OPINION

December

15, 1993

wy The Ga stiégar Sun

7i\e

is published every Wednesday by Sterling Newspapers Ltd

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editorial comment

Who’s the animal?

t’s atrocious, disgusting, barbaric and totally

unnecessary. The recent amputation of a paw

from a black bear is stomach-turning and belongs in the same category of appalling news as rape, child abuse and child pomography rings.

We in the media can become, to a.degree, desen- sitized to the everyday melodrama that is played out in nations across the world. But there are some things we will never become immune to—and that’s the senseless cruelty and disregard for life which seems to be exhibited on a regular basis nowadays.

Now some might argue that the bear was already dead, and thus (excuse the unintentional pun) fair game. But that misses the point entirely. Every body, whether it be human or animal, deserves to be decently attended after its death, and shouldn't be mutilated and harvested for its parts

Are we so enamored with ourselves that we feel only humans deserve to be treated with dignity after their lives have ended? We think not—all we have to do is open the paper to see pictures of bod ies unceremoniously dumped in a common grave

The sad reality of it though, is that if there weren’t a market out there for those “exotic” parts, the tragedy would have never happened

American and Canadian Aboriginals understood well the sanctity of the body and the spirit that had departed their world. With grave reverence and dig- nity, all animals, whether they be human or animal, were laid to rest with great ceremony and respect

But then those were different times, weren’t

Those were the days when one didn’t have to lock their door, or carry a stun gun with them at all times. And those were the days when children were loved, not abused in the name of love. Yes, we acknowledge there were shameful things which happened in those days, and we understand that life wasn’t perfect then either—but we all know deep down that the human heart has hardened since that time

The point is, how can we expect someone to have regard for an animal’s life when human life today carries such a cheap price? How can we expect someone to have regard for an animal’s life when we live in a throwaway society? And how can we expect someone to feel guilty about selling animal parts when there are people out there who sell their own children?

We don’t know what the answer is to this dilem- ma. Maybe it would help if fines and jail sentences were increased for those who show blatant disre- gard for the law. What we CAN all do is cry out loud and clear when we hear of such inhuman acts

The latest bear atrocity leaves us with one last and lingering question—who really i$ the animal in this tragedy?

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John

It's pretty simple—if you plan on drinking take steps to ensure you have a way home—other than driving your car

Come now, the time is long in coming for people to start to acting mature. We are old enough to drink, and with that privilege people should start to act with a reasonable amount of responsibility

Karen, both you and I know that when some people drive to a party they know that they will be finding another way to get home. But there are always those who, especially in this

. end up drink- ing a little more than they intended to, And I agree that all too often those who drive home do so because they only think that they had a couple of drinks and that they are sober enough to drive

The point that we disagree on is where the responsibility lies— on the host of the party or with the person who has taken it upon themselves to drink at the party.

It doesn’t matter—two drinks, or four—if you drink at all you should not be driving.

The host of the party can offer to call a cab, try to find somebody else to drive the mildly drunk reveler home, or insist they stay for the night

But ultimately the responsi- bility is on the shoulder of each person who drinks. and not on the shoulders of the host who can try to do every- thing possible short of full restraint to ensure they DO NOT drive

Too often, once other peo- ple at the party start to hassle a person about their intention to drive home, they only insist that they are alright to drive Once they get defensive about their right to drive there is usually not much that can be done to stop them

All the usual steps won't work, the increase in number of RCMP CounterAttack road

Who’s responsibility is it?

checks at this time of year is a hindrance for some, but for a drunk it is not much of a deterrent

It’s not just that one life is on the line when you drive, every person is at risk from those who drive

The moral obligation con- cerning driving lies with the individual and the fact that innocent lives are at risk should help the decision be easier.

Make it simple for yourself the next time you venture out to a party.

Once you arrive hand your keys over to the host and make sure that if you plan to drink you tell them not to give them back at the end of the party no matter how much you beg them to do so.

If the urge to drive is too strong for you after a party then don't drive to the party and driving home will not be an option for later

It is each of our responsi bilities to make sure the holi day season is and stays the way it should be, a joyous festive time of the year that calls for celebration—respon- sible celebration.

eek

theek

Lexpected you think that way John. Live for the day and don’t think beyond—that’s your motto.

The sad truth is not everyone takes responsibility for them- selves and their actions. The proof is in the many tragedies we read about and see regarding drinking and driving

Have you ever asked a drunk if they're sober enough to drive? For the most part they say “Of corth I’m thober enough to drife. I only had a couple” Never mind that they can't walk straight. Now they think they can drive

The thing about alcohol is that it clouds a person's judge- ment, which is alright at times, but not if you're going to drive! Not everybody sets out to get drunk. Sometimes it just hap- pens—and that’s the scenario that scares me the most

If a person knows they are going to go out and party they usually make alternate arrange ments for transportation home But when they are caught off guard the temptation to drive home (after all it is only a mile away) sometimes overrules any judgement a person might have left. And sometimes that deci

Karen

sion is something they will have to live with the rest of their lives

As a host of a party it is your responsibility to make sure your guest gets home without injur- ing himself or anyone else What's the big deal anyway? Is it so hard to call a cab, offer them the couch or give them 4 ride?

All you have to do is go to an emergency room, or ride along with an ambulance on New Year’s Eve to understand the impact drinking drivers have on everyone, you included

Thousands of lives are lost to drinking drivers every year, and taxpayers pay millions of dollars towards the carnage reaped by drunk drivers. Forget the legal obligation—I believe we all have a MORAL obligation to see that a drunk gets home safely.

If you still have trouble fol- lowing this reasoning John let me make it a little more clear to you.

Imagine that your mother is coming home from the store. All of a sudden, out of the blue it seems, a drunk driver smashes head on into her vehicle. As the ambulance arrives they find her trapped in her vehicle and before she can get the essential medical help she so desperately needs they first have to use the Jaws of Life. The golden hour is quickly slipping away—and so is your mother’s life

How would you feel if you later found out that the driver had been drinking at a party and not one person stopped him from leaving in his vehicle. One person can make it difference. One person can save a.life. And together we can all change the horrifying statistics linked with drunk driving

So John, don’t come to nity house and expect that I'll let you out the door with keys in your hand if you've been drinking Somebody's loved one just might thank me for that one day. It's everyone's responsibility

Oh, by the way, driving isn’t anght—it’s a privilege!

Ke about this week's Cheek to Cheek, feel free to

if you have any

send us your scaaaen In a letter to the editor c/o The Castlegar Sun. if you have a subject that you would like to see debated in the Cheek to Cheek column, Karen and John would love to hear your suggestions.

Call the newsroom at 365-5579 or fax us your and

s at 365-7762

The tale of WCB and Dale Bugg

The Workers Compensation Board isn’t known for its gen- erosity and compassion at the best of times, but what hap- pened to Dale Bugg when she applied for compensation set new standards for obtuseness and indifference of an uncaring bureaucracy.

Let me take you on a road to hell, the road Bugg was forced to travel nearly three years ago.

On the afternoon of January 30, 1991, Bugg, mother of three children, was working in the bar section of the Red Wagon Bar and Restaurant in Christina Lake, a small town in the West Kootenays

At 4 p.m., a man wearing a black toque and camouflage jacket walked into the bar and ordered a draft beer. Bugg was the only employee on the premises. Aside from the man there were three other cus tomers in the bar. After drink ing half his beer, the man left

Shortly after the three cu tomers had also left, the man returned. He paced about ner vously for awhile, talked to her about mutual acquaintanc and suddenly pointed a hand gun at her.

The man ordered her to put on his toque and jacket, forced her at gunpoint out of the

doors, toward a pickup truck Bugg tried to escape, but the man grabbed her and pushed her down onto the floor and ordered her to lay, face down, on the seat

The man then drove about 20 kilometres to Santa Rosa Mountain, where Bugg’s worst nightmares came true. For four hours, he repeatedly raped her, abused her verbally and threat- ened to kill her.

At one point, he put the gun in her mouth and cocked the hammer, but didn't pull the trigger.

Instead, he withdrew the gun and said: “I picked the wrong person.”

It was Bugg’s chance to escape. Terrified, she ran, trip- ping over logs, falling into the snow, when she heard a single shot. She was sure the man had fired at her. Later, she learned that he had in fact, committed suicide

Bugy eventually found her way to Santa Rosa Road, and ran, and ran, and ran. After run ning for about 10 kilometres she was picked up by a motorist who drove her home to her family

Enter the Workers Compen sation Board which, in typical ly bureaucratic fashion, made

her relive the horrors of that night, over and over again, finally granting her $2,400 on compensation.

Beyer Beware

Hubert Beyer

I spoke to Bugg last week She said she had decided to go public with her story so that others will not have to suffer the indignities inflicted on her by the Workers Compensation Board

Example: After applying for compensation, giving a full report of what happened to her, the board sent her the usual forms to fill out

How does a woman who went through her hell answer the question whether someone else was responsible for the injuries? Or how about whether faulty equipment was responsi ble? Were safety measures ade quate? Was her employer notified?

Describe fully what hap pened to cause the injury and mention all contributing fac

tors: description of machinery, weight and size of objects involved ..." and so on

Bugg has nothing but praise for te RCMP officers who handled her case. She calls the Workers Compensation Board Insensitive and out of touch. I think she's rather kind and restrained in her description of the board.

The irony is that if a woman

were abducted from her home and assaulted, she would be entitled to compensation for Pain and suffering. Since she was abducted from work, she was only entitled to compensa- tion for lost wages and medical expenses.

To the Compensation Board's credit, it has promised an investigation into the matter. Judging from its record, howev- er, I wouldn't hold my breath for a speedy conclusion.

Three years after her ordeal, Bugg is still suffering from the effects. She is prone to sudden rages and has lost a good deal of her belief in mankind

It seems to me the next step is up to the government, which not only has jurisdiction over the WCBE€anada Post , but is never shy about claiming to have a monopoly on compas- sion and caring

Wednesday, December 15

Letters to the Editor

1993

The Castlegar Sun

Dear Editor

What is beginning to happen in Castlegar? My wife and I have been yoiny for years.to

spons fans? Who are we? What do we sup: port? Who do we believe in? By golly, we have been watching this now

‘What about our children?

shows? Even the elders can't compreh understand those shows, yet the kidd watching them every dar day

~~

watch our grandchildren playing hockey How hy parents, or grandparents do you

for over 20 years. I am close to 65 years old The situation is more serious than we could

Dear parents and grandparents, please wake up to the situation for the sake of our children. Otherwise the future looks very

don't want to be with them, Why?

Why do we give birth to our children when we don't want to morally Support them? Most of us just want to’see them out dren of our sights. When they go to school, play hockey, or even go to Sunday School we

Why is this happening with us? We are not religious people. Then why, don't we at least time. Support our hockey youngsters? Are we not

see? It is just a total disaster ever imagine when we don't want to support our own children no matter what situation. bleak. I don't know what else I could say We think “Somebody will look after my chil that’s very , very wrong.

Even when the kiddies come home from life. school what do they do? What do they learn from their parents? They just sit and soak their eyes into the TV box for hours at a

together,

What do they lear by watching monster

Maybe I will say that love is the strongest power in the world as are toil and peaceful

Merry Christmas to all! Let's hope the new year will bring us more

Name withheld by request

Addition of “Beyer Beware” appreciated

Dear Editor:

Hubert’ Beyer’s column “Beyer Beware”, is a welcom« addition to your editorial page

I used to follow him weekly in both the Grand Forks Gazette and the Arrow Lakes News of

Nakusp, and have found him to be even-handed and objective in his assessment of provincial events,

I'm glad that in deciding to carry Beyer you are still continu. ing with Steve Weatherbe's “Vic

toria Comment” opinion column although - unfortunately - it

ms not as regularly as before Fortunately, [ catch him regularly in Business in Vancouver but hope to see him appearing weekly again in The Sun

I realize beth columns are a cost item for you, but this is one reader who does appreciate being able to read them

cerely, Burt Campbell Castlegar

Those darn Gremlins at The Castlegar Sun again!

Dear Editor:

In my December 8th column A STEP IN TIME, Gremlins must have been at work in the typesetting department!

The proud statistic of 500 vis. itors in the month of November to the C.P. Rail Station Museum

Indeed, when the museum was first struggling to get estab- lished, fifty-five might have been a landmark but no more! To not put the record straight would diminish the hard work of Coordinator Deb McIntosh,

pride in this growth, and the actual figure of 500 reflects their success.

Incidentally, the recently started “Coffee Club” which meets at the museums weekday morning now averages seven- teen!

who has taken the time to com pliment A Step In Time, on behalf. of myself and the C.D.H.S. Your ideas and sug gestions are always welcome

neerely, Carolee Fitz-Gerald

SOCKS Levi ¢ Calvin Klein & more SUL OEE

Drakkar © Perry Ellis ¢ Calvin Klein & more

WATS

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WEAR

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365-67

Ave

CASTLEGAR ARCHERY CLUB holds weekly

meetings Kootena Info: 36

es cay and Thursda

at High Country, 1106 - 3rd Sfreet.

CASTLEGAR SENIORS ASSOCI open house December 14, 1 Social December 16, 2:00 p.m.; Dance December 31, 8:00 p.m

her staff and the many volun-

was reduced twice (0 “55” teers who have reason to take

Moms and Babes doing well

Dear Editor; Discovery Toys, and Susan

On behalf of Moms and Wilson of Tupperware spent Babes, a recently formed the day displaying and selling group offering information their products. Refreshments and support to mother with weregraciously donated by babies and young children, | IGA would like to express appreci On November 26 and 27 the ation to all those who con bake sale at the Robson Com- tributed to the success of our munity Craft Fair sold deli- recent fund-raising events. cious baking donated by Tami Through generous donations and Simone’s Mom and Me from the participating sales group and other volunteers, consultants and a good old friends and supporters of fashioned bake sale, Moms Moms and Babes and Babes raised over $300 The Moms.and Babes vol-

On November 20 we held a unteers are now taking a well giant home sales party at the — deserved break for the holiday Kootenay Columbia Child season. Happy holidays to all mothers and children who par ticipated in Moms and Babes in 1993

care Society’s Tender Care Building

Marlene Friedel of Fit Design by Dargie, Pam Jodoin

May I also thank everyone

The next 10 week session will begin on January 12,

Castlegar

Letters Policy

Letters to the Editor are wel- come on any topic of local or general interest. Letters should be double-spaced, typewritten, or legibly handwritten, and no more than two pages if possible. Letters will be edited in the

Sincerely Julia Stockhausen

More Letters

imterests of brevity or taste if necessary. All letters must be signed, with address and tele- phone 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

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