PAGE 4, THE HERALD, Thursday, May 4, 1978

Editorial «= I's courtesy dead? -or- “One ringey dingey; 7 |

Perhaps I belong to the wrong generation.
Perhaps I am wrong, when the telephone rings
and I pick up the receiver to expect the person on
the other end of the line, who is calling me, to act
like a person, a

Often I am alone in the Herald office in the
early or late hours - when thinking is less in-
terrupted, and the telephone light blinks on in an:
irrestible challenge almost as strong as the.
telephone bell at home. ,

‘Hey, how much is that car you're trying to get
rid of?” the voice at the other end will demand to
know. AndifIdon’tknow, dol gettoldoff!

Now at 7 a.m. - and sometimes five or six am
or 10 and 11 p.m. I would expect the average
person to assume most businesses are closed,
and, on the off chance of finding someone an-
swering the phone would at least treat that
person like a human being. At the very least,
“Hello, I’m George Blank. I’m phoning about a
classified ad, is there anyone there who can help
me?”’ *

‘Maybe that is a bit too long winded, - but some
indication that the voice is from one human
being seeking contact with another human would

two ringey

certainly help.

Once in awhile there is a pleasant surprise, A
warm voice comes on that can make even a
complaint sound like a compliment! ‘I’m Mrs,
Blank, and I know it’s dreadfully late. But I
noticed a piece in your paper the other day -
Thursday, I think it was, and I seemed to have
lost my copy. Do you think there is any way I
could get another copy of that issue - or even that
article. You see it was about...”

When I learned Mrs. Blank was not that able to
get around on her own, and because she ‘came
on” sohumanly, you can guess another copy of
the paper she had lost was in her hands. very
shortly after she hung up the phone.

Some of our editorials seem calculated to best
bring out the beast in some men- and women.
However, that’s not so bad, Any editor worth his
salt - anda little shake or two of pepper and dash
of mustard - expects to get his share of “hate”
calls, Nor have we been disappointed, lately, on
that score. One of our callers said he objected so
strenuously to a guest editorial that he felt had
been a direct attack - a personal attack of Mr.
Barrett that he (expletives deleted) thought that

dingeys...”

our (expletive deleted) paper should be (ex. del.)
well ashamed of its (ex del.) self. He expressed
a keen desire to meet the son of a (ex. del) up a.
back alley some night, when he would no doubt
introduce himself, formally, and explain his
difference of opinion and take him soundly to
task for his political bias.

Another caller, who likewise waived the for-
mality of an introduction, assured us he had just
returned froma visit to Mr, Barrett in Vancouver
where he had personally handed him a copy of
the offending guest editorial. He did, however,
have the appreciated courtesy of apologizing for
having used some rather strong language on our
“secretary” who happened to have had the
misfortune to answer the phone in our absence,
and thus got the initial blast of our readers dif-
ference ‘of opinion.

' But even these rather “frank” calls are much
preferred to some of the responses we get when

‘we attempt to reach a relatively unimportant

civil servant and have to deal with his secretary
before we can penetrate what some vulgar chap
has nicknamed “the B.S. Curtain’. The
secretary or receptionist will not put our call

fo
*

rough unless we not only tell her who we are,
but list of all she must apparently discover
whether the gentleman we are calling is actually
there or not. line is not
“7°]] see if Mr. Blank is in” routine 1s no
eouy to take. If that female does not know
whether her boss is there or not, one would
question whether or not she is all “there” her-
self, While she is thus engaged in determining
the location of her boss, and probably finishing
another chapter of “I Was A Female Werewolf
she puts us on “hold”. Eventually we give up,
and finally get the information we were looking
for from a quick call to her boss's girl friend at
the bar down the street.

. Courtesy on the telephone may seem unim-
portant until one realizes how much of one’ life is
now dependent on telephone conversations.
Every home, office, business establishment and
service is linked by phone. There surely is no
quicker way to cheer the world up - or get
everyone snarling at one another - than by being
pleasant and courteous, or ‘‘short” and rude -
when we use that instrument.

GUEST EDITORIAL (LOCAL)

“Kill me if you can”

_ A look at capital punishment

by Scott Browes
Television. Media or medium?
The on going controversy centering around the
impact of television on society, and people in-

dividually, came to a climax May 1 when the.

story of a young rambunctious American who
had incredible intelligence and social scorn,.
putting him to “sentenced” death, was aired on
NBC...“Kill Me If You Can”.

Itseems rather appropriate that the subject be
so truthfully portrayed at a time’ when
Canadians may be about to be faced with the
parliamentary decision_to re-instate capital
punishment, or to live and let live. .

Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau says,
“There has been no action taken on the
suggestion of re-instatement of capital punish-
ment following the murder of a Saskatchewan
policeman”, aceording to radio news service.

It should be hoped not! The person responsible
for the death of the policeman in our prairie
province has yetsto'be tried, let alone convicted.

Does the death of a policeman constitute any
super suffering that might be different than the
horror and pain after the death of any per'son?

Alam Alda, the cracked-witted doctor-

character. associated generally with MASH,
captured the essense of Caryl Chessman’s
struggle for the truth. Chessman was accused of
committing over one dozen crimes under the
mask of “‘the red light bandit’’.

Chessman was originally tried and convicted -

of the charges in 1947. It was not until 1960 that
evidence brought goverment recognition of the
fact that he was ‘possibly’ innocent.
Chessman died, according to the NBC
documentary and historical data, seconds before
receiving his fifth stay of execution. Due to
justice department bungling in the state of

California during the twelve terrifying years
Chessman spent in prison facing death row the
‘man was tossed around as a categorical victim -
none the less-found guilty.

. What if - just imaging for a second. You're
cruising home after just being involved in a beer
parlour brawl, or some such common situation, -
the police chase you - you bait them in a short
lived push of the accelerator.

Suddenly you’re in an interrogation room
being accused - not questioned - of being the
murderer in a case that public pressure forces
police to search overly aggressively for the of-
fender.

A court finds you belligerent for defending
yourself - or worse yet your lawyer is incapable -
and you find yourself facing death row.

Oh but if he had been an up-standing citizen he
wouldn’t have gotten into the situation. No but
your son can get in that situation.

Canadian courts are not above the faults of the
American judicial system. . On the contrary
Canada boasts a follow-the-leader syndrome,

Is it completely incomprehensible to a person
seeking the truth what retributive justice is all
about. Eye-for-an-eye holds no weight. The
‘answer is much more complicated than simply
re-murdering. Even contemporary
psychologists have stopped using deterrant type

behavioural _ patterning «because of
government instituted laws governing ,ex-
perimentation on subjects if the test would be .
detrimental to the subjects’ health. -

In the words of a British lyricists writing oh the
unjust reality of such people as the Klu Klux
Klan: “Cary] Chessman sniffs the air and leads
the parade, he knows in a scent, you can bottle
all: you made”’. :

Chessman left very little behind his curtain of

Letter to the editor

Kitimat reader seething over

gas, only his four books.

Can we be so alienated from capital punish-
ment that we condone its practise? Write your

legislative representative and voice your.

opinion, whether proor con, The parliamentary

member might just need reminding of the an-

tiquated philosophy behind retributive ‘justice,
Thanks for listening.

Sgt. Cc. Simms of the Canadian ‘orces Naden
Band, poses before a type of xylophone on
wheels. The Naden Band will he in Terrace on

‘
row *
5 <.
Oe
ry

May 16 to perform at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre at&
p.m. Admission is Free.

CBC TV documentary

. Editor
THE GREAT T.V.CAPER!
TK television ought to
apologize to Kitimat and
CBC. Before Iona Cam-
pagnolo and other lesser
minions “burst a gut’ over
the great 10 minute Film on
Kitimat hoax, Let me quote
my diary of events leading
up to the film and moat of all

let me reveal the TRUTH, 48 °

to who the real culprit in this
aliair really ia,

Upon the press release
that the Kitimat Plpeline
was quashed, £ telephoned
Walt Lilmatainen of ‘our
TV Station whether groupe in
favour of the pipeline would
be allowed to comment on
the decisicn, I was furlous
that given the present state
of the Canadian economy
and B.C, In particular why'a
certain blue eyed darling of
our )ial station, a cabinet
minister no less could be
claiming a victory at the
apparent success of
defeating a billion dollar
investment in Canada’s and
B.C. economy at this time,

I was refused time and
accused Walt of being with
his station so far in [ona's
pocked that they could not be
objective about the news in
our area, | further pointed
out that they were censoring
from the news sent by CBC
the other side of the Kitlmat
Pipeline Debate and as the

y station they had a duty
to give thé thrust and
motivation needed to bring
the disatisfaction of the
majority of residents of
Kitimat and Terrace with

the present government
decisions at both levels that
were affecting the future
growth of the economy of
Terrace and Kitimat. The
net reguit was as is usual
with this statlon for the past

‘7 years since I've known it

was “we won't rock the

“boat” or do anything.

I said I was tired of this
station being the extention of
the Liberal Party of Canada
and Alcan Public Relations
and that the people here
could live with the truth, If
they were not going to clean
up their bias, I would ap-
proach G.R.T.C. to sea if
something could be done,

T telephoned C.B.C. news

saw a few months aga with
two black eyes and her aix
month pregnant - body
bruised with flst- marks,

Tell that, Iona, to the lady |

who has to wait to see our
overworked social coun-
sellor... :
You gay the story was
gloomy In your letter, Iona,
ou never asked what
pened to the other half of
the programme. The other
ten minutes that was alred
the Thursday before,
You did mot tell them In
ur letter that TK television
ad deliberate technicall
problems because it con-
talned an article questioning
your Part in the plpatine

and asked If they would send -daba

a news team in to allow at
least some reaction to the

peline announcement but

d no idea The District of
Kitimat wanted an expose af
the myth that in cur’ clean
town the natives are all just
titillated with joy and all set
ta whoop it up because we
are 15 yeara old. Sorry,
District of Kitimat, I burst
the bubble but I nee a dif-
ferent Kitimat. ‘

I see a Kitimat with a
varied cross sectlon of

People and I see and alm to:

correct, with your help, an
arom of diré need In this
community that needs ad-
dressing.

I see anarea that Jona and
er ilk cannot see and to
quote her letter, ‘Kitlmat is
a darn nice place to live.”
Tell that to a kid who three
Gays later blows his head
off! Tell that to a mother [

You didn’t tell the folk of
Kitimat that a- TK news-
erson said it was cut
use it was controversial,
The rest of B.C, saw the
whole story and the message
that was being put across
was, “If 25 peara of Kitimat
means a wo have to
educate the politicians that
Kitimat is not a fat cat elty;
Kitimat is act the well
nned city the P.R, films
ve led us to belleve but
that government better send
in the support staff that ore
part of a human com-
mi

yy. .
Mental’ Health is a
problem only when the staff
not avallable to cope
becauge: they ‘are over-
worked. Heatoring mental

. health is a patient, probing

and trying area and menta
breakdown is a’ NOW!
altuatton. Since Kitimat has

all the elements to generate
“mental health problems,
loneliness, isolation, ete. it
should be recognised and
especially by government

when we ask for skilled help .

and more of it, Answer that
we don’t have the tax base of
the population to support the
services we seek are no
answers at all. No Jona,
Kitimat’s rip-off mentality is
coming home to roost and we
don't intend to wait another
23 yeara for solutions.

The social cancer of
Kitimat ts the failure to
recognise we are just human
beings and subject to human
fealty and because some

otlat had a dream of a:

that was bullt
and some equally egotistical

yaon declared this was a

ppy place, we all ought to
jump up and down with joy. .
It isn't just the case,

We need to expand our
capital base; we need to
grow a8 a elty and in the
growing we will come of age
as a city, no thanks to you,
Tona, since you feel we don't
need anything. No growth Is
part of thé problem but with
tlends ke Iona and TK
television: don’t hold your
breath faa change,

I asked CBC to kill the

_ myth that Kitimat doesn't
need help in growing fr
government and — tha
government needs to be re-
educated to what Kitimat is
all about if we aye ever to
atride into our next 25 years
with a future and a pur .

You can’t bulld atown

“when you export our youth

nned city

and fail to keep our old folks
here. To keep our youth you
need jobs and for our old,
facilities. For a town that

does not even have a woman
doctor, we've come a long:

way or have we?

Ask TK where the first half
of the programme went and
ask TK where the other news
that's detrimental to [ona
goes maybe we won't be so
offended. Ask TK about the
special viewing sessions for

ourlocal council, mayor and’

Alcan official with the in-
vitation ‘This is the garbage
we keep off the air sent out
by CBC Vancouver.’ I
‘wonder what they call -the
atult they do finally put on

If anyone has any doubts '

as to the authenticity of the
facta the 7 years files on
Kitimat’s other aide are open
to inspection. I call them the
“Fuddle Duddile
Filea.""Maybe we -don't
deserve batter or do wef.

Surely. objective
questioning of any bias is the
only way the facta can
emerge: I don’t like to be
told what someone else
thinks 1 should hear or is
good for me or the com-
munity,

Moat of ua are reappnaible
enough to welgh the facts for
ourselves. Looking over the
‘Hat of excuses from TK over
the past 7 yeara presents the
moat urgent cage I’ve ever
heard as to the need for an
objective look at where we
Teally ara In this community
and fiat where are we golng
from here.

It's time we had concrete
plang as to how we intend to
proceed as a community

from here because some
master plan does not put soul
intoa group of human beings
in an Isolated environment.

We need leader at all
levels that’s sensitive to the
total nees of people not ex-

cuses,
Cordially yours
Arthur D, Serry

le

T have found vandalism in
the Terrace area to be a
matter of great personal
concern,

As a newcomer to the
district, I am more than
usually dependent on the use
of my car to make a Ilving, *
Recently my car was stolen
for no apparent purpose, and
during the interval it wae In

the hands .of vandals, it-

sustained unnecessary
damages, Fortunately, I
have been able ta recover the
vehicle after being without it
several days. .

Actions of this typa result
in arousing hoatility.on the
part of those suffering the
needless damage as well aa
inconvenience, ;

I can only guess at the
violent actlon I might find
myself taking should 1 ever

came acrosa those respon: to

sible for what they did to my
car. Tam sure other victims
of vandalism are also
building up similar feelings
of violence toward the
vandals, Sconer or later, the
‘peracns who stole my car
will try to repeat thelr act.
Next time they may not be ao
, lucky.- each time they leaye
a few more clues behind. J
‘for one, am going tobe on the
lookout, night and day,
There must be others, ilke

me - who are juat waiting
and hoping! ‘

Vandal Victim
LY

-Dear Sir:

- During 1978 the tewn of
Fairview in the Peace
River district will be
celebrating its Golden
Jubilee--the 50th an:
niversary of the founding
,of the town with the
arrival of the railroad in

We will be celebrating
our Jubilee during the
week of August 7th fo the
13th with a great varlety
of activities, social
cultural and ports
events, t

Although we have sent
out nearly two thousand
invitations to former
residents, we know it is
not possible to reach
everyone who has lived in
Fairview that way.
- We hope that through
your paper we may reach
some of our ‘former
neighbors who have not
yet heard of the Jubilee
and extend an invitation

em to come home
the festivities, ~ for
Yours truly,
The Fairview Golden
Jubllee
Committee .
|

Letter to the Editor:
.On behalf: of the Pacific
Northwest Music Festival

executlve and committee -

members, I. would like to
extend a most aincere thanks
to all advertisers, - patrons:

and the many volunteers,
who, every year, make this
Festival such a success.

At this time I would also
like to express our ap-
preciation to the News

Media, eepecially CFTK ©

‘dio and Television,
C.B.C., Prince Rupert and
all local news media for
without thelr continuoys
support this Festival would
not be the success it is,

Pao v0 HWEST
uy
MUSIC FESTIVAL

Lols McDantel,

Publicity Chalrman,

TODAY IN HISTORY °

y THE CA
Pact NADIAN

A small __BBritish-
Canadian fleet raided a
U.S. naval base at Os.
wego, N:Y,, 164 years ago
today—in 1814—and
sacked it. The Americans
fought well but wara
outnumbered 1,200 to 500.
The battle, planned and
led by Commodore Sir
James Yeo, reestablished
British control of Lake
Ontario, allowing them to
ferry supplies . and
reinforcements to thelr
army and bring the
American invasion of the
Niagara Peningula to a

_ lose in July,

1896 — The Daily Mall,
ewspaper, was -

;, 1927 — The Academy of’

a London
founded,

Motion Picture Arta ‘and
Sclences was formed,