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Readers comment
Letters
He's not like that
| | Dear Republic:
Your February 26th article about Red, the Victoria panhandler who's been issued a summons that could result in jail time, describes him as "persistent" and "abusive."
I've known Red for a few years and, though he sometimes makes the mistake of working (don't tell me that encouraging the redistribution of wealth isn't “work”) while intoxicated, he's usually a very friendly fellow who puts smiles on peoples' faces. He has some witty one-liners and can procure donations from the most conservative-looking businesspeople. One day I was chatting with Red when tourists stopped to ask directions. Red was very friendly and polite, helping the visitors find their way along Government Street to Chinatown. They smiled and thanked him. I gave him a donation.
Perhaps the authorities, instead of embracing the 2010 Olympic Street Clean-up Brutality, might just admit that the dominant economic structure creates homelessness and substance abuse, rather than trying to disappear it. Why not follow the good example set by the Downtown Victoria Business Association who have hired people to pick up cigarette butts and other crap that people leave around. Maybe someone could set up a city “Homeless Tour” and hire someone like Red to give tours of the new Our Place, the many buildings that stand empty and uninhabited, the "persistent" and "abusive" destruction known as Bear Mountain and its surroundings?
I agree that it'd be better if Red stayed home when he's intoxicated. I also think people should take a break from their pharmaceutical-inspired “don't worry be happy” hallucination long enough to have a real good look around and admit that the world is in need of some dramatic change, and locking up a panhandler is not the way to go about it.
—Janine Bandcroft, Victoria BC
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The Republic of East Vancouver masthead
The Republic of East Vancouver supports no party, advocates
for no cause, represents no group, serves no master, and considers
problems with no preconceived notions. We hope to afflict the comfortable,
both materially and intellectually, and comfort the afflicted—of
both kinds as well, and we are trying to do both things at the same
time.
Publisher, Editor
Kevin Potvin
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