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Editorial

A minute of silent suffering

BY Carolyn Ryan A war to end all wars. . .

Too bad that doesn’t exist, not even in our imagination any more.

In 1918 people danced and sang in the streets, that Armistice Day. “It’s over. . .over,” was the Chang, the whisper, the prayer, the scream, the exuberant shout.

By “it”, most of them meant war. After their first experience with a war in which almost every country was~a conceivably a battleground, they devoutly vowed to never allow that to happen again.

It did.

In 1945, victims and viewers of the planet’s first nuclear war wer so traumatized by the shadow of the bomb that psychologists began to document their fear.

They, too, thought the world had been shocked into peace for all time. Lke tykes who, while playing with a slingshot or BB gun, kill sparrows, they cried a little for the dead.

And the forgot, or seemed to, the next day.

With all due respect to those who “won” that war, the sparrows remember. As do all subsequent generations of potential Sparrows.

War wasn’t finished with the species. Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands, Granada, Iraq, Beirut, Ireland; all are names which echo painfully sometimes, like a recurrent migraine.

Pity the pain isn’t chronic, or universal. If it was, there would be more grounds for a realistic hope. But it tendsvto disappear when it’s most essential, or to strike those who are already aching, not those in whom it could do the most good.

Paon in an animal is a sign to ease off on using the affected leg or arm. When the pain of memory is sufficient to truly decrease the danger of open war, there will be hope.

That‘s what Remembrance Day is supposed to do, cause pain. Not relief that you have a day off school or work, and not the sensual pleasure of sleeping in despite the term paper you should be doing.

I’d hate to know how few people on this campus thought about war on Sunday or Monday; that would really break

my day.

A refusal to consider any possibility of war is not optimism, it’s Bambiism. It’s naive. It’s dangerous, because others are considering that possibility. . .others With power.

Not to malign unduly the leaders of the countries of the Bear and the Eagle, knowing they have the capability of wiping out an insufferable enemy so easily will have some effect on their decisions in the eventual moment of real or imagined crisis. Why would they be willing to shell out so much in money, effort, and opportunity cost if nuclear warheads weren’t picturd by someone as usable?

And yes, Virginia, every one of them works. . .but good.

So Remembrance Day has passed this year. Why not try to puzzle the whole thing out anyway? Go on, put on your Walkman and listen to the theme from “Apocalypse Now” or “Chariots of Fire” (if only for the thoughts the names raise) and muse on war.

Then think about peace.

Feel better? Wouldn’t everyone?

And shouldn’t everyone?

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UPEI President Peter Meincke and Student Union President Michelle Dorsey were among those present at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Charlottetown Cenotaph Sunda. (Photo: Hartinger)

LETTERS

OPEN LETTER TO GORDIE WILSON

On behalf of the members of the U.P.E.I. Athletic Council and also on behalf of the hundreds of university soccer fans I wish to congrat- ulate Coach Gordie Wilson and the members of the Soc— cer team on an excellent sea— son.

Thank you for providing us with some of the best athletic entertainment which has been witnesses in many years. -

You have made our univer- sity community proud of your achievements and for good reason.

The team members have represented us well both on and off the field. In addition to being talented athletes they are fine young men and students who are certainly a credit to the University of Prince Edward Island.

The Soccer Panthers of 1984 have done much more than win an Atlantic Cham— pionship. They have gener- ated school and community spirit in such a way that a common focus has been identified on which future events can be built. To raise the morale of the student body and to give a real uplift to the entire community is no easy task. For this you and the soccer team deserve a spe- cial note of praise.

I also realize that you did not achieve your goal of bringing the Canadian Cham- pionships to U.P.E.I. It is

unfortunate and I know how

disappointing it is to each and every player.

However, I think you must not dwell on this point but rather relish the tremendous accomplishments which this team has achieved in two short years. Back to back A.U.A.A. Conference titles is a major accomplishment

for any institution, but to have it happen to one so small is truly rewarding and significant.

Soccer is here to stay, and I believe the rest of Canada is aware of what U.P.E.l. is capable of .

Once again I congratulate you and to say thank you

The

Volume 2, Issue 10

J .

very much for a first-rate effort.

May the future bring you and your players much suc- cess both on and off the field.

Yours truly,

Jim Griffith

Chairman

U.P.E.I. Athletic Council "’"'"" “MT 7‘}; ' a) .

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The staff of Canada ’3 best student newspaper this week are: Nancy Ross, Jill Warburton, ‘Kaberi Dasgupta, RObert Bodrogfioodland, Melanie Clarke, Bob Stanley, Jonathan Or/owski, Sandra MacDonald, Lori MacLeod, Ross Hartinger, Joh’n Dougan, John Penderga‘st, Michael Zinck, Tony Sauer, Lori Anne Heckbert, Jim Lai, Brian MacLeod, Carol

Doiron, Ron Lewis,

Phil Stanyer,

Dawn MacLean, and editor Carolyn Ryan.

The Netted Gem is the student newspaper of UPEI. Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Student Union. We reserve the right to edit copy for space, style, or legal reasons. Letters to the editor must be typed, double-spaced and submitted before one p.m. on

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