Page 6 EXPRESSOctober17,2001 PUBLISHER/ EDITOR: Nelson Becker ADVERTISING: Kerstin Chapman PRODUCTION: Julie Swenson/Kent Nelson OFFICE HOURS ADMINISTRATION: Kirsten Chapman/Kari Magnuson Monday to Friday 9 am to 4:30 pm DISTRIBUTION: Eugene Schmunk PHONE (250) 354-3910 EDITORIAL 354-1118 ISSN 1196-7471 FAX 352-5075 The Express Newspaper is owned by Kootenay Express Communication Corp. E-MAIL express@expressnews.bc.ca Publications Mail Agreement #0654353. Paid at Nelson, B.C. ADDRESS 554 Ward St. Nelson, B.C. VlL 1S9 OPINION Part of the world The City of Nelson is part of the world com- WAPP'S WORLD BY JOSH WAPP munity. Nelson is an international community. Many local people have travelled to far distant places. I'VE B~EN HAVING- PARANOl D Many people from around the world have come to visit us. THOUGHTS''' I KEEP THfNKI N~ We have all benefited and grown by our expo- sure to each other. MY Foo}) LS BEINGr GENETICALLY Between October 19 and 30, Nelson Mayor Gary Exner is travelling to China and to Japan. The trip to China is intended to help sell our educational facilities. Mayor Exner will also be representing Nelson in a trip to Shuzenji, Nelson's Japanese sister- city, to renew our commitment to her. We laud our mayor and city council for their efforts in creating and maintaining links between Nelson and countries around the world. We can easily get involved in our own lives and not see the connections between us and the rest of the world. People's personal stories and experiences are much more valid in getting a sense of a place. Personal visits to a faraway land gives us a much more realistic sense of the people in that land. We are all connected, and understanding others helps us to understand ourselves. We can't all travel. That is why it is good to have friends who travel. People gather to share stories about their trav- els. While hearing a story is not the same as being there, a friend's retelling is much more significant than seeing it on the TV. Often peo- ple spend more time sharing stories than they did traveling. We look forward to the mayor's return and a retelling of his Asian adventure. After all, he's representing us. Letters to the Editor guidelines: We encourage our readers to write to us. Please address letters meant for publication to the Editor.We do not accept open letters. Letters must be short (200 words maximum} and to the point We Support, intellectual stimulation, Teachers who care about what they An open mind, the ability to access reserve the right to edit letters, and the decision to publish or not to publish is and funding. Teaching civics, toler- are teaching. A good student-teacher the tools that you need for a good edu- completely at the discretion of the Editor and Publisher. Commentaries can be longer (500 words maximum) and are more in-depth ance, maybe different values and non- ratio, maybe 20 to 1, if that is not a cation, and most important a good than letters. capitalist values would be good ingre- pipe dream. I think literature, a basic teacher. As for subjects ... who cares? If you wish to write a commentary, please contact the Editor. dients. understanding of our language and You've got the universe for your sub- All letters and commentaries must be signed and include your name, Ian Dunsmuir how to read well make a good educa- ject. address and phone number. We will not print nname withheld" letters. Nelson tion. Opinions in the Express are not necessarily those of the publisher or the Michael Carmody Express advertisers. Genelle Schmunk Wild Horse Nelson