We're the first to complain about wrongdoing in high places or the inefficient use of tax dollars or the frequently short-sighted decisions that come from government bodies at all levels.
That's our job: hold the feet to the fire, as it were, of those who wield the power.
When something's not right, when the little guy gets stomped on, we take a stand on those issues.
So it's only fair that when something good comes along, we give credit where credit is due - and this week's decision to ban minors from using indoor tanning beds certainly fits the bill.
Health Minister Mike de Jong announced on Tuesday that those under 18 will no longer be allowed to use indoor tanning beds in an effort to reduce the incidence of skin cancers; the legislation is expected to come into effect this coming fall.
Kudos to the province and to the various municipalities, health organizations and individuals who put the pressure on to make this happen.
We hope this will be another big step in the cultural perception of the "healthy tan," and that the next generation of young people will begin to dismiss this idea as nonsensical and dangerous.
To that end, we also have to give kudos to the young volunteers, like Olina Chang (see page 11), who are visiting schools around the province to encourage Grade 12 students to pledge for a "tan-free grad."
Getting that "glow" has become something of a grad tradition for many teens who think they'll look better with a tan, thanks to years of cultural messages that tell them just that. But, as Chang says, if your skin has changed colours, your skin has been damaged.
With apologies to Coco Chanel - the fashion icon who is credited with inspiring the tanning trend after she was photographed in the French Riviera in the 1920s with a then-rare dark tan - the time has come to leave this tradition to another era and for a new generation to embrace the skin colour they were born with.
