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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-03-19, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, March 19, 2014 Clinton News Record VOL. 153 - ISSUE 00 PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 53 Albert St. P.O. Box 39 Clinton ON NOM 1L0 (519) 482-3443 www.clintonnewsrecord.com SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca GERARD CRECES Editorial clinton.reporter@sunmedia.ca MAX BICKFORD Advertising Manager max. bickford@sunmedia.ca DAWN JOHNSTON Sales Representative clinton.ads@sunmedia.ca CHRISTY MAIR Front Office clinton.classifieds@sunmedia.ca SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2 YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged but that balance of advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographic error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Clinton News -Record is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing purposes. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 53 Albert St., Clinton ON NOM 1L0 (519) 482-3443 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Canada pcna Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association editorial Ice is closed, but Bayfield's hopes aren't melting away just yet Sunday was a sad day for the folks over in Bayfield, as it was the final day for ice time at the arena. Everyone put a brave face on for the day, and really made it about the kids, offering recognition for the young athletes who called Bayfield their home rink. But, there were many others there too, people who made the trip back to say goodbye to an old friend - a part of their family. Sure, the ice is small, the boards and benches old. There is nothing fancy about the place. It is an old school community rink, and that's where its charm lies. Facilities like this are becoming more and more rare, and the people in Bayfield know this. They also know that anything worth having is worth fighting for. What I still don't understand is why council wouldn't take the risk and allow the Bayfield Arena Community Partners to create a board of management. Think about it. Here was a group willing to do all the work, from managing and mar- keting to fundraising for the facility. The risk would have been all theirs. And, with the ice usage as low as it was compared to Zurich or Hensall, they had nowhere to go but up for next year. There was literally nothing to lose. So why close the ice now? People are justifiably suspect of another agenda, but that may or may not be the case. Sometimes with government these decisions are based on numbers alone. In which case, you can't blame them for wanting to cut an underused facility. But, what makes this different is the BACP. They understand the usage, the numbers and the cost of doing business and they want to improve on it. They want that arena to succeed and are willing to put in the work needed to do so. Talking to people at the arena Sunday, there is also a feeling that the public really had no say in the process. There were a few public meetings in Varna, and a committee was struck to look at the arena but by then it was already a foregone conclusion. Like many other people, my jaw dropped when council turned down the request to keep the ice open March 3 though maybe not for the same reasons as most. I don't skate in Bayfield. In fact, I've never played hockey in an arena in my life. I don't even own a pair of skates. What shocked me is that a group of educated, informed and motivated people was turned down after declaring they were willing to accept the arena's flaws and shortfalls and work to make them better. Council only needed to say, "Go for it." Instead, the talk around the table March 3 was confusing, off -point and focused entirely on the wrong things. The folks in Bayfield aren't giving up just yet. Even though the final buzzer Sunday heralded the end of an era, there just might be a new age in store for anyone who ever strapped on a pair of skates in Bayfield and it will truly be a result of a community's love and dedication. (G. C.) www.clintonnewsrecord.com A legacy of hate and a growing support for forgiveness Fred Phelps, the founder of Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, is close to death and the reac- tion from the online world is far more caring than it need be. The Westboro Baptist Church gained notoriety for picketing the funerals of gay people and military mem- bers, claiming death was a punishment and that "God hates fags." Faith and hate are a poi- sonous concoction, and Phelps and co. were the epit- ome of how noxious and obnoxious this mix could be. Picketing funerals, using hate speech, trying to trivial- ize death as a vehicle of God's judgment - they were all plays in Phelps' book. And, as the church's actions became more brash and out- landish, the outrage from people the world over grew likewise. Now, the guy is reportedly on death's door. A lot of people couldn't be happier. That's understandable. Someone who so actively promotes hate and bigotry will likely not be missed very much. The idea of picketing his funeral - even though he is not dead yet - is quite Column Gerard Creces popular online. But rather than signs of con- demnation, people are warming up to the idea of picketing with mes- sages of love and forgiveness. Rather than send this man off to hell with the same horrible spec- tacle he thrust upon other grieving families, they want employ the compassion and love that Phelps should have been preaching all along. It would be a shame if he died without revealing the source of his hatred of homo- sexuality, or the reason why he believed his funeral pro- tests were necessary. It's hard to understand how hate of that magnitude can exist in a person, and perhaps if he opens up in his few remaining days, a lesson can be learned and any future such atrocities can be avoided. Nobody needs to care about this man. He made it so himself. Yet, people do, despite all the hate he's spread. And that says something about forgiveness, love and respect - the same things Phelps had every opportu- nity to spread as a leader in faith. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The News Record welcomes letters to the editor. All let- ters must be signed and include a daytime phone number for verification purposes. Letters can be sent care of the Internet at clinton.news@sunmedia.ca, sent via fax at 519- 482-7341 or through Canada Post care of The Editor, P.O. Box 39, Clinton, ON NOL 1LO.