem citing the case of Siamak Ashrafinia, who seemingly got a light sentence of three-month house arrest for his crimes. Apparently the offence committed by Mr. Ashrafinia carries a maximum $en- tence of [4 years in prison.

Anyone who has read the article has clearly noted the vicious under- tone used by Mr. Collins to make

his point: a welfare-receiving deaf

Iranian taking advantage of the sys- tem. Surely a deaf migrant can find employment in.this booming econo- my with a snap of his fingers. After

PRATT & LAMBERT

ACCOLADE = VELVET

ci

* washes better than most oil paints

i t' ] ins all, we do not see any “true’ Canadians on welfare, much less committing any crimes!

March 21 being the Iranian New Year, it was only fiiting that we should be Doug's feature of the week, since again in the subsequent issue of the North Shore News, Iranians were the topic. This time however, we were mentioned through the words of a young 22- year-old bigot who has apparently been pushed to the back by more qualified people at everything she has attempted and is angry because of her failures.

She is angry because she will not have a secure job when she gradu- ates, because she will not be able to afford a house, because her children will not have a safe place to grow up, and because she feels like a minority in her own country.

Apparently migrants from the Middle East, Europe, East Asia and other places have it much easier.

All they have to do after arriving here is to learn the English Jan- guage, contend with the different culture and adapt accordingly, deal with rampant racism and prejudice in society and still beat this angry young bigot to the prize.

This person seems like such a great loser that despite her bigotry I do feel for her. Is her concern for the safety of her children also because of the Iranians?

Doug Collins and his army of darkness must indeed feel like minorities in Canada, because while the rest of us are moving towards friendship, understanding, peace and solidarity as Canadians, an old bigot tells a young impressionable bigot to take action.

I hope as Canadians we would stop taking the easy road of blaming

9

others for our personal defeats so the unjust prejudices might go away,

Shahrokh Shahbi-Azad

North Vancouver

g00

Dear Editor:

Lam writing in response to a col- umn printed in the March 20 North Shore News. | am aware of Doug Collins’ reputation as a journalist and do not wish to condemn him or his reader as racist. In fact, / agree and empathize with his reader in certain respects.

I, too, fear that I will not find a secure job upon graduating. [, too, am angry at the amount of violence that my future children and other children have to face. I agree that political correctness is a pretension that has reached absurd extents,

Most of all, ! agree with Collins’ advice that one has to speak out in spite of fear. “If her generation does

SINE RTT REEL

not speak up, it is lost.” That is why lam writing this letter.

fam a 20-year- old university stu- dent of Asian descent. No, I do not come from a wealthy family. We live in a mod- est house in North Vancouver.

J work at a part- time job after school and on weekends to help pay for my tuition fees. No, I am not studying ‘math or science. In fact, I am an English

major.

At school and everywhere else, I interact with people of all ethnic backgrounds. No, I do not ramble in. foreign languages on the bus or any- where. However I see nothing wrong with it.

People of my color are not “out to take over Canada.” We do not orga- nize meetings in Chinatown or Little India, plotting and contriving to sub- due white people. I want what is best for this country and its citizens, just as you do. I do not want to be given : any advantage over someone else based on my ethnic background.

I am alarmed that a university student, suffering in the same way that fam, should feel that non-white people are coilectively. responsible for her problems. 1 sympathize with her, but 1 apologize for- nothing. 1, am Canadian, why would J. want to hurt other Canadians? ' Michelle Ebbot, North Vancouver

o

spect

* excelient fire rating - won't smoke iy - zero fuel contribution * acknowleged by quality painters to be superior and specified by architects * water clean up

« white & pastels Apri

aet.-Suri.-Mon. Mar. 36-

& PRATT & LAMBERT 1 AQUA SATIN BINTERIOR .

ISEMIGLOSS

PRATT & LAMBERT VAPEX

INTERIOR