Lögberg-Heimskringla - 27.04.1990, Page 7

Lögberg - Heimskringla • Föstudagur 27. aprll 1990 • 7
Board backs book
Novel survives ban challenge
by George Nikides
His novel safe in the classrooms of
Fort Garry School Division, a Win-
nipeg-born author says the debate over
banning Gentle Sinners should never
have occurred in Canada.
“A democracy is not the kind of
place where one group has the right to
impose its peculiar and particular
views on others,” said W.D. Val-
gardson, whose coming-of-age novel
survived a challenge from a group of
six parents.
“This is the kind of debate one
would expect to find in Romania.”
Trustees voted 7-2 Thursday to re-
ject the parents’ request to ban the
book.
Critics argued the work, about a
teenager growing up on the Prairies
contains profanity, condones suicide
and rebellion among teenagers and
promotes hatred of women and the
elderly.
“I feel I can dictate to my own chil-
dren, but I certainly have no right to
dictate to others,” trustee Dorothy
Kennie, who voted to keep the book in
Grade 11 classes, said.
Gentle Sinners is the story of a 17-
year-old who runs away from his fun-
damentalist parents to live with an
uncle. It contains occasional profan-
ity, references to God and sexual se-
quences.
Valgardson says the uncle is repre-
sentative of a man who lives by Chris-
tian principles without practicing the
rites of the religion. The novel is also
about people who perpetrate crimes,
such as sexual abuse, while hiding
behind religion, the author said.
The board meeting Thursday drew
40 spectators and nine reporters and
cameramen, which forced the meeting
to be moved from the board’s offices to
an elementary school library.
Trustees who argued in favor of
banning the novel said the board has a
right to make choices about works
found objectionable or obscene.
Trustee Glen Cummings, who
voted to remove the book, drew a par-
allel between removing it and the re-
strictions society places on pornogra-
phy, alcohol and drugs.
“I am not a banner and I am not a
censor,” Cummings told the board,
“but I am a parent and I am a school
trustee.”
Others agreed the board should
have a say in the books used by its
teachers, but they said Gentle Sinners
is far from offensive.
“We’re not talking about Grade 5,
we’re talking about 17-year-olds,” trus-
tee Kathy McKibbon told the board.
“In oneyear, they’re goingto be adults.
“No one can tell me they haven’t
come across this kind of language
before. Where are the parents when
the TV comes on?”
Board chairman Ray Wyant said
books that preach violence, suicide or
hatred shouldn’t be used in the class-
room, but he said he read Gentle
Sinners and didn’t find it objection-
able.
“You can’t hide reality from people.”
James MacKenzie, who led thefight
against the book, said in an interview
he hopes parerits will now take a closer
look at the books used in the school
system.
The consulting engineer, who has a
son entering Grade 11 at Fort
Richmond Collegiate in the fall, said
he will not continue seeking a ban on
Valgardson’s novel.
“We’re not going away defeated.
We’ve stood up for what we believe is
wholesome and positive for our young
people.”
Asked about works by Shakespeare
and other authors that may be offen-
sive to some, MacKenzie said he won’t
be looking for more books to ban.
“We’re not on a crusade here. I don’t
know if we’re about to go about read-
ing every book now.”
After the board agreed to retain the
book, trustee Brent Pooles suggested
the novel include a warning to parents
saying some readers have found it of-
fensive. The motion was defeated 5-4.
Courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press
The Night Wind
by Freda Bjorn
How often when my heart is ill at ease
and listening for every little sound,
I hear the nightwind rustle in the trees
as withered foliage falls upon the
ground.
Familiar echoes circle in the air
with love and laughter, from beloved
kin.
I hear their homing steps upon the
stair
and yet I know I cannot let them in.
The night wind sighing for the early
dawn,
is restless, as my spirit, seems to be.
Yet it will find a hill to rest upon
where all tomorrow waits, to set it
free.
Why does it take the heart so long to
learn,
it cannot reach the land of no return?

X
We Understand •.

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Gloria Meadows -
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Norma Russell (right) presenting Gloria Meadows with a silver plate from
members of Jon Sigurdsson Chapter I0DE.
Congratulations Gloria Meadows!
After three successful years at the
helm of the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter
IODE Mrs. Meadows is now moving
into the Regent’s position of the Pro-
vincial Organization.
At the annual meeting, held at the
home of Carol Potter, on February 13,
1990, the members of the Chapter
presented Gloria with a silver tray in
appreciation for her leadership.
The incoming Chapter Regent,
Rose Clyde, speaking on behalf of the
group, thanked Mrs. Meadows for her
encouragement to new members, and
for her enthusiasm, hard work and
dedication to the Jon Sigurdsson Chap-
ter.
Norma Russell, the Chapter Secre-
tary, presented the gift to Gloria. Her
words expressed warm friendship and
best wishes for the future.
The evening ended with a lovely
lunch served by Mrs. Potter and a
viewing of the video tape of the
Wilson’s 50th anniversary eelebration.
Submitted by Rose Clyde
Egill hides his silver
Egill Skallagrímsson
PART 3
by Einar Kvaran
Egill Skallagrímsson lived to be
an old man. After his wife Ásgerður
died, he turned over the control of
his farm Borg to his son porsteinn.
He and porsteinn were never close,
and did not care much for each other.
Of all the people still alive at this
time, Egill loved his stepdaughter
pórdís more than anyone. She was
married to Grímur Svertingsson, an
excellent man, who lived at Mosfell
in south Iceland. Egill left Borg and
went to live with pórdís and Grímur.
In his old age Egill’s feet became
unsteady, and his hearing and eye-
sight were very poor. Finally he
became completely blind. The ser-
vants at Mosfell made fun of him,
such a great warrior as he once was,
and now stumbling around and get-
ting in their way when they were
trying to do their housework. At this
time Egill was in his eighties. One
day Grímur told his wife that Egill
was eager to go with him to Alpingi.
He asked her to find out what was
behind this request. pórdís spoke to
Egill about this matter. The greatest
pleasure that Egill now had was
speaking to pórdís. He told her that
he intended to take the two chests
full of silver which King Aðalsteinn
of England had given him. He would
go to the top of the Lögberg hill
overlooking the people gathered at
Afringi. “Then,” he said, “I’m going
to cast the silver over the crowd. It
would surprise me, if everyone
shares it fairly. I imagine that there
would be pushing and shouting.
Maybe in the end everybody would
fight.” pórdís said, “This is a won-
derful idea. It will be remembered as
long as anyone lives in this country.”
pórdís told Grímur about Egill’s in-
tentions, and Grímur absolutely re-
fused to take Egill with him. Egill
was displeased. After Grímur left for
Alpingi, pórdís also had to leave the
farm overnight. That evening Egill
called two of Grímur’s slaves and
ordered them to bring a horse. “I
want to go for a bath,” he said. Egill
took his chests, mounted the horse
and disappeared with the slaves over
a hill. The next morning, Egill was
seen wandering around and leading
the horse near the farm. Neither the
slaves nor the chests were seen
again. That fall Egill fell sick and
died. Grímur had a mound made for
him and buried him with his weap-
ons and in fine clothes.
When Christianity was adopted as
the law of the land in 1000, Grímur
and his family were' christened.
Grímur built a church, and it was
said that pórdís had Egill moved to
the church. Later that church was
relocated. When the old building was
torn down, bones were found under
the altar. They were much larger
than other bones. From the stories
told by old men, it was concluded
that these were the bones of Egill
Skallagrímsson.