Pubdate: Thu, 27 Apr 2006
Source: Queen Charlotte Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Queen Charlotte Observer.
Contact:  http://www.qciobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2681

WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR JUSTICE

Justice is more than the system that upholds our laws;  the word 
suggests fairness or reasonableness in the way  people are treated. 
Since the chief judge of the  provincial court visited recently, we 
at the Observer  have been reflecting on what just treatment means 
for our communities.

Although we understand the difficulties the RCMP face  in gathering 
the appropriate evidence to successfully  convict criminals, there 
are some unresolved crimes  that continue to irk us.

For example, there are known drug dealers in our  community, 
especially those who peddle dangerous  chemical concoctions. How 
these people can continue to  get away with the harm they inflict 
upon islanders is  beyond us. How in such small communities, they can 
live with themselves and the impact their crimes have on  their 
neighbours and families is beyond us too.

This brings us to The Observer's neighbour, Sam Leung  of Sam and 
Shirley's Grocery. One evening a few weeks  ago, a gang of 
thoughtless youth blatantly stole from  his store and since then, 
there has been no resolution  to this act.

Shoplifting a few sandwiches is not the same magnitude  a crime as 
dealing harmful chemical substances, but the  example illustrates a 
troubling lack of respect.

Mr. Leung and other entrepreneurs on these islands  provide valuable 
services to all residents. We know he  is not the only one to bear 
the brunt of this type of  inexcusable crime. Shoplifting is a common 
occurrence  in a number of island stores.

People, the younger ones especially, need to be made  aware that this 
sort of behavior is unacceptable.

But the wheels of justice can be so slow that so far,  the young 
people who victimized Mr. Leung have gotten  away with their 
wrongdoings and he continues to feel  violated.

That said, the police are not the only ones in our  community who can 
take responsibility for justice. Any  authority figure could step up 
to the plate, be it  parent, teacher, basketball coach, uncle, 
neighbour or  big sister. In fact, young people themselves, those 
unimpressed by the antics of their peers, could stand  up for their 
belief in a just society and say it loudly  to others.

We do have programs to deal with the inherent lack of  respect 
displayed in this type of chicanery in a  different way. The Haida 
Gwaii Restorative Justice  Program promotes a different approach to 
crime in the  northern and southern islands communities. Low risk, 
youth and adult offenders are held accountable for  their actions, 
victims are given a voice, and balance  is restored. This type of 
program can be a powerful  process when it gets underway. But let's 
all take some  responsibility before we get to this point and treat 
each other with respect.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman