Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 21

The Edmonton Journal, Thursday, February 25, 1999 A21 Letters EDITOR: John Brown, 429-5220; fax 498-5677 policy floir diroeirs An insult to the British We are human. But what we as a society need to work towards are fewer mistakes, and eventually none. In 1997 in this province 45 people died as a result of pedestrian collisions. Another 1,253 people were injured. What would Alberta be like if we drove a little more safely? Maybe motor vehicle collisions wouldn't be the leading cause of unintentional death in Alberta.

Maybe one of the 16,588 casualty collisions in this province wouldn't have happened. Maybe Brent and Kaylah Stace would still be alive and Jeffrey Larson would not be filled with grief and regret In response to Charlene Davis' letter "What driver hasn't had crosswalk miss?" (Journal, Feb. 20), I would like to make a simple point She asks what message groups who call for the appropriate punishment of Jeffrey Larson are trying to send: "Don't ever make a mistake while driving?" Thank you, Ms. Davis, that is exactly the message we are trying to send. We are not calling for "the stiffest penalty possible," but rather a fair and appropriate punishment for the crime too, am filled with sorrow when I think about this case.

No one wins here. too, have made mistakes while driving. The Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research has a vision of a safe and caring Alberta. We challenge all Albertans to work with us to make it happen and prevent this kind of needless tragedy from happening to you and your family Joanne Vincenten Executive Director, Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research Edmonton No excuse I do believe Charlene Davis has forgotten a couple of points. Just because a lot of people break The decision to print that outrageous cartoon of the Royal Family, to accompany Jon Karpichuk's diatribe against the British, is an insult to the large percentage of people of British ancestry who live in Alberta.

don't want the monarchy" Letters, Feb. 20.) No doubt Karpichuk and his Reform friends would prefer some "holier than thou" Reformer as head of state, but most of us would not. What makes ii Canada great is its British institutions, including the rule of law and democra tic government. Our constitutional monarchy type of government has many checks and balances and is a very workable system. The most democratic countries in Europe are the ones with monarchies, e.g.

Holland, Belgium and the Scandi navian countries. I cannot think of any organization or any individual who would do a better job as head of state than our Royal Family If Karapichuk followed the Queen around for one day, he might discover that she works hard indeed and does not cost the Canadian taxpayer one cent. Her son is involved in a great many laudable enterprises and does File photo Leaislation should reauire labellina of aeneticallv altered foods sold in suoermarkets not deserve Karapichuk disdain. Are we experimental animals next? too, am proud to be Canadian, but I realize many of the institutions I cherish in Canada are a legacy from Britain and this should be acknowledged by all Canadians. Helen O'Reilly Edmonton Father Hamor enriched life in Edmonton through the food chain.

We are a part of this chain. Nobody knows the long-term effects of eating produce that has been genetically manipulated. Has anyone studied the cumulative effects on humans? Or are we all going to be experimental animals? "Nobody is holding a gun to their heads," may be true for farmers but what about the rest of us? I don't want to play Russian roulette with my family's health. I want to have a choice, too. Lyn Schwarz Edmonton Farmers may have a choice in accepting the results of genetically engineered seeds gain from seed revolution," Journal, Feb.

16). The rest of us don't Our freedom of choice has been denied by the government the bio-tech industries and the farmers, who refuse to legislate or support legislation requiring the labelling of genetically altered foods sold in supermarkets. As a consumer, I want to know what products Mr. Kalisvaart's grain will be used in, whether this is animal feed, packaged foods, breads or cereals because I want to have a choice not to buy them. Any grain that has been altered to survive more herbicides than ever is not something I want to feed my family That's just the tip of the iceberg.

For example, there's the transgenic potato that produces a protein called lectin that ruins the digestive system of the aphids feeding on it and causes the lady bugs eating the aphids to produce far fewer offspring and to have much shorter lives. These harmful effects spread the law and haven't been one person who has be giveri any sort of sentencing break? If a person was caught shoplifting, should heshe be given a break because so -many people are not caught? Another piece of information Davis has either forgotten or has chosen not to recognize is that that poor, guilt- stricken young man who plowed down a mother and her children, killing two, had been drinking. There is absolutely no excuse for choosing to drive after drinking and I for one have never done so. M.E.Maga Edmonton Reducing the risk for infants The article on important ways to -reduce the risk of infants and their families experiencing the tragedy of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)" was informative and timely their backs! Are child care providers getting the message?" Journal, Feb. 8).

The article states putting infants to sleep on their backs at all times is to be strongly encouraged. However, it should be added that if side sleeping is desired, the infant's lower arm should be well forward to stop them rolling onto their tummies. In addition, loose bedding, such as quilts, duvets, pillows, soft toys and crib bumpers should not be placed where young infants sleep lest the infant's breathing is interfered with. Infants should be kept smoke free, both before and after birth. A recent study reported that infants whose mothers smoked cigarettes before their infants were born, were four times more likely to die of SIDS than those whose mothers did not smoke: When fathers smoke during the preg- nancy the risk of SIDS is also increased.

However, the less the parents smoke, the lower the risk of SIDS. Infants exposed to tobacco smoke after' birth are at an increased risk of SIDS. To keep infants smoke free, don't let anyone smoke near your infant not in the house, the car or anywhere else where you infant spends time. M. Ruth Elliott, PhD, RN-Professor, Faculty of Nursing University of Alberta Edmonton; Group given status at death inquiry Muriel Stanley-Venne's letter Feb.

20 tries a little bit too hard to claim that everyone discriminates against her 1 group and its goals, and is somewhat 1 economical with the truth in this regard. She is right that the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women was denied government funding to participate in the entire Jacobs fatality inquiry now in progress in Calgary. After all, much of it will deal with the specific events of last March 22. But she overlooks stating they were granted intervenor status at the inquiry and they have been offered funding to make and present a submis-' sion and report, and given a place on the witness list to do so. So for her to protest that no one is interested in her message or the plight of aboriginal women is quite incor- -rect.

It will be heard before the fatality inquiry is finished, both from Venne and from another more national group -that also has been granted standing to participate. Philip G. Lister, Q.e: Inquiry Counsel Jacobs Fatality Inquiry Calgary Figures don't tell SChOOl Story Nurses' return Re: Father Jozf Gyorgy Hamor, deceased: There are individuals in our community who are worthy of particular note. One such individual was Father Hamor. I first met this spiritual leader of the Hungarian community when I was a young alderman.

I was impressed with his love of life, his devotion to his church and his unending devotion to his Hungarian-Canadian flock. It did not matter what religion or culture you came from, he was your instant friend. He had many friends. Father Hamor taught his parish to read and write Hungarian; he also taught them to become involved and to be proud Canadians. He succeeded admirably.

Edmonton has been made richer by his leadership. God speed, my friend. Laurence Decore Edmonton I am a Canadian nurse from Edmonton. My country starved me out Many other nurses and I had to suffer the consequences of gross mismanagement of health-care funds. I was forced to leave my home and family.

Now there are jobs at home. I was so happy Recruiters are asking nurses to return without any guarantee of hours, not even any assistance to return home. How can the nursing shortage improve when no incentives are made for nurses to return home? Heather Pringle, RN Corpus Christi, Texas which serves over 60 families with early childhood services, community living and deaf outreach support. All three groups share the gymnasium and library. Closure of schools cannot be based on numbers like utilization percentages.

Taxpayers deserve a clearer picture of how these numbers are calculated and how schools are being funded based on these numbers. Shannon Ross Watson Edmonton In response to the Feb. 22 letter, "Close the smaller schools," the utilization percentage does not give an accurate picture of what is happening in schools. St. Andrew School has utilization of 28 per cent.

This would seem like we are 72 per cent empty but that is not so. There are 113 students in early childhood to Grade 6. Thirty-two children in an aboriginal headstart program occupy one classroom. Half of the school has been leased since 1979 to the Connect Society, Who says gays can't be married? In response to Sally Rogers' letter Feb. 21, "Gays can't be married," says who? If we go by her definition of righteousness we will be everything but exalted as a nation.

How can you praise a nation that allows close-minded individuals to define what is righteous? If your definition of righteousness means judging something you know nothing about, comparing the love shared by two human beings to bestiality and saying a family is only a family if nuclear, then perhaps you should create your own nation so you can remain in your little glass bub-ble. If your God is judgmental, is selective in whom he loves, and lives by your definition of righteousness then I believe you are reading a Bible deciphered only by your own narrow views and prejudices. Cathie Smythe Edmonton only for men, women," Letters, Feb. 18) I don't understand how you can logically deduce "marriage must be reserved for a union between a woman and a man" from the premise that "our society is made up of men and women." Marriage, which is simply a legal representation of the union between two people should not be discriminated against on account of the two people being of the same sex. If, as you say, "marriage is the building block of society, the training ground for future generations and it also reflects society," then there should not be any trouble with gay marriages since gay people are also a part of our society.

Rob Bryant Edmonton I find it extremely disturbing that a man and woman who choose to live The level of ignorance Rogers reveals is typical of the self-righteous, holier-than-thou, hypocritical and exceedingly small-minded zealot who flaunts his "enlightened" status as he waves around the word "God," threatening us with biblical quotations like it was the year 200 AD. Her comments regarding human-animal relationships give me quite a giggle It must be so comforting to be you, Ms. Rogers, and to know you are lighting the way for the rest of society as you safeguard the sanctity of "sacred" love, especially where our pets are concerned. But keep an eye out: if the world is privileged with more individuals such as yourself, more of the world will choose to marry their dogs. Angela Halinda Edmonton In response to Pawel Ratajczak, together without the benefit of a legal marriage, which they are by law entitled to, are given rights and privileges that are refused to another couple of the same sex that in all probability would enter into a legal marriage if give the right In the former case the option for a real marriage is being ignored and in the latter case the option does not even exist.

I feel only a legal commitment should be sanctified by the government and should include same-sex marriages (or if the word "marriage" offends then a "legal How can the government refuse the option of being legally married to one group and turn around and reward another group for choosing to thumb their noses at the right they are given? Dorothy Berg-Derkatch St. Albert Bouchard cries wolf again, but nobody's listening Bouchard has been impaled against the wall, his politics of division laid bare. Quebec's dragon lurches toward oblivion Lawrence Martin Commenatry 00 governance, of which he is capable, he is trying, with Paul Martin's budget, to awaken again the victim complex in Quebecers. This has always been his political meal ticket, no matter how many advances his society made, no matter that his fellow Quebecers have run this country for three straight decades. No one can play the role of grievance-bearer better than Bouchard.

Remember how, with his magnificent rhetorical flights, his pounding demagogic falsehoods, he turned the repatriation episode of 1982, which was supported by Quebecers in the polls, into one of the most unseemly horrors ever inflicted on mankind? Remember in the referendum campaign how he portrayed so horrlncally social spending cuts by Ottawa, only to turn around and Impose similar cuts as premier? What a pitiable effort is this latest among his dozens of attempts at crying wolf. The social payments to Quebec, as charted over time in crystal clear numbers, are fair and unassailable. Bouchard has been Impaled against the wall, his politics of division laid bare. Sooner or later he will gct the message from his people: within a sliver of victory. But this was a moment made of a magic that is seldom seen.

This was a moment when so many factors of advantage coalesced in the separatists' favour. Triumph over a killer virus had turned Bouchard into a de-limbed mythic hero. He put on a mesmerizing, once-in-a lifetime show, a campaign for the ages. A third party led by the dynamic Mario Dumont brought youth on board. The federal side was fast asleep, though it will never be fast asleep again.

The dream died then and the' autopsy is incomplete. What happened in that last week of the referendum campaign which began with the secessionists several points in advance? Why did Bouchard move into slower gear? Why did they not arrange a final crowning rally to trump Friday's foray into Montreal by the federalist thou, sands? The secessionists will have a long time to ponder that lost golden moment. By the looks of today, another like it may never come. Lawrence Martin is national affairs correspondent for Southam News Service and appears here Tuesday, Thurs: dp and Saturday "Sorry Lucien, we are no longer victims." There is desperation in his flailing and there is desperation in the secessionists bringing back their high priest Parlzeau to head a study for the Bloc, if not to lead it. There is more honour in Parlzeau because, unlike Bouchard, who has whirled with every wind, he has stayed the course.

But they turn to him for the sad reason that there are no others. The movement hairnet man will not do has failed to generate impassioned successors, young firebrands who can carry the torch and light new castles. The secessionist cause has always fed more on emotion than reason. It enjoyed advantage in this regard because no leaders in this country could stir the blood like Rene Levesque, whom even federalists could love, and like Lucien Bouchard, for whom the word gravitas was Invented. It was only three years and four months ago that Bouchard came Ottawa Signs of desperation.

Lucien Bouchard goes wrangy for receiving equal treatment from Ottawa on health and welfare payouts. Shovels are needed to peel him from the ceiling. Polls make it sound like Quebecers may not want another referendum for the entirety of the next millennium. The aging Jacques Parlzeau is brought back yet again to undertake yet another study of why the sovereignty movement is yet again moribund. Support begins to crumble under Bloc Ijader Gilles Duceppe, the hairnet man.

Parlzeau is touted as his replacement. Hairnet man is not amused. Has Club Sovereignty ever had it so bad? As the century ends, so fades the fire in the movement. Parlzeau and Bouchard, the dinosaur and dragon, lurch to oblivion, spent forces with spent messages. Their 1940s nationalism gets quainter by the day When the new millennium comes gleaming, will anyone want to hear their dark gospels? Can relics be retooled? The provincial election in November left a bitter taste.

Bouchard is a man who thrives on pride. He once listed his excess of it hubris among his chief vices. Losing the popular vote to Jean Charest's Liberals sucked the sap from him. His dread of the possibility of losing was what made him, as he has explained, shy away from politics until his late 40s. While the election gave him the larger number of seats, he is grievously wounded.

His Big V-8 has become a sputtering four-cylinder He is Samson without the hair. Ratffer than stick to good, honest.