Gordon C. Wong, SPECIAL DIPLOMATIC ADVISER TO THE U.S. PRESIDENT,SENIOR ADVISER TO THE YEAR OF THE CHILD,P.O. Box 1368,
Vancouver V6C 1A0,
B.C., Canada,
April 30, 1985.Gordon C. Wong,
SPECIAL DIPLOMATIC ADVISER TO THE U.S. PRESIDENT,
SENIOR ADVISER TO THE YEAR OF THE CHILD,
P.O. Box 1368,
Vancouver V6C 1A0,
B.C., Canada,
April 30, 1985.
"my Christian friend",
...
B.C., Canada.
"my Christian friend":--
I am enclosing copies of some correspondence i have received concerning the work i have
done since 1977-78 for the Year of the Child, the issues relating to putting our best
forward for our children to provide a more just future for them, and for peace.
Also, i have enclosed copies of the statements i submitted to Ottawa and Victoria concerning
providing the (discretionary edit: the education facility "my Christian friend" works for)
with literature in future about my work.
You should recall, Ma'am, that it was our discussion of the 'Northern Lights' undertaking by the Canadian popular musicians, their entourages and record companies and managements which initiated your interest in my work. As a result, i draw your attention especially to the page attached to the April 29, 1985 statement to Mssrs. Skelly and Lauk as i believe it is evidence of support for a policy undertaking, to proceed for the future where the musicians and friends have only begun, so that such grievous human tragedies can be resolved and prevented with our compassionate commitments and concerns.
I also included an excerpt from a statement to be delivered to the office of the Canadian Labour Congress President, Mr. Dennis McDermott, on May 10, 1985. We also discussed the fact that we both have quoted from Holy Scriptures in our work, and as this shows, i have indeed and am contacting 'Northern Lights' because we should hope that their concerns will not stop now, when so many remain in need and there is so much all of us can do still.
As a very brief explanation of why we began the work in 1977-78, Ma'am, which i trust will be
confirmed by the responses we should expect to these statements to the authorities in Ottawa
and Victoria (and the law firm employing Mr. Trudeau in Montreal), i will tell you in
both years we contacted many government leaders, clergy, and private citizens (many of them
popular musicians) asking them to help us prepare and develop a comprehensive expression of
commitment to the future for the world's children. In most cases, as best they could help us,
they did, suggesting ideas which transcended partisan political differences in order to
contribute to help make a better world for all of us.
Hence, my statement to Premier Bennett here, concerning "what our children should be
taught of our country's history," seems appropriate, Ma'am.
As "Northern Lights" is now singing, "Let's show them Canada still cares." And equally, as i
note C.L.C. President McDermott said in March, "If what we do here is not for the
betterment of the human family, then it's not worth doing."
Back in 1980, in a statement i prepared for the United Nations Secretary-General at that time (Dr. Kurt Waldheim), i quoted the following, taken from a poster in the Toronto Y.M.C.A.:
"CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
IF A CHILD LIVES WITH CRITICISM,
HE LEARNS TO CONDEMN.
IF A CHILD LIVES WITH HOSTILITY,
HE LEARNS TO FIGHT.
IF A CHILD LIVES WITH RIDICULE,
HE LEARNS TO BE SHY.
IF A CHILD LIVES WITH SHAME,
HE LEARNS TO FEEL GUILTY.
IF A CHILD LIVES WITH TOLERANCE,
HE LEARNS TO BE PATIENT.
IF A CHILD LIVES WITH ENCOURAGEMENT,
HE LEARNS CONFIDENCE.