WHIITBY FRE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUSJT 9,1989, PAGE 5 We were talking about many things, none of which I cen remember now. We were sitting in a bar in some narneless place., 'This heat would fry a tomato," he said, neyer explaining why anyone would fryr a tomato. You've seen people in heat waves, shivering in some place air conditioned ten degrees too much, complaining about the heat. "Feu will be here any lime," I replied. Sometimes in August you can smell autumn in the air. There then fell one of those silences which feul between strangers. With friends, such a silence can be warm, friendly; with strangers it just doesn't matter. Finally: 'Who makes up names for the OBO?" he asked. he was a mecium-sized man with too much after sheve. His hands shook, perhaps from the cold. "Yeah. You know. Announcers' naines. Like Percy Hetroptrozov. Velerie Aleia. Horventh Nebelnunia. Allan Maitland." 'Those eren't reel? 'The corporation bas to be audibly niultilingual." "Oh.#' Another silence. Then: "Not that it miatters. But did you see that item earlier this -week, in which Colonel Gedhafi dlaims Shakespheare was really an Arab?" 'The poet? William Shakespeare?" "Says his naine was really Sheik Zubayr. Get it? Sheik instead of Shake . .. I get it, I get it," I replied, pretending to chuckle. The air conditioner whirred awey, chewing into the silence. "But to change the topic. Have you read that Gallup now says most Cenadians think the United States has too much effect on our culture." "No kidding." "lep. Some sixty percent, according to the statisticiens. Canadians just won't be bossed around." "Sixty per cent of aIl Canadians?" Real 'Well, it varies. About seventy six per cent in Quebec. Fifty two or so in Ontario, other parts. Works out to sixty, average." "Thnk that will work into a movement?" I asked, pouring a glass of Miller. '"People give up their big Americen cars, television progrems, movies? Whadda yeh think this is? You think people are going to start watching Canadien movies, Canadien television, read Canadian books just because Gallup asked some dumb question?" I pondered that a minute. Under pressare, I arn a slow thinker. Not under pressure, I arn e slow thinker. "But just e minute now. If sixty per cent of Canadiens think the U.S. has too much influence on Canada, what would they do about it?" "Canadiens?" I nodded, yes. "Niothing. Canadians won't ever do enything about anything. Oh, there are a few protestors now and La TErnirOWooden ChairFurniture MYRITLE RD. 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Those are really Americans up here for vacation or as landed immidgrants. Real Canadians, now, aIl they' do is grumble. When you see Canadians out marching, either for or egainst somethirig, you know one of two thingis." "Which are?" "Thet either they are new to this country and don't know any better. Or they've been watching too much Ainerican television, and have begun' te think like Aniericans. "That's why Canadiens will neyer reafly corne te grips with the problem of pollution, David Suzulti notwithstanding. Oh, they11 complain ai right. Especially when toic wastes start draining into their drinIng weter. But they won't do anything thetI1 upset enyone." "And weste disposaI?" "Same thing. Do you really think that most Canadiens aregoing te, start thurowing table scraps into a slop pail under the sink the way grendmaw did, just because the dunips are fillllng up?" "People are becoming more aware." "Aware, Ashinare. Do you think that because Gallup says most Canadiens thiîik Ameicans have too much influence, that they're going te, rush out and cencel their subscriptions te Reader's Digest? Give me a break." He- stubbed out bis Cainel, blew smoke inte the air conditioner. "For exemple. What's your biggest problema right now? Writer's block, right." I nodded. I stilI don't knw how he knew. "Wth Canadiens,' somebody hes te have too much influence. It used te be the British. Now it's the Americans. Another twenty years MIt be the Jepanese. If it weren't someébody -- if Canadiens were left te their own influence, why the whole country'd forget to, get up SEE PAGE 12