J udeo-Christiamty polarized us Light passes through us like Science in into Jew or Gentile. We certainly are not reject- a flashlight in the palm of your hand in the dark. New age New Age ing science; we are teaching healers work with light so do science. We are working every surgeons, using lazer light to Dear Editor: day with crystals, light, colour, I couldn't help but reply to work on broken bones, and eye vibration, visualization. Crystals surgery. Colour affects moods. Norman Thycr's letter on the are vibratory. Science knows this new age in the July 24 issue. Therapists and psychiatrists and uses it in computer memory know this and use it, and have Actually, Mr. Thyer, the chips, watches, radios, telecom- new age has its roots in the for years. Visualization is a tech- mumcations. mque used by athletes, actors, original great religions, before dancers and doctors of terminal- ly ill patients, to only mention a 1im:ra~~f.ra:M':I•m~1::b11;:m~~1ii1.;: M&1JI few. The new age is about an ex- tension of science - a science Crossing the Line With- of metaphysics. It's about open- ing the 90 percent of our brain out Drawing New Ones power still untapped. Of our customers, followers by Sean Hennessey and leaders we are are not only ARGENTA - The Argenta conference on non-violence on corporate rats, we are doctors, July 27 and 28 was not what I expected. To begin with, the spiritual dimensions of non-violence were lawyers, editors, grocers, plum- bers, preachers, ditch diggers, Reflections on Lasca Creek brought up repeatedly - but not by religious people. Certainly, druggists, poor, rich, happy, sad, there were Doukhobors, Quakers and United Church members at healthy and, well, people of all This is just one more ex- the conference, but the idea that political work needs to be spiritual- walks of life have joined a move- ample of why it is imperative Rotering ly grounded came from middle-aged political activists who have ex- ment to open our hearts and that Social Credit be rot!"ndly perienced burn-out, and from younger people who are working on minds. defeated. Responds personal non-violence. Mr. Thyer's aversion to the Michael Collins Dear Editor: Personal non-violence? That's an interesting development in it- word native says volumes but let Nelson In a story last week dealing self. After all, non-violence has generally been considered a techm- me say the new age is about with the NDP's internal affirm- que for social and political action - for Gandhi's liberation oflndia, respecting Mother earth as they did, loving her and her treasures Complexities of ative action plan to elect more or the Haida's insistence on justice from white Canadians. Or the women MPs, Suzie Hamilton Share Society's reminder that workers need resources to work with. • she still offers in abundance. In- Community Ap- wrote in part that Lyle Kristian- Non-violence, I thought, has not particularly been a tool for personal stead of raping her and filling sen rmght retire "... in hopes of development. her full of chemicals. proval handing the position to former But, I found out at the conference, that's less than the truth. Sandra K. Godfrey Dear Editor: Nelson Mayor Gerald Roter- Lots of people talked about personal non-violence. There were men Nelson Recent letters to the editor ing ... " whose interest in non-violence was "men's work" - that still amor- of 771e Express have suggested With almost 2,000 New phous attempt to understand and improve the way men function. It's A Great Town that not only should the MoF Democrats in this federal riding, And the most surprising - perhaps the most successful - workshop Dear Editor: receive public input but that in- no one will be "handing" any- of the conference turned out to be Kay Schmidt's talk about non- Recently I was Nelson's deed they must acquire com- thing to anyone. The member- violent responses to domestic violence. Short Term Writer-in-Resi- mumty approval of their ship will decide democratically Indeed, what could be more trying to a non-violent philosophy dence, co-sponsored by the decisions. who represents our party as the than being repeatedly beaten at home, or being systematically told by Kootenay Lake Summer School We in Johnson's Landing at- candidate in the next federal your partner that you are cra-zy? Schrmdt told us about the "binary" of the Arts (KLSSA) and the tempted to determine what was election. Neither Mr. Kristian- solutions she has rejected: solutions that "created a righteous split Canada Council. I would like to the community opinion about a sen or I presume to "hand" or between perpetrators and victims." thank Pauline Hanbury, proposed woodlot in our area. receive anything. That wording Her desire now is to cross the lines that divide us, rather than Caroline Woodward, Shawn and This process became frought was Hamilton's choice, and was draw new ones. She asks questions like "how can we move beyond Rebecca Lamb and the writers with controversy. not based on anything either of the 'either/or' responses that continue to create enermes?" and audiences who turned out First, because of various us have ever said. ·This is risky business in a household. Women, children, and an for the class, events and presen- broaches of objectivity and But with the normnation unknown number of men have suffered domestic abuse. Every 30 tations, as well as the store, shop neutrality it was decided by the process raised, and my name in minutes, Schmidt says, a Canadian daughter is raped by a family and restaurant people who were committee in charge to exclude connection with it, may I point member. Anger about that can mobilise an appropriate response - invariably helpful, attentive and all of the responses from anyone out that I voted in favour of the if the anger is directed safely, she warns. But the finest responses courteous. except the permanent and semi- current NDP affirmative action come out of "the relief and joy that result from building non-violence What a town! It was a great permanent winter residents. plan as this riding's delegate to in our lives and our communities." week. Thus we went from a poten- the New Democrat's B.C. Coun- This building of non-violence can work in the much larger com- Holley Rubinsky, tial of over 70 people to about cil of Federal Ridings. I support mumty as well. Alaine Hawkins' vision prodded the conference to Toronto 40. Of those possible 40 respon- a program of encouragement, tentative action: support for her plan to adapt the Central American dents, 27 responses were even- incentives and professional as- experience of Peace Brigades International to the North American context. The new project, if approved by PBI, will begin by making Hope Not Funny tually tabulated by the commit- tee. The procedures used by the sistance to see more women nominated and elected to higher international observer teams available to native non-violent cam- Dear Editor: committee were also controver- office. paigns. Many of us living in the sial and two members of the And I have personally been A surprising conference. WeU worth the effort. Kootenays chose to make our committee resigned. The final proud to support women's Some useful contacts: home in this country because interpretation of the committee causes, including, during my Non-Violence Resource Centre, Argenta, B.C. V0G IBO. Phone: they felt people in the region was that 16 people were in op- term as Nelson Mayor, signing a Nowick Gray, 366-4304 were sensitive to environmental, position to the granting of the contract bringing the wages of Peace Brigades lntemational-Norlh America Project: contact Alaine political, and social issues which woodlot licence, 9 were in favor, inside workers (mainly women) Hawkins, Suite 411, Queen's Quay West, Toronto, Ont. M5W 2Y9. concern us all. and 2 people were neutral. in line with outside workers Phone: 416-596-7972 Fax: 416-596-8384 How odd that Bob Hope So we have dropped from (mainly men). Westem Canada Supporl Group for the PBJ-Nonh America Project: was chosen as an entertainer for 70 people to 40 to 27, of which Am I interested, as Hamil- contact Kay Schmidt, Box 1072, Kaslo, B.C. V0G IMO. Phone: the Music '91 event in Nelson. 16 are seen as opposed to the ton speculates? Sure I am. 353-7713. His collaboration with Richard woodlot. That's no secret, and has been Nixon, Frank Sinatra and other The division of opinion in my open response to friendly in- E XPKESS THE KOOTENAY WEEKLY PHONE (604)354-3910 FAX (604)352-5075 554 Ward St., P.O. Box 922, Nelson, B.C., VIL 6A5 well- heeled criminals is a slap in the face to those who believe that 57,000 American and per- haps a million Vietnamese and our area is common in all com- munities. Clearly the require- ment that MoF acquire com- munity approval before allowing quiries for at least the past year. Also likely to be interested are those who competed for the nomination last time, who came 11 791 Canada Post mailed; 4,209 in hotel rooms, Castlegar other dead in the Indo-China any logging to proceed is impos- in second and third place to Lyle /,,irport, Ainsworth, and hundreds of other pick-up points. conflict is not at all funny. sible. Further the process of Kristiansen, as well as a woman PUBLISHER: Nelson Becker, ADMINISTRATION: H. J. Hutchinson Bob Hope received a pay- determining what is community who ran but had to drop out for EDITOR: Donna Macdonald ment in the six figure range for opinion is a difficult task, even at health reasons. Whether incum- DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Nick Smimow, Alison Graeme his 45-minute travesty. He con- the local level. Who is the "com- bent Kristiansen chooses to run ART WORK: Anne DeGrace, ADVERTISING: Peter Banfield SALES SUPPORT: Sally Coleman tinues to support U.S. militarism munity," what geographical area, again will influence the decision and ugly politicians like George how is the "communily opinion" of several people. OFFICE HOURS: Monday t.o Friday, 10am t.o 4pm. Bush and their ilk. Probably a to be gathered, and how should Whoever runs, the choice August 7, 1991, Volume 3, Number 37 ISSN 1184-6224 good proportion of his salary the MOF respond to that input will be a democratic one for Copyright © 1991, Nelson Becker went as a tax deductible con- is a complex question. local party members to make. Opinions expressed in THE KOOTENAY WEEKLY EXPRESS tribution to the Republican Gail Spitler Gerald Rotering are not nece.ssarily those of the publisher or any of our advertisers. Party, all funded by us folks right Johnsons Landing Nelson hereinB.C. Page 4 THE KOOTENAYWEEKLY EXPRESS August 7, 1991