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DISTRIBUTION Circulation Manager Currie MacFarlane ( nmcfurlandmyrmg mm Anvmmsmc Advertising Manager Stephen Mathieu is comprised of 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Newspaper Group also includes The Liberal. serving Richmond Hill and Thornhill, Vaughan Citizen,The Era-Banner (Newmarkel/Aurora). Markham Economist Sun, Georgina Advocate, York Region Business Times, North of the City. yorkregionmm and York Region Printing. The Sun-Tribune. pubiished every Thursday and Saturday. is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary oiTorstar Corporation. Metroland gaff-Tribune wvlmmvs your Im- tvrs. All submissions must be less than 400 wnrds and mus! include a daytime telephone umber. name and address I’ho Sllanrihune reserves rho right to publish or not mhlish and to edit for dar» ity and space. Letters to the Editor, The Sun-Tribune 6290 Maln St. StoufMIIe, GM LM IG7 Marketing Manager Mike Banville m [m m '1'! [ma 'VI'IIIL’. 1 mn ‘Iassificd jmasonOyrmg.com York Region Media (iroup community newspapers Manager Da wna Andrews sificd: 1-800-743-3353 Fax: 905â€"640â€"8778 lETTERS POLICY nm!hieu@yrmg.mm j mason @yrmgunn PRODUCTION Manager Sherry Day INTERACTIVE MEDIA Marketing 81 Advertising DISTRIBUTION 905-640-2612 ADVERTISIN( 905-640-2612 EDITORIAI Editor lim Mason iayébyrmg. com EDITORIAL 640-2612 5-640-8778 Tri bu m yrmg. com yrms let’s have the courage to keep talking about it and the conviction to make our community a place everybody can call home. It's a message we can take to heart in our com- munities â€"â€" and at our town councils. Rather than condemn, let’s put our energy into creating opportunities for awareness about each other. Dialogue across cultures doesn't come without challenges â€" language alone can be a barrier â€" but let's ensure we’re making the effort to reach out in our community at large. We can't condone racism or allow it to be disâ€" guised as legitimate debate, but we must be willing to tackle stereotypes, rather than allow them to be cen- sored, to grow in the dark where true racists reside. It’s more ofl‘ensive to suggest we shouldn’t be talk- ing about this and other culturally sensitive realities a strong message with broader implications for our diverse region. Some universities, rather than being centres of integration, are islands of cultural isolation. Univer- sities can initiate real cultural change, with enduring ramifications for our country’s future. The article pushes the point universities need to make more of an efiort “to pry the ethnic ghettos open". We can learn from University of British Columbia president Stephen Toope, who makes outreach a priority, saying a campus should be “a meeting place not only of diversity but also of dialogue". Mr. Li, who found the article “ofiensive”, agreed to hold his motion until after the holidays on discover- ing most of council was unaware of it. (Our letter writer, Virginia Wai, was quick to respond; “Since when has describing young people who study hard and aim to get an A grade been ofiensive?") The article suggests a growing cohort of stu- dents avoid some top schools, including University of Toronto. because they are “too Asian”. The phrase comes from south of the border, where some elite universities have limited Asian applicants and boost- ed enrolment of white students. Not actually reading the article, or not reading it carefully hasn’t prevented many from weighing in on the debate. Regardless, the ensuing discussion has been enlightening, highlighting perspectives on both sides of an issue that simply hasn't had a public platform of this stature in our country. The article contends most Asians focus on acaâ€" demics to the detriment of the social interaction and athletics valued by “well-rounded" white students. Our intent is not to debate the article. other than to acknowledge it does, indeed, contain cultural stereotypes and misconceptions about Chinese and Caucasian students. And certainly, its headline was incendiary and insensitive. But the article also has The backlash over a controversial magazine arti- cle regarding the large number of high~achieving “Asians” at certain Canadian universities has arrived in York Region. Regional Councillor Joe Li last week asked Markham councillors to join him in seeking an apology from Maclean’s regarding the Nov. 10 article originally headlined Too Asian. Pundits and citizens across the country have filled airwaves and printed pages with comments that range from condemning the article as outright racism to praising it for outing an issue most uni- versity administrators are loath to acknowledge, but students readily recognize. The debate has Occurred openly in the United States and it’s time it took place in Canada, where, fortunately, admission to schools is based on merit His request follows similar resolutions by Victoria Vancouver and Toronto councils, condemning nega‘ tive stereotyping of Asian-Canadians. Editorial Censorship no answer WHERE IS BABY JESUS? I‘W~’.mn, yum? 3“an 994», [want] "EAL/tr: , OH, I GAVE HIM MY REAL LITTLE BED! In 1980. we sent 21 Christ- mas card from the Bahamas to our friends in Canada. The next Christmas, they mailed it back to us, and so on and-on for 30 years. This same card has travelled back and forth between us for three decades and will contin- 30-year Christmas card can’t be e-mailed This was an extraordinary holiday treat. Thank you to all the homeowners who decorat- ed, residents of Robirwin Street and Stouffville Lions Club. Spreading Christmas cheer is a great way to spend the holiâ€" days! The Lions did a fantastic job in organizing a successful eve- ning out for our seniors. Their kind hearts, funny jokes and warm wishes were enjoyed by all on the buses on the annual tour of lights. To top ofi the evening, the residents of Robirw'm, in south- ern-most Stoufl‘ville, stopped by our home the next day with home-made goodies. As the Stoufiville Lions Club buses pulled around Robirwin Street last Thursday night, local residents were standing out- side their beautifully decorated homes wishing all the seniors a very Merry Christmas. Santa himself Was there, too, dancing and waving away. Robirwin residents stood out on Lions tour ASHLIE MAY RECREATION MANAGER STOUFFVILLE CREEK RETIREMENT RESIDENCE Merry Christmas, Stoufiville Letters to the Editor PUBLISHER Ian Proudfoot A special thank you to our talented musicians who added so much to the Christmas atmoâ€" sphere: Brian O’Sullivan, Rich~ ard Elliott, Bosco Fernandes, Nicole Bemabei, Kim O’Connor and Brandon Wild. Our elves, Catherine Faiello, Erika Stemberg and Deshawna Dookie, braved the cold in their best elf finery to wave signs encouraging people to come in to the fair. Carl Hiehn master fully took care of the cafe. Thank you to our wonder- ful vendors and everyone who helped. This year, we were able to send the Arthritis Society a $300 donation. The money was raised through the sale of coffee, cookâ€" ies and popcorn, as well as dona- tions, at Carl's Cafe at the fair. The fair, which was held in the picturesque Markham Vil- lage Train Station, was organized by Laura and Grace Volpe of Stouffville. Thanks to everyone who helped make the second annual Whistle Stop Christmas Fair in Markham Dec. 5 such a success. Fair aided arthritis work ue to do 50. E-mail cannot replace this kind of tradition. Merry Christmas. r What do you think of these issues or others? E-mail letters to the editor to jmason@ynng.com 6290 Main St Stouflvilte. 0N. MA 167 wwwyomregionoom Tribune HANNELORE VOLPE STUUFFVILLE JACK ZWART STOUFFVILH: Enrmn m Cum Debora Kelly One hopes a hangover ofgood- will will extend into the new year, along with a greater awareness of the charitable organizations doing so much good work in our community for a growing number of our neighbours. Merry Christmas to all. lim Mason is editor ofThe Sun- Tribune. BUSINESS MANAGER Robert Lazurko The reporter, or cynic, in me wonders how the needy make out the rest of the year, following this big-time, annual spike in assistance. StOuffviHe's firefighters were collecting ‘toys. Our MP, Paul Calandra, was amassing non-per- ishable food. On Christmas Day, volunteers will prepare and serve a full turkey lunch free of charge at EastRidge church. The 16th annual event is held for the disadvantaged and lonely. We are not alone. A couple of blocks away. the Stouffville Lions were packaging baskets of good- ies at Latcham Hall. They, too, will be delivered this week. Our readers came through, with money, hand-knitted items. gift cards, clothing and toys. Toys indeed. Our own mini Mt. Stouffville of games, dolls and other cool playthings. Thank you. Whitchurch~St0uffville. Thankfully. Pretty much every media outlet, major retailer, religious denomi- nation and service organization has a drive to stockpile food, feed a bank account, serve up a meal or build a hill of toys. And residents respond. Take our ownYork Region Media Group Santa Fund. We published a story last week about the fami- lies in Stouffville and Markham that our company helped through our partner, United Way agency Pathways for Children, Youth and Families onork Region Inc. The calendar turns to Decem- ber and people become very char- itable. DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Barry Black December’s glow shouldn’t fl icker Off The Top with Jim Mason Dlmvn. REGIONAL PRODUCIS. Cussmnn, TODAY'S Houns Debra Weller DIRBCIOR, ADVERTISING, DISTRIBUTION Nicole Fletcher