THE FREE PRESS MAIL BAG Page A9 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1996 PHONE 564-0005 STREETWISDOM Should the city allow alcohol to be served at the Multiplex during Cougar games and at other civic properties? Dee Carroll “No, because there’s too many children there and there’s also enough trouble on the roads already.” Gordon Johnson “No, I don’t believe that it should. From a parent’s point of view, we want to go to the games as a family and it should remain the way it is.” Christine Skorepa “Absolutely not. I could not imagine taking my 3-year-old son to a game with beer spilled all over the place. City can be proud of Ol’ Sawmill Editor: My compliments to The Free Press for covering the Ol’Sawmill Bluegrass Festival so well. As one who spent the weekend at this festival I would like to say to the organizers - Well Done!!! No one was in a hurry to go home when it was over so you know a good time was had by all. Not a wild time but a good time. The location on the Nechako River is serene. No mud, great sound, good food, nice people, well organized, clean and good security. Prince George can be proud of this festival. If you missed the Ol’ Sawmill Bluegrass Festival this year don’t next year. It’s money & time well spent. N. Patterson Pay for own poor safety Editor: It makes no difference to me what someone’s religion dictates they wear on their heads or elsewhere. But anyone whose religion or personal attitude makes them ignore common-sense safety devices should, instead of calling 9-1-1, if that ignorance gets them injured, call their preachers or gurus to supply and pay for whatever medical expenses they incur. The same goes for the adventurous ones who need to risk their lives to satisfy their egos. I buy insurance to cover me if 1 injure myself or injure others while engaging in my recreational activities. Why should the uninsured expect me to pay for their misadventures! J.C. Beit/ ‘Nerd’ MPs do good work Editor: Re: No Hiding From Crime In your editorial September 5, your reference to the Reform Party of Canada being so strong on “law and order” that they often look like a party of nerds who finally got a chance to get revenge on the bullies. If ever this country needed politicians to be “strong” on law and order, it’s now, and not with band-aid appeasers to try and pacify an ever stronger public outcry for tougher retribution towards criminals. One of those “nerds” you could be referring to would be MP Dick Harris who is trying hard to get the bill passed that will give drunk driver killers seven years. He should have asked for 10. Looks like he’s doing well with it. Not bad for a nerd! Finally, we’ve got an MP who listens and as far as I’m concerned the nerds are the only ones talking any common sense. Contrary to your statement “No politicians are willing to deliver”, some are, because they have the will to do it and if the “nerds” get into power, you’ll see the needed change to the justice system & crime. Know why? They’re listening to us! In closing, don’t confuse the word vengeance with justice. All we want is justice. Shirley Ballum Harris listening to people. Cougars need to show consistency before greatness Editor: Re: Chris Simnett "Cougars Shed Curse of Victoria, ’’August 29, 1996 It was a startling revelation for me to learn from Mr. Simnett that our Cougars hockey team is “poised on the cusp of greatness.” Did I oversleep or what? Did the Cougars suddenly rocket to the Memorial Cup final? We might agree that the Cougars are on the cusp of a new season, but greatness? Come on! Might I respectfully suggest to Mr. Simnett that he get a good (as in strong) set of glasses before eyeing up the team’s statistical history? Yes, we do have reason for optimism. This year’s edition of the Cougars can gain respectability, and we can make the playoffs. But, we’re not there yet, and we won’t get there on “cruise control.” Key characteristics of winning teams have been distinctly absent from past Cougars teams - perhaps this is the year that the pieces start to fall into place. We need a room full of guys who hate to lose and know that it takes hard work and determination to win. We need a team where every guy comes to the rink ready to contribute every night (because Lord knows we don’t have a team where one or two guys are going to carry us). We need to develop a mean streak and then channel it in a positive way. Nobody’s going to give us two points; we’ll have to earn them. Sure, 1 recognize that we’re talking about a bunch of kids here, and kids need to be kids. But I’ll bet there isn’t one kid in a Cougars uniform who doesn’t have dreams and aspirations of making the big league some day. Skill not withstanding, achieving that goal will require maturity, a strong work ethic and a winning attitude. May as well make that transition now! When we see a team who can consistently demonstrate these characteristics, we’ll know then that our team truly is “poised on the cusp of greatness.” And when we do, what poetic hyperbole will you invent for that, Mr. Simnett? Regards, R.H. (Ron) Wiebe Golden rule key when dealing with disabled Editor: The way store clerks treat the disabled is downright disgusting. These people, by and large, have been afflicted with some type of disability that makes their motor skills less than normal. This does not mean they are mentally disabled. They think like you and I, and have many of the same desires that the more fortunate have. So why are they treated like an imbecile when then they try to make a purchase. Granted they need help getting a look at that item on the top shelf and this causes extra work for the sales clerk but I have walked into the same store and asked the same question and gotten a totally different response. And it would seem that the type of mobility has a great deal to do with it. My wife, who has MS, does not want to use her wheelchair when going shopping, even when she gets me to push it. When she goes out with her scooter, the general acceptance is much better. It’s important to remember that a disabled person is not always living at the expense of the government and cannot always afford the high demand on their bank account. My wife, up to now, has been denied any recognition from the government in her many attempts to get a disability pension, even though she put in many years of work and paid into the CPP. Hopefully, this will change. In the meantime, she must rely on my questionable charity. With the above in mind, 1 have only to say: treat the disabled as you would like to be treated. With respect and dignity, as some day you may find you are in the same situation. Fred Quebec Irene Rigler “No, I don’t think so because in some cases it would set an inappropriate example. People will misuse it.”