Letters Letters Film based on work by Danish socialist In reference to the review of the Danish film Pelle the Conqueror (‘Pelle the Con- queror reveals ruthlessness of class exploita- tion,” Tribune, April 10, 1989), which I read with interest, I would like to make the fol- lowing comments. First of all, surprisingly enough, the review makes no mention of the fact that the film is based on Martin Andersen Nexo’s novel Pelle the Conqueror, or more precisely, it seems, on Childhood (1906), the first of a four-volume work. Martin Anderson Nexo, an author of considerable renown outside Denmark and particularly well known in the USSR, was Denmark’s Wy PELLE THE CONQUEROR ... based on Danish four volume novel. first great working class writer. Among other major novels that should be menti- oned is Ditte, Child of Man (five volumes, 1917-21). In addition, he wrote numerous short stories, travel books, including two on the USSR and an autobiography. Andersen Nexo was born in Copenhagen in 1869 into a poor working class family which later moved to the small town of Nexo on the Danish island of Bornholm, his father’s birthplace. As an adolescent, Andersen Nexo worked as a herd boy for local farmers and was later apprenticed toa shoemaker. In 1891, thanks to the support of a group of people who took an interest in him, he was able to attend the prestigious folk high school of Askov for two years, Banks benefit from the deficit The banks are continuing to make “bank breaking’ profits. With the concentration of wealth already at the top, few dollars flow amongst the masses of poor. The Tories want to end the deficit, but since the deficit is to the same banks who already have almost all the money, their plan must withdraw and dry up what little money is circulating in the economy. Since the poorest 40 per cent of Canadians have no net profit — no money — the Tories can only take their future monies via fewer social programs and less unem- ployment insurance. Bo Filter, Vancouver after which he decided on a career as a journalist and writer. Originally a Social Democrat, he broke with the party after the Russian Revolution and in his future writings became a staunch advocate of Communism and the Soviet system — a view which did not always sit well with the Danish public who remained equally staunch supporters of western-style democracy. After Hitler’s invasion of the USSR, Andersen Nexo fled Nazi-occupied Denmark for Sweden, then went on to the USSR and finally settled in East Germany, where he died in 1954. He was buried in Copenhagen. My second point concerns the reviewer’s (albeit moderate) criticism of the film for showing few “conquests,” thus coming across as somewhat unbalanced. Like many of Andersen Nexo’s works, the entire Pelle the Conqueror, including Childhood, and therefore also the film, are more or less autobiographical. In other words, the story of Pelle and his father takes place during the late 1870s and early 1880s, a critical period in recent Danish history marked by a bitter constitutional struggle between reactionary forces, mainly the big landowners, making a last attempt to abolish the constitution of 1849 and the new Left, the Liberals (a farmers’ party). The Liberals were later joined by the Social Democratic Party, which had sprung from the trade unions and a steadily growing class of industrial workers. In the political chaos after Denmark’s defeat by Prussia in 1864, the old right had succeeded in amending the constitution to their advantage, securing for themselves a majority in the Upper House of Parliament. Despite the fact that the Liberals/Social Democrats constantly held the majority in the Lower House, the numerous, badly needed social reforms contemplated by these parties never got beyond the Upper House. The result was that deplorable con- ditions continued in many rural as well as urban areas. That conflict ended only in 1901 when the Liberals had once again obtained the majority in the Lower House and the con- servative king finally agreed to appoint the government on the basis of that majority and not the majority of the Upper House, which for more than 30 years had been his custom. Numerous political and social reforms followed, gaining speed during Social Democratic/Social Liberal govern- ments, culminating with the Great Social Reform of 1933 which put the country on the threshold of the welfare state. The reason, therefore, that the film does not show any “comeuppance for the oppressors and the overthrow of their hide- ous, demeaning system” is that it would have been historically incorrect to do so. That came later. Nor is the film the end of Pelle’s story; if “conquests” are suggested by its title, this rather refers to Dawn, the Jast volume of Pelle the Conqueror, where Pelle decides to throw himself into the polit- ical struggle for the oppressed, which has by now grown into a movement. Incidentally, in the sequel to Pelle the Conqueror, called Morten the Red (1945), Pelle has become a Social Democratic polli- tician, thus, according to Andersen Nexo, opting for a compromise, while the pursuit of genuine socialist goals is carried on by his friend, Morten, a Communist and Andersen Nexo’s alter ego. Rigmor Brant, Gabriola Island “THIEVES EVER GOTmuctipLe M ARRESTED ?. 4 fiat FRIENDS OF STRATHCONA PARK IN PROTEST OVER DRILLIN Grae the ‘unsung heroes’ who have forced governments to take up environmental issues. It took environmentalists to force gov't to listen In light of the recent burgeoning of concern for environmental issues, it would be appropriate for us to hereby recognize that, although many politi- cians are jumping on the popular band- wagon, it is a dedicated group of citizens to whom we owe our present level of awareness. ’ This concerned and active sector of the population has, until recently, been persecuted and berated by the very poli- ticians that are now having to sheepishly heed environmental realities. Indeed, while B.C. pulp mills continued their fla- grant contravention of law by spewing unacceptably high levels of poisonous dioxins into the water, the ““environmen- talists” were singled out and labelled out- laws for acts of peaceful civil disobed- ience. Is it not the board of directors of these pulp mills, and the pollution- tolerant politicians who are the true law- breakers? Environmentally speaking, we may be in dire straits, but if it weren’t for the persistence of the (unpaid) concerned citizens in the environmental movement, the polluters would have utterly ravished our land, water and air. It has been said that we have inherited the earth from our parents, but really we are borrowing it from our children. For the children’s sake, let us not be duped by such vote-getting, born-again environ- mentalists as George Bush (who once lobbied against the removal of lead from gasoline), and Brian Mulroney (whose accomplishments include discontinuing the Canadian Wildlife Service). Let us instead look to their records of environ- mental disservice the next time we have an opportunity to vote, and in the meanwhile remember the great service being done by the concerned and active “environmentalists.” Graham Shuley, Vancouver Mid-East analysis appreciated I read with great interest the story by Professor Adel Safty (“Events pass judgment on Camp David Accord,” Tribune, April 10, 1989) First of all, I must say I was very impressed by the wealth of information and facts that the article contained. It was so informative that I felt I had taken a crash course on the Middle East. Second, it has put into a clear context so many confusing statements about Camp David. For instance, when the analysts and so-called experts tell us that Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir is presenting a “peace plan’”’ based on the Camp David formula, we now under- stand what this really means. It is per- haps significant that in reading about the Middle East, very few writers discuss the impact of Camp David and its meaning, in any critical way. In my view, one of the strengths of Prof. Safty’s analysis is his incisive discussion of the meaning of Camp David. I was also intrigued by Prof. Safty’s revelation of the launch of the first Israeli satellite Ofig I. This event means that Israelis have rocket-launching capabili- . ties which enables them to wreak nuclear havoc over their Arab neighbours. So much for the dominant myth about “small Israel.” It is interesting to note that this event was not publicized by the other media. In conclusion, I wish to extend con- gratulations to your paper and Prof. Safty for this rare type of insightful and critical reporting. Georgena Chater, Vancouver Pacific Tribune, May 1, 1989 e 15 DON Ct eae ROU nse a a _ :