20 The South Marysburgh Mirror THE LAST WORD Watching the events taking place in Regina and Alberta these past few days as members of "The Royal Family" visit their 'subjects' and give them the opportu- nity to pay homage in the accustomed fashion, I could not help but ask myself this question: "Is it time for Canada to move beyond a system which was established and perpetu- ated through the power of the sword?" In the earliest of times, when humanity survived on the hunter-gatherer system, land ownership was never an issue. Tribes of nomadic people led by the strongest person among them, wandered this earth looking for food and a place to lay their heads at night. Gradually this evolved into the establishment of agrarian peoples who set down roots and took to raising crops and herding of ani- mals. They protected the land they had settled through force of arms, and the idea of "ownership of the land" be- gan to evolve. As we now know through our research into pre and post-biblical times, these smaller groups gradually became larger through domination of one over the other, and 'territories' came to be formed which were the precur- sor of countries. Here in Canada, by the Middle-Ages, the native peoples had well established tribal systems and 'controlled,' once again by force of arms, vast areas of land which gave them their living. In Europe, a lifestyle CONS - TABLES MOPE (anag. peem) SEA - SON YEAR-N-IN-G PUZZLE SOLUTION DOWN NA- (T) -IVE ASS-IM-1-LATE 1- GNI- (anag. gin) -T -E SING -U-LAR TSAR (anag. rats) MAS- (sam rev.) -THE - AD STAT-({S-T)-IC-ALLY DE- (TACH) -MENT UPROOTED (anag. pet odour) UNLEARNS (anag. nun's real) COSTAR (anag. actors) Lo- (PIN) -G buildingS ASHes ACROSS 7 P-(ASS)-AGES 9 IN-STAL (anag. last) 10 MI- (Im rev) -NI (in rev.) 11 IN-AUG-U-RATE 12 BERI-BER- (anag. beer rib) -1 13 LAD-DER 15 UN- (ADULT -E)-RATED 17 OR-DEAL 18 CO-CA-CO-LA created through centuries of Greco-Roman domination, gave the appearance of being more advanced culturally. The genesis of Royalty emerged following the Dark Ages, between 500 a.d and 1000 a.d., and established itself as a system of total domination of the peoples. It created its own hierarchy; it sought to grow through acquisition, again by force of arms against peoples who did not pos- sess the finely honed well-organized fighting skills, origi- nating in Roman times. The continent of what we call North America (now Canada) became one of the 'victims' of this system, or some might say 'fortunate beneficiaries,' as European culturalization crept in from coast to coast to coast. The 'Royal Family" had arrived in this land and, through its governing bodies, began the process of creat- ing ownership for profit or service (the same thing I would argue) for non-indigenous peoples by carving up Canada. Great system if you happen to lead it, and your worst nightmare if you fall victim to it, as did the native peoples of this land. Enough of my version of History 101. What am I trying to say here? Is it time to take a long hard look at the system which had created so much strife around the World (and continues to do so), and in particular, whether we choose to maintain that same system? Whether we like it or not, we seem to be stuck with the Free Market Econ- omy ownership model, but we need not be victims of some of its heritage. Remember, the very word "freedom" which we justifiably cherish, is a limited right, subject to the whims of leadership, whether that be tribal, govern- mental or crown. The British Empire has surely seen its day! Yet we perpetuate a system in Canada which seeks to main- tain nominal control from British monarchy, through Brit- ish Parliament and through the Department of The Gover- nor General (which has been the source of much $$$ spending/budgetary criticism in recent times). What are the REAL costs of these ancient rituals to our country, and what benefits do the people of Canada derive from them? Can we afford to maintain a system of grace and favor that emerged from the dark ages over one thousand years ago? Ask a family or a group of retirees struggling to exist on less than $20,000 per annum whether Canadi- ans should be spending their tax dollars in this way and I think the answer would be clear and unequivocal. Reflect on the 20 percent or so of all children in Canada living at or below the poverty line. We have a vague, 'controlled' idea of what it costs to send the Governor General and its entourage around the World several times a year, yet this current royal visit must be mind boggling in its cost to taxpayers. Fess up Ottawa! Tell the people what this 10 day 'Royal' visit has Continued on page 19