MORE THAN TWO CHOICES IN LIFE
Editor:
As a newcomer to the Osoyoos area I am surprised to see that the Times prints a weekly column that seems to be written exclusively by various Christian ministers, when it is obvious that there are many people here from diverse ethnic, religious, or philosophical backgrounds who may have equivalent wisdom to impart.
I was even more dismayed by the Nov. 28 column by Rev. S.H. Redenbach proclaiming that there are only two choices one can make: Christian faith or humanism. Not only is this a very simplistic view of life, it smacks of an intolerance towards various rich religious traditions that may be equally valid, but are eliminated up front as possible choices for a philosophy of life.
Then he goes on further to claim that Christianity possesses the ABSOLUTE truth. Is this not what is called 'satanic pride'? Humanists and certain other religious traditions humbly admit that there are many things we do not know, and know that seeking for truth is a lifelong process that is never certain or complete.
The insistence that one knows and possesses absolute truth is a hallmark of all religious extremists. For them it is all about us vs. them, white vs. black, good vs. evil, and fomenting conflicts, violence and terrorism in the name of THEIR absolute truth.
There is no way to settle such a claim except by eliminating 'the enemy' that believes differently. Have we not learned anything from the number of times this ugly scenario of unreason has been played out in history?rn
If anything, human reason, which Rev. Redenbach so vehemently condemns, should be praised as the very quality that makes us uniquely human. And without it, and the science and technology that proceed from it, we would still be living primitively in caves.
However, if Christians like him feel that the fruits of human reason are so 'satanic', they should, like the Amish, forego the enjoyment of the end products such as cars, computers and every other technology and convenience, lest they be considered hypocrites.
Joyce TomboulianrnOsoyoos
OSOYOOS TIMES-December 5, 2007
SHARE INFO, RCMP
Editor:
Re: Leave it to us, we know better culture RCMP's reply to Osoyoos Times editorial, November 21, 2007.
Yes, we have heard it before; the RCMP telling us that they know better than to share information with the public.
Only a few days ago, Thursday Nov. 1, 2007, RCMP Cpl. Dale Carr told the media that Mr. Paul Pritchard may have to wait up to two-and-a-half years to get his video back admitting they (the RCMP) were keeping the video longer than they anticipated to protect THE INTEGRITY OF THE POLICE INVESTIGATION. (Source: CBC.ca Friday November 2, 2007/ 7:21 a.m.)rn
Now that millions of viewers around the world have seen the video, most Canadians are sorry and ashamed at how the whole incident unfolded and how it was handled by the RCMP.
The tape speaks for itself.
If it had not been for Mr. Pritchard's going public regarding his video, we would still be in the dark and Mr. Dziekanski's first day in his new country of adoption would never have been known.
The culture of In my opinion that people within the community would rather have police out solving crimes and charging those responsible rather than having members off the road 'having coffee' with the media providing 'fluff' to fill the pages of their papers (Staff Sgt. Kurt Lozinski, Osoyoos Times Nov. 21, 2007) would have been well preserved.
I am sorry to read this statement that confirms that the staff in charge of media relations at the force do not yet see communication as a vital tool in a healthy democracy.
Without transparent communication we can be fed any rhetoric by authorities in place.
rnThe solution is so simple: never let buddies investigate buddies. Many other provinces have already moved toward independent investigating boards.
rnGlad to see a report back in your pages.
rnP.S.: Please Staff Sgt. Lozinski, inform the media of what is happening. They will decide what is worth printing, ultimately the media's clients (us) will decide with our wallets if we judge that the information provided is fluff.rn
As for the coffee, you should not deprive your staff of a well deserved cup on a weekly basis.
J Roux
White Rock, B.C.
OSOYOOS TIMES-December 5, 2007
AREA YOUTH WILL NEED TO COMPETE FOR SPACE
Editor:
Okanagan youth and youth from Vancouver and the Fraser Valley do not have equal chances of being admitted to the new youth treatment centre opening in Keremeos next summer.
The treatment centre will be open to youth ages 14 to 24 for a stay of six months to a year after completing withdrawal from drugs or alcohol. Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Fraser Health Authority each have 15 beds specifically assigned to people from their health authorities as they are providing $2.4 million annual funding.
Two community organizations, Grief to Action and Central City Foundation (CCF), have been closely involved in a campaign to raise the $6 million dollars for renovations. CCF has provided the 58-acre property.
Twelve beds have been made available on a fee-for-service basis. Although admission to the beds is based on severity of need, youth from the Interior Health Authority (IHA) region will have to compete against youth from the entire province. The waiting list for these beds is open to anyone in British Columbia who meets admission criteria and has the money to pay for the service.
Based on 2006 BC population estimates, over twice as many 14- to – 24 year olds have access to the admission process for the 12 fee-for-service beds than the 30 beds funded by Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities.
No priority will be given to youth from the Interior Health Authority (IHA) health regions based on area of residence as IHA is not directly sponsoring any beds. All applicants must go though the same admission criteria as the residents of Vancouver Health Authorities to access the program. However, once Okanagan youth are on the waiting list and accepted into the program, IHA will cover the costs.
Portage Program for Drug Dependencies, which has been successfully treating people since 1973 and operates similar programs in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, will be delivering the treatment program.
As nursing students, we are aware that health regions are very hard-pressed to fund all the programs that deserve attention, and that health care priorities are carefully considered as budgets are decided each year. In this case, we hope the community will have appropriate expectations about how many people from the B.C. Interior can be accommodated as we approach the opening of an important new treatment facility in our region.
4th Year Nursing Students (UBCO)rnMichelle Hyndma,Candace Giesbrecht, Frances Umunnakwe, Stephanie Bloomfield
OSOYOOS TIMES-December 5, 2007rn
