March 15, 1988, carnegie newsletter by Carnegie Newsletter

NEWSLETTER

MARCH 15, 1988.

l THE VIEW FROM HERE that I have your attention... Advertising pros know how to do it: a woman, young, good figure, pretty face, smiling...y ou'll look. The Porn promoters have found a market too; a BIG one. Woman are shown being tortured, raped (but enjoying(?) it), beaten 6 bound and ripped apart. If you are reasonably sane, you can tell yourself it is a movie with actors and a script and so on. You can even tell yourself that it's harmless. Why not? Anything is pOSSlble, and ail the old sayings can be used one after the other.... I1 Who can figure a woman?..You can't live with 'em and you can't live without 'em..Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!'. .and on and on. Did you ever stop to think that this is like the tip of an iceberg? I1 A woman; women'; like refering to a herd or some species of fish.... "they're all alikeW...Then tha show goes on to where you interact with women only in your mind, in dreams and fantasy. With sex numero uno, you'll get dissatisfied, probably, but then you can buy skinbooks or rent a rnovie...Look at all the Stuff there is - "these people do a lot of 'researcht to know that I like to call women whores & sluts" and so you do what is easier - you begin to live your fantasies - always getting more and more frusnot finding the impotrated with ssibly hospitable world that Porn tells you is everywhere. But, as people, our sexuality can get warped until the only pleasure (again 1) is to develop it into a sickened outlook on women and even children. In Denmark, in the 601s, they

NOW

loosened their controls on the display of pornography until any bookstore, clothing store, shopping mall or billboard could be used. I saw one lifesize picture on an ad-board in a Stockholm subway station that showed a naked woman from the knees to the neck - and that was all. No words, no ad, just a hunk of flesh. In the last 10 years, Denmark has the fastest rising rate of rape of any country on this planet. A supposedly enlightened approach is turning out to be a horrible prod to escalating violence against wombmen; sex crimes run rampant. In North America, Kiddy porn is a $1 BILLION annual business. In Canada, a woman is raped every 17 minutes and sexual assault occurs once every six minutes on the average! In reference to the 24-hour Porn shop down the street: do we keep our heads in the sand for five years or so - while the incidents of violence against women increase, to get so bad that the record might show 15-20 murders and scores of rapes and hundreds of assaults and... and wimpily complain that it should have been stopped five years ago? The liquor store was closed only after years of fighting, but the price is still being paid. We can't ignore what Porn is or what it does just because "every person has the right to choose". Turn your moral courage to the fight to keep our community and our world fkee of this disease. The war to Elevate the Dignity of Women and raise the consciousness of humanity can be won. By PAULR TAYLOR

It seems Jancis Andrews' poem about pornography, in which she uses "filthy" four-letter words to show us something about the attitude of porn promoters, has caused some kind of panic reaction in Carnegie's staff & moral outrage in some of the community's more conservative members. Ms. ~ndrews'poem is about a very serious & dxtremely dangerous psychological sickness among us: - Sadism - the "sexual thrill" of ripping, tearing & degrading the sexuality of others. This kind of desire, attitude or behaviour is a very severe type of mental illness, just as devastating as alcoholism or drug abuse. Men are more susceptible to this illness than women - & when they Len-...<-C----J U=CVIIIC;u l L r L L r u W L L L I It, t k j i uf ien end up worshipping death, pain, mutilation & degradation. In a society full of death images, & images that exploit & degrade erotic feelings, the porn salesman thrives. He introduces his sick cult to suburban families & establishes himself in low-income neigh bourhoods where rich yahoos & tourists search out "the action." Ms. Andrews' poem is an example of good timing a new 24-hour Porn shop is open in the Downtown Eastside This means round-theclock access to hard-core video & - - 3 - y

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other kinds of pornographic equipment & images. It's unlikely that local residents will use the shop - rather, outsiders will take advantage of the location as an all-night porn outlet for bored masturbators from the suburbs. Personally, I don't object to positively oriented erotic films - mutual sexual pleasure with mutual respect is a natural human need, & there are many lonely people who must, in these difficult p , r ' . times, find a substitute for ,row antic sexual relationships which are, for whatever reason, no longer available to them...but: Pornography depicts sadism, degradation & sexploitation as if it is a natural part of sexual behav-L -.---I-,.. t l , w l ~ r l iii fact, these thiiiga are serious mental & emotional disasters directly connected to the worship of death & the infliction of pain on a world scale. "Big Buck, The Porn Pimp" is a poem we should all read more than once, & seriously think about... The language is appropriate to the message & these days, none of us can afford to indulge in cute illusions of teddy bears... It's a little too late for polite innocence at the 24-hour Porn shop, where money-hungry Porn Pimps run the show. TORA

Dear E d i t o r , I would l i k e t o make a few comments about J a n c i s Andrews' poem published i n t h e l a s t Carnegie news l e t t e r t i t l e d : BIG BUCK, THE PORN PIMP, TALKS TO THE FRASER COMMITTEE. F i r s t , I would l i k e t o s a y t h a t I am aware t h a t t h i s i s a n a n t i porno poem from a person who h a s given much of p e r s o n a l t i m e and energy working a g a i n s t v i o l e n t and c h i l d porno. This t o p i c i s important t o o u r neighbourhood and even more s o s i n c e a new 24-hour Porn Shop h a s opened uv

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hope t h a t one of t h e t h i n g s t h a t w i l l come o u t of t h i s poem i s a g e n e r a l d i s c u s s i o n on porn and how i t a f f e c t s our l i v e s . Secondly, t h e feedback t h a t I ' v e r e c e i v e d i s t h a t f o r many people i n t h e b u i l d i n g and community i t would have been u s e f u l t o have some e x p l a n a t i o n of t h i s poem. It i s o u t of c o n t e x t w i t h no i n t r o d u c t i o n o r p o s t s c r i p t of some kind. If a w r i t e r i s n o t communicating w i t h t h e r e a d e r s h i p , then what i s t h e e a l r e a d y have a n overdose point? W of mis-communication i n t h e world. T h i r d l y , my p e r s o n a l r e a c t i o n t o t h i s poem, a s a woman, i s t h a t I r e s e n t s e e i n g anti-woman words i n p r i n t . It does n o t m a t t e r t o m e whether i t i s a woman o r man who u s e s them. When I h e a r o r s e e words t h a t a r e used t o make women non-human I f e e l pain. It h a s been my e x p e r i e n c e t h a t t h e more t h a t words a r e used i n a de-humanizing way, t h e more t h a t people g e n e r a l l y become numb t o them. T h i s l e t s , t h e s e words become more accepted i n t o our language. The r e s u l t can only be more'pain f o r women and c h i l d r e n . Thanks. Nuggs S i g u r g e i r s o n

OPEN LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE CARNEGIE NEWSLETTER A f t e r almost f i v e y e a r s of Volu n t e e r work i n Carnegie Centre, I decided t o t a k e a l e a v e of absence. T h i s l e a v e of absence a l s o means t o s t o p i n v o l v i n g myself i n t h e i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d through t h e Newsletter. However, a f t e r b e i n g t o l d &e f i v e o r s i x times t o read t h e poem on page sixieerl i ~ rihr nrwsiriirr o i March 1/88, I decided t o f i n d o u t what a l l t h e people were t a l k i n g about. I n scanning t h e pages f o r t h e poem I n o t i c e d a n a r t i c l e submitted by Wayne Schmidt, a twelve year-old v o l u n t e e r i n Carnegie. I t u r n e d t h e page and saw a s t a t e m e n t t i t l e d "Don't l e t k i d s p l a y hooker" outl i n i n g t h e r e l e v a n t p a r t of t h e Criminal Code which p r o t e c t s c h i l d r e n from being used s e x u a l l y f o r money. Right under t h i s was an a r t i c l e ( I can't refer t o t h i s a s a poem) which I b e l i e v e t h i s c h i l d was knowingly given t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o read. Is t h e r e no law which w i l l prot e c t t h i s c h i l d and any o t h e r s from being s u b j e c t e d t o t h i s form of v i o l e n t pornographic m a t e r i a l ? I understand t h e r e a s o n s f o r w r i t i n g t h i s a r t i c l e but I t o t a l l y d i s a g r e e w i t h t h e manner t h e w r i t e r used t o focus on t h e t h i n g s t h a t a r e wrong. Do you s u b j e c t people ( c h l l d r e n and a d u l t s a l i k e ) t o pornographic m a t e r i a l t o show how wrong i t is. I d o n ' t b e l i e v e so. I f t h e r e was no law broken by t h e p u b l i s h i n g of t h a t garbage I don't t h e r e should have been.

b e l i e v e t h e r e should be such a t h i n g a s a c e n s o r s h i p Committee unless a need i s shown. I b e l i e v e t h e a r t i c l e on page s i x t e e n of t h e carnegie Newsletter shows t h e need and t h a t t h e E d i t o r i a l Committee , be empowered t o c e n s o r t h i s type of m a t e r i a l t o e n s u r e no more c h i l d r e n have t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o read something l i k e t h a t garbage coming o u t of t h e Carnegie N e w s l t r .

Re:

Barbara Gudmundson

Porn Poem

I d o n ' t understand t h e Use of heavy "PORN" t o p r o t e s t Porn. Porn h u r t s Women and Children.

S h e i l a Baxter The h e a d l i n e i n tLe March 1 i s s u e of t h e Newsletter read Lightning, ' 5 u n d e r And Earthquake. I f any of tiie p o e t r y i n t h e T h e a t r e was a s o f f e n s i v e a s t h e one w r i t t e n by J a n c i s Andrews t h e r e should have been a 1 1 of t h e s e o c c u r i n g t o prot e s t t h i s d r e a d f u l p i e c e of l i t e r a t u r e (?). J u s t i n c a s e any of you need your memory r e f r e s h e d , t u r n t o page ----. r -...- - - - LVUILCCLL. WCIYLI~ : .d1 w e i r h i ; ~ extremely shocked t o d i s c o v e r t h a t t h e poem had been w r i t t e n by a woman. Nothing i s as i n f e c t i o u s a s example and how can w e t e a c h our c h i l d r e n good moral s t a n d a r d s when t h i s s o r t of t h i n g i s allowed i n a community paper? I have r e c e i v e d numerous comp l a i n t s both i n s i d e and o u t s i d e t h e community r e g a r d i n g t h e d i s g u s t i n g poem. I am n o t a f r a i d t o s t a n d up and be counted and have never t r i e d t o win a p o p u l a r i t y c o n t e s t . Being on t h e Carnegie Board of D i r e c t o r s , my c o n s c i e n c e t e l l s me L

I must speak on behalf of t h e people I r e p r e s e n t . Whatever happened to t h e t h r e e people on t h e E d i t o r i a l

Review Committee who allowed garbage t o s i f t through t h e i r s c r e e ning? Q u i t e a number of people have been t u r n e d o f f r e a d i n g any f u t u r e N e w s l e t t e r s and never want t o come n e a r t h e Carnegie because of t h i s one poem. S u p p o r t e r s of J a n c i s c l a i m t h a t h e r a r t i c l e was a g a i n s t o r t o p r o t e s t Pornography. What narrow minded t h i n k i n g a s you cannot possi b l e f i g h t pornography w i t h more of t h e same t r a s h ! I n f u t u r e I hope t o s e e a more s e n s i b l e paper. Because of t h e t e r r i b l e w r i t i n g by Jancis,Wayne and I both had o u r a r t i c l e s cens o r e d a t t h e f r o n t desk. They were i n c l u d e d i n t h e same l e a f l e t a s t h e worst i t e m t h a t has e v e r occured Newsletter.

t h e n e x t movie review s i n c e t h e Unknown Babling c r i t i c ,has somehow missplaced h i s e n t i e r e s u p l y of b a r f bags. To damm bad , f o r him fie decided t o go South i n a d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t t o replenish h i s bags(s.i.c.) s i n c e I w a s more than w i l l i n g t o s e l l him a new s u p l y of bags b u t he never l i s t e n e d . P.S. Anybody want" t o buy an E x e l c i o r b a r f bag C r a s s l y y o u r ' s Captain Chaos

There has been a lot of contro- ' versy about Jancis M. Andrews' poem Big Buck, The Porn Pimp, Talks to the Fraser Committee. Most of the response towards it was negative. People did NOT like the poem. This is an article in defense of the spirit of the poem and the method Ms. Andrews used to convey that spirit. I will begin by discussing the form and content of the poem within the context of the larger ~f ~ U L I I . i ~ S ~ :J P +_heSS~LC--CCG;;B~Z~CS I will then discuss the reasons1 feel the general public did not like the poem. I will end with some POSITIVE suggestions as to how we, as individuals, can deal with porn in our community. The poem is meant to be ironic. Irony means: a pretense of ignorance in order to make (Big ~uck's) false conceptions conspicuous. Andrews parodies the porn kings. She makes it very clear in the title that Big Buck, the Porn Pimp, is the speaker. Throughout the poem, she assumes the voice of Big Buck as representative of Red Hot Video - one of the vendors of porn. She simply but accurately reiterates the arguments Red Hot Video put forward as defense to the Fraser Committee. The arguments Red Hot used are the main text of Andrews' poem. This text reads I' I wan' my rights! I wan' freedom of expression! 1 stand on my right to freedom of choice ! See I'm not putting up with these uptight feminists who can't take a joke. ~hat'll learn them to contravene my right to freedom.

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I want my right to freedom of choic My my my my MMMMMMM-YYYYYYYYYY freedom of choice. That'll learn them! This is a free country! That's it!" Well? ~oesn't it sound familiar? How many times have you heard people cry "freedom of choice" to defend the production and dissemination of porn? Yet those directly affected harmfully by porn, women and children, do not have the same "freedom of choice?" I. of C." is an imaginary principle in this society. It is a "freedom" relegated to the few who control the decisionmaking and the economic processes in this monopoly-capitalist society. These people are generally white, male, rich and epitomize the ethic of capitalism: Consume, Control, Co-opt. It follows that those with the most socio-economic power tend to have the most "freedom." There is a direct relationship be-, tween high socio-economic status (rich white men) and access to the marketplace ($$$) . Despite my middle-class background, as a relatively poor woman, I have little access to the marketplace. Porn is a market. I don't like it. I want POSITIVE images of human loving, sharing equally. I do not WANT to see women & children exploited. Alas, I do not own the Guccione Empire (Penthouse) nor the Hugh Hefner Playpen (Playboy). My methods of partraying positive images,are not saleable (like poetry in non-commercial venues like the Carnegie Newsletter). 'Power-Over' sells. Sharing does not. Pornography imbues the values of -Power-Over(ma1e over wornadchild) 1177

- the medium and

titilation for this 'value' is the femalelchild body. The implication of porn is violent and oppressive. The consumers and supporters of these values are those in power and/or those w,ho aspire to it. Porn is a frightening medium because it confuses and titilates the senses. It blends body taboos (genitals, mammalia, etc.) with potential or actual violence. Like rape, porn has little to do with sex, but a lot to do with the assertion of Power-Over. Within the so-called 'free market' of capitalist enterprise, my freedom of choice and access is NECESSARILY contravened by my low socio-economic status. I don't have the access that Red Hot Video has. But I would like to see erotic, rather than pornographic, images. A society that claims "F. of C." as one of its basic tenets had better examine the de facto contraventions that make this tenet a farce in reality. In other words, when Big Buck cries "f. of c.'' he is really crying "f. of c." for those of us who already have it and want to keep a STRANGLEHOLD on it! This is one of Andrews' points.

These are MOT pretty pictures. As 1 write, I literally feel the pain.

I feel nauseous, violated, angry... BUT I am willing to face those facts. Only then can I confront the horrific brutality that is enacted against children & women via porn. Andrews asks you to do the same. She does not hide behind $20 words like 'genitilia' or 'urination'. She calls blood blood. Through porn and in society generally, we ARE being reduced to hunks of flesh(tits,melons) We ARE being pissed on. We ARE being raped. Andrews conveys these FACTS in the same terms that those who create them use. DON'T pretend that you have not heard this language outside of her poem. I don't like this language. More importantly, I do not like what that language represents. But, the truth does not come with a pain-free guarantee - that women & childrert are being depicted in this language and with its images. 'It is much easier to kill the messenger' i.e. "Look at Jancis Andrews. What an awful woman. How could she write such things in the pqvnnn; &La& ,4n,qyn..T",-r..-.l: ..-kIL hT-*.-l . Z ~ e b l l i' sit? ~ U V L ~ A L know that the C.N. circulates all of Big ~uck's porn, or what he calls over the city?" "f. of c.", is the violation of manv Sad.Donlt you know that those very women and children. Behind Big images, those very words, those very Buck's smokescreen lie the Facts. The FACTS are that through porn chil- reductionisms (pussy, knockers) are being disseminated ALL OVER THE dren and women ARE being reduced to: VOECD? It is easier to crucify An- meat on meathooks drews for reminding you of this than - rape victims that enjoy being to actually DEAL with the porn she raped - pieces of flesh; most often geni- is talking about. You want to get angry? Leave Antilia, mammaries and buttocks drew~,the messenger, alone for now - objects to be urinated & defebut deep that anger! Use it in a cated on positive way. Right here in (Y)OUR - objects to be bound, beaten,raped, community, there are several soft masticated, dissected & murdered . to hardcore porn outlets. One -LYIILII.~

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Adult Magazines - is right across the street. You want "bad words" out of your newsletter, but don't seem to mind bad shit - the REAL SHIT - on your streets, in your neighbourhood. Will anyone rise to petition against the Real disseminators of porn (Adult XXX)? Or is it easier to sleep through this one and get a few ruffled feathers over a very positive poem in the Newsletter. Thank you Andrews. You have initiated a dialogue. You have roused people. Now it is up to us. Possibie odes of Action .......................

(I am not from the Downtown Eastside, but I live here now. I don't claim to speak for longtime locals.; In the Downtown Eastside, most people are strapped by poverty; the basic needs of survival. We all have limited time, capacity & energy BUT we also have a lot of people power. I propose 1) A petition: WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE, DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE DISSEMINATION OF PORN IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD. The petition could be passed onto different agencies; Urban Core, City Hall, WAVAW. 2) Talk to store/shop owners directly. A lot of change has occured by 'educating', boycotting, pickets. 3) Write letters to different levels of government. 4) Support poets, artists, activists who want to propagate POSITIVE imagery of wimmins'/childrensl sexuality. 5) Gather with friends; TALK about how pain affects us ALL - children, women, men, different ancestries... 6 ) Educate ourselves - 'This is NOT a Love Story is an excellent if painful video about how porn portrays women.

7) Make personal choices. Don't buy porn. Re-think the issue and your role in it. Share your feelings. 8) Do not attack the women/children who might be involved in these industries. Sure, lots of women 'pose' for films, photos, etc. Lots of wimmin strip; lots of wimmin & young adults hook - remember that their "choices" are mitigated by a patriarchal system. IN OTHER WORDS: the Sugar Daddy (pornographer, hotel owner, pimp) is the one with Big Bucks. They are the ones --LA - c * - wllv V L C ~ ~ ~ ~~ i 1 l ~ esilocs 1 - cney are our rea1,enemy. 9) Don't unquestioningly trust legislative change. It doesn't always work. The new federal anti-porn laws hurt women/children artists; alternative lifestyles more than they do mainstream perpetrators of porn. I know that John Crosbie does not have the capacity to discern between porn h erotica. Why should I trust him and his henchmen to make final decisions about it? 10) Trust your instincts. 11) Advocate meta-legal acts for social change. Our society's mores/ laws change by people taking risks for stuff they care about. That's how rape reform laws came about; women have gained more rights i n A the workplace etc. I leave "metalegal" to your imagination. LASTLY : Women 6 Children: Do you like being reduced to a package of Tits? Men : Do you like viewing us solely in this way? If you answered NO to the above question, you have at least the beginnings of a serious attitude to a serious problem. 1

This could be a " f r e e " planet. It i s n ' t , but we can f r e e t h e messengers - p o e t s l i k e Andrews and k i l l t h e messages - P 0 R N. By PAM FLEMING ;

The space above i s purposely l e f t balnk because t h e p l a c e needs a name. The Vancouver E a s t s i d e E ~ U C + a t i o n a l & Enrichment S o c i e t y (JEEES)' has $110,000 t o i n i t i a t e a t r a i n i n g program f o r t u t o r s of a d u l t s . Five people v o l u n t e e r i n g i n t h e Carnegie Learning Centre a r e p a r t of t h i s now and a r e improving t h e i r s k i l l s i n t h e o l d , renovated space v a c a t e d by t h e women's Centre (217 Main). They a r e t a k i n g c o u r s e s a t Capilanc College ( L i f e S k i l l s , Micro-computer S k i l l s ) , t h e n on t o VCC-King Edward Campus ( I n t r o d u c t o r y English a s a Second Language), then t o V . V . I . f o r s i x c o u r s e s (running from May t o August) on elements of i n s t r u c t i o n and e v a l u a t i o n of s t u d e n t s ' l e v e l s and l e a r n i n g a b i l i t i e s . So f a r , s o good. xr--23 L l a L u ~ , L I I ~~ v - u ~ c i i n i l r nn rf f h e p r o j e c t , e x p l a i n s t h a t 314 of t h e work i s t u t o r t r a i n i n g ; but t h e o t h e r q u a r t e r i s opening l i n e s of communic a t i o n t o p r i s o n s , l i b r a r i e s , group homes, e s s e n t i a l l y wherever b a s i c a d u l t e d u c a t i o n i s needed. T h i s i s a brand new concept and Canada Manpower needs c o n s t a n t r e p o r t s on whether t h e r e i s a demand. Mardi s a y s t h a t s c h o o l systems a r e set ,up a s forums f o r c l a s s e s and t e a c h people who can l e a r n i n t h a t s e t u p . She i s t a l k i n g t o o r g a n i z a t i o n s & i n s t i t u t i o n s a l l over about t h e v a s t number of people who a r e n ' t i n school, d i d n ' t f i n i s h school & -?-

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of t h o s e thousands who a r e f u n c t i o nally i l l i t e r a t e who have t o d e a l , w i t h t h e f e a r and shame of n o t havi n g l e a r n e d t o read and w r i t e . The f e d e r a l government h a s formed a S e c r e t a r i a t of L i t e r a c y and i s j u s t now f i n d i n g o u t what i s being done i n d i f f e r e n t a r e a s of t h e land. They have a mandate t o support and fund t h e most workable, needed projects. The problem h e r e i s t h a t each Province i s asked t o h e l p w i t h funding and t h e Socreds won't ( o r w i l l w i t h s o l i t t l e a s t o make no . d i f f e r e n c e ) . Mardi i s f l a b b e r g a s ted with the incredible ideas that a r e abondoned due t o p o l i t i c s . T h i s p e s t weekend, t h e Adult Basi c Education A s s o c i a t i o n of B.C. h e l d i t s 1 0 t h Annual General Meeting w i t h a n e x c i t i n g c o l l a g e of seminars c o v e r i n g two days and a p l e t h o r a of promising i n t e r e s t s . By d e f i n i t i o n , t h e s e people form a network of i n d i v i d u a l s and groups who c a r e about a d u l t l i t e r a c y i n B.C.; s h a r i n g i n f o and s u p p o r t i n g i n i t i a t i v e s i n t h e field The f i v e t u t o r s undergoing t h i s a r e s t i l l t u t o r i n g Carnegie s t u d e n t s and t h u s h e l p i n g e a s e t h e s t r a i n on space h e r e . B u t . . . t o f i n i s h t h e f i r s t t k z g h t a t the t o p . . The p l a c e needs a NAME! They a r e o f f e r i n g $25 t o t h e person whose i d e a f o r one w i l l be p a i n t e d on t h e window. Suggestions s o f a r i n c l u d e : "Cut-Rate Tutoring" 11Save-On ~ e a r n i n g " . . . c o m e on, you

can do b e t t e r t h a n t h a t ! By PAUL TAYLOR

On a l i g h t e r note..

PLAYGIRL MAGAZINE C e n t e r f o l d Deaprtment.

Dear M r . Taylor,

Dear S i r , Your name h a s been submitted t o us w i t h your photo and I r e g r e t t o inform you t h a t w e w i l l b e unable t o u s e your body i n a c e n t e r f o l d . On a s c a l e of 1 t o 10 your body was r a t e d "0" by our p a n e l of women ranging i n a g e s 60-75 y e a r s . We t r i e d t o assemble a p a n e l i n t h e age b r a c k e t 25 yo 35 y e a r s , but we

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i n g l o n g enough t o make a d e c i s i o n . The g i r l s aged 15 t o 25 suggested t h a t you send i t t o N a t i o n a l Geographic. Should t h e t a s t e of women e v e r change s o d r a s t i c a l l y t h a t b o d i e s such a s yours would be a p p e a l i n g and a p p r o p r i a t e i n our c e n t e r f o l d , you w i l l be n o t i f i e d by t h i s o f f i c e . I n t h e meantime d o n ' t c a l l u s , w e ' l l c a l l you. We have kept your photo on f i l e a s our touch-up crew w i l l u s e i t f o r extreme p r a c t i c e .

Thank you f o r your l e t t e r d a t e d February 1 4 t h , 1988 which was r e c e i v e d i n my o f f i c e today. I would l i k e t o t a k e t h e opport u n i t y t o review your correspondence and I w i l l be i n touch w i t h you a s soon a s p o s s i b l e . Once a g a i n , thank you f o r bringi n g your t h o u g h t s t o my a t t e n t i o n . Yours t r u l y , Claude Richmond,Minister of S o c i a l S e r v i c e s & Housing. Dear M r .

Richmond,

I should a d d r e s s t h i s t o t h e machine t h a t spews o u t form l e t t e r s t o cover any t o p i c l c o n c e r n . Your response i s n ' t f i t f o r an outhouse. Kids s t i l l go t o s c h o o l hungry and a l l you can o r w i l l do i s t a l k philosophy and " g u i d e l i n e s f o r responsibility." Our c h i l d r e n c a n ' t puke t h e i r g u t s o u t because

Sympathetically, PS:

My r e g r e t s t o your w i f e . Respect! some f o r g o t t h e meaning, some j u s t d o n ' t know what i t Obviously v a l u e d o n ' t e x i s t anymore, and shame i t i s -

Behold, look what's happening, t h e w o r l d ' s going nowhere Even c h i l d r e n , most of them, along w i t h many people, j u s t d o n ' t c a r e -

i t ' s a must. Do you l i k e what you s e e ? Turn around a g a i n , i s n ' t i t p r e t t y f u l l - d o n ' t you a g r e e . Return t o t h e b a s i c s , -

K e l l , what's t o do! -

To begin, r e s p e c t y o u r s e l f And your neighbour, look and f e e l i n s i d e t h e S e l f Give l o v e i n s t e a d of h a t e , be more i n harmony Nothing comes from n o t h i n g , definitely Each and every day, y o u ' l l s e e a change f o r t h e b e t t e r Reach, o u t , h e l p , s m i l e , and t h e world w e l l be much h a p p i e r . Louise Delan

I was t o l d once.... t h i s couple who had be& t r a v e l l i n g by canoe f o r days on end t o begin a new l i f e on new frontiers. They had rowed f o r days; thanking t h e E a r t h f o r what was. By chanti n g a p r a y e r , they s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e i r i n n e r s e l f . Upon s e e i n g l a n d they thanked t h e f o r e s t f o r whispe r i n g good f o r t u n e s on t h e i r l i v e s . And s o , on t h e i r t r a v e l s they had encountered a hunting p a r t y t h a t was c l o s i n g i n on a k i l l e r whale. This "Thunderbird" came down from t h e sky t o d e c l a r e t h i s whale a s h i s . This c r e a t u r e was t h e n withi n a realm of c a l c u l a t e d f e a r , y e t p r a i s e d by t h e s e people. A few y e a r s passed, where now t h i s Great Chief was h o l d i n g meeti n g s about t h e i r p l a n s t o r a i d ano-

. .about

t h e r v i l l a g e w i t h whom they were a t war. However a n unexpected e v e n t occured. These wolves had decided they wanted t h i s "Great C h i e f ' s " brother a s t h e i r leader. So they e n t e r e d t h e v i l l a g e a t n i g h t and took t h e C h i e f ' s b r o t h e r . A hunti n g p a r t y was formed t o t r a c k t h e s e wolves. They were a b l e t o change t h e i r beings i n t o any c r e a t u r e , and they came upon t h e w a t e r s edge and jumped i n t o t h e w a t e r , changing i n t o whales. Swimming t o o t h e r l a n d s , they once a g a i n changed t o wolf. The C h i e f ' s t r i b e had v i s i o n a r y powers, and knew where t o w a i t f o r t h e s e wolves. Eventually t h e s e wolves l o s t a b a t t l e w i t h t h e s e g r e a t w a r r i o r s . And s o t h e s e wolves became s l a v e s of t h i s C h i e f ' s t r i b e . Thus became what was known a s t h e wolf Clan. Always i n a Hurry

E d i t o r ' s Note: "Smokehouse S t o r i e s " i s t h e t i t l e t o a volume of w r i t i n g about t h e s t o r i e s t h a t a r e t o l d by E l d e r s of t h e Native People. The a u t h o r ' s p a r e n t s and grandparents began t e l l i n g them when h e was 3 and i t took o v e r t h r e e y e a r s t o I f i n i s h . The f o u n d a t i o n s of t h e s p i r i t u a l l i f e and b e l i e f s of many Native people a r e based on t h e s e t a l e s .

~adib &tc/k/h$

REVISITED

By JACK CHALMERS

S e v e r a l y e a r s ago, (X won't s a y how many) I was a n i g h t s t u d e n t a t a Nontreal college. It happened t h a t my second y e a r of college coincided w i t h leap year. One of t h e s t u d e n t a c t i v i t i e s preval e n t i n those days ( o r should I say n i g h t s ? ) was t h s o b s e r v a t i o n and c e l e b r a t i o n of a n a n c i e n t and hallowed custom c a l l e d "Sadie Hawkins ~ a y . " A s t h e day n e a r e d (Feb. 29) much p l o t t i n g and scheming by members of he Iairer sex, and knowing g i a n c e s d i r e c t e d a t u n s u s p e c t i n g m a l e s , would i n s p i r e t e r r o r i n some h e a r t s and ecstasy i n others. Upon r e a d i n g t h e announcement i n t h e s t u d e n t newspaper, my t h o u g h t s were t h r e e f o l d : .1. To r u n n o t walk'to t h e n e a r e s t bus terminal. 2. To r e s i g n p o s t h a s t e from s c h o o l . 3. To w r i t e a t e a r f u l goodbye l e t t e r t o my f a m i l y and head f o r t h e mountains where I would spend t h e r e s t of my l i f e i n c e l i b a c y and contemp l a t i n g my n a v e l . I was convinced no g i r l would a s k me t o be h e r d a t e . I was w o r t h l e s s ; I would n e v e r i n s p i r e any s e l f - r e s p e c t i n g g i r l t o s o l o s e h e r mind and w h i l e i n t h a t c o n d i t i o n , a s k me o u t . Much f o o t d r a g g i n g and s o u l s e a r c h i n g l a t e r , I m e t a co-ed a q u a i n t ance from s c h o o l . A f t e r some minu t e s of c h i t - c h a t s h e inJormed me that I w a s soon t o b e a r e c i p i e n t of an i n v i t a t i o n t o t h e ~ a d i eHawkins ' Dance. Thinking t h a t s h e w a s t h e a u t h o r of s a i d i n v i t a t i o n , I r e l a x e d and gave my t h r e e f o l d r e s o l u t i o n s a second thought.

With foreknowledge, I a w a i t e d t h e a r r i v a l of t h e i n v i t a t i o n and g r e e t e d t h e postman a t t h e d o o r . I . t o r e open t h e e n v e l o p e , r e a d t h e c o n t e n t s , and t h e n my w o r r i e s r e a l l y s t a r t e d . I t w a s from B e r n i c e ! B e r n i c e , green-eyed redheaded beauty on t h e s t y l e of E s t h e r Welliams, was n o t j u s t b e a u t i f u l - s h e w a s s t u n n i n g ! and s h e wanted a d a t e w i t h me! WOW!! She w a s t h e g i r l t h a t caused a hush t o come o v e r t h e room when s h e entered. She was t h e g i r l who caused inale t e a c h e r s t o panic! She

was

i i ~ rg i r l r & ~ cnzseci_ rr.n,r,t-l

w i z a r d s t o become b a b b l i n g i d i o t s ! She was t h e g i r l a l r i g h t ! and what i s more, s h e wanted me f o r h e r date! Nowfyou young f e l l e r s who h a v e n ' t had a - B e r n i c e i n your l i f e l i s t e n up: B e r n i c e w a s s i x f o o t two i n h e r f l a t s . A b e a u t i f u l specimen of womanhood who most guys would g i v e t h e i r eye t e e t h f o r a d a t e with; ( n o t t o mention o t h e r p o r t i o n s of t h e i r anatomy). And s h e was mine f o r one b l i s s f u l e v e n i n g of dining-dancing and romancing - a l l f i v e f o o t s i x i n c h e s of me. Trembling and stammering I phoned t h e number on t h e i n v i t e t o v o i c e my a c c e p t a n c e . "I w i l l p i c k you up a t se-ven," s h e s a i d . The e v e n i n g of S a d i e Hawkins Day a r r i v e d and I answered t h e door myself i n v i t i n g h e r i n t o meet my f o l k s . I w a s proud as punch. Now i n t h o s e days f o l k s were imp o r t a n t . My f o l k s meant; n i n e sister;, my Mom and Dad, two grandmothers of d i f f e r e n t r a c e s and a g r a n d f a t h e r (somewhat t i p s y ) who c o u l d c u r s e i n Gaelic-CantoneseS w a h i l i and o t h e r e x o t i c l a n g u a g e s

when he was annoyed. Needless t o s a y , B e r n i c e r e n d e r e d him speechless. She p r e s e n t e d me w i t h a c o r s a g e (one of t h e r u l e s of S a d i e s Day t h e boy must wear t h e c o r s a g e ,everywhere t h a t n i g h t ) . The c o r s a g e was made of r a d i s h e s , baby c a r r o t s , s h a l l o t s and p a r s l e y greens. I d i d n ' t know i f i t w a s a l o v e o f f e r i n g o r nourishment f o r what was ahead. Soon a f t e r s a y i n g goodnight n i c e t o have met you - t h i n g s t o my f o l k s , s h e t o o k me by t h e hand and l e d me o u t t h e door t o where h e r a u t o m o b i l e w a i t e d . A Model T Ford; v i n t a g e unknown. A l l my b u d d i e s had g a t h e r e d a t c u r b s i d e and s h e handed m e i n t o t h e c a r a m i d s t wolf w h i s t l e s hubba hubbas and o t h e r r i b a l d comments from my own f r i e n d s . B e r n i c e had made r e s e r v a t i o n s a t a h i g h - c l a s s e a t e r y c a l l e d "El ~ o r r o c o " . It w a s t h e most expenThe guy behind s i v e j o i n t i n town. t h e r e d v e l v e t r o p e eyed my c o r s a g e and s n e e r e d : "Would Madam and son l i k e a t a b l e f o r two?" The menu was p r i n t e d i n f a k e Arabic, s o I d i d n ' t understand i t . B e r n i c e r p ~ i ~ f - l~y2 i . d"Sh211 ~ I G-Y d e r f o r t h e two of us?" I d i d n ' t know what t o s a y , s o I j u s t nodded my head. A f t e r e a t i n g something I c o u l d n ' t r e c o g n i z e and d r i n k i n g a beverage vaguely r e s e m b l i n g c o f f e e , we g o t up t o l e a v e . With me i n tow, B e r n i c e headed f o r t h e e x i t , s c a t t e r i n g t i p s and g r a t u i t i e s on h e r way. Out i n t h e c a r , we headed f o r t h e h a l l where t h e S a d i e Hawkins Dance was b e i n g h e l d . P a s s i n g i n s p e c t i o n we were shown t o o u r t a b l e which we s h a r e d w i t h f o u r o t h e r c o u p l e s . Each

f e l l o w wearing t h e same woe-begone e x p r e s s i o n a s I. Then t h e r e a l fun began. Girls w i t h whom I w a s on a f i r s t - n a m e b a s i s , and many more, a r r i v e d a t o u r tabl-e and i n t r o d u c t i o n s began. Radiant i p a n a s m i l e s beamed a t Mae Westian o g l e s and shimmies were I murmured g r e e t i n g s , f l u n g a t me. shook d a i n t y hands, and a l m o s t caught myself i n a c u r t s y . Damn! The r e s t of t h e e v e n i n g was s p e n t l o s t i n a t r a n s p o r t of s a l a c i o u s s c e n t s . Dancing around i n erni ice's Amazonian embrace I could s e e very l i t t l e . From under B e r n i c e ' s a r m p i t s I waved t o f r i e n d s and a q u a i n t a n c e s , n e v e r s e e i n g where s h e was l e a d i n g me. B l i s s f u l l y unaware t h a t my nose w a s b u r i e d you-knowwhere, and t h a t t h e a i r I was b r e a t h i n g was a h i g h o c t a n e mixt u r e o f perfume, under-arm deod o r a n t and j u s t p l a i n old-fashioned u n l a d y - l i k e sweat. Ah b l i s s ! I d o n ' t remember t h e r i d e home. I d o n ' t remember t h e k i s s goodnight. I d i d n ' t keep and c h e r i s h my now-wilted c o r s a g e . I d i d r e a l i z e RprnFce's sbjzc: i v e i n h e r a c t i o n s , and r e s o l v e d t h a t when I t o o k a g i r l o u t i n t h e f u t u r e , I would t r e a t h e r w i t h t h e r e s p e c t and honour t h a t h e r gender should demand and e x p e c t . Y e s , i t might have been S a d i e Hawkins Day, b u t t e v e of Women's Lib

KETOUNER V O I R

G&#lukhS

PAR J A C K CHALMERS I1 y a p i u s i e u r s a n n s e s ( j e n e d i r a i p a s combien) j 1 6 t a i s _ ' e t u d i a n t du s o i r d a n s un c o l l e g e d e ~ontr'eal. I1 a r r i v a que ma deuxizme ann&e de c o l l g g e c o i n c i d a a v e c une ann'6e b i s s e x t i l e . L 1 u n e d e s a c t i v i t 6 s d 1 6 t u d i a n t r6pandue de c e s j o u r s - 1 3 ( o u d e v r a i s je dire nuits?) gtait la pratique e t l a c z l g b r a t i o n d l u n e a n c i e n n e couturne s a c r g e a p p e l 6 e l e j o u r de l a " S a d i e Hawkins". IHncjF~ 1 uaba i i x 6 e ( l e 29 Fev.) a p p r o c h a i t , b i e n d e s complots e t m a c h i n a t i o n s de l a p a r t d e s membres du beau s e x e a i n s i que d e s r e g a r d s e n t e n d u s g l i s s z s v e r s d e s hommes i n s o u c i a n t ~ ,i n s p i r a i e n t d e l a t e r r e u r 5 c e r t a i n s coeurs e t de ltextase d'autres. J 1 a i pens6 2 t r o i s c h o s e s 5 l a l e c t u r e de l l a n n o n c e d a n s l e journal dt6tudiant: I . Ne p a s m a r c h e r mais courir v e r s l a gare dlautobus l a p l u s proche. 2. Abandonner l t g c c l l e a u plus vite. 3. E c r i r e 5 ma f a m i l l e une l e t t r e d l a d i e u x QplorGe p u i s me d i r i g e r v e r s l e s montagnes 3; j e p a s s e r a i s 1 : r e s t e de m a v i e ~ G l i b a t a i r e , a me contemp l e r l e nombril. J 1 6 t a i s c o n v a i n c u que p a s une j e u n e f i l l e ne me d o n n e r a i t rendez-vous. J e ne v a l a i s r i e n ; ~ a m a i sj e n l i n s p i r e r a i s aucune jeune f i l l e q u i s e r e s p e c t e , au p o i n t de l u i f a i r e perdre l a t g t e e t qulainsi e l l e me demande d e s o r t i r a v e c (?lie. rn

nllo

Apres b i e n d e s h 6 s i t a t i o : l s e t i n s t r o s p e ct i o n s , j lai rencontre une c o n n a i s s a n c e d e l l & c o l e mix~ p r g sq u e l q u e s m i n u t e s de te b a v a r d a g e , e l l e m t i n f o r m a que j e d e v r a i s b i e n t 8 t r e c e v o i r une i n v i t a t i o n p o u r l a d a n c e de l a S a d i e Hawkins". p e n s a n t q u l e l l e g t a i t 1' a u t e u r d e l a d i t e i n v i t a t i o n , j e me s u i s d e t e n d u e t j l a i r e p e n s 6 une deuxigme f o i s mes t r o i s r g s o lutions. En c o n n a i s s a n c e d e c a u s e , J t a t tendis I t i n v i t a t i o n e t accueill i s l e facteur 5 l a porte. J1al d e c h i r g l t e n v e l c p p r : Sii H I 1 2 18 contenu e t e n s u i t e j l a i vraiment commenc6 3 m 1 i n q u i 6 t e r . C e l a v e n a i t de Rernice. B e r n i c e , b e a u t 6 a u x yeux v e r t s e t c h e v e u x r o u x du g e n r e E s t h e r Williams, n t e t a i t pas seulement belle, e l l e etait fantastique. E t e l l e me d o n n a i t r e n d e z - v o u s . I ~ e n i ai l E l l e 6 t a i t l a jeune f i l l e q u i c a u s a i t un s i l e n c e d a n s l a p i s c e oii e l l e r e n t r a i t ! E l l e Qtait l a jeune f i l l e q u i f a i s a i t paniquer l e s pro,fesseurshornmes! E l l e g t a i t l a jeune f i l l e q u i t r a n s f o r m a i t l e s g e n i e s mentaux en c r 6t i n s bredouillant! E l l e G t a i t l a j e u n e f i l l e b i e n .1 E t mieux e n c o r e , e l l e me v o u l a i t pour s o r t i r avec e l l e . E t m a i n t e n a n t v o u s , j e u n e s cam a r a d e s , q u i n l a v e z jamais e u une B e r n i c e d a n s v o t r e v i e , Gcoutez: Bernice mesurait s i x pieds U!L beau deux q a n s t a l o n s . sp6cimen d e fGminit6 pour q u i l a p l u p a r t d e s g a r s a u r a i e n t donn6 l a p r u n e l l e de l e u r s y e u x ( s a n s p a r l e r des a u t r e s p a r t i e s de l e u r anatomic) e n 4change d l u n r e n d e z -

r= vous avec e l l e . S t e l l e 6 t a i t mienne p o u r une m e r v e i l l e u s e s o i r g e de s o r t i e - d f n e r , d a n c e e t romance-- a v e c mes c i n q p i e d s s i x p o u c e s a u complet. En t r e m b l a n t e t b G g a y a n t , ; ' a i a p p e 1 6 1.e numdro i n s c r i t s u r l f i n v i t a t i o n p o u r e x p r i m e r mon accord. lTJe v i e n d r a i t e chercher 5 s e p t heures,ll d i t - e l l e . Le s o i r de l a " S a d i e Hawkins" a r r i v a e t j e r e p o n d i s moi-m8me 2 l a p o r t e , l l i n v i t a n t 3 renconJ 16 t , a i s f i e r t r e r l e s miens. comme un paon. A c e t t e e p o q u e - l > , c f 6 t a i t une f a m i l l e nombreuse. La mienne s e c o m p o s a i t de: n e u f s o e u r s , ma m s r e e t mon p s r e , deux g r a n d rnzres d e r a c e d i f f Q r e n t e e t un g r a n d - p 3 r e ( q u e l q u e p e u QmGchS) q u i , quand on 1 1 6 n e r v a i t , pouv a i t jurer en gaelique, cantonais, s o u a h g l i e t a u t r e s l a n g a g e s exotiques. P a s b e s o i n de d i r e que B e r n i c e l e r e n d i t muet. E l l e r n l o f f r i t un c o r s a g e ( l q u n d e s r 6 g l e m e n t s de l a I 1 S a d i e s Hawkins1I e ' t a i t q u e l e g a r s d o i t c e t t e n u i t - 1 ; p o r t e r 12 c o r s a g e partout). Le c o r s a g e & t a i t f a i t de r a d f s j d e b5"v--c;ar.oiies, ~ ' ~ c h a l o t ee st de p e r s i l . J e n e s a v a i s p a s si c 1 6 t a i t une o f f r a n d e d ' a m o u r o u de l a n o u r r i t u r e pour c e q u i s l e n venait ~ u s s i t $ t aprgs a v o i r d i t au-revoir, "enchant&" e t d e s ma f a m i l l e , e l l e me choses p r i t p a r l a main e t me s o n d u i s i t d e h o r s 1; o c sa v o i t u r e a t t e n d a i t . Une F o r d modele T ; d f a n n 6 e i n c o n nue. Tous mes c o p a i n s e t a i e n t rasaembigs a u b o r d du t r o t t o i r e t a u milieu des sifflements admiratifs, d e s b r a v o s e t a u t r e s commentaires

p a l l l a r d s v e n a n t d e Kes p r o p r c s a m i s , e l l e me t e n d i t l a main p o u r m f a i d e r 2 monter d a n s l a v o i t u r e . B e r n i c e a v a i t r 6 s e r v 6 une t a b l e d a n s un r e s t a u r a n t d e h a u t e c l a s s e a p p e l 6 IrEl Morrocof'. C t & t a i t l a bof t e l a p l u s c h s r e e n v i l l e . L e g a r s c e r r i G r e l a c o r d e d e sGpar a t i o n e n v e l o u r s r o u g e l o r g n a mon c o y s a g e e t s o u r i t d l u n a i r m6pris a n t : I 1 Madame et f i s t o n aimer a i e n t - i l s urie t a b l e p o u r deux?I1 J e n e c o m p r e n a i s p a s l e menu c a r il Q t a i t i n p r i r n i e c p r e t e n d u a r a be. B e r n i c e demanda d o u c e c , e n t : " D o i s - j e commander p o u r l e s deux?" J f a i s e u l e m e n t hoch6 l a t e t e c a r j e n e - s a v a i s p a s quoi rgpondre. A p r e s a v o i r man& q u e l q u e c h o s e d e m 6 c o n n a i s s a b l e e t bu un b r e u v a g e r e s s e m b l a n t vaguement 2. d u c a f e , n o u s n o u s sommes l e v 6 s p o u r ~artir. Tout en d i s t r i b u a n t des 2ourboir e s e t g r a t i f i c a t i o n s s u r son passage, Bernice s e d i r l g e a v e r s l a s o r t i e a v e c rnoi d a n s s o n s i l l a g e . En v o i t u r e , n o u s n o u s sommes d i r i g 6 s v e r s l a s a l l e o; a v a i t l i e u l a d a n c e d e l a " S a d i e Hawkinsll. Une f o i s l e c o n t r i j l e p a s s & , on n o u s i n d i q u a n o t r e t a b l e que q u a t r e a u t r e s c o u ~ l e sp a r t a g e s l a n t avac nous; chaque fype a y a n t l a msme e x p r e s s i - o n d e s o l e e que uloi. E n s u i t e 'ornmensa l e v e r i t a b l e amusement. Des j e u n e s f i l l e s que je connaissais e t plein diautres que j e ne c o n n a i s s a i s p a s , a r r i vdrent 2 notre table e t l e s s e n t a t i o n s commencsrent. Des s o u r i r e s r a d i e u x de p z t e d e n t i f r i c e Ipana sfgpanouirent; j e f u s a s s a i l l i de d g s h a b i l l a g e s du r e g a r d e t de d 6 h a n c h e m e n t s a l a Mae Z e s t , J e murrnurais d e s s a l u t a t i o n s , s e c o u a i s d e s mains menues e t me s u r p r i s p r e s q u e e n -

t r a i n d e f a i z e une r k v h r e n c e . Bori sang.\ Le r e s t e d3 l a s o i r d e s f & c o u l a p e r d u e d a n s un t r a n s p o r t d e p a r fums d g l i c i e u x . Mon champ d e vision se r $ t r & c i t considerabledancer ment l o r s q u e j a me s x i s avec Bernice, e n l a c s dans s e s b r a s d Amazone , De d e s s o u s s e s a i s s e l l e s , j e s a l u a i s d e l a main mes amis e t connaissances sans jamais v o i r 02 e l l e me c o n d u i s a i t . D'un a i r b e a t , j ' i g n o r a i s q u e mon n e z 6 t a i t e n f o u i 15 oii v o u s s a v e z e L I ' d LL qii8 j e T S S B.i F Z .i S S t a i t un mzlange 6 l e v 6 d ' o c t a n e e n p a r f u m , en d g o d o r a n t p o u r l e s a i s s e l l e s e t en v i e i l l e t r a n s p i r a t i o n t o u t e s i m p l e de jeune 6 bonf i l l e sans distinction. h e u r supreme\ J e ae me s o u v i e n s p a s du r e t o u r a l a m a i s o n e n v o i t u r e , J e ne me s o u v i e n s p a s du b a i s e r d ' a d i e u , J e n l a i p a s g i r d 6 e t c h 6 r i mon c o r s a g e a l o r s d6'ss&:hG. J ' a i vraiment r 6 a l i s 6 l ' o b j e c t i f d ? s a c t e s de B e r c i c e e t j ' a i d6cid; que,quand, d a n s l e f u t u r , j e ~ o r t i r ~ a~v ie cs une j e u ~ ef i l l e , j e l a t r a i t e r a i s avec l e r e s p e c t e t l ' h o n n e u r que l e g e n r e fBminin d e v r a i t demand6 e t e'xig;. O u i , c e jour-1; p o u v a i t b i e n z t r e c e l u i de l a " S a a i e Hawkins" mais p o u r n o i c e f u t l a v e i l l e d e l a L i b s r a t i o n d e l a Femme.

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CAMP CAPILANO TRIP Feb. 21-24, 1988.

An Outing To Remeinber On Sunday, Feb. 21, o u r S e n i o r s and V o l u n t e e r s o u t i n g t o Camp Capi l a n o s e t o u t . We planned t o e n j o y t h r e e n i g h t s and f o u r d a y s i n t h e I t h i n k i t was a g r e a t wilderness. trip. E v e r y t h i n g went r e a s o n a b l y well. WP h a d groups of p e o p l e going t o Suspension B r i d g e and t o t h e t o p of Grouse Mountain on t h e l i f t . They t r i e d t a l k i n g me i n t o g o i n g , b u t I d e c l i n e d . ( I have a f e a r of heights. ) Everyone p a r t i c i p a t e d i n a few games o f 10,000. For t h o s e o f you r e a d e r s who d o n ' t know what t h i s game i s a b o u t , i t i s a d i c e game. There w a s a l o t of B r i d g e p l a y e d a s well. So, g r a n t you, t h e r e was a l o t of n o i s e going on i n t h e l o d g e . I ' m s u r e everyone had a good time. The l a s t n i g h t we were t h e r e I thought a c a m p f i r e would be n i c e . A f t e r a h a l f a n hour and s e v e n a t t e m p t s , we f i n a l l y had o u r f i r e . We had t o c h e a t . We ended up s t a r t i n g i t w i t h cooking o i l . I g u e s s we would n e v e r be c l a s s i f i e d as good woodsmen. Anyway i t t u r n e d o u t n i c e f o r one and a l l . I would l i k e t o t a k e t h i s opportu n i t y t o t h a n k each and e v e r y one of t h e p e o p l e t h a t went. Without you a l l , i t wouldn't have gone s o w e l l . Thanks a g a i n . Your f r i e n d , Sue Gauvin

When t h e M i r r o r s S t a r t C l o s i n g

... and

when t h e m i r r o r s s t a r t c l o s i n g t h e y w i l l do i t w i t h o u t a w i t n e s s s o t h a t o u r l i v e s w i l l s t a y t h e same; f o r o n l y o u r p o s s i b i l i t i e s W i l l have d i e d once t h e y ' v e f i n a l l y s e e n enough.

And o f t e n t h e r e a r e no m i r r o r s ; when g l a r e h a s l o s t i t s magic, hands t h e i r d e p t h , e y e s t h e i r mystery; a myth w i l l grow up among u s of a way we used t o s e e . Stephen B e l k i n

George Orwell By C l a u d i u s I v a n P l a n i d i n Language s o c l e a r words a l m o s t disappear.

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Cook7e's C er n e r

Soup f o r Two Bones from meat o r p o u l t r y 2 cups w a t e r %C. chopped v e g i e s kc. r i c e b a r l e y n o o d l e s o r macaroni

A New Ewe: March 6 t h B a l l o o n s poppin' Children laughin' Wimmin t a l k i n ' Food f l o w i n ' Puppets d a n c i n g Wimmin s i n g i n ' G u i t a r s strummin' Cake E a t i n ' oirl nh 0-oirl it f e e l s l i k e magick yeah ! more s p i r a l s please !

Simmer bones i n w a t e r f o r 1 hour. S t r a i n b r o t h keeping l i q u i d . Add any meat l e f t on bones. S t i r i n r i c e b a r l e t , noodles o r macaroni. Simmer f o r 20 m i n u t e s i i n t i l r i r p ~t-+_P_E~P_=-

0---

S e r v e s 2. L e f t o v e r Beef Stew

-p j g r i n n i n '

THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW LOCATION OF THE WOMEN'SCENTRE WILL HAPPEN TUESDAY, THE 1 5 t h , AT 44 E. CORDOVA. (Open 3:OO; AT 4 : O O ) .

2 t s p . veg. o i l 318 l b . s t e w beef o r any beef 314 cup h o t w a t e r 1 s l i c e d onion 112 cup b a r l e y o r r i c e -1 s m a l l potato - diced 1%cup w a t e r S a l t & pepper S t i r beef i n h o t w a t e r , d r a i n f a t o f f . Add o n i o n , b a r l e y , p o t a t o , s a l t & pepper & w a t e r . Simmer 1 h r . Serves 2

RANDOM 3'HOUGHTS FROM A CORNER TABLE AT ORLANDO'S S i t t i n g h e r e i n a d a r k of Orlando's Fresh P a s t a Bar a t 2 : 3 0 i n t h e morning w i t h f e l l o w night-owls can b r i n g o u t t h e most i n t e l l e c t u a l of s u b j e c t m a t t e r f o r c o n v e r s a t i o n . T h i s h a s l e d me t o t h e b r i l l i a n t i d e a of p a s s i n g on some of t h i s highbrow wisdom t o you, t h e f a i t h f u l r e a d e r . So t h i s i s my column t h a t a s k s t h e burning q u e s t i o n : "Who a r e and why do they keep s a y i n g t h e t h i n g s t h e y say?" MUSIC FOR THE MASSES DEPT. J u s t read a n a r t i c l e i n t h e Georgia S t r a i g h t t h a t mentioned Mayor Campbell's announcement of a f u n d - r a i s i n g campaign tc g e t +-he s i y m j . l l i = n d z l l z r s needsd f o r t h e Vaiicou"er S y n p i ~ n n y iirr'nest r a t o perform i n t h e 1988-89 season. That would mean, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e a r t i c l e , "an average c o n t r i b u t i o n of $5 from every man, woman and whild i n t h e GVRD - t h a t ' s i n c l u d i n g t h o s e i n h o s p i t a l s , asylums, n u r s i n g homes and daycare c e n t r e s , t h e j a i l e d , t h e j o b l e s s , and every s i n g l e s q u a t t e r l i v i n g under t h e Georgia Viaduct, i n S t a n l e y Park, o r i n t h e f o r e s t above Wreck Beach. LATEST JOKE ON THE ROUNDS - John Doe d i e s i n a c a r a c c i d e n t and goes t o heaven. He i s admitted through t h e P e a r l y Gates and S a i n t P e t e r shows him around. Off i n t h e o u t s k i r t s of heaven John s e e s t h i s l a r g e p l a c e w i t h l o t s of p l a n t s , windmills and cheap s o u v e n i r s - you know a place j u s t l i k e Fantasy Gardens. Looking c l o s e r , he s e e s t h i s guy o u t w a t e r i n g h i s t u l i p s . T h i s guy l o o k s j u s t l i k e B i l l Vander Zalm and h e ' s m u t t e r i n g "No Abortions", " G e t a Job" and ere's Your Shovel". Very confused, John a s k s S a i n t P e t e r , "Who i s t h a t guy? It c a n ' t be B i l l Vander Zalm because h e ' s n o t dead yet." S a i n t answers, "No, t h a t ' s n o t Vander Zalm, t h a t ' s God. He only t h i n k s He's B i l l Vander Zalm."

U n t i l next time when h o p e f u l l y I ' l l have something more profound t o w r i t e , I ' l l d r i n k a n o t h e r cappucino t o your h e a l t h .

The shadow spoke s o f t l y t o t h e & i m s i c a l l a d ; 'Turn r i g h t a t t h e next crossroad. follow t h e t r a i l down p a s t t h e o l d wooden f e n c e . y o u ' l l s e e a pond, p e r h a p s some b i r d s , p e r h a p s a s i l e n c e o r two.' So t h e whimsical l a d , who had nowhere t o go and nowhere t o l o o k , and c o u l d n ' t make h i s own d e c i s i o n s spent h i s l i f e looking f o r old wooden f e n c e s and a s i l e n c e o r two: U n t i l h i s world was s h a t t e r e d ! H e came upon a road t h a t had no c r o s s r o a d s , j u s t one l o n g , neverending r o a d , and h e d i d n ' t know what t o do because h e c o u l d n ' t make a decision. Should h e go s t r a i g h t ahead o r s h o u l d h e t u r n back? So h e s e t h i s pack down and sat on i t ; w a i t i n g f o r t h e shadow t o t e l l him what t o do. But a f t e r s e v e r a l y e a r s o f w a i t i n g , he became l o n e l y ; s o h e would walk two m i l e s i n one d i r e c t i o n , f o u r m i l e s i n t h e o t h e r d i r e c t i o n , and two back t o t h e p o i n t o f w a i t i n g . After s e v e r a l years of waiting, t h e shadow found him a g a i n and spoke s o f t l y ; ' i f you walk i n either direction, you'll find a c i t y , w i t h l o t s o f good p e o p l e & many t h i n g s t o do.' So t h e whimsical 1 ~ r ltook o f f i n one d i r e c t i o n l o o k i n g f o r a c i t y . But t h e whimsical l a d w a s no l o n g e r whimsical and no l o n g e r a l a d - h e was a n o l d e r , a n g r i e r and t h e whimsical l a d of man o l d made h i s f i r s t d e c i s i o n : t o be a n g r y a t h i m s e l f f o r n o t making a d e c i s i o n and n o t h a v i n g t h e c o u r a g e t o own up t o t h e responsibility! And t h e whimsical l a d of o l d made a n o t h e r d e c i s i o n : t o be f r i g h t e n e d ! because i f h e made t h e wrong d e c i s i o n , h e ' d l o s e y e a r s t r a v e l l i n g t h e wrong

...

way and y e a r s t u r n i n g back t h e o t h e r way.... And t h e whimsical l a d of o l d pdsed a whimsical q u e s t i o n : why l i f e w a s such t h a t you d o n ' t know t h e r e s u l t s t o d e c i s i o n s b e f o r e you have t o make them - one way o r t h e o t h e r . He wondered why h e , and s o many others, had s o many wasted y e a r s n o t knowing t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g s o r t h e r i g h t way t o go o r t h e r i g h t t h i n g t o do. So h e w r o t e a l i t t l e poem t o h i m s l e f and c a r v e d i t i n a n o l d wooden f e n c e I f I - c o u l d have b u t one a b i l i t y - j u s t one I would a s k f o r t h e a b i l i t y t o make d e c i s i o n s - t h e r i g h t ones! But i f I made wrong d e c i s i o n s , I ' d ask f o r the a b i l i t y t o turn around and s t i l l r e a c h t h e r e ! I f I e v e r have t o make d e c i s i o n s f o r o t h e r people L e t m e n o t have t o make them a l o n e , L e t them be t h e n e c e s s a r y t h i n g . I f you pause i n your l i f e , . . Come upon a p l a c e of i n d e c i s i o n ( t h e t a l e of d a r k n e s s ) How w i l l you be - what w i l l you do? I hope i t works o u t f o r you...

...

- Civ i i o w e r s e v e r have t o make d e c i s i o n s ? --a T - - A ? - 3--.FLIIuI ~ C L U Iw~u i l u e ~

By DAVE McCONNELL

mli

Illusions Have you ever been so angry that you wanted to die? Called on a spirit to let life pass you by? Felt so alone as if nobody cared? here's so many things that you wanted to share? Not a soul in your life for comfort when down? No one to give a smile t o a frown? I

Lookout

No one to read the signs on your face?

By Claudius Ivan Planidin

Then let's not be part of the human race. We'll create another for sister and brother With love and life we'll be part of each other. '

To hell with hypocrites, 1iars.and foes,

we'll sail with the wind wherever she goes.

Grey sea slowly lathers, a fishing boat appears on the invisible horizon grey as if greeting me and disappears, the mi-u-rr

Never a heartache. Never a tear. Trust and trust in a world without fear. All of this I offer anew, Can you bear the weight of a love that is true?

Down a staircase such as this. Path of music weaving, glowing, White beneath cathedral dome, Shades of heaven, tints of dawning, This is mine and mine alone. Glory here, yes, god-like splendour, So to build this lambent world. Magic pathway of enchantment, Beauty's vanners all unfurled. Coruscating radiance welling, Colour fountains lift and wheel. Revelations. Dosmic knowledge. Music that I see and feelShining Princess, green-clad goddess, Walk in splendour while you may. Music ebbs with night's slow passage. Light will fade with light of day.

-,,,.em

uvurray

Z'ILL

L L ~ L L L

LL-

LILC

wind trying to keep my balance, the wind wanting me one with sea white and grey, I rip myself away from Point Whitehorn.

Sacrifice Willson, B.

H. Walter

You know them American military bastards are full of piss & murder running through their all-American veins Why they'd porbably even run over some civilian on a train track & cut his or her legs off if they could & they thought that that would prevent others from opposing their murder, their rape and their pillage outside their national borders in otlpr people' s countries

Dear Editor,

I 'I

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Everyone has their own dreams; some come true and others don't come true. Every person needs a dream, whether it's a car, a boat, a house, money, a pet... I cou$d go on but it would take up the rest of the paper. Dreams keep us going; when we've accomplished one dream, we always look for another. One of my dreams was to have a family. I have half - my son and I. Someday, I'll have a husband, and then that dream will be complete. After that my other dream is for my brother to be with us, so he could have a happy life. Where he is it's so sad - the environment is twisting his mind. Hopefully that dream will come true someday. You also dream in your sleep, and sometimes they are good dreams that come true..sometimes they are nightmares but either way we all dream about something. By MARY CAPPELL

How come Sam Slanders doesn't know what "ageism" is? I thought everyone knew ageism is when someone is judged by their age, instead of by who they are as a person and what they do to help their community. This stereotyping is evil in that it can result in such things as being denied a job - which has prompted the banning of the mention of age from employment ads. Another example of ageism is where a man wouldn't dream of dating a woman 5 years older than he is, but thinks nothing of dating women 10-15 years younger. (That's sexism as well as ageism). If Sam doesn't understand that ageism is just as bad as all the other "isms1', maybe he should change his name from Sam Slanders to Sam SHALLOW. Yours truly,

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NEED

HELP

D E R A can h e l p you with:

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any w e l f a r e problems U I C problems getting l e g a l .assistance unsafe l i v i n ~conditions in hotels or apartments disputes w i t h landlords income t a x

D E R A i s l o c a t e d a t 9 E a s t Hastings or phone 682-0931.

DER.A HAS BEEN SERVING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE FORJ3 YEARS

City info s t a f f can't accept donations f o r t h e N e w s l e t t e r , as t h i s paper remains a h o t i t e m of d i s c u s s i o n . I f you can h e l p j u s t f i n d P a u l T a y l o r and h e ' l l g i v e you a r e c e i p t .

Thanks everybody. "1-Qt S!

W OLE- OAKRI DGE COIMUNIM CENTRE 990 West 59th Ave. ( a t Oak S t . )

Phone:327-8371

ABORTION

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A WOMAN'S LULLABY

By S h e i l a Baxter Sweet l i t t l e baby a l l bathed and f e d , I

Hush a bye, Husha bye, Hush. Lying a s l e e p i n a c h i l d ' s b r i g h t b r i g h t bed. Hush a bye, Husha bye, Hush. Ours i s a p l a n e t of p o l l u t i o n and greed. Hush a bye, Husha bye, Hush. W i l l you b e t h e one t h i s p l a n e t t o lead, Hush a bye, Husha bye, Hush. A r e v o l t a g a i n s t P o l l u t i o n and Corporate greed? Hush a bye, Husha bye, Hush.

S l e e p l i t t l e baby and I w i l l s t a y Hush a bye, Husha bye, Hush. ,And bp your s i d e f o r peace I 11 pray, Hush a bye, Husha, bye, H U S ~ . To t h e s p i r i t of peace, n o t greed and war. Hush a bye, Husha bye, Hush. Sleep l i t t l e baby I ' l l s i n g no more Hush a bye, Husha bye, Hush.

A Welfare Bum (A Heroine)

By S. Baxter WELFARE BUM THEY c a l l e d h e r A s s h e s t r u g g l e d t o raise three kids.

She baked, s h e sewed. s h e t r i e d s o hard t o make a l i t t l e money. The house s h e cleaned a t t h e t o p of t h e h i l l only earned h e r twenty d o l l a r s . J u s t 35, b u t s h e looked s o o l d h e r f a c e s o l i n e d and wrinkled She worked and worked, t h a t w e l f a r e bum, and r a i s e d those t i n y children. And I b e l i e v e t h e time h a s come For s o c i e t y t o "HONOUR" such WELFARE BUMS.