111111
)
Somebody said that somebody said. Trouble was cawed and suspicion fed. Somebody passed on as idle wsrd.$smeormc repeated what someone had heard. There has been many a broken heart. ,Many a marriage has come apart. Many relationships have been changed. Many a Geighbor become estranged. In many a home w h e r ~peace once reigned, affection and loyalty have been stmined, and marly u life is incomplete all because someone was indimmet. Many a friendshiphns been wr~~kredthrough rrossin unfounded mc2 unchecked. Mischief was made and a rumor spread. Sowbody said that son~cbadysaid. PATrnNCE STnON
-
-
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
APOLOGIES
First t h i n g s f i r s t . A l e t t e r all;'eared i n t h e l a s t i s s u e (.Junc 1) \ , ~ i t t c nby Carl Ikl)onald, which gave h i s opinion on t h e submission of t h e Iknbnto~inEastsjde Women's Centre t o the Calnegie Review Panel. 1 d i d n ' t give i t much thought - a l e t t c r . . h i s opinion 2nd h e ' s welcomc t o i t - and honc~stlyd i d n ' t believe t h a t allyone would take i t s e r i o u s l y . hlron!: i s almost too mild a word. A number of \<omen were very upset t h a t slich n narrolc view w d d even be p r i n t e d ; t h a t i f such "shit" was ~ o i c c dperson- to-person it w u l d be :~mplcgrounds f o r having t h e spe:tker hnrred from Carnegie i u r v e r l u l abuse I ' v e s p k e n with t h e author i n t h c l a s t few days, and he apologized f u r sounding so o f f -the-wall. He s a i d t h a t what he'd t r i e d t o express was a feeling t h a t no a r e a of t h i s Centrc should be given cxclusivcly t o o w group t h a t already has a place of t h e i r own. . t h a t something here would be scrapped i f it was. The p r i n c i p l e i s okay, but i t seems t o have gotten l o s t i n t h e b i a s . I t ' s not riglit t h a t being ignorant of t h e othcr s i d e o f t h e s t o r y should automatically allow one t o assume t h a t one ' s o w view i s " r i g h t , popular, c o r r e c t . . . " I apologize t o t h e women who took offense t o t h e l e t t e r . 'To s e e uncnding \ior-l<t o e l e v a t e t h e d i g n i t y of women r i d i c u l e d i n a conmmity publ i c a t i o n ... I asked some of Lhosc who w r c concerned t r 3 m i t e back, b l ~ t mo:,t s a i d t h a t i t would only Cced t h e f i r e and p o l a r i z e people i n t c women Versus men. The -joke was/is m t a joke - taking t h i s as a joke i s thp t i p of t h e problem. PRT
MJGGS SIGURGEIRSON has been a c t i v e in t h e Downtown Eastside community f o r a number of years, both i n and o u t of community c e n t r e s . Bright, vivacious and a b l e t o l i s t e n , she was acclaimed a s President of t h e Carnegie Community Centre Associat i o n not j u s t once but twice! Like many i n t h i s Centre, Muggs saw no r e a l need t o purchase a membership card, a s using cards o r a basketball d i d n ' t happen. Then, l o and behold, t h e increasing problems with t h e Board of ~ i r e c t b r sbrought a p l e a t o her t o come and help. Since becoming d i r e c t l y involved, she aided many members and users i n r e c a l l i n g t h e Board and having a Special General Meeting - r e s u l t i n g i n a new e l e c t i o n . Since assuming o f f i c e a s President, she has helped t o c l e a r o f f over a t h i r d of an accumulated debt of $21,000 i n under s i x weeks. Now, Muggs i s not a name a mother gives h e r daughter. As Muggs t e l l s i t , when she was a toddler, an 80 year-old neighbour had an equally aged p e t named Muggs and one name was about a l l he could handle. Included was four year-old Margaret! Muggs i s c u r r e n t l y hard a t work on her p l o t i n Strathcona Gardens and Committee, while being among t h e "best and brighest" a t Carnegie. Free f o r t h e summer from her work a t Total Education, an Alternative school, t h e coming months promise t o g e t b e t t e r and b e t t e r . By PAIJL TAYLOR
LETTERS I am writing with regards t o Carl McDonald's l e t t e r i n the June 1/87 Newsletter. M r . McDonald claims t h a t he has "never seen o r heard of" sexual harassment in the Carnegie Centre. This i n i t i a l l y leads me t o believe t h a t he is both blind and deaf. He goes on t o say t h a t he has been the victim of sexual harassment i n the centre. This leads one t o believe t h a t M r . McDonald i s i n f a c t blind, i n t h a t he was sexually harassed i n Carnegie but didn't see it happen. Further on, when he s t a t e s t h a t he was harassed sexually by a woman, he was "embarassed" but "not hurt" and, macho man t h a t he is, he "can take it." He opines as well t h a t equal r i g h t s and "programs f o r self-defence" are acceptable but only i f paid f o r i n cash. I've been around a t Carnegie f o r a long time and I'm not aware t h a t M r . McDonald has ever paid rent a t the place. Perhaps t h i s i s because he i s more equal than others. He wonders "what decent woman wants t o be out i n t h i s crime-ridden area l a t e a t night?" Have you ever been out l a t e a t night i n the Downtown Eastside , Carl? I f you have, does t h a t make you an indecent man? In Disgust, Sam Snobelen
~
Early t o bed and e a r l y t o r i s e G - makes one miss the Late Show E and the Waltons. Carl MacDonald --
Dear Readers, Alas, there i s no slander from Sam i n t h i s issue. H i s (inimitable) mind is on vacation even though h i s body (attached thereto h i s big mouth, of course) i s s t i l l with us. Vague mumblings about "H.B.('and h i s s l i d " I ' m innocent - l e t ' s get back in control - T. fooled me - I ' d love t o Sam was work with these guys a f r a i d he'd puke h i s guts out. Tune i n next issue when he's back on E a r t h
..."
On Lawyers --C__-
Good Works Claude Planidin Given a community of courage and i n t e g r i t y the S p i r i t cannot die. The world waits and watches and learns a s the S p i r i t makes the invisible visible given a community of courage and i n t e g r i t y where a l l things good a r e possible.
Down yonder h a l l , across thick f e l t e d f l o o r , Past telephoning wench with d i c t i o n poor; Behind translucent panel, bearing name, The leeching lawyer- claws h i s way t o fame. Well weaponid he:. . h i s l e g a l t a l e n t s strong, Ar,d avaricious hooks two inches long. Hi.s calm assurance confidence, inspires Through b r i e f on b r i e f , 'till a t l a s t he r e t i r e s . Though ' b r i e f ' be name of each f i n a n c i a l gain, Procrastination always lengthens s&ne, Until poor c l i e n t - contemplating cost W i l l compromise'd be--and double-crossed; For warring c l i e n t s cannot always know How legal beagles' household p a r t i e s go Where, liquor loosed, each lawyer t e s t s h i s mettle And, in such solemn conclave--'grees t o s e t t l e , Before, i n c o u r t , with wigged Judge and Jury He wastes much time--and drinks--in verbal fury! For widow too, h i s s u b t l e a r t he weaves, And with weeping woman loud he grieves: While patting shaking shoulder with r i g h t hand He s t r i v e s amain, with l e f t , t o f i n d some land In dead husband's testimonial'd w i l l Which cents w i l l buy - - and cons'mate legal s k i l l His lakeside l o t o r nearby country home Thus was secured. Nor c r a f t nor s k i l l alone Increases ample (holding) company shares; (Pure greed helps s e t t l e Widow's small a f f a i r s ) I t a l s o helps (a f i n e career engloss) To woo and win the daughter of the Boss. In drinking too, t h e lawyer owns h i s s k i l l And e'en though besotted, he drinks on s t i l l . In middler years, with bleary eyes and jowls-With nervous twitch and blink l i k e pregnant owls-With many a drunken curse-in French and SaxonH i s rasping voice i n court-a tortured klaxon. .So passes a l l h i s fame, save f o r remark Made by 'pov'rished Widow(1iving i n t h e park) "He was a good man - - when I was b e r e f t He only charged me half what was l e f t , Entrusted res'due kept me fed and dressed; *Nil n i s i bonum-." She forgot t h e r e s t . When f i f t y - f i v e , t o heav'n h e ' l l beg h i s way, St.Peter - gruff and s t e r n - but j u s t - says "Nay, The good d i e young then e n t e r i n t o heaven; The Devil take YOU man - - you're ninety-seven."
From cavern'd depths t h e Devil screams i n f e a r - "No lawyers - please, - t h e r e ' s limits-even here." By Captain B i l l y - B i l l y , D.S.O. Ph.D ( L i t t . Oxford)
*
N i l n i s i bonum
*
An author owned an a s t e r i s k And kept it i n h i s den W e r e he wrote t a l e s t h a t had large s a l e s Of e r r i n g maids and men, And always, when he reached the point Where carping censors l u r k , He c a l l e d upon the a s t e r i s k To do h i s d i r t y work. By A. Nonymous
What is life?
Nothing, a s : H i s l i a b i l i t i e s were $5000 and h i s a s s e t s n i l unless used a f t e r a degree o r order, t o indicate t h a t it w i l l become e f f e c t i v e on a specified date unless modified o r made invalid by some contingency such a s an additional item given gratuitously. -
IIIIIII1UlIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Smile Smile a t t h e whole world And t h e whole world smiles a t you. Cry And you cry alone. Scamp
Moves By Claudius Ivan Planidin A quick t r i p moving through h i s t o r y t e l l s a quick s t o r y - f i r s t t h e g r e a t vision, second t h e g r e a t word, t h i r d t h e g r e a t deed. Humble pen (and f a i t h f u l frj~end) have I been neglecting too long the powers of a mover and shaker i n p o t e n t i a l ? I s t h e time r i p e t o stand up and be counted i n a cosmos vast where words shape worlds?
Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life Life
is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is
a challenge - meet i t a g i f t - accept i t an adventure - dare it sorrow - overcome it tragedy - face it a duty - perform it a game - play it a mystery - unfold i t a song - sing it an opportunity - take it a journey - complete i t a promise - f u l f i l l it a beauty - praise it a struggle - f i g h t it a goal - achieve it a puzzle - solve i t l i f e - l i v e it. Author Unknown Submitted by Sheila Bell
The Philosopher By Claudius Ivan Planidin Catching my serious demeanor he t e l l s me over coffee chuckling through h i s hacking cough i n t h e community centre downtown - "I've f i n a l l y figured it a l l out. Life is f o r living! That's a l l there is t o i t , l i f e i s f o r living!" H i s grizzled chin and twinkling eye t e l l me he knows whereof he speaks.
I t ' s pouring i n Vancouver. The bus making a sucking sound a s i.t comes t o a h a l t : MainGHastings. The neon l i g h t s r e f l e c t t h e grimy st. r e e t s , c r e a t i n g an i l l u s i o n of cheerf '111 bright ness, while t h e r a i n attempits t o wash away t h e d e r e l i c t s ' and booz y people' sidewalk s ~ i t . A t the u r i h a l ' s she1t e r a bedraggled group of Native Indian men and women stand i n somber s i l e n c e , l i k e ravens perched together on a deserted dwelling, t h e i r usual l i v e l i n e s s washed away. A p o l i c e c a r ' s s i r e n i s heard. The cops chase p a s t , splashing t h e group. A man makes an obscene f i n g e r s i g n , while a woman screams a few foul words a t t h e disappearing c a r . I t is speeding towards a mass a r r e s t of Chinese youngsters, who a r e a l l being pushed and shoved i n t o a p o l i c e van. A hooker rushes through t h e downpour. flis f l a s h y paint job, s l a t t e r n wig and swaying hips a r e n ' t enough t o d i s regard h i s masculine l e g s , which a r e well-exposed t o j u s t below t h e p e l v i s . Iie e n t e r s t h e Regent, eyeing t h e men only. Nasty Josephine, her a s s overflowing her c h a i r , i s already t h e r e . She howls v u l-g a r i t i e s a t t h e male prostitute. A couple, obviously stewed t o t h e g i l l s , argue about t h e respec t a b i l i t y of t h e woman's murky p a s t . W i l e two cops saunter around , overlooking t h e sordid scene, t h e two -map ' "country" band plays an o l d M i c k .Tagger h j t : "oh help me, please doctor, I'm damaged t h e r e ' s a pain where t h e r e once was a h e a r t . . "
I would not miss it f o r t h e world!
Clothes do not a person make
I.
When we a r r i v e d back a t t h e t r a i l e r
Mrs. h o t had d e l i c i o u s lasagna
ready f o r US. We shared our adventures ~y mm and I were most fortmate t o be guests a t a s-er home i n What- and by t h a t time we were r e a l l y t i r e d . d i d not have any problem g e t t i n g corn Meadows. The campsite is located to sleep. i n t h e Sudden Valley a r e a near BellSunday Mr. and Mrs. Emmot took ingham. The former mayor of Burnaby and h i s wife t r e a t e d u s l i k e royalty. U S t o a fancy r e s t a u r a n t c a l l e d t h e The t r i p down t h e r e was most i n t e r - C1luckanut e s t i n g . I t d i d not take us long t o Chuckanut Manor. Chuckanut means get through t h e border because w e were "mountain of t h e sea". The r e s t a u r a l l Canadian c i t i z e n s . Near Belling- ant overlooked t h e ocean and t h e ham we saw a deer crossing t h e road. landscaping was b e a u t i f u l , We stopped f o r food supplies a t a My Mom was concerned t h a t she was b i g Supermarket. not dressed well enough f o r t h e fancy I chose ghosthuster c e r e a l f o r r e s t a u r a n t u n t i l she saw M r . finmot breakfast. W e managed t o g e t t h e l a s t in a p a i r of ragged jeans. Then hlom s p e c i a l box which had a ghost which f e l t completely a t ease. kept changing colours on it. On t h e way t o t h e fancy eating W e a r r i v e d a t t h e campsite about p l a c e , we accidently r a n i n t o a Vint e n o'clock a t night on May 15. There tage Car Parade which was i n t e r e s t i n g . was a s a t e l l i t e d i s h which allowed u s We went f o r a t o u r and saw more t o g e t about 240 channels. We stayed property t h a t t h e Emmots owned on most of t h e n i g h t watching cartoons. our r e t u r n trip. A beautiful stream The next morning I went bike r i d i n g . through it. I came down t h e s t e e p h i l l too f a s t , Later t h a t day Terry, Mom and I h i t a rock and went f l y i n g through went f o r a walk by Cain Lake. There t h e a i r . I ended up with a s h i n e r i s an abundance of w i l d l i f e t h e r e . and f e l l on my head. \de saw a beaver swimming across t h e After taking up some a r t i c l e s t o lake and plenty of waterfowl. t h e l o c a l community h a l l f o r t h e aucwe went back t o the property by t i o n , we l e f t f o r S e a t t l e , \\re stopped t h e stream. Then we picked up rocks a t every totem along t h e way and f i l l e d with quartz and discovered studied i t s h i s t o r y . rocks t h a t would be good f o r n a t i v e The most i n t e r e s t i n g totem pole was spearss in Everett. \\re took some p i c t u r e s Later t h a t evening we watched a there. After looking i n t h e l o c a l video c a l l e d "The Golden Seal." Then telephone book we f i n a l l y found a I f e l l sound asleep. Taco Bell r e s t a u r a n t . They make t h e The next afternoon, we headed f o r best tacos and a t a very low p r i c e . home. W e stopped a t a r e s t place A s we came near S e a t t l e ,there was and went f o r a walk through t h e f o r a huge t r a f f i c jam and we had t o wait e s t which was c l o s e by. i n t h e lineup f o r a long time. When Whe~?w e a r r i v e d a t t h e border 1 t h e t r a f f i c f i n a l l y moved, we saw a a s i g n -Government of Canada c a r a t t h e s i d e of t h e freeway which Cbstoms Inspection - w i t h a l a r g e had been completely burned. Canadian f l a g . I s h a l l always have We stopped and walked around t h e happy memories of t h i s wonderful Space Needle, 1 saw a f l y i n g saucer weekend. By WAYNE SCfFIIDT-11 years between two control towers.
T h e Vancouver Sun, Phyllis Schiafly, who helped defeat the Equal Rights Amendment, is putting the heat on a group she calls the Freezeniks. Schiafly, 56, who has been quoted as saying the nuclear bomb is, "a marvelous gift that was given to our country by a wise God" wrote in her monthly newsletter from her Alton. 11.1inoishbme an article titled Phoney bbrality of the Freezeniks.
t
IT WILL BE A GREAT DAY SGEN OUR SCHOOLS HAVE
ALL THE MONEY THEY NEED, AND THE MILITARY HAS TO
IIOLn A BAKE SALE TO
BUY A B m E R . From your pap 3 . Bee
Tuesday, June 9, 1987
~ h Annual k General Meetrng
of !he members of the Carneg~e Community Centre Assccrat~on will be held in the theatre of the Carnegie Cornrnunrbf Centre at 6 Phi on Thursday June 25,1987 for the purpose of h e a r i n g reports, electing directors. and ail other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.
Changes to the Heliport at CRAB Beach have been announced and somebody's business is in high gear: : - increasing from Helijet ~irways one 13 passenger helicopter with.6 flights per day to three 12 passenger flights / day. Heliport Services Inc.: building $300.000 worth of new facilities - tekink building with coffee shop G lounge. Okanagan Helicopters Ltd.- :one is ad-ding twentyfour passenger helicopter.
intent of Bills 19, 20 By HARRY RANKIN The injunction which Attorney-Genera1 Brian Smith is seeking against the B.C. Federation of Labor and the B.C. Teachers Federation has no precedent in Canadian history. It is an effort to legally ban and silence all criticism of, and opposition to, any and all policies introduced o r implemented by the Social Credit government. The statement circulated by the attorney gene~alto explain his application for the injunction is even worse in the ludicrous and false charges it makes against the labor movement of B.C. Let me give you some examples. The attorney general brands the one day work stoppage in protest against Bills 19 and 20 as "unlawful," a "conspiracy," "an offence against the state," an attempt to "subvert the democraticallyelected will of the people by force" and an effort "to subvert democratic process of the legislature." The one day protest by labor has not been declared unlawful by any court. Any statement by an attorney general does not make it so. He is simply using his high position to pass judgement and find people guilty even before a trial. To brand the one day stoppage a "conspiracy" has even more sinister implications. Conspiracy in law is a very serious offence, punishable by severe penalties. Again, the attorney general is using his high position to present his personal opinion as law. The attorney-general also accuses trade union leaders of "trying to move the making of laws out of the legislature and into the streets." The inference here is that if the people of B.C. gather in protest in any street demonstration against any legislation introduced by the Social Credit government, they are subverting the democratic process.
'It is an attempt to subvert the democratic process, to silence all opposition and outlaw all protest8 - Harry Rankin
That also is dangerous nonsense. It is not only our right, but our duty to protest what we consider bad for the province. The streets d o not belong to the Social Credit government. They belong to the people. They are not Social Credit property. They are public property. The one-day work stoppage was a protest only against Bills 19 and 20 - nothing else. It was directed only at anti-labor legislation, the aim of which is to deunionize B.C., and destroy the whole trade union movement. It was not an attempt tooverthrow the government. It did not even raise the demand that Vander Zalm resign. Therefore, to call it an offence against the state or an effort to subvert the democratic process of government is simply dangerous nonsense. To charge that the work stoppage was an attempt to subvert the government by force is even more far-fetched. No force was involved in the work stoppage and no effort was made to stop people (including Premier Bill Vander Zalm) from crossing picket lines. The injunction takes the issue of force even further. The term "force," as it is used in politics and governmental change, usually means drastic measures such as revolution, use of arms and phys-
ical violence against people and property. The Criminal Code of Canada does not define force, leaving this to the courts. But the attorney-general has, in his injunction, given an entirely new definition to the word. He asserts that force includes work stoppages, breaking union contracts, intimidation, picketing and strikes, "resisting legislative change," and showing that government "has been misled or mistaken." In other words, if any citizen of B.C. expresses any disagreement with any action of the Social Credit government, that person is automatically guilty of attempting to overthrow the government by force. The injunction could even prevent the New Democrat MLAs in the legislature from registering their opposition to any government bills, because that would be "resisting legislative change." If the NDP advocates "government change" by throwing out Social Credit at election time and electing an NDP government, that could also be banned as an attempt to change government by the unlawful use of force. Any such efforts could be classed as "intimidation" or part of a labor "conspiracy." This injunction is a clear indication of how Bills 19 and 20 will be used. In fact, government spokesmen frankly state that the injunction is being sought because Bill 19 has not yet been passed. Bills 19 and 20 and this injunction are not only an attack on the trade union
movement. They are an attack on demc;racy itself. They are an attempt to subvert the democratic process in B.C., to silence all opposition, to outlaw all protest and to establish a one-party authoritarian state in B.C. based on the model of the corporate state introduced by Italy's fascist leader Benito Mussolini and recently by dictator Augusto Pinochet in Chile. Why are Vander Zalm and the Social Credit government so blatantly trying to destroy democratic and trade union rights in B.C.? The only people who would benefit would be the big corporaA F ~ DT H A ~JOT tions. Without unions, wages could be ALL. ~ H \ Shjâ&#x201A;Źv\l cut to Third World levels, social proA ~ T I TEAUER grams eliminated, work hours increased BILL 15 REALLY and safety regulations on the job elimiG o d % To HURT nated. O U R C\DJ A d D Profits would skyrocket and that is I WEle FLLWWS. exactly what the big corporations which control our economy want. They put Vander Zalm into office, they financed his party and now he is delivering what they want. Repressive legislation designed to destroy unions and democracy has never worked, and it won't work in B.C. The working people of B.C. fought long and hard to establish their unions and to win decent wages and conditions on the job. Our young men and women gave their h e s in the struggle against fascism in World War 11. We're not about to give up our democratic liberties now. The struggle against Bills 19and 20 will go on until they are withdrawn and trade union and democratic rights restored in our province.
-
PEACE OF TIE PUZZLE n
c 1986 Kelly Crockhart 6 David Ryerson The world i s a puzzle One Peace i s missing We a l l know where it i s But no one can reach high e n o ~ ~ g h . We're a l l scared of something I t may be darkness o r love O r j u s t our own shadows That we cannot break f r e e o f . There's people, think i t ' s being stone1 T h a t ' l l smooth over t h e rough They c a n ' t know when t h e y ' r e alone They' r e not high e n o ~ ~ g h . People climb Mount Everest To see the world below Even though they've reached t h e top There's s t i l l more t o go. When you hear of man i n space Oh, i n the s k i e s above Though h e ' s found another place He's not high enough, The world is a puzzle One Peace i s missing We a l l know where it i s Rut no one can reach high enough.
b r k ~ ~ * ? ~ ~ ? ' ? ~ k ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ $ As the heat continues on B i l l 19, t h e High Court threw out AttorneyGeneral Brian Smith's injunction against t h e Labour Unions. Vancouver c i t y council w i l l debate a motion ~ u n k16 asking the provincial govt. t o withdraw i t s labour b i l l and a l low a f u l l review by t h e l e g i s l a t u r e and the public.. "Ilopefully, a majority of council w i l l f e e l they can support t h a t , " s a i d Ald. Libby Davies, who moved the motion. Mayor Gordon Campbell s a i d t h a t he i s "not wild" about R i l l 19, and being t h e l a r g e s t mun i c i p a l i t y i n t h e province, Vancouver must be considered .
f i ~ h i sis good legislation. How many times must I tell you that? This is g r e a t legislation. 9
- Preyier Bill Vander Zalm I
" God b l e s s t h e grass. Grass js l i k e the t r u t h They r o l l t h e concrete over i t and think t h a t it i s dead. . . But the grass grows back. God b l e s s the grass." PRT
Daydreaming I ' m a t r a v e l agency p l a n n i n g my j o u r n i e s , t o u r i n g t h e u n i v e r s e of t h e mind. V i s i o n s of a l i e n l a n d s , b l u e s and w h i t e s of t h e s t a r k and s t u n n i n g North; l i q u i d s of l u s c i o u s masses of t r o p i c a l plumage. S t r a n g e , e x c i t i n g f a c e s , b o d i e s move i n b e w i l d e r i n g u n i s o n . F l o a t i n g t o t h e o r i g i n of my r e a l i t y , t a r r y i n g i n my homeland, f a m i l i a r d i a l o g u e s and promises of r e u n i o n . Dreaming of t h e b e n e f i t dance i n t o x i c a t i n g c o n f l u e n c e when t h e t u r m o i l of t h e drums transcends i n t o a recurrent whirl w i t h wings of a n g e l s . W e a r e smiling a t each o t h e r ' s soul. My dreams o v e r t a k e m e : today I s t o p p e d a t a z r e e n l i g h t and tomorrow I must answer t o h i s f o r m a l i t y ; "I'm v e r y w e l l , thank you, and YOU?"
Submitted by Willemien I ' m one of t h e s t u d e n t s i n y o u r c l a s s . I come e v e r y day. I s i t h e r e and I s m i l e and I l a u g h and I t r y t o t a l k your E n g l i s h which you always s a y w i l l be "my" language.
A s I s i t h e r e I wonder i f you, my t e a c h e r , are a b l e t o t e l l when I am s i n k i n g i n s p i r i t and r e a d y to q u i t t h i s incredible task. I walked a thousand m i l e s , d e a r t e a c h e r , b e f o r e I m e t you. When I s a y my name i s Sombath, I want t o t e l l you a l s o t h a t back i n my v i l l a g e I had a mind of my own. I c o u l d r e a s o n . I c o u l d argue. I c o u l d l e a d . My neighbours r e s p e c t e d m e . There w a s much v a l u e t o my name, t e a c h e r , no m a t t e r how s t r a n g e i t may sound t o your e a r s . You a s k "Where a r e you from?". I was born i n a l a n d of f i e l d s and r i v e r s and h i l l s where p e o p l e . l i v e d i n a r i c h t r a d i t i o n of l i f e and oneness. My h e a r t o v e r f l o w s w i t h p r i d e and p o s s e s s i o n of t h a t b e a u t i f u l l a n d , t h a t p l a c e of my ancestors. Y e t , with a l l t h i s I want t o s h a r e w i t h you, a l l I can m u t t e r i s "I came from ~ a m b o d i a " . "How o l d a r e you?". I want t o c r y and l a u g h whenever you go around a s k i n g t h a t . I want s o v e r y much t o say "I'm o l d , o l d e r than a l l t h e dying f a c e s I have l e f t b e h i n d ,
o l d e r t h a n t h e hungry hands t h a t I have pushed a s i d e , o l d e r t h a n t h e s h o u t s of f e a r and t e r r o r I have c l o s e d my ears t o , o l d e r t h a n t h e w o r l d , maybe. And c e r t a i n l y much older than Help m e , my t e a c h e r , I have y e t t o know t h e days of t h e week o r t h e months of t h e y e a r . Now I see you s m i l i n g . I know you are t h i n k i n g a f my g r o a n s and s i g h s whenever I have t o s a y tI houseft and i t comes o u t "how" i n s t e a d . I t h i n k many t i m e s t h a t maybe I was b o r n w i t h t h e wrong tongue and t h e wrong s e t of t e e t h . Back i n my v i l l a g e , I was smarter t h a n most of my n e i g h b o u r s . Teacher, I t r e m b l e w i t h f e a r now o v e r words l i k e "chicken" and "kitchen". Now you l a u g h . I know why. I do n o t make s e n s e w i t h t h e few E n g l i s h words I t r y t o say. I seem l i k e a c h i l d because I only say c h i l d l i k e things i n your E n g l i s h . But I AM AN ADULT and I know much t h a t I c a n n o t y e t e x p r e s s . I wish v e r y much t o l e a r n a l l t h e t h i n g s t h a t you a r e o f f e r i n g m e , t o keep them i n my h e a r t , and t o make them a p a r t of m e . Between my e f f o r t s t o s a y "How a r e you?" and "1 am f i n e , t h a n k you" come u n c o n t r o l l a b l e emotions of l o n e l i n e s s , a n g e r and u n c e r t a i n t y , So have p a t i e n c e w i t h me, my t e a c h e r , a
when you s e e m e s u l k i n g and frowni n g , l o o k i n g o u t s i d e t h e classroom o r near t o crying. P l e a s e go on w i t h y o u r enthusiasm, your e a g e r n e s s , and your h i g h s p i r i t . Deep i n s i d e m e , I am moved t h a t someone w i l l s t i l l g i v e m e s o much importance. Keep t h a t s m i l e when I keep f o r g e t t i n g t h e words you t a u g h t m e y e s t e r d a y and c a n n o t remember t h o s e t h a t I l e a r n e d l a s t week. Give me a g e n t l e v o i c e t o e a s e t h e f r u s t r a t i o n , h u m i l i a t i o n , and shame when I j u s t :annot communicate IIr e f r i g e r a t o r " , "emergency", o r 11
appointment". For you, my t e a c h e r , t h e y a r e l i t t l e words, b u t f o r m e they a r e l i k e monsters t o f i g h t . P a t me on t h e s h o u l d e r once i n a w h i l e and h e l p my t e n s e body and t r e m b l i n g hands t o w r i t e A B C and 1 2 3.
- Continue
t o reward m e w i t h a warm good" o r "very good" when I have f i n a l l y pronounced "church" c o r r e c t - l y a f t e r one hundred "shurshes". F l a t t e r m e by a t t e m p t i n g t o s p e a k a p h r a s e o r two from my language and I w i l l end up l a u g h i n g w i t h you. II
I a m one of t h e s t u d e n t s i n your c l a s s . I came t o d a y and tomorrow I w i l l come a g a i n . I s m i l e and l a u g h and t r y t o t a l k y o u r E n g l i s h which you w i l l s a y w i l l become my language.
Closed in (Written in a psychiatryc ward i n Lion's Gate f l o s p i t a l )
Why 'mi I here? I s i t waiting, But f o r what? For whom? I f e e l s o sczred, so alone, And y e t I f e e l eroded By an unf'amiliar presence. I look around. Everyone here i s l i k e me, Yet, s o d i f f e r e n t . Each of us alone y e t Completely surrounded By one another. I f z e l t h e tension In t h e a i r . I hear t h e l a u g h t e r , Yet underneath t h e laughter I s a sea of uncried t e a r s And an ocean of confused emotions How I wish I could disappear. When I t r i e d , I f a i l e d , and I'm g l a d , Even though I long t o go, I'm determined t o s t a y And f i g h t these f e a r s through. I j u s t hope t h a t when A l l t h i s i s over, The people I love W i l l love me st211 And t h e people That d i d n ' t c a r e W i l l f i n a l l y reach out t o me And take me f o r Who I am today, Not who I was yesterday. Lavon G a r r e t t
Last night 1 was wandering around ;irld I was thinking about what people a r e thinking about! I n MacLeanls Iwgazine t h e r e was t h i s l i t t l e c a r toon which went, "You youst t o wake up e. ch morning with a song. " Ilere's an o l d e r woman t a l k i n g t o a songbird who's obviously supposed t o be happy, and s h e ' s i n her c u r l e r s and o l d s l i p p e r s . So, yeah, what it i s , i s , we wake 11p each morning with no big d e a l . Each morning i s t h e same a s t h e morning before, and t h e morning before was nothing t o w r i t e home about. What i s t h i s b u l l about waking up each morning r e l a t i v e l y happy, everything i n t a c t , with something good t o (10 ? Hey, who ' s f o o l ing who ? We d o n ' t ; we wake up f e e l i n g nothing f o r t h e most p a r t and then going about g e t t i n g on with i t . Somewhere bctween t o t a l l y jaded and c h i l d enthusiasm, t h e r e ' s a p l a c e f o r a d u l t folks t o hang o u t . Okay, so we don't wake up each morning e n t h u s i a s t i c and e x c i t e d - we clon ' t have t o wake up h e l p l e s s l y aged e i t h e r ! T was looking around l a s t n i g h t watching people make t h e most of i t , wanting it not t o end. I ' v e seen people w z e up t h e next morning and not put a very good s t a r t t o it a t a l l . (This has l i t t l e t o do with a l c ohol, but alcohol i s a f a c t o r ) . I'm :;tyrnied; i t ' s t h e same boat f o r everyone and everyone is on t h e same 1,oa t
.
Maybe Noah forgot something o r we ruined t h i n g s so bad we had t o be taught a l i t t l e lesson. Whatever ... Where has t h e n a t u r a l enthusiasm and a n t i c i p a t i o n gone? We work a t i t , we sometimes put on a good show; sometimes we a c t u a l l y f e e l i t , but not a s much a s i n younger years. I have a f e e l i n g t h i s i s what we c a l l aging, and we a l l do t h a t p r e t t y good (and u s u a l l y before our time. ) The aging process: l o s s of a n t i c i p a t i o n , l o s s of enthusiasm, l o s s of innocence. How t o slow t h i s down is up t o each of u s individually. Speci f i c i a l l y - how t o wake up each morning e n t h u s i a s t i c , e x c i t e d and hopeful and how t o a n t i c i p a t e a good day. I t moves o n . . . What about when it so easy t o honestly c a r e about another person. I n younger years, we couldnot g e t over it; whereas i n l a t e r years we c a n ' t bloody well remember what happened, with who, how o r where? This i s d e f i n i t e l y not p o s i t i v e prog r e s s ; t h i s i s age regression o r some such t h i n g . . t h e opposite of a good thing. I t ' s not s o p h i s t i c a t i o n . . i t l s a l o s s . . a n d i t ' s up t o each of u s t o f i g u r e o u t what l o s s . I t ' s a l l w e l l and good t o be a d u l t s and g e t on with i t , but i t ' s no good t o throw it a l l away on t h e way, and then go so f a r a s t o not remernber anything of t h e journey . Ir, c l o s i n g , i f anyone knows what t h i s i s about - t e l l someone. I know but why I'm writing i s another s t o r y . By IMVE McCONNELI,
Where t o begin i s most important when t r y i n g t o communicate. I f you know what t h e o t h e r guy i s t r y i n g t o say, then t h e b a t t l e i s h a l f won. I f t h e 'other guy' i s feeding you a crock of s h i t , you may not t e a l i z e it u n t i l t h e damage i s done. L e t ' s look around here: The Board e l e c t e d i n April has i n t e r n a l animosity between two o r three members, but nothing s e r i o u s . The work is g e t t i n g done and t h e Associat i o n is running w e l l . Then a phone c a l l from CBC. . a person saying they' ve "heard rumours" t h a t t h e new Bd. i s a s s p l i t a s t h e l a s t one and t h a t t h e problems a r e g e t t i n g worse. ...heard from who? On t h e money thing. .$1,600 was t a k en two years ago and t h e woodwork shop had about $200 worth of material q u i e t l y leave t h e building. According t o t h e papers and TV, Carnegie i s on t h e brink of t o t a l collapse. (Correction: according t o one col= umnist a t t h e Sun - Peter FilcMartin, and h i s contact a t Cable 10 and i n d i viclmls who have swallowed a mountain oP surmise b u i l t on a scrap of f a c t . )
Alnlost everyone i n Carnegie has hcarcl so much garbage t h a t t h e t r u t h h a s n ' t been 'communicated' i n a while. A t t h e Review Panel meetings, t h e same f i c t i o n is r e i t e r a t e d by t h e same people - "$100,000 i s missing.. t h e senior s t a f f conspired t o r i p u s o f f and we l o s t over $35,000. .FOClJS l i e d and conspired with t h e s e n i o r s t a f f t o g e t u s out..we were doing n g r e a t job!. . ." Why communicate in t h i s way? The Panel i s n ' t composed of g u l l i b l e f o o l s . Max Beck does good work f o r t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h i s community. Ife could make a l l r u l e s here l i k e s t e l l t r a p s , but doesn't. He has a good f e e l i n g f o r t h e people problems i n t h e neighbourhood; l i k e with t h e Oppenheimer Park food program and with suspending t h e r e l a t ionship with t h e l a s t board. The former executive and t h e i r supp o r t e r s here a r e s t i l l t r y i n g t o fool people i n t o swallowing more of t h e same malarky. Having a s e c r e t "in camera" meeting with t h e Panel t o dump t h e i r scanty i n f o , misinformat i o n and l i e s on another group, The f o u r t h l a s t t r e a s u r e r speaks of doing so much work BUT b i l l s s t i l l appear from QJuly, October , November
and kcember..money taken from places i t shoul dn ' t have been, doubling b i l l s t o committees u n t i l t h e head brings t h e i r r e c e i p t s and i s t o l d of an "error i n a d d i t i o n " . . a l l energy seemed focused (nasty word, i s n ' t i t ) on finding what was wrong with t h e l a s t f i n a n c i a l work - d e j a vu? . . .t h e t h i r d l a s t t r e a s u r e r was o u s t ctl by t h e bookkeeper who became t h e second l a s t u n t i l leaving f o r a ' r e s t ' without t e l l i n g anyone..the next ( l a s t ) t r e a s u r e r became so a f t e r , oh
t h r e e weeks of 'concern' over t h e whereabouts of h i s predecessor; and then boys and g i r l s , a l l work on f in,mce stopped! Cormnittees need p e t t y cash t o r a i s e Cunds; cheques a r e used t o pay b i l l s , and o t h e r normal s t u f f . The growing probl cm was t h i s person's reluctance t o admit t h a t he j u s t couldn't do i t .
So he q u i t . A t 10:02pm, a f t e r a board meeting he ?raised himself a s a "Peacemaker" and then q u i t . leaving t h e finances i n a near d i s a s t e r - s t a t e . (good plan - it almost worked, too) No p e t t y cash, no cheques f o r b i l l s , no r e p o r t s o r a turnover of i n f o and then a p a r t i n g shot t o imply t h a t t h e ' r e s t i n g ' t r e a s u r e r had p i l f e r e d $$$$. A pathological l i a r j u s t c a n ' t s t o p i t ' s s o much FUN! A Treasurer's Report of Association Finance i s hanging now on t h e b u l l e t i n board near t h e i n f o desk and i f anybody wants one, j u s t ask me. The l a s t page - - i s c a l l e d " d i f f i c u l t i e s encountered" and I found another one l a s t night: when t h e Learning Centre got t h e f i r s t installment of t h e l i t e r a c y worker's money, a thousand d o l l a r s was t r a n s f e r r e d t o Operating r i g h t away - and no one knew ...r i g h t . . Now, a l o t of t h i s s t u f f w i l l be t o r n a p a r t and proclaimed a s l ) L i e s , 2) Wrong and 3) Bullshit..and so on. So it goes. The only problem I can s e e i s t h e continuation of t h e crap from t h e l a s t board, a s t h e people causing it then a r e s t i l l t r y i n g t o g u l l people with garbage. Oh yeah, t h e Woodwork Project l o s t some money - maybe $6,000, but t h e exagerated amount and t h e b l o w n - o ~-t of -proport ion t h i n g with t h e $1,600 caused a $70,000 grant t o be l o s t and f i v e jobs f o r t u t o r s here. a s well a s making innocent people here look s t u p i d and incompetent i n t h e world o u t s i d e carnegie. Great S t u f f , el So now, t h e C.B.C. has "heard rumours" and w i l l be here with b e l l s on t o spread whatever a l l over town. Cet ready, f o l k s , f o r t h e "BIG LIE'' Act 2, a t t h e A.G.M. on June 25.
.
By PAUL TPYLOR (Treas .'
'I'ake a Good Inok Have you ever asked yourself. An I r e a l l y a l l t h e r e ?
..
Do people look a t me a s a sicko O r do they r e a l l y c a r e ? People judge o t h e r s s o o f t e n They f o r g e t they have a few flaws, So they t r y t o blame o t h e r s Without a j u s t cause. My f r i e n d take down your m i r r o r , What do you see? You of course But can you s e e me? Schizophrenia is hard t o cope with People won't g e t o f f your back, But people who l i v e i n g l a s s houses Shouldn't throw Rocks. scan1p
NEED
-I '-d- - l- i-k- c - - t- o- - say - - - t-h- a - -t - -I - -Love - - - -you ---
'I'here a r e eniot ions pent up inside me .Just dying t o be s e t f r e e , Rut every t irne 1 s e e you You see111 t o look r i g h t through me! I ' d l i k e t o say But I s t u t t e r So now wjth pen 'L? l i k c to c
,
i n Iiand ~ tyh a t I love you.
Because i f you Iiave any heart a t a l l When you read t h i s you should give inc a call, And say t o me t h a t you love me too For t h a t would make my dreams come t r u e . scanip
HELP
DERA can h e l p
* * * * * *
so many things rmd I 'nl shy,
?
you w i t h :
any welfare problems
UIC problems gotting legal assitance unsafe living conditions in hotels or apartments disputes with l a n d l o r d s income t a x
D E R A is located at 9 East Hastings or phone 682-0931.
D E R A HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOi.IN EASTSIDE FOR I3 YEARS
Camp Confusion n April 24 t o 26 was V i c t o r i a Camp. Ikeryone on time so everything was g r e a t . I t a l l began near t h e end o f our f e r r y t r i p somehow. But who knew? As we approached t h e community h a l l - a l l black with no l i g h t s lit - we rigr~redthey had put t h e key i n t h e s e c r e t s p o t , but it wasn't t h e r e . So t h e r e we stand, no phone numI ~ c ron t h e b u l l e t i n board. Do you think we could remember t h e name of t h e Pellow i n charge of t h e h a l l ? No! Next, Joe went v i s i t i n g some of t h e residences asking i f they have t h e hey. Answers were NO! IIalf an hour Later I am r e a l l y g e t t i n g excited! .Joe went t o a house and phoned Victoria Scout Ilouse. 1,ucky f o r us they had a meeting t h a t n i g h t . They contacted t h e Cub Master who came by with h i s keys t o t h e h a l l . Oh, what a r c l ief ! But we s t i l l had problems. No Dan. Where could he be? Dan had oui. food supplies i n h i s v e h i c l e . *Joe had given Dan a map on how t o !:c.t t o the l l a l l . So J2e went back toward t h e route w e came t o s e e i f he could spot Dan. I went o u t s i d e t o scc i f he was coming. 1 saw h i s vehicle but going t h e wrong way. Somehow .Joe and Dan spotted each o t h e r and went t o t h e bus s t a t i o n t o round up t h e r e s t of t h e crew. 'Ihey weren't i n y e t so back t o t h e Ilall t o unload our s u p p l i e s . I t was not long before I heard Irene and t h e boys banging on t h e back door. From then on it was n i c e weather. About 1 4 of t h e 18 boys had never lxen t o V i c t o r i a so it was a r e a l adventure f o r them. Wc went t o t h e I'rovi n c i a1 bh~sciun, Wax Museum, Butcha r t (;arder?s and t h e 'I'al l y Ilo Por a
horse and buggy r i d e . We were given s p e c i a l r a t e s f o r t h e Tally Ho excursion. Some boys chose t o nap a b i t and one leader decided it looked g r e a t s o she was dozing too. Joe decided t o s i t near t h e back because he i s a l l e r g i c t o horses, but t h a t d i d n ' t s t o p h i s eyes from bugging out and watering. Overall it was a g r e a t weekend f o r everyone u n t i l I got a t i c k l e i n my t h r o a t and coughed most of Sunday. I saw t h e doctor and am twenty d o l l a r s poorer. I t was a very s p e c i a l weekend we won't f o r g e t f o r a long time. Vict o r i a w i l l never be t h e same a f t e r having our boys v i s i t . This was j u s t t h e adventure of g e t t i n g over t h e r e - imagine what t h e rest of t h e weekend was l i k e ! W e a r e planning on going t o t h e L e g i s l a t i v e Buildings on June 13th. We prebooked ahead of time f o r this outing . By L JNnA MASON
IT'S BACK AT'
CARNEGIE Friends of the Ilol~l)y/lb-1t -Yow.sc>lf o r i C I I t ctl w r m l w o r l t i n l : 41011, fur Flew :~rltl Wollsll; supcrvi s r J by a n cxl)cri cncctl ~ C I X N I w11o w i 11 a s s i s t and inst rrrct shop mcnllwrs on a persona 1 Iws is . Shop itscrs shorllcl supply t h e i r om1 ~ ~ ~ a t c . r i a idcas, ls, ctc. 'I'll
is is
;I
Aru1ix11 Mc~al~crshjp Ike i s $15. 00, ( A 1 1 ' 86 n~catberships a r-c ilow vo i cl ) c~fl'cclive May I s t , 1987, wl~ichprovitlcs r~tlljll~ited use of t l I':~cilit ~ ics.
'44'-
I
Friendship I
h d he s a i d , speak t o us of friendship. h d he answered saying: Your f r i e n d i s your needs answc.red. lie is your f i e l d which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving. And he is your board and your f i r e s i d e . For you come t o him with your hunger, and you seek him f o r peace. When your f r i e n d speaks h i s mind you f e a r nc?t t o say "nay" i n your own mind, nor do you withhold t h e "ay". And when he i s s i l e n t your h e a r t ceases not t o l i s t e n t o h i s h e a r t ; For without words, i n f r i e n d s h i p , a l l thoughts, a l l d e s i r e s , a l l expectations a r e born and shared, with joy t h a t is unacclaimed. IVhen you p a r t from your f r i e n d , you g r i e v e n o t ; I:or t h a t which you love most i n him may be c l e a r e r i n h i s absence, a s t h e mountain t o t h e climber i s c l e a r e r from t h e p l a i n . And l e t t h e r e be no purpose i n f r i e n d s h i p save t h e deepening of t h e s p i r i t . For love t h a t seeks aught but t h e d i s c l o s u r e of i t s own mystery i s not love but a n e t c a s t f o r t h ; and only t h e u n p r o f i t a b l e i s caught. And l e t your b e s t be f o r your f r i e n d .
I f he must h o w t h e ebb of your t i d e , l e t him know i t s flood a l s o . Par what is your f r i e n d t h a t you should seek him with hours t o k i l l ? Seek him always with hours t o l i v e . ]:or it i s h i s t o f i l l your need, but not your emptiness. And i n t h e sweetness of f r i e n d s h i p l e t t h e r e be laughter and sharing of pleasures. I:or i n t h e sea of l i t t l e things t h e h e a r t f i n d s i t s morning and is refreshed. Gesht-Gahn
The poem "1:riendship" was w r i t t e n by a f r i e n d of mine. He uses h i s n a t i v e n m e , which means "bringing 1j ght i n t o darkness". bfy f r i e n d is from t h e Queen Charlotte Islands. I b e l i e v e t h a t we should a l l be extremely proud of our her i t a g e . Irene Schmidt
I
I