Anonymous,

To clarify, my original message which used Dennis and Alana's exchange to
illustrate that there are a variety of approaches to Health Promotion I was
not suggesting that he was being confrontationl with Alana.  I was referring
to the approach to dealing with the government that I interpret Dennis as
taking.

I don't disagree with you about the need to "be upset" and "cry outrage"
over critical issues.  But wouldn't you agree that not everyone is suited to
this kind of action but might be skilled/comfortable with other approaches?
Is it not beneficial to the overall goals of health promotion to have both
the confrontational and collaborative approaches being utilized concurrently?

I am curious why you chose to share your opinions anonymously when you are
advocating for public action.

Braz King
Managing Director
Smaller World Communications
116 Westwood Lane
Richmond Hill, ON
L4C 6Y3
(905)771-6965
(905)771-7974



At 10:38 AM 1/12/98 -0500, you wrote:
>I received the following message with a request that the poster remain
>anonymous. So to respect that request (and I believe that the request
>comes from someone who is not a CLICK4HP subscriber) I am copying the
>message here.
>
>Alison
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>Alison Stirling, co-facilitator, CLICK4HP
>E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
>Internet: http://www.web.net/~stirling/
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
>In yesterday's discussion, some people have taken to suggest Dennis'
>approach is 'confrontational'.  I on the other hand look at his reply to
>Alana's posting as simply challenging us to see the obvious, for
>heaven's sake.  We simply need to act on our beliefs and principles.  Or
>is that a bad thing?
>
>An ethics professor I once knew used to answer the same thing to the
>question which inevitably came out during case study classes.
>Students would ask what the law stipulates or what they should do in
>given circumstances and the prof would always asnwer:
>"Ask not what should be done, there is no correct answer.  Rather, ask
>yourself who you are!"
>
>Many of us have been out of electricity in eastern Canada for almost a
>week now, yet I didn't see too many people debating if and how we should
>help those in need. I didn't see neighbours ask what was the best way to
>help, or what the law stipulates they should do.   They took action,
>whithout waiting for their governments to act or tell them what to do.
>Neighbours helped each other out and did not let those in need suffer.
>
>In this country (Canada), people are starving, uneducated, caught in
>vicious cycles, unable to pay their rent, victimized and unsupported
>(read: determinants of health.)  Meanwhile we're spending time debating
>what 'strategy' should be used to deal with all this and accept the need
>for things such as foodbanks in this country. Should we be
>'confrontational' at the fact people are suffering.  I would personally
>think we should, yes. And be upset, and to not accept it, and cry
>outrage, and most importantly, do something about it. Now I'm not saying
>we should not be strategic here, be careful not to assume this.
>
>[submitted by an Anonymous person]
>
>