LETTERS

Asylum a hit

Congratulations to reporter Tom Lyons for his honest and outstanding critique of biopsychiatry (psychiatric fascism), forced drugging, involuntary outpatient committal and the psychiatrically biased inquest into the police murder of Edmond Wai Hong Yu on Feb. 20, 1997 ("The Chemical Asylum," April 15).

I've never seen an antipsychiatry article like this published in the establishment press. While exposing the fraud of psychiatric diagnosis, including schizophrenia (Yu was falsely labelled and stigmatized "paranoid schizophrenic"), Lyons blasts outpatient forced drugging and the myth of the violent mental patient -- both promoted during the inquest and in the coroner jury's recommendations.

Only two recommendations mentioned the need for affordable housing ("safe-house") for psych survivors, repeating those of previous inquests which have never been acted on, and falsely stating that "housing is a mental health" issue. Wrong -- housing is a fundamental human right.

Toronto cop Lou Pasquino, who killed Edmond Yu after firing three bullets at point-blank range on a deserted TTC bus over two years ago, is still free and still employed as a cop drawing a $50,000+ salary -- thanks to another Special Investigations Unit (SIU) whitewash. I hope the Yu family sues Pasquino and the police force for murder. -- DON WEITZ, ANTI-PSYCHIATRY ACTIVIST

YOU MAKE US BLUSH

I was so stoked after Tom Lyons' article "The Chemical Asylum" (April 15). After thousands of distorted, sensationalistic media articles portraying psychiatric survivors as either dangerous or incompetent, finally a journalist has shown the courage and sense of justice to 'do it right' in reporting the daily issues persons labelled 'mentally ill,' homeless persons and low-income people in general are facing at the hands of a political system that seems to have abandoned all compassion.

Thank you so much, Tom, for not succumbing to the medical-model bullshit that dominated the Yu inquest from start to finish and for offering such a strong portrayal of the real social issues behind the tragedy.

Way to go! -- GRAEME BACQUE

YOU MAKE US BLUSH PART 2

I'm calling from the Queen Street Patient's Council. I just wanted to commend Tom Lyons on his excellent job on his article "The Chemical Asylum." It was just great to read such excellent reporting and writing and I just have never seen anything this good and this in depth. Thanks a lot for this excellent article. -- ERIC, BY VOICEMAIL

...BUT THEN AGAIN

Inasmuch as I feel sincere concern for the mentally ill, the unemployed and the homeless, I think there was one serious omission from Tom Lyons' article.

As the grandmother of an eight-year-old with severe autism, I believe I can safely say that prescribed drugs are absolutely essential in some cases. Without regular doses of risperidol, this boy is out-of-control, dangerous and unmanageable, and has shown aggression since nursery school.

He is unusually strong physically and his violence affects members of the family, as well as classmates and others.

When one feels physically threatened merely playing with this boy or helping him bathe, it is sad and discouraging -- to put it mildly.

It is most unlikely "things like safe housing, jobs and the dignity that comes with working" will ever help such a patient. -- NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST

MA'AM IS JUST FINE, THANK YOU

Re: Erin Linn McMullan's "Don't call me Ma'am," Space for Rant, April 8.

OK, can someone possibly find anything more ridiculous to complain about? In this day and age, "Ma'am" is what we women are called if someone doesn't know our name and is trying to address us respectfully. And call me peculiar, but I'm not about to go around telling everyone my name just so I don't have to hear the word "Ma'am." It's better than "Hey, you!" or a number of other phrases I don't care to mention. -- SHERRY

OBJECTIVENESS R US

While we may not know the identity of the "federal insider" who writes eye's Feds column, his political affiliations can be very easily spotted: true Grit all the way.

First we are treated to a puff piece about what a wonderful job David Collenette is doing representing Toronto in the federal cabinet. We should all be grateful for him, writes the insider. Well, yippee skippee. I suppose I should be forgiven for not recognizing Collenette's Herculean efforts on behalf of our city, but to me, the air seems dirtier and the water seems fouler. I suppose it's just me.

The insider's next piece of "journalism" comes in the form of a tribute to Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, and how he is right to be hawkish on the topic of bombing Serbia. The insider tells us about one of Axworthy's greatest achievement: the Land Mine Ban Treaty. However, he curiously neglects to point out that the three largest manufacturers and users of land mines -- the U.S., Russia and China -- have all refused to sign the treaty.

Whether or not Axworthy is right to support NATO's bombing depends largely on one's own ideology. However, when the city of Toronto asks for help to deal with homelessness, the federal government finds itself cash-strapped, and promises to finance more studies two years from now when the funds become available. But when it comes to flying our fighter jets halfway around the world and having them rain down death from the sky, a blank cheque is given to the war department.

I feel that eye seriously compromises its integrity by publishing this kind of Liberal propaganda. I want my eye to retain its independence and objectiveness, not to become a bootlick paper for the Grits. Please can the "insider" and give us a break from free campaign ads. -- WILL TAYLOR

FLASH: SWISS CAN'T COUNT!

How many of Toronto's 2.4 million residents would support the new firearms registry if they knew:

That the justice department of the federal government along with the coalition for gun control used invented and inflated statistics to sway public opinion?

That before registering a single firearm it had already cost 10 times more than the maximum then justice minister Allan Rock had promised in the legislature?

That thanks to this new legislation it only takes a police officer to say "we think there are more than 10 unregistered firearms in that residence" for their homes to be searched without warrant for evidence of any wrongdoing?

That contrary to depictions on cop shows, firearm registration has not been responsible for solving one crime?

That Australia stopped registering firearms because the costly bureaucracy did nothing to curtail criminal activity?

That Canada has forced registration of legal handguns since 1947, yet handgun use in crime has hardly changed since?

Firearm registration legislation is favored by police, who by their nature want more power. It is also supported by lawyers, who will make money from law-abiding Canadians whose registration paperwork is not properly completed.

Human behavior cannot be changed through legislation against inanimate objects. In Switzerland there is a gun in every home by law, yet crime is so rare, statistics aren't even kept. The U.S. is often held up as a violent firearm-toting society. However, in the 37 states where law-abiding citizens are entitled to defend themselves, violent crime is much lower than in the other 13 states. Think of a violent U.S. city. New York, L.A., Detroit, Washington and Chicago have all banned handguns. One is more likely to die or be injured due to firearm violence in Jamaica or Mexico, two countries where private ownership of firearms is expressly prohibited.

I won't bother to name the source of these statistics -- because they disagree with your close-minded Torstar/Liberal opinion you will dismiss them as biased. -- LAWRENCE WHITMORE

TUNNEL RAT TURMOIL

Fantastic! The posers have been exposed. The TTC strike has flushed the tunnel rats out onto the city streets. They are breathing in the morning air (before it becomes midday smog) and they don't exactly know how to handle the situation. All of the sunlight and sounds other than the monotone announcements of upcoming stations. Can you blame them for being confused? I don't. You know what it is? Freedom, baby. Love it!

On the few regrettable journeys I have taken on lemming express, I have noticed the futility of individuality. The beautiful ones dutifully stuff themselves into packed subways, equally preened and greased down for the day ahead. The lesser ones bow their heads downward, feigning a last-minute sleep. And be certain of one thing: Check your humanity at the door.

You know what, folks? It is good to see all of you pushed up above-ground. Which prompts me: Why not do this all the time? At least when the weather is fine. I see you with your gym bags taking public transit to the health club for a sanitized posing session. Hell, walk to work in the morning as you do now, and you will be surprised how fit you'll become. Come on, get in the muck. Break from conformity. Wake up and enjoy your surroundings.

When you are walking to work while the strike is on, look up. Drop the listless zombie look. Who knows? Once this is over, you may even join the walking/cycling/skating commuter freaks like me! -- JOHN PICKERNELL

Send letters to 471 Adelaide St. W., Toronto, ON M5V 1T1, fax 504-4348, email eyeeye.net. eye reserves the right to edit for space. Full names withheld on request, but full name, address and daytime phone number must be included.