OPINION | We The Castlegar Sun “iS 1S POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE STERLING NEWS SERVICE Established November 28, 1990 Published by Tho Castlogar Sun Wookly on Wodnesdays 465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C. VIN 1G8 RAY PICCO JON JARRETT PUBLISHER ADVERTISING MANAGER NANCY. LINGLEY DONNA JORY ADVERTISING REP. GRACE SHAULL DENISE GOLDSTONE OFFICE MANAGER CIRCULATION MANAGER BARBARA TANDORY REPORTER JOHN SNELGROVE PRODUCTION CLIFF WOFFENDEN PRODUCTION Direct Department Phones 1365-5266 365-5579 ‘| editorial comment Today is the day “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Every day is the first day of the rest of your life. But, for the most part, we don’t bother to stop to think and reflect on a daily basis. However, with the turning of a New Year just about everybody entertains some thought of what has been and what may yet be. Nineteen hundred and ninety, the first year of the last decade of the century, is a year that has left us with a few loose ends. Internationally, we wait to see what turn the crisis in the Persian Gulf may take even though the whole situation seems to have a touch of unreality about it. Most of us are far removed from the actuali- ty of war. Apart from the Viet Nam conflict (which, it is insisted, was not really a war — not that that helps much for those who lost friends and contempo- raries in the jungles of Southeast Asia), the last war that North Americans were officially involved in took place some 40 years ago. ‘War, real make-peo- ” ple-dead ‘conflict‘on'a large scale, is nothing but the “rememb ances oF pare and ‘grandg for “fiany, And ‘it Would be just fine to keep it that way. Unfortunately, conflict seems to be one of mankind’s favorite pastimes. Nineteen-ninety seemed to be the year of the “environmentalist” vs. “industry”. There may not be any actual bloodshed in these local skirmishes, non-violence being the mantra of even the more radical of the “save the planet”-types, but, in the long run, lives can be altered just as effectively as if someone had pointed a gun and pulled the trigger. ‘The entire forest industry has found itself under fire and the local economy is suffering because of it. Another victim of this environmental war is, of course, the Celgar project. It is virtually inconceiv- able that the project will not get the go-ahead. But that possibility does exist. As does the possibilty that the go-ahead just may come too late to save it. Perhaps as we struggle onwards towards the turn of the century we can all learn a little more about co-operative effort. Us vs. them, on any scale, anywhere, just isn’t going to do it for anybody. If we, and our planet, are to make it to the Year 2000, we are going to have to work together. Not tomorrow, but.today. Today is the first day of the rest of our collective lives. The place to start is here, in our own back- yard. The objective is a ripple effect. Like tossing a pebble in a pond, pretty soon the orginal disturbance envelops the whole thing. i Someone just needs to toss that first stone. . Have a peaceful and happy New Year. ORGERINGS By Don Addis YOU Had To ASK HIM le HE KNEw THE THEME FROM HAWAII FivE-0/ Manufacturers and Ron Jeffels Syndicated 2 ing — slither into dark, fetid pools, cruise the waters silently in search of prey, find it, feed in a fren- zy, then disappear to lic in wait for the next innocent amphibian. I am tle next innocent amphibian because the i wams me that, unless I do something about the voracious A month ago a Japanese space: crouched on its pad, braced itself, bunched its shoulders, took the count, rose slowly through a buming ° shroud of wind and dust, then assaulted the void on an endless arc of speed, The hull of that aggressive, thrust- ing craft — every square inch of it ~ was plastered with huge technicol- ored ads:.teasers, commercials, pro- mos, slogans and other creative copy — as the PR flacks now say to give authority and panache to their prose. A first! A triumph! A flaming marvel, mate! Made my heart leap, it did: leap like a pheasant flushed from October grass. Madison Avenue East had finally conquered Outer Space. Ads in orbit! Promos on the planets! Epoch-making! So watch for Persian carpet sales (bankruptcy sales, of course) on Mars, condos for rent on Neptune, inventive companions wanted on Venus, and other extraterrestrial come-ons, The distant, the clouded, the troubled stars will never be the same again. Forget the distant stars. I’m much more concerned with what’s happen- ing to the ads here, now, at home, on this, the lost, the wobbling planet. You've seen those new ones on telly, have you? The ones preaching aggra- vated assault on the innocent and naked aggression against the enemy? In this case, the enemy is the com- petition: the nice, quiet, gentle guy down the street who’s flogging bonds, BMWs and other bric-a-brac, . Same as you. Alligators - sly, ominous, all- Slings and... arrows © - doesn’t preclude civil war but it’s ia Nigel =4 Hannaford | Syndicated Columnist In many ways, 1990 will be recalled as a year of hope. Over the past 45 years, we have become accustomed to a view of the world which was threatening; aside from a nasty situation in the middle east, the picture has changed beyond recogni- tion - beyond what even the most optimistic commentator might have proposed last year, unless be were to tisk ridicule. The question before us now is whether we can believe our good luck? Now, your opinion is as good as mine about the future. None of us can say for sure. Still, on the premise that man’s nature is constant, I would suggest ~ that the coming years will prove to be much the same as those gone by, a Pp T'll end up as just gar- nish for a gator. And then there’s that other onc. Huge, predatory eagles — talons crooked — sweep out of a dark red wind, like ancient Chinese warlords bent on pillage, plunder and other acts of ignominy. Hooded, smolder- ing eyes look this way, that way, then straight into mine. Same message: unless I replace the computer or smarten up the sales force, I'm just carrion for the competition. Things have changed. Time was when the cardinal rule of all advertis- ing was never, never to belittle or berate the competition. Ethics demanded it. Not done, old chap: infra dig, below the salt, ungentlemanly. oS cocktail of war and the threat of it. On the good side, the Soviet Union has certainly pulled back into its own territory. It is still a fearsome dragon, but at least it is now curled up in its cave with toothache and intestinal troubles. . “And no, it doesn’t look as though ° Europe is likely to dissolve into bitter internecine warfare as in the first half of the century. We may well see a new federation arise there; that hard to see how it could arise. So where’s the problem? There are several, including what has been considered one of the bright spots by the optimists. That’s South Africa. While apartheid has been dis- posed of, the birth pangs of the new order are likely to be painful. The ANC has quietly - and with little comment from the world press - stepped up its campaign of terror and intimidation. This has spread to the white ity now, especiall: advertisers Noblesse oblige, y'know. Just sing the virtues ‘of your beads, muskets and other trade goods, then let the buyer make up his own defective mind. In the manner of the London Times, as it once’ was.All the ads in that ancient’ paper were chaste, ‘muted, dignified, stiff-upper-lipped. jally mi: but I couldn't resist the quict, the gentlemanly, the ultra-soft sell. ; But nowadays even the manufac- turers of such ordinary things as bat- terles for kids’ toys wage vicious war against one another, no quarter given. Robot soldiers, hyped with Super- Cells or BverSteadys, vie for, world i against enemics with sub- 14 y the one for the Beasley Mechanical Truss. The Beasley Mechanical Truss was made for all those who experi- ence malaise as they bend over.the asters and the anemones. The BSM protected them against injury to the .person and insult to their essential dignity. I memorized that ad, Here it is, verbatim: “I say! Do you bend over in the garden, feel sudden, stab- bing pain, and then. . . ‘Whoops! It’s out againt If so, we counsel you to wear the Beasley Mechanical Truss.” Simple, direct, the eighties it was Gaddafi and. Khomeini and before that it was Nasser. The names change and so do the locales but the pattem is there. Arab and chauvii ordinate charges and inferior arms. _ Justice, a righteous cause anda superior anode will always triumph. Just as peace breaks out with Russia, violent aggression begins on Madi- son Avenue. Can’t we retum to more humane methods? Ads claiming that the man- ager has just gone completely stark- ers and reduced everything by 70 per cent? Or even ads for the “Blow-Out Sale"? Whatever that is. Always sounds — well — just a bit crude and vulgar to me. RR. Jeffels is a Richmond free- lance writer and former principal of The Open Learning Institute. a Gj tary deployments have been quietly dropped, partly to facilitate a Japanese role in the Gulf and they are even resuming the building of aircraft istic nature of Islam have fuelled wars before, during the middle ages especially. Even as we enjoy the New Year celebrations, there are devout Moslems working away to produce nuclear weapons in both Pakistan and Iraq, with the active financial participation of Libya. Israel is probably the first target, but if a new Arab empire should arise in the middle east, its second target will be to the north. Elsewhere, there’s a sorry cata- logue of human misery in Africa and in th: t Asia, the country of Cambodia is still rent by divisions; the odious Pol Pot, respon- sible for the death of some three mil- lion of his countrymen (remember that film, ‘The Killing Fields’? is idered front runner. those living in remote areas. There is no doubt that the ANC wants to seize power. There is also no doubt that they will not be allowed to, either by the whites or by the other large power bloc, the Zulu nation. Still, how many people will die and in what grotesque ways, before the issue is settled? ‘Then there’s the Gulf. That’s bad enough, but it is actually just one manifestation of a larger problem, the increasing aggressiveness of Islam and the relative passivity of the west. Today it is Saddam Hussein, in The Duff's late Everyone seems to think we jour- nalist are untrusting, uncaring, hard- ened and a cynical Jot. Maybe some are but not the Duff. I'm trusting, I still believe in’ Santa Claus. And it is in this spirit, that I pen this note to my bearded little buddy at the North Pole. weap Dear Santa: I have been a good boy all year, so my good friends say I am positively boring — but that’s another matter. I know you'd like to bring gifts to our political leaders and so; in the spirit of the season, I offer these suggestions. st For Gov.-Gen. Ray’ Huatyshyo and bis wife Gerda: Another great year of bringing the highest office in “the land closer to the people with” and charm! - F For Prime Minister Brian Mul- roney and his wife Mila: A little good news. From Meech Lake to the Feder- al Business Development Bank’s Hull strip club, in 1989 just about every- thing that could go wrong did. In the year ahead a little good news — beginning with peace in the Persian Gulf — would be welcome indeed. For External Affair Minister Joe Clark, a little credit for a job well done on the intemational scene, from a break from the moaning of the “gut- ter press” which frankly seems preoc- cupied. with domestic affairs. After Around the corner somewhat, Burma, now known as Myanmar, has degenerated into a vicious dictator- ship. Looking further down the road, ope must wonder what the implica- tions will be of the huge wealth gen- erated by Japan and how it will seek to protect its leadership in the Pacific rim as it is challenged by Taiwan and South Korea. The Americans, trou- bled by the cost of playing policeman in the westem Pacific, have urged the Japanese to take on more of that role. ‘The post war restrictions on mili- carriers. App ly the first one is to be called Akagi, a name which evokes Pearl’ Harbour and the very worst phase of Japanese militarism. In short, a world of competing European, American and Asian trade blocs, contending with regions which while less wealthy, are armed, dan- gerous and motivated by religion is not necessarily any safer than the world we knew of more or less bal- anced super-powers. Man is by nature greedy and inclined to kill. The issues may change, but people . bleed the same way. Now it may be that Canada and even Europe will escape the worst of what the next fifty years will bring. It’s typical of our ethnocentricity that many of will take some consolation from the fact that an Iraqi nuclear attack on this country is implausible. But in the grand scheme of things, it makes litle difference whether it is black South Africans dying in town- ship clubbings, Arabs or Jews in Palestine, Americans in the Gulf or even Iraqi non-combatants. They are all people and their deaths will make a mockery of the idea that this world has become more peaceful, less inclined to bloodshed and safer for our children. We in the west would be well advised to approach the future hop- ing for the best and preparing for the worst. Christmas wish ished her at the i tion department — making sure all new Canadians have joined their local Progressive Conservative riding. association, ~~ If you want to fill finance for a couple ‘of years, until Barbara is . ready, you could give the job to John Crosbie. Choosing john would please the feminists, Santa, and he’s held the job before, ‘during the Clark govern- ment. As John says, “We were in those i vy Joe could stand some time closer to home, Santa. How about making him minis- ter of federal-provincial relations? For Finance Minister Michacl Wilson, a new job would also be a nice Christmas gift. Canada’s power for eight months — long gh to i but no long enough to deliver.” And making John Crosbie finance minister would please Sheila Copps. I know she's’ written asking for a year of peace ‘and reconciliation for the liberal party. But if you give him longest- serving finance mini would be an ideal replacement for Joe at external. : I know that nice Barbara Mac- Dougall has‘ written you, Santa, telling you she’s tired of being called “Barbie doll” because of ber hairstyle and saying you can belp her shed that image by making her Canada’s first female minister of finance.' But'you know, Santa, Barbara still hasn't fin- tough 3 in the Commons, and thus’ you let her show * ‘the Liberal party that she's got what it takes — just in case they should suddenly need help atthe top! ‘Advance planning never burts. ‘That other potential future Liberal leader, Paul Martin, deserves another “Green Plan”-on the environment. Over the past:year Paul has hada’ great time in Parliament savaging the hb rs ent on issues from the Old- man ‘River Dam to the plans for James Bay IL He's really getting the hang of the place Santa. Some of the ancestral bloodlines are showing, and they're pure thoroughbred. | After a shaky start NDP leader Audrey McLaughlin is finally run- ning like a winner, Santa. She’s man- aged to quell the internal party battles on her own and all she needs from you St. Nick is another year ike the first. That cute little guy from Shawini- gan, Jean Chretien, is now hanging -his Christmas stocking in New Brunswick, Santa. Last year was great, up until he’ won the Liberal leadership ‘on the day the Meech Lake Accord died. The past six months haven't been great, Santa. But Jean never did anything to deserve the bad luck be's had recent- ly, and so my Christmas wish for him, Santa, ‘is the same as for the prime minister. A gift of good luck, bealth and happiness!’ : ft In fact, Santa, that’s my Christmas : ~~ the govemors and the wish for all govemed: The Daft Wednesday, January 2, 1991 The Castlegar Sun Letters to the Editor, _ PM asked to reconsider participation in Middle East AN OPEN LETTER TO BRIAN MULRONEY Dear Mr, Mulroney, It is with great pleasure that we Pass on our festive greetings to you, your family, co-workers, and any people that you have the Opportunity to be associated with. During the holiday season com- memorating the Birth of Christ we are reminded of the message of hope, love’ and forgiveness towards those who trespass against us, shown and lived by the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. This mes- sage we strive to apply in our . daily lives, It is with this message that we appeal to you to reconsider having Canadian soldiers partici- pate in the Middle East crises, The possibility of a third world war breaking out is now becoming a definite reality, There is no love towards God or man and no for- giveness portrayed in the act of war, only hate, revenge and bloody destruction, This is not the example our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ showed to us, Try “every peaceful means possible to stop acts of aggression, but in so doing do not become an aggressor yourself, One day the people of the world will realize that human life is sacred and under no circum- stances should a life be taken. We hope and pray that this day will come in the near future when all men and women‘will join those of us in the world who have already taken this stand on the sanctity of life. This letter is written on behalf of the U.S.C.C Doukhobour Sun- day Meetings children group of Slocan Park - Passmore, British Columbia. In Peace and Brotherhood, Leonard Markin Simi ar names create confusion in organizations To the Editor: The Cancer Research Society is at the iciting funds the Canadian Cancer Society, one of whose Units has worked in our throughout Canada by means of a mail campaign. The Cancer R ‘ity for many years. Both organizations provide , but the h Society has its d funds for cancer research, Cc Cancer Society also munity and projects such as the Breast Self Examination clinics held each year, It is unfortunate that the two groups have names so similar that q in and should not be confused with gives ial and sup- port to cancer patients in our com- the two is almost inevitable, and that both conduct their fund raising operations at the same time, Ruby J. Marsh President, Castlegar Unit, Canadian Cancer Society. 365-6498 Children and parents express views to Mu roney To the Editor: Enclosed are some letters that our children from our Sunday Meetings wrote to the: Prime Min- ister. As space permits, in your letters to the editor column, please publish them. This is our future and these are their feelings of the issue of the war that is about to erupt. Enclosed also are some letters that were written by some of the parents, Thank you. Peacefully yours, Karen Markin Pid Prime Minister Brian Mulroony Ottawa, Ont. Dear Sir: As members of the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ, we believe and uphold the com- mandment “Thou Shall not Kill.” We believe that no person has the right to take another person's life for any reason. Therefore, we feel that you should do all that you can in helping bring peace to Kuwait. Canada was noted for being a peace keeper around the world, Please take this stand now. ‘Canada should start by disengag- ing it's troops and start working towards bringing the conflicting parties together for peaceful nego- tiation. We are on the brink of the 2ist century, is it not time to work intelligently towards peace instead of in the barbaric way of war?’ We pray that you will recon- sider this matter and start building a peaceful resolution of the con- flicts in the Gulf and Middle East Region. Yours truly, Lewie 7 Betrice Verigin, Slocan Park, B.C. + eee Prime Minister Mulrooney House of Commons Ottawa, Ont. Dear Prime Minister Mulrooney, Iam writing you regarding Canada going to Kuwait. Canada has traditionally been a peace keeping. country and I am appalled that troops were sent without consulting the people. The reason is basically for pro- tecting oil and spilling blood is the price. My ancestors came from Rus- sia, the Doukbobor people came to this country with the belief of “Toil and Peaceful Life”, that armies should be abolished and are against killing another human being. I hold to these beliefs and very strongly object to, Canada going to war. In my view the spilling of innocent blood should be avoided and every effort towards peace should be sought. The money that all the coun- tries spend on war preparations would be better spent on the poor, homeless and staving people, every effort to reduce crime, job shortages ‘and environmental issues. These issues should be worldwide and should be every- one's first priority. Was has been tried for thousands of years and has always failed to come up as a winner. We should live as brothers -and sisters and peacefully. Prime Minister Mulrooney, I am a mother and I love my two sons very much and I don’t want them nor anyone else to be faced with World War II. Your response to this letter would be greatly appreciated. Peacefully yours, Bonnie & Mike Malekow Crescent Valley, B.C. eee ce ct (SIC) Dear Priminicter Malroony can you please sent our people back and please stop sending armys to Arack. And then we Canadian people will have a peaceful life on earth. And you will have one to. from: Shauna Barisoff . age7 + 908 Dear Prime Minister Mulroney, I do not want war because some people do not want to get killed. I don’t think it is right and I think war is stupid. Iam 8 years old. Please write to me. Jonothan Malekow Cresent Valley, B.C. eee Dear Primienister Malroony (SIC) Please send are men back from the war. Think of the chilldren who miss there dad’s. What do you think it will feel like? Why do you have to have this war? Ir is all most stupid it is stupid. All the people get hurt and die don’t you think this is sad? Well I do! and I you do too, did I menshen I am 8 years old and this is how I feel about this war it is silly! From Deana Barisoff Passmore, B.C. PS. If you write back Please’anser my queshtens, To Prime Minister Mulroney: Why I think war is wrong is because People go to jail for killing, I don’t know why it should be right when people kill at war. L also don’t agree with the use of our taxes for manufacturing guns, gemades and tanks, If the war starts it will probably be a long time before it stops. Canada shold be telling the other countries to stop the war and not be backing them because lots of people could be killed. P.S. I would like a reply! Mikey Malekow age 12 oe Dear Mr. Mulroney, I don’t think its right to send soldiers to Iraq. I was brought up being taught not to kill or hurt other people. You probably don't think killing in a war is murder, but it actually is. What's the differ- ence in murdering a guy in the street or killing an innocent family in Iraq. 18 There are different and better ways to settle the dispute without killing. By going to war with Iraq it’s going to make Canada look bad. Most countries think Canada is the best, safest and kindest coun- try in the world because we don't go to wars, but if we take part in the war countries will stop respect- ing us like they did before. Dear Prime Minister Mulroney: Why is there such thing as war? My name is Lesley Tarasoff and I don’t believe in war or anything that has to do with killing and stuff, The world is bad enuff, it doesn't need war, does it? Love is more powerful then war. I used to think was was a town but I just don't think war is nice! I'm 9 years old and my birthday is Aug. 27. Please no war! Yours truly, Lesley aoe Dear Mr. Mulroney, My name is Misha Cheroff. I don't want to see any wars on earth. Wars kill people and that makes me feel bad. Please help make sure that no wars start on earth, Your friend | Misha Chemoff Dear Mr. Mulroney: To get right to the pont can you do something about war? It's not something we want to cherish you ,, know. Pretty soon our earth will be in a big boom because we are sending to many peple to war. It's better to have peace becasue then we can have clean water more tree’s. You can stop haveing to send peple from Canada to Kuwait cause soon that will be a war so please don’t send more peple to Kuwait. Thank's for lishening to me, i Your's truely Amanda Verigin Ded To Minster Mulroney have AND SOON THE Smile WILL BE “GOWE * Local Cartoonist Les Schultz gets his teeth into the provincial political scene. ‘ 1 : Ns xt Hy ‘ w Christmas bouquet offered to Castlegar To the Editor: I would like to commend the City of Castlegar and Mayor Moore for the nice little Snowmen decorations that were installed in our City. They are a most wel- comed and colorful addition to our City. His smiling face makes him very pleasing to us with all the problems and depression in the world today especially at this time of year. Thanks so much. Rachel Friedrich why we should go to war because there’s no point in shooting 150 million people for Kuwait. i think so far that the way you have been handling the Kuwait situation is pretty good. Don’t blow it by going to war now. Why is it that we have to fight for things. It’s not fair. I don’t want any of family.or- friends experiencing going toa World War 3. The amount of peo- ple going to die is not worth win- ning a war. If world peace means that much for us, why are we going to war. Our environment will be extremely harmed by this war (if it goes on). World peace is not going to be an easy point to reach, going to war is not going to belp. War is not a pleasant feeling. How are families going to feel? :One way to come closer to world peace is by eliminating all the world’s armies and neuclear weapons. Our environment needs to be fixed for our children and your grandchildren. I hope you can help. fi Peacefully yours Eric Chernoff Dear Mr. Mulroney, I wish to express my views about the decisions of your gov- emment to involve Canada in the situation that exists in the Persian Gulf. Realizing that tbe end result... . of war is the loss of innocent lives, ” your decision to support the use of violence any time after January 15, 1991 is most senseless. The fact that the leadership of Iraq has cho- sen to act in an irresponsible and destructive manner is wrong. However, duplicating the actions of the people of Iraq, regardless of your intentions is equally wrong. The killing of innocent people can- not be justified nor supported by the leaders of the so called free world. Mr. Mulroney, you have been given the power to represent Cana- dians by the people of Canada in much the same manner as the other leaders who are following the path of the United States. The opportunity is before you to accept your role as a spokesman for the people of Canada. War is not an acceptable. alternative to anyone. Rather than relying on the thou- sands of innocent people who are gathering in the Persian Gulf for Letters Policy Letters to the Editor are welcome on any topic’ of local or general interest. Letters should be double-spaced, typewritten, or legibly hand- written, and no more than two pages if possible. Letters will be edited in the interests of brevity or taste if necessary. All letters must be signed, with address and telephone number, although names may be witheld from publication for valid reason by the approval of the editor. Send letters to: The Castlegar Sun, 465 Columbia Ave., Castlegar, B.C., VIN 1G8, or drop them off at the office. defense, it is the leaders of the so called fee countries that should be forming our first line of defense. It is you Mr. Mulroney who Should be standing side by side with mr. Bush, Mr. Gorbichev and other leaders using the power of your words as well as the support of the millions of people around the world who realize that aggres- sive actions are unacceptable. ‘Whether it be a citizen of Iraq, or the U.S.A., Canada, or France, using aggression to solve a prob- lem is a practice that is discour- aged by Canadian people in every home,every school yard, every civilized comer of our country. It is long past the time that our world leaders stop hiding behind the masses when in fact it is the leaders who are creating these sit- uations. 4 Mr, Mulroney, the human beings that are being sent to the Persian Gulf are innocent people who will fall victum to the conse- quence of war unlesss you are willing to choose a more accepi- able option. . I implore you, “Choose PEACE and not warl” ‘With Peace and sincerity, WILLIE'S DEL! & DESSERT HOMEMADE MEAT PIES ASSORTED PARTY TRAYS _ 365-3306, Advertising in.the Sun sells - Phone 365 -5266 today! 2 UFOs Continued from 4A March 1 that year, in distant New York, Whitley Strieber had his first hypnotic regression session in a desperate attempt to remember. more of the strange events that marred his previous Christmas. Of course, I knew: nothing of his experiences until more than two years later, nor had.T ever.“ read a book on the subject of. UFOs before Strieber's'Commu- nion. P For all those reasons, I find the oddly si Furthermore, transcripts of Strieber's March 1 session reveal this interesting passage: “Remembered voice: ‘That’s your home. That’s your home. ‘You know why this will happen."” I still don't know why any of this is happening but I'am remind- ed of a celebrated earlier case involving contactee Betty mond Fowler's The A d in the of ber . whole, very large family. When later, under hyp “why she had been abducted, she - adamantly stated she was not abducted. She said she had been taken ‘Home.” The case, otherwise character- \ ized d that may be. And that may be the ultimate value of Whitley Strieber’s first person account of his own experi- ence which, in the hands of UFO investigators, would become just another case of abduction — by © visitors from another planet. Strieber is not so sure, in fact, by remains classified by asan abduction, even though the Andreasson, as reported in Ray- Affair. ‘This woinan was apparently — vivid content of ' Andreasson’s recall is a lot more in keeping with a visit home, ptical of it being an ence. And so perhaps the challenge for us, and science, remains rede- As history tells it, strange things happened in all ages and to all the races, There were always ical and interven- fined by the publicati of Strieber’s personal material — to determine not how many light years “they” are far away from us, but how close to home. Having reviewed the subject over the holidays, I can only add ial contact The jury is still out. Nobody really knows. What is now known — more publicly, ‘that is — is that - alot of people have had the experi- some p the chief of it being that-I am. glad that someone like Strieber came along and broke the strange silence by . his public admission. tions, and people always looked up to the sky. ce Tt seems that magic never real- ly stopped being part of human history, which is perhaps the rea- son we rather willingly suspend disbelief at certain times of the year, mainly at Christmas. . Personally, given the meaning mitributed to Armstrong, | guess I believe S.