A4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 1, 1994 TER RACE

STANDARD

ESTABLISHED APRIL 27, 1988

ADDRESS: 4647 Lazelle Ave., Terrace, B.C. * V8G 188 TELEPHONE: (604) 638-7283 * FAX: (604) 638-8432 MODEM: 638-7247

Strange allies

HOW FICKLE is the world of Canadian politics. .

An adversary one day may very well be an ally the next. There’s no better example than the most recent dust up over Quebec sovereignty.

It began when federal Indian affairs minister Ron Irwin said that natives living in Quebec could very well take themselves — and the land they inhabit — out of Quebec should the pro- vince ever separate. This is no small thing. The area in question is the vast northland of Quebec, containing a wealth of natural resources and the massive James Bay power project. Losing the north part, historically called Ungava, would represent a serious economic blow to separatist dreams,

Mr. [rwin’s statements were quickly joined by those of the native groups. Ever eager to promote the concept of self-government, natives wel- comed the notion that they could determine their own political destiny. It’s no secret natives in Quebec aren’t exactly ecstatic about the virulent forms of that province’s ethnic nationalism.

All this then fit into the position of English Ca- nadians who either oppose Quebec sovereignty on patriotic grounds or who have more of a dark side to their feelings toward Quebec. That’s be~- cause there’s a legal and political theory about Ungava, the northern portion of modern Quebec. It wasn’t a part of the province when it joined Confederation. Hence, if Quebec separates, the theory is that Ungava will stay as Canadian terti- tory. It’s obviously a position Quebecers don’t accept.

.This all adds up to an alliance between natives in Quebec and those opposed to Quebec sovereignty. It’s all just a bit bizarre because the latter group are also completely and utterly against any concept of native self determination. But they’re willing to go along with the native cause for now if it means a jab at Quebec.

The above may sound a bit tiresome and boring to.a lot of Canadians, especially to those caught up in the Stanley Cup aspirations of the Van- couver Canucks. But if politics can be consider- ed a sport, it’s important to learn the players and the plays.

June 6, 1994

Beginning this week we’re going to hear a lot about June 6, the 50th anniversary of the 1944 D-Day landings. The invasion of Europe by Allied forces opened another front to the Second World War which ultimately ended with the defeat of Nazi Germany the year after.

As the years go by, less and less is remembered — or learned -— about the landings at Normandy. Several generations have now passed and wars of eras gone by do not weigh heavily upon the minds of modern day Canadians.

And that’s a shame in these days of an un- certain Canadian identity, for Canada was one of the key nations involved in the D-Day landings. Its warships shepherded vessels carrying its troops from England, its planes flew overhead and its paratroopers landed in the darkness ahead of the main invading forces. D-Day helped demonstrate what Canada can do when a com- mitment is made.

While war is not something to be glorified, its effects and impacts must be remembered. That’s why it’s important to take note of D-Day’s 50th anniversary.

GES al PUBLISHER/ EDITOR: Rod Link ADVERTISING MANAGER: Mike L. Hamm

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Serving the Terrace area. Published on Wednesday of each week by Cariboo Prass (1969) Ud, at 484; Lazalla Ave., Terrace, Btlish Columba.

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Torontonian misses point

VICTORIA — First, ket me get you into the right mood by quoting an eastern columnist and her perception of British Columbia in general and Van- couver in particular.

“What a bimbo lown If Vancouver were a dame, it would be a harlot starlet, press- ing its cantilevered cleavage into your face and whispering huskily in your ear.

“No talent, but a great set of «» twin peaks. It reclines here on ihe edge of terra firma, like a courtesan on a chaise tounge, purting and preening and puckering its lips.’’

You mad yet? Well, here’s a bit more: ‘‘Put another way, Vancouver is spiritually, psychically and temperamen- tally blond: a vapid aithead of a burg, substituting good looks for brains, and giggles for con- versation.”’ ,

Now you're gelling it. Who is this columnist? ] won’t men- tion the name. There’s no bet- ter way to get even with sclf- inflated members of the fourth estate than not lo acknowledge their names. Hey, I ought to know. I've been in this busi- ness for more than 30 years.

I will say, though, that the columnist in question is a woman. Hell, a man writing

FROMTHE CAPITAL. HUBERT BEYER

what she did would be hauled before a human rights commis- sion by an army of blond Van- couverites,

And just what was it that licked Madam off? The esthetic cquivalent of penis- envy, that’s what. To be more specific, the Canucks cleaning the Maple Leafs’ clock, and the abscnee of any scenery to speak of where she comes ~ from.

I'm not kidding. This pur- veyor of easiern contempt for anything west of the Great Lakes. just couldn’t take the thrashing our Canucks gave the Leafs in the series.

“One day, they're touchy- feely esthetes — tree-huggers,

whale-petters, tofu-eaters — and the next they’re trying to masquerade as hackey- frenzied Canuck devotees, Vancouverites have never met a fad they couldn’t embrace. And right now, the pet rocks of choice are the Canuck- leheads.”’

I think she should have checked with Vicky Husband first. She’s a devoted year- round tree hugger, And I’ve never seen her at a Canucks game, not even during the playoffs. As for tofu, I never touch the stuff,

Now to Madam’s second in- feriority complex. Read on: "Oy, is this hamlet self- absorbed or what? Culturally bereft, politically inconsequen- lial and geographically isolated. from the Canadian experience, it has created a cult of itself.

“There’s a kind of Moonie attitude that permeates every aspect of life-as-they-know-it in Lotusland, and indolent haze-daze that’ renders its denizens glassy-eyed and in- tellectually fried.

‘“What after all, does Van- couver have going for it excepl a confluence of geological cle- menis, the mountains and the sea and the massive influx of

Asian money.””

Now you're talking, lady. We got all that, in spades, al- right, and we7ll keep it, thank you. Frankly, I think I speak for most British Columbians when I say you can insert your central-Canadian experience where the sun doesn’t shine.

Intellectually fried, hey? [’d like Madam to meet Michael Smith, Nobel Prize winner and Vancouverite.

I give Madam one thing: she has a good command of the English language. Unfortunate- ly, she is nol using it to add to the sum total of mankind’s knowledge. Her semi- intellectual prose is reminis- cent of the kind of high school journalism that substitutes in- sult of. genuine criticism.

Apart from using the rather odious stupid-blond sterco- — type to make her point, whatever it is, she has obvious- ly spent no more than a day or two in Vancouver.

So, Madam, I suggest you © come back to Vancouver after you get over your pet peeves. Who knows, you may like it belter next time. And if you - need a guide, Ill be happy to oblige, although I live in Vic- toria, a city I won't let you go

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A reason to be skeptical

WHEN 1 plunk my money down for a too-good-to-be-true item advertised in a labloid or on a slick flyer wedged into my mailbox, I expect to be fleeced.

Mind you, I won't be happy; Pll fight to get my money back through every legal means available to a gullible con- sumer.

But I won't be disappointed. Not even by a $12.95 indoor

parabolic dish antenna guaran- *, = THROUGH -BIFOCALS

teed to cover aj] UHF and VHF channels from 2 to 83 that arrives in a shoe box lighter than a pack of cigarettes without packing or instruc- tions, with four suction cups to clamp it upright on my TV.

Chagrined, yes, but not dis- appointed. Fashioned from prey wasp nest, all that was missing was a string and one soup can.

However, when a newspaper prints a reporter's article beat- ing the drum for a service or product, I expect much more. I

CLAUDETTE SANDECKI_

trust the reporter and the news- paper to offer me only reliable businesses.

At least I did until experience taught me to be skeptical.

In the spring of 1991 the Pro- vince ran a full page article writlen by ils business reporter introducing Maturity, a seniors magazine published in New Westminsler, and distributed through the Bank of Montreal, —

Always keen to discover a

magazine more in line with my current interests, I asked at our local Bank of Montreal for a

. copy. Several times..aver a

span of weeks. Nane was ever available.

Finally, I phoned the maga- zine’s office to learn its sub- scription rate. July 21, 1991 I mailed a $12 cheque for a one year subscription, six issues.

Weeks went by before an is- sue arrived. When a second copy failed to show up two months later, I wrote one letter and phoned several times, in- ciuding one evening call to the publisher at his home. His response? ‘*Pick it up at the. bank.”

Eventually a second issue ar- rived. But the last four issues of my subscription never came.

From one newspaper article, a touted service or product can experience a spurt of popularity. How ihe company reacts to the increase in con- sumer interest depends upon its integrity. The company’s

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Me GROCERY STORE ? JEP | AND

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response should be checked by _ anonymous callers before. the newspaper presents the compa-" ny to readers, .

For Maturity to accept free exposure ta 221,195 Province Teaders, then ignore me, and renege on our contract - albeit a $12 contract - upset me not only with the magazine but with the newspaper for its endorsement of a so what? company.

Last Sunday the Province printed another three-quarter page business article about Maturity, complete with an 8 x _ 5 photo of the 34-year-old pub- lisher hugging a copy of his product, ‘*Canada’s largest magazine for seniors, circula- lion 175,000.”

Maturity’s editor says, ‘Seniors have 80 per cent of the wealth in this country, but they arc truly ignored, for the -

most part.”

Who better to know.

Dad OLE VME, STOP BY THIS }/ Fee, STORE AGAIN |