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After spending two very 'interesting and enjoyable years while living on PEI, I felt compelled to share with the PEI community an experience which I had the privilage to partake in a short time ago.

During the 75—76 school year at UPEI, I had the opportunity to be intro- duced via casette tape, to a man who has initiated a new type of community that is rapidly spreading in different parts of the world and which in a-quiet way, amidst the noise and haste, is calling to liberation people who have been vic- timized by the individual— istic and competitive world we live in. The man's I name is Jean Vanier and the _community is called L'arche with its main headquarters located in Trosly, France. L'arch, founded in 1964, attempts to give a permanent_ home to some 150 mentally handicapped adults who in some way have been reject— ed or hurt by society, t0* psychiatric hospitals and the unwillingness of people to take a genuine interest in providing these people with a loving and caring atmosphere. Together with these handi- capped or "assisted people" (we are all handicapped in someway), ther is also

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(* * * * *)BLONDIE (PRIVATE STOCK RECORDS)

Punk rock, which is rock 'n roll stripped to its very basics, is quickly becoming the emerging craze of 1977. Already grOups such as 'Blondie' and 'Jonathon Richman & The Moder Lovers have had considerable exposure in the rock trade papers and have expanding cult followings.

In the case of Blondie, featuring blonde—haired Deborah Harry as lead vocalist, the cult cer— tainly has something to follow. Their material is, at first listen, .lacking of any value what- soever. But listen to the album three times and I guarantee you'll be hooked. With songs cen— tered around violence ("X Offender", "Rip Her To Shreds") coupled with Deborah Harry! s_disf

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some 140 assistants, men and women alike who have come from all walks of life to dedicate their immediate lives to the service of

the handicapped. -

To understand the in— I tention of L'Arche we must look at the very meaning of the word L'Arche. The word L'Arche means "The Ark" in French. In the bible

.story the ark was the boat that Noah had used to

,save the cratures of all 'varieties from the flood.‘ Hence, LArche is symbolic

of a place of refuge, of

a community of great variety and the gift of hope.

The motivation behind Jean Vanier's establishing a community such as L'Arche is described in his inspir— ational book "Eruption to Hope". He states: "More and more of the world seems to be dividing itself into 'two. 0n the one hand there ,are those motiviated by the accumulation of riches, by the need to possess, and by the need to dominate and be above others. On the other hand there are those who live in involunatry poverty and misery and who are in some way mar- ginal to society. (the aged, the handicapped of all kinds, the alcho- ‘holics, the mentally

rout times?

. g o- ',

:0: Just/f ill and so forth and "' those who live in misery in the developing . countries). Is not the great challenge of the day to create Communities(which in fact are quite ancient since they resembe the

’first Christian communities)

a great means of bringing a. a solution to the suf— fering, the wars and‘re- volutions so prevalent in When the diSf tance between the society seeking domination and 'possession, and the miserable masses living ‘ in poverty becomes too great we can be sure that.

one day a spark will ignite ”

'the expolsion. Do we not 'need communities of those//

who choose poverty, happy. to share their lives with the rejected in order to

create a bridge between the a

two worlds?" Thus, the Vaim of L'Arche is clear, the intention simple. As Vanier sees it, "the aim is

I not efficiency and pro—

ductivity but human and spiritual progress, which ought necessarily to be found on anopeness and mutual respect, and the desire to see the other achieve the greatest possible liberty." , The life style led at L'Arche is one of work,

Punk Rock—Good and Bad

tinctive voice and the band 3 very tight sound, Blondie is by far the best of the punk bands, including the Ramones. Before the end of 1977, everyone will have heard of Blondie and remember where you heard it first. (*)JONATHON RICHMAN (BESERKLEY RECORDS)

In direct contrast to the craftily created songs of Blondie is the other emergin punk rock star, Jonathon Richman. The material on this album is so ridiculous I could. hardly listen to\the whole thing. I must say the second and third listens failed to reveal anything that could account for his current popularity. I can't understand h6w Rich— man made it out of the underground. This stuff is on the caveman's level. Primitive.

(* *) THE MODERN LOVERS (BESERKLEY RECORDS)

The Modern Lovers is Jonathon Richman's back- up group. They have their own album as well. Isn't that nice?

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(* * * * *)SPANISH TRIINS— CHRIS de BURGH (A & M RECORDS)

It is very hard to

describe a work such as this.

because it is so varied and so different from anything else I've heard that it defies categor- ization or description. "Spanish Train", the title cut, is my favourite. It recounts the battle be-

.tween the Lord and the

Devil for the souls of men. The battle is ymbolized by their playing a game of cards, and of course the Devil cheats, thereby winning more souls than the Lord. Eventually the Devil wins the hand and they switch to playing chess. Here again the Devil continues to cheat and win more souls. Chfis de Burgh simply recounts this story via talking for the verses and bursting into tan- talized song for the pow— erful, surging chorus. The effect is dazzling and is one he uses quite often on this record. Other impressive songs are"A Spaceman Came Tra— velling", "Just A Poor Boy z.an2 xxee.¥9zex:...

3.5.3.?

am» ' ‘ sharing at meal time and V‘prayer. Work consists of assembling things for 'nearbygfacmprfpgg’ ‘ all types of fibtgfiqux_h mosaics in the various' workshops, the maintenanca of the gardens and fields where food is grown, and the repairing of the old houses that the community owns, which require constans attention. The 8 hour work day at L'Arche is enjoyable 'and a kind of amily affair whereby creativity and self-fulfillment is attain-r ed by each person accord- ‘ing to_their own capacity and talent. .Although, L'Arc}u is to some degree subsidized ,by the French govenment, it could not function without the proceeds it receives for the work the community engages in._ My knowledge of this area is limited but I do understand that most of the proceeds go directly to maintaining the upkeep of the community. There are some two hundred peOple directly \ living at L'ARche houses some five to ten miles away. The L'Arche com- munity itself is sub— divided into about ten to twelve mini—communities consisting fo between ten and tWenty people. The

season for the creation ( Con't page 5.)

It's'difficulttsingling

out particular songs

as all the epics on the

album are outstanding.’

If you‘re looking for a

new listening experience try Chris de Burgh;

(* * * *) THE TIME MACHINE— ‘RESONANCE (CELEBRATION RECORDS) .

Considering they-are only two guys from France, Resonance sure make their, share of music. One plays numerous synthesizers, the vother various guitars. The Time.Machine is a two— record set which takes us on a musical voyage throng? the ages, touching on forms of music as varied as disco ("Al Capone's Blues") to Viennan waltzes ("Grand Siecle");

The best song on the album is entitled

"Magellasn", an acoustic number that could easily be a hit single. The Time MAchine is definitelngpé of the most interesting albums to come along in quite a while.‘

Next Week:"AANIMALS— PINK FLOYD"; "Tejas—

Z Z TOP"; "JONNY THE F0X..THI¥.:W¥Y"§§ gees»

- sin“; - -