By JACK TENNANT -- Calgary Sun And wasn't last week something to
remember?
Alberta has increased the penalty for failure to produce a driver's licence
from $5 to $50, Peter Pocklington said he's leaving Alberta for California, and
Saskatchewan women now have the freedom to go topless.
All this happened last week and no doubt the increased licence fine will create
the most interest.
But one wonders where this topless thing will end, if it does.
It started in Ontario where a young lady bared her top and the Ontario Court
of Appeal affirmed the right of women to go topless.
Two Saskatchewan women bared their breasts in a Regina park last August and
were subsequently charged. Last week, a provincial court judge said the women could
go topless as long as they didn't offend community standards, whatever they might
be.
It always amazes me how some women maintain it's their right to go topless,
but then whine and snivel because some men stare at them.
Would it not be worse if some men didn't stare? Or at least sneak a peek or
two?
Do you think women would go topless if there were ignored? Is not part of
the game the attention they get? If not, then why do it?
The Regina case involved women ages 42 and 64. I'm not dumb enough to comment
on their ages, but it strikes me someone should ask why they waited so long before
baring to see.
Well, at least for some of Regina to see.
And I marvel at the justification expressed by their defence lawyer.
He said: "What this decision says is that women are free to do what men
have been able to do for years."
If that's important, then no doubt women by the thousands across this nation
of ours are standing to pee.
There is no logic to this case and not even a defence lawyer can inject some
into it.
It's publicity, pure and simple.
Is the next step total nudity rampant in our neighborhoods -- and if that
happens will the police be upset? I doubt it; look at how much money they could
get from the $50 fines for not producing a driver's licence.
Where could a naked person carry it?
Maybe it would be fair turn if men could do what women have been able to do
for years -- carry a handbag.
Let's not go there.
Let's leave sleeping dogs lie -- in Regina parks for sure -- and instead worry
about increased fines and Peter Puck moving to California. Maybe Peter will go topless
in L.A.
TENNANT TIDBIT--You're old if you can remember when going topless meant going
without a hat.