Editor,
Thank you for publishing the article on March 4 advising Squamish residents that Ryan Aldridge has joined Katy Hutchison in teaching youth to avoid violence.
However, I question the mixed message that readers may get from the accompanying guest editorial by Al Price entitled "Jaded journalist has a (tentative) change of heart". The overall message supported the article: "Aldridge keeps on contributing to helping other young people avoid his tragic path" But the unnecessary graphic suggestion of vigilante punishment wrongly promotes violence and crime. It encourages people to take the law into their own hands. It incorrectly suggests that crime is somehow okay if it is retaliatory. Violence perpetuates violence.
Mr. Price's suggestion of horrific vigilante violence undermined the theme of the article. It opposes the valiant efforts by Katy Hutchison and Ryan Aldridge in their dual presentation to discourage violence. Al Price, former editor of The Chief, could learn a lot from the leadership and examples set by Katy Hutchison and Ryan Aldridge. From Katy Hutchison, he could learn to be less tentative in his change of heart. From Ryan Aldridge, he could learn courage to admit his mistake. He could learn the wisdom to use his notoriety to discourage violence.
Does Mr. Price have the courage to admit to the public that he made an error to suggest and glorify vigilante violence? Does he have the wisdom to use his media influence to denounce vigilante violence? If he "could contribute to society one-tenth of what" Katy and Ryan have, "society would be better off." Will Al Price measure up to be one-tenth the people that Katy Hutchison and Ryan Aldridge have turned out to be?
Will Al Price write a follow-up article or editorial denouncing his suggestion of vigilante violence? Or are he and The Chief content that his editorial commends and encourages violence? Squamish crime rates are terrible compared to the rest of BC and increasing at an alarming rate. Since Ryan Aldridge committed his crime in 1997, the crime rate in Squamish has increased 70 percent, from 129 to 219 annual criminal code offenses per 1,000 population. (Source: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/police_services/publications/crime_rates_burdens/muncr.pdf).
In 2003, the most recent year that statistics are available, Squamish had the eighth worst crime rate of 70 B.C. municipalities. The Squamish crime rate was 70 per cent higher than the B.C. average. Squamish had more than one criminal code offense for every five residents. To the defense of Squamish, this is partially due to tourists and visitors not being counted in the Squamish population.
Mr. Price has the ability to use his job as a freelance writer for The Chief to denounce violence. But instead his editorial celebrated violence and encouraged readers to take the law into their own hands. Does he know that even: "In a society that has increasingly embraced violence," promoting vigilante violence" is still taboo"?
Is Al Price willing to follow the admirable lead of Ryan Aldridge, admit his mistake and discourage violence? If not, Squamish will continue to make municipalities like Surrey and Vancouver, where I live and work, seem safe by comparison. Crime rates in both Surrey and Vancouver in 2003 were equal to the BC average of 129 Criminal Code offenses per 1,000 population.
I consider these crime rates unacceptably high even in Surrey and Vancouver, let alone Squamish. We as a society need to reduce crime rates throughout BC. We need a justice system that supports the brave efforts of our police officers. We need a justice system that deters crime. A system that teaches children at an early age that crime does not pay. We need media that communicate the right message.
Katy Hutchinson and Ryan Aldridge are doing everything they can to reduce crime rates in B.C. Al Price has undermined their efforts with his appalling glorification of vigilante violence. What will you do Mr. Price to make amends, before more youth follow your violent suggestion of taking the law into their own hands?
Alan Kostiuk
Surrey
Aldridge's remorse genuine
Editor,
The article "Jaded Journalist" by Al Price, forced a very emotional response from family of Ryan Aldridge. It is extremely sad that all their efforts to accept the responsibility of this tragedy left them having to defend Ryan's actions, now. At a time when Ryan can along with the heroic efforts of Katy Hutchison make positive change for all youths everywhere. I am truly proud of my family for their response to this article. It reflects why Ryan's remorse is being so publicized. Why? Because it's genuine.
Ryan has accepted his guilt, his punishment and his own personal life sentence. Living with the knowledge that his poor judgment is responsible for a valuable loss of life. He knows he is tremendously lucky to have the forgiveness that means the most to him - that of Katy Hutchison, along with her children. Because of this, he is willing to assist her deliver her message to schoolchildren and young adults in hopes that even just one child can be prevented from making the same mistake as he did.
This is a challenge for us all of us. Instead of becoming part of small town gossip and misunderstood rumours, we could all be supportive to Katy Hutchinson and her mission. Instead of being the little town that re-visits to find blame, Squamish could be the little town that re-visits to find change. Katy's courage to forgive could be preventing the children of our future from making similar poor choices in their lives. Her ability to be public, through her own grief is admirable. However, her ability to forgive Ryan is allowing her to deliver a message that is so vitally important for all of us.
With Ryan's admission of guilt, and serving his sentence out, it might have been easier for him to say, "Okay, now let's get on with life". However, reliving the tragedy over and over so that he can help Katy make a difference is commendable. Katy and Ryan, you both have my full support!
Sue Rollinson
Vancouver
No sense of community
Editor,
I did not read the March 4 issue of The Chief, but was told by members of Ryan's family about the controversial editorial written by Al Price ("Jaded journalist has a (tentative) change of heart"). I read the article online and was horrified. I felt that it was unprofessionally written and had no sense of community that Squamish is trying so hard to keep alive in light of the expansion of our population.
I felt sick when I imagined how his mother, Marina, must have felt when she read this. I am deliberately putting a name to Ryan's mom because she and many of the other members of his family live in this community. I just spent part of this past weekend with them and I was heartbroken that they had to read this in their own newspaper. A little more cruelty and insensitivity to read in the media is exactly what we all need. The truth that is reported is bad enough without this idiocy added in. My prayers are with everyone involved, especially Ryan.
Adriana Smith
Squamish
Not that Al PriceEditor,
Al Price from Valleycliffe would like not to be confused with Al Price from North Van, former Editor of the Chief and author of recent articles in the Chief, and would like not to be associated with any of the views or sentiments expressed therein.
Al Price
Valleycliffe
Raise the speed limit or enforce the law
Editor,
I am a law-abiding citizen. I may sometimes drive over the posted maximum speed limit, but I work hard at following the speed limits wherever I drive. That is especially true when I am driving to and from my home in Squamish along the Sea to Sky Highway.
I wish I could say the same for over 65 per cent of the other drivers. Fifteen km-h over the limit seems to be the average with some drivers going 20-35 km-h over the speed limit. And when they come up behind me, and I am doing reasonably close to the speed limit, they honk and swear, pass me on solid double lines or just ride a few feet off my bumper.
I have heard that there is consideration being given to raising the posted speed limits in B.C. Has that already happened and the signage has not caught up? Is it still part of the RCMP's job to monitor our highways? Do fines really double in work zones? Does part of the money collected through speeding fines still go back to the municipality? I am tired of being harassed and threatened just because I follow the law. I am tired of my family being put at risk by other's criminal behaviour.
We have ways to deal with this flagrant disregard for the laws of our province and country. It is about time that the limits were either increased or the penalties for speeding start getting enforced.
Kevin E. James
Squamish
