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9 Comment(s)

Re: Tennis court etiquette

This past weekend my friend and I took advantage of a gorgeous fall evening to play a game of tennis at Kimble Park.

As dusk transitioned to dark we continued to play thanks to the floodlit courts. While we were the only users of the four courts, it was with some dismay that we witnessed the arrival of various children and youth on skateboards and BMX bikes.

At first, upon request, the skateboarders left, while the bikers used invective as their clear intent to stay. Stay they did, and we struggled to continue our game as they skirted our court within our peripheral vision.

At this point the skateboarders returned with increased numbers and the addition of an adult. Our game was now ruined as some chose to swing on the nets.

There are signs clearly stating that bikes and skateboards are not allowed on the courts. I could contain my anger no longer.

As I pointed this out for the third time in 10 minutes, my friend and I were approached by the adult.

Far from setting an example to the younger ones, he unleashed yet more invective and assured us that physical harm would result if we insisted on having the bylaw respected. Game over.

I have some sympathy for the youth involved here as the city has a skate park for them, but it is unlit. Surely lights on a timer could be set up to avoid these types of confrontations.

I'm sure there will be many more nice evenings for tennis this fall, but should they be fraught with the threat of physical assault?

As to the adult who felt compelled to threaten us, you, sir, need to consider the example you are setting to those around you.

We may not always like rules, but to disrespect them and then threaten those who have done nothing more than point out said rules is unconscionable.

Christopher Rice

Fredericton

Why vote in our oppressors' election?

Re: Federal election

For Indian people to be part of and to vote in provincial or federal elections is the same as prisoners locked up in a prison being given permission by their guards to vote in a prison election.

In this prison election the prisoners are permitted to vote for a choice of prison guards only. The prisoners are given a choice of two or three guard candidates to vote for. The winning guards now have the right to run and control all aspects of the prisoners' lives and living conditions from the cradle to the grave.

Discussions on issues are controlled completely by the guards. The "game board" on issues is devised, developed, implemented and tightly restricted to issues that the guards have deemed to be safe for discussion.

Generally speaking, issues deemed as being safe for discussions are cosmetic in nature, that is, discussions on the colour of paint for one's prison cell or whether prisoners should wear black or blue prison garb or should prison cells have curtains on cell windows and on and on. Nothing of a substantive nature is ever permitted.

When I say something of substance I am referring to discussions on speaking and teaching our own language, practicing our own religion, and having our homeland returned to our people. Why are we locked up, and when will we be allowed out of prison?

A message on one candidate's campaign placard advises people to think before they vote. To Indian people contemplating voting in the white man's election I say: think twice before even considering voting in our white oppressors' election.

As individuals, as communities and as nations we are forced to give up more and more of our sovereignty when we decide to become good Canadian citizens and vote in our oppressors' elections.

Eurocanadians themselves know that they must give up their sovereignty should they decide to vote in a foreign government's election.

Dan Ennis

Tobique First Nation, N.B.