Friday,

North Shore News -~ 7

The cycle: intolerance breeds intolerance

HAVE THE homophobes taker: over the media? One might think so, for they are getting massive — albeit unfavorable — coverage. ONE IN TEN by Robyn Brown

A couple of weeks ago, Doug Collins devoted a whole column to a ridiculous ranting under the headline “Coming out in the media." Disguised as reporting, it was propaganda for bigotry.

Yes, Virginia, dinosaurs are alive and well and living on the North Shore, Whatever you do, avoid Doug Collins — you might

- History lesson

Dear Editor: ‘

I don't happen to be a homosexual, Neither am I of Ira- nian descent, nor an immigrant from the Third World, nor black. “1 don't belong to any of the particular groups on whom Doug Coliins has chosen to heap hate- filled, fear-mongering§ abuse in recent weeks, ;

So it would be easy, all too easy, for me to ignore his out- bursts. They don’t apply to me; what have | to fear?

Plenty.

Jama Jew.

-I and my people know and remember too well the horror that attends those who keep silent in the face of evil.

I have taken to heart the words”

of Martin Niemoeller: :

“In Germany they came firs for the communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t’ a communist.

“Then they came for the Jews, and 1 didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. a ;

“Then they came for the trade

‘ unionists, and I] didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

. “Then they came for the Cath- ‘olics,;; and .I didn’t speak up “because I was a Protestant.

'. “Then they. came for me, and -. by that time no one was left to "speak up.”* ;

We live in a country where the twin freedoms of speech and the ‘press remain sacred. Collins has a societal right to spew his drivel,

- "= but it: doesn’t follow. that the

North Shore News is obliged to publish it.

Stephen D. Aberle

West Vancouver

Get rid of him —

Dear Editor: a I believe in free speech and democracy, but Doug Collins’ re- ‘ cent article on homosexuality went beyond ‘the. boundaries of free speech. This man is using his column to

peddle: hate and prejudice’ in -a .

woild .where we, as parents, are trying to teach our children accep- "tance and tolerance. Doe, .. Have: we: all forgotten . Mr. Keegstra, the Alberta teacher who

uséd. his position to .manipulate .

"the views of students?

- Perhaps’ we can all look. for- -. ward to a column by Collins en- “titled ‘‘The Legend of the

Holocaust” ... or did I miss it al- “ready? . ;

This man is an insult to your

” integrity. Get rid of him. ‘Alison J. Bell-Irving _ North Vancouver

bump into him and catch his ig-

norance,.

The opinions expressed by the columnists in the North Shore News do not always represent the opinions of those of us who work for this newspaper.

But that’s one of the founda- tions of free speech — I may not

_ always agree with what Doug Col-.

lins says, but I will defend his right to say it.

However, what 1} can’t under- stand is why anybody bothers to listen,

His recent column about les- bians and gays in the media was a perfect examp)e of how the media not only report the news, but also

construct the news.

Editor’s note: . my

THIS ASSORTMENT of letters constitutes only a smail sampling of the respouse to Doug Collins’ March 24 column pondering the influence the gay community has in the Canadiay, media.

Since the column was publish- ed, the North Shore News has been bombarded with outraged

~been verbally .. abused;

Because people were so outrag- ed at what Collins wrote, his col- umn became the subject of con- troversy. There were stories about it in both the Vancouver Sun and The Province, and it was publiciz- ed on several radio programs.

All the added publicity has prompted even more people to want to get a copy of the column, because — and this is the key part ~- in order for people to criticize it, they first have to read it.

It’s an insidious cycle. Suddenly Collins’ column was being photocopied, faxed, and passed around the entire Lower Mainland.

Consequently, he has received much more attention, media coverage — and, most important- ly, readership — by being homophobic, than he would ever

WLLLLLLEGG

(telephone calls, incendiary faxes and angry letters to the editor from 2i! over the Lower

- Mainland. :

. The newspaper’s staff has veiled threats of physical vicience have been made.to Collins and other members ‘of the editorial department. ; ae We have keen collectively

have received if he had written something gay-positive.

However, while the rantings of one narrow-minded man have upset a lot of people, one thing is certain: he managed to get people talking.

And people need to talk, On this page are some of the letters the North Shore News has receiv- ed regarding this issue.

However, lest we forget, it is

those who are silenced, those whom

society has forced deep into the closet, who most need to be doing the talking, And yet they are the ones who cacnot speak or write for fear of having their names in the paper.

They are invisible, but they are your sisters, your brothers, your children, your friends, your co- workers ... and (hey are every-

slandered and otherwise dragged through the public mud.

But we would have it no other way.

The messsge of the whole ex-

_ercise is open commounicatica,

which we stand for; the message of those screaming on the fringes is selective. communication, which we oppose. :

‘trol.

where.

Intolerance breeds iniolerance. {t’s time for a different approach.

“Guerrilla goodness”’ is an un- derground movement that started down in San Francisco (parade capita!!), and its motto has become a revolution: ‘Practise random kindness and senseless acts of beauty,”

Kindness breeds kindness.

The world needs to embrace Doug Collins.

Think about it ... wouldn't that ~ be a homophobe's worst nightmare? To be embraced by lesbigays? He wouldn't know what hit him. : ;

Welcome to the gay '90s, Doug! Have a nice day. =

Robyn Brown is a member of the News’ editorial department.

oma Diver

Hate-mongering Dear Editor:

Yesterday J called the circula- tion department to cance! delivery of your paper,

{have tolerated Collins’ toxic penmanship for far too tong and F no fonger wish. such blatant hate-mongering to be delivered to my home. :

If Collins used the word ‘Jew’ or “‘black"’ instead of his favorite epithet “homo,” he would: be charged with inciting hatred and - fear of minorities, ,

It’s clear your newspaper relies on his views to create controversy and interest, but at what cost?

What ts there to be gained from. obsessing on the sexual practices’ of a particular group (which, ‘1 might add, are simply variations on, or identicai to, activities ex- -Plored by pecple of all orienta- tions -~ yes, ever heterosexuals!)?

Collins is fearful, sad, and pa- thetic, and after his appearance on - 60 Minutes, he’s an embarrass- ment to all of Greater Vancouver,

Let us pray that Collins’. words, and the paper that documents them, do not become the. kindling for the fires in which I, my life partner, and countless peaceful, loving friends would be burned.

_ The ‘‘Voise of the’ North Shore”’ is not my voice.

Robbin Jeffereys .

North Vancouver

Burning crosses Dear Editor: . : I regret that 1 and my family have

to stop accepting your newspaper. «|

There are two reasons. :

First: yes, Doug Collings. does make people think — think about burning crosses and wearing white suits with pointed hats.

Doug’s words are dangerous.

He is as outdated as the dinosaurs and with his access to your paper, as powerful. :

I am disgusted that his opinion should not only be accepted, but honored. :

1 am afraid when I imagine this . world with people like him in con-

Is this big abusive bully the best you can find to write for you?

Do: you really believe you.are simply being democratic when you

_allow him to spew his venom?

Doug is not funny; he is dan- gerous, ' _ » Second: I don’t want flyers and | : junk mail. There is enough gar- bage in the world already.. ©

Print this, please, in fairness to_, those .of us wha are not happy .: with someone who spreads hatred in the guise of cleverness and wit. Shirley Kealey © Lo North Vancouver