'ADOLESCENT' GARR IRKS AMERICAN

To the editor:

What kind of a newspaper is the Vancouver Courier? I was expecting to read
a straightforward, measured report of events in Allen Garr's column "War on
drugs conference open to select few," May 8, not an adolescent screed.

As a former junior high school English, drug abuse prevention, and music
teacher, I recognize the tone and style used in the
article-adolescent-utilizing typical adolescent exaggeration and name-calling.

The inflammatory language in the article is startling, e.g., "rogue cops,"
and might be expected from junior high students, (it is sometimes even
appealing in youth, as is youthful self-righteousness) but is jarring, and
even peculiar when found in a mainstream newspaper in an article written by
an adult.

My understanding is that the Anti-Drug Conference was privately funded and
therefore was under no obligation to admit anyone, including apparently
uninvited columnist Garr.

In addition, in what appeared to be the usual lack of investigation, there
was no evidence that Garr had inquired whether or not the officers were on
"company time," or their "own time;" whether or not Vancouver public policy
permits public officials to give presentations of any kind, by invitation
or assignment, at community functions, using materials garnered from public
records.

There was no explanation of under what circumstances, if any, public
officials are permitted to provide security and/or support services at
community events (either public or private)-especially at the Convention
and Exhibition Centre. We don't know, even after reading Mr. Garr's piece,
what are the guidelines for public officials. Sadly, such reportorial
insufficiencies are common, if not rife.

IDEAS might have gotten, however inadvertently, an answer to their agenda
item entitled, "The media: friend or foe?"

The apparent lack of supervision of reporting staff, perhaps going back
some years considering that they came to such appalling conclusions, is
both pathetic and contemptible.

Jeanette McDougal, Chair, Drug Watch/Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii