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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-12-06, Page 4Many area residents have expressed some skepticism that the energy crisis is really as critical as some would have them believe. There's an attitude that our political and industrial leaders are playing games with us and we'll awake one of these days to be told that the mounting concern over the shortage of gasoline, heating oil and other ,resources was all for nought. Well, if you're one who has been awaiting that day and scoffing at the suggestion we must change our habits — drastically and immediately — you had better get your head out of the sand. News last week that industries were closing or slowing production because of petroleum product shortages should serve as a rude awakening to all the skeptics, That type of "consequence" from petroleum shortages hits us all sooner or later and there is every indication that the situation may not improve to any great ex- tent in the months ahead. This is not to suggest everyone should become alarmed. But, there is no doubt but what each of us must become concerned and start doing everything possible to con- serve our valuable resources, Remember, if you're inclined to dis- agree and continue to scoff at such suggestions, do it privately. The guy beside you may have just lost his job because peo- ple similar to you didn't take the matter seriously and he may not react kindly to your attitude, A s others see us A visit to the U.S. this weekend im- pressed upon us that there is indeed an energy crisis, more severe there than it is in this country, but bound to make an im- pact on our style of living soon. Lights on public and commercial buildings are being kept to a minimum. Bright, garish decorative Christmas lighting is not in use this year. Huge shop- ping centres are decorated with Christmas trees and garlands and maybe a spotlight. Driving home from Detroit to Seaforth late Sunday night the first lighted Christmas decorations we saw were in Exeter. A large tree festooned with lights stood outside a bank, an even bigger tree was in front of the town offices and brightly lit decorations hung from street lights on the Main Street . . . just as if instead of an energy shortage we faced a contest to see who could use the most electricity. Perhaps like our American neighbors we will be faced with lighting restrictions. But dousing elaborate Christmas lighting doesn't necessarily mean putting a damper on Christmas spirit. The energy shortage can be seen as a challenge to our creativity and ingenuity. We can still have a truly old fashioned Christmas, short on electric gadgets and decorations, but long on joy and celebration. — Seaforth Expositor Snow and highways With the first major snowfall of the winter now on the ground, it brings to mind the tragic formula that was the recipe for the 11 traffic deaths on Highway 400, near Barrie last March. The coroner's jury, after the inquest said that a number of factors, independent- ly not very lethal, combined to cause one of the worst accidents in Ontario highway history. They found that blowing snow, com- bined with slippery pavement, mixed with cars following too close at too high a speed and a truck with faulty brakes were the formula that added up to tragedy. In the snowbelt, as we live in, all these ingredients exist at one time or another and it's a wonder that more serious accidents similar to the Barrie accident, have not oc- curred here. There is much to learn from that tragic Sunday in Barrie and no one should have to be reminded of the caution needed during winter driving. — Clinton News-Record `First the good news — you won't have to worry about the high cost of living anymore Oblivious to the dangers TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN THE TORONTO fV,:9M SYNDICATE David, 4 years old, is a healthy, slim, active boy with blonde hair (even blonder in summer), blue eyes and fair skin. He attends nursery school with other children his age and loves it, but is not expected to be able to go on in the academic stream as he gets older. He will need special education. Though David is below average in many ways, he does well in daily living. He speaks clearly in sentences. He dresses himself. (he's very neat, objecting even to a shoelace being untied). He eats well, accepting anything he is offered. He's a good sleeper. A sociable child, David is not in the least shy, having a friendly "Hi!" for everyone he meets. He gets on well with other children and likes playing outdoors with them on his tricycle, in the sandbox or preferably in mud.! David needs a family where he will be loved, where his limitations will be accepted and where he will have the op- portunity to develop to the extent of his potential. It will be best if he can have brothers and sisters, older by at least four years. To inquire about adopting David, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community & Social Services, Box 888, Station K, Toronto M9P 2H2. For general adoption information, please contact your local Children's Aid Society. HE WANTS BIG BROTHERS Seeing is believing The foolishness of God .... ::::.•-••••••••• It seems that in the Seventies, the whole world is lurching, as most of us do in our private lives, from one crisis to another. Crippling strikes, crippling food prices, crippling political scandals, and now the energy crisis, so-called. A crisis may be defined as a turning point. Perhaps it's time we reached some turning points and did some turning in new directions. What so many people of the affluent post-war years don't realize is that crises are nothing new. Every generation, faces them, meets them, and resolves them, somehow. War, depression, another war, the bomb, All these have been universal crises in this century. Beside those big ones, a hike in the price of beef is less than monumental, and even the ex- pected energy crisis is small potatoes, (I must be hungry.) If the energy crisis becomes more than newspaper headlines, and shortages and rationing occur, it might be the best thing that has happened to the fat-cat Western world for generations. We are in grave danger of turning into slobs, physically, mentally, emotionally and morally. Maybe we need a good purge, in the form of a sharp cut- back in our soft way of living. Get rid of some of the fat, even if it requires a surgeon's knife. Take a day in the life of an average family. Someone, very Phone 235.1331 often the husband in these degenerate days, gets up first and turns the thermostat up to seventy. The beast in the basement starts gulping more energy. Our friend shaves with his electric razor. He goes down and gets his orange juice out of another beast that has been burning electricity all night, producing nothing. Then he flips on two burners on the electric stove, one for coffee, one for bacon and eggs. When they're ready, he jams some bread into the electric toaster. Then the mother stumbles down and turns the burners back on. Father drives the eight blocks to work, stinking up the en- vironment and burning energy. The kids waffle off to a school which is probably burning far more tons of coal a day that it needs to. That school has thousands of lights which are on even on a bright day. At home friend wife throws the laundry into an automatic washer which uses large quan- tities of hot water which has taken a fair amount of electricity to produce. Then it goes into the automatic dryer, run by elec- tricity. Then she tackles the ironing, and we all know what heats an iron in this day, She decides to wash her hair. More hot water. Then she sits under the electric dryer with fresh coffee made on the stove burner, At this time of year, probably half the lights in the house are on, merrily chewing up the watts. And so it goes, right across the land, all day long. The television set burns juice far into the night. Advertising signs pop on and eat more juice. industry belches its wastes and burns energy with a lavish hand. Right now, in our kitchen, the electric oven is glowing red. It will be for the next two hours. Know what's in it? One large potato, being baked. Multiply the juice being con- sumed by this one family by about five million in Canada alone and I think you'll agree that we're a pretty extravagant, even sluttish lot, when it comes to being prodigal with natural resources that are going to be exhausted and can never be replaced. And I haven't even mentioned such ridiculosities as electric tooth-brushes and electric car- ving knives, Don't get me wrong. I'm no Spartan. I'll drive to work rather than walk. And leave the great hulking, rusting monster, that required so much energy to be built and burns up so much more, sitting in the parking lot all day, The point is, I could walk to work, and it wouldn't hurt me. In fact, it would be jolly good for me. And I don't expect my wife to AWAVOMEMUM Amalgamated 1924 Reviewing some of the photos taken at the Graham Arthur Motors fire last week shows one very interesting sidelight. That is the fact that spectators ap- peared to have little concern for the dangers inherent in the situation. Despite the fact explosions are a distinct possiblity in many commercial or industrial con- flagrations, spectators at most blazes totally ignore the possibilities. Rather than watch from a safe distance, many people were standing within a few feet of the inferno and the underground gasoline tanks. Not only do they endanger themselves, but they often get in the way of firemen and impede efforts to battle blazes. Fire Chief Gary Middleton is particularly critical of those who hinder firemen and he is patiently ,awaiting the arrival of the area's new fire truck which has a sound system which can, be used to keep the crowd back and out of the way in addition to directing the efforts of the brigade.. Next time you're at a fire, think. Are you risking your neck just to get a better view? When you stop and think about it, the best view is often from a greater distance because it gives you an overall picture of what is hap- pening. + + + In one further comment on the fire, a word of commendation should be passed along to the fire brigade. The blaze was quickly brought under control and points up once again that the area is indeed fortunate to have a group of dedicated men to handle the job. They are a conscientious group who spend a great deal of time practicing and this is evident as we watch them in action. get out the scrub-board and wash her hair in rain-water. But it might be jolly good for her, if she had to. Women, and men, have too much time these days to sit around and worry about their nerves. Our fairly immediate ancestors didn't have time for nerves and ulcers. They didn't need pick-up pills to get going. There was no alternative to just getting going. They didn't need three martinis to whet their appetites. They were just plain hungry. Nor did they need sleeping pills to get off at night. They were just plain pooped. I'm not scared of an energy crisis. It might even be in- teresting. Anyway I have my own energy crisis every day, when the alarm goes off at 7.15. That's what I call a real crisis. • • The energy crisis has tended to diminish to a certain extent the interest in the Watergate Affair, but most people we hear talking about the situation display more than a little skepticism over President Nixon's missing tapes. The truth may be stranger than fiction, but some of the strange circumstances are nearing the point of being beyond the realm of possibility. Many Canadians find the situation worthy of some humorous cracks, hence the comments about the President's dog having tapeworm. Another wag suggests we could eradicate our garbage by having President Nixon put it on tape. So it goes . . . leaving most of us shaking our heads.' + + + Speaking about our neighbors to the south, we had occasion, to discuss the energy crisis with a few friends in the Hensall area 50 Years Ago The Exeter Juniors are grouped with Clinton, Seaforth and Milverton in the O.H.A. The annual shoot under the auspices of the Hensall Gun Club, of which Mr. J. Passmore is manager, was held on Friday last and was a decided success. Some good scores were made. Rev. Prof Potter of Victoria University delivered a very eloquent and forceful sermon along education lines in James Street Church on Sunday mor- ning. Messrs. Harold Gower and Emerson Roeszler, of Crediton have returned from the west where they helped with the harvest. , Rev. W. E. Donnelly gave his popular lecture on "Marriage: the Pike's Peak of success" in James Street Church on Monday evening and there was not a dull moment in the whole en- tertainment. 25 Years Ago Reeve B. W. Tuckey has an- nounced his retirement from municipal office after 11 years: two years as councillor and nine as reeve. Explosion of a waxing cloth which she was wiping across the kitchen stove caused burns from finger to elbow to the arm of Mrs. Clarence Datars, Zurich, Mr. and Mrs. William Morley served a dinner to friends on Thursday to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Milton Webb was elected president of Dashwood Hockey Club at a meeting in Hayter's Garage Friday night. At the kxeter Lions Club supper meeting it Was decided to sponsor the United Emergency Fund for Britain and the sum of $500 was voted to head the list. this weekend and many were of the opinion they wouldn't dare risk a trip into the U.S.A. if they had to be dependent upon getting gasoline. The Americans have not taken too kindly to Canada turning off some of the flow of petroleum products to the States and that is being made abundantly clear to some Canadians wanting gasoline. Some suggest ,the situation points up once more that Americans are more patriotic than their North American cousins in this nation. Americans first! Could be, but there's no question that the tourist industry in both countries will be hard hit in the coming months if gasoline supplies dwindle and prices sky- rocket. 15 Years Ago A total of 18 inches of snow have blanketed this area since Saturday bringing to 38 inches the total for the past two weeks. Temperature, according to Centralia's Met Section, have stayed well below 20 degrees. Joan E. Thomson, former SH- DHS student and now a fourth year student at Macdonald Institute Guelph was the winner of the Adelaide Hoodless Memorial Scholarship for out- standing proficiency in all phases of her studies during the first three years of her course. Over 1,000 toys, repaired and painted by members of RCAF Station Centralia's Fire depart- ment are being distributed to Children's Aid Society, Goderich and orphanages in London this week. 10 Years Ago The T-A Choristers, under the direction of Ronald Heimrich arelbusYwithlengpgements as the festive season approaches. The two new trustees elected to Hay Township School Area this week are Ian McAllister and Ross Turnbull, Both hope to seek an alternative to the Zurich school addition for consolidation of elementary education. A group of young singers has recently formed the first choir in many years at St. Paul's Anglican Church, Hensall. The choir is' directed by Mrs. Fred Broadley and is composed of Marion Roberts, Kathy Ander- son, Cathy Roberts, Susan Broadley, Brenda Lavender, Jim Roberts, David Jackson and Clark Forrest. Keith Hodgins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hodgins, Centralia recently was awarded the Rho Alpha Kappa trophy for proficiency in the radio course at Ryerson Institute of Technology. Not long ago I listened to a preacher whom I suppose would have been described, in days gone by, as the fire and brim- stone variety. He said that God had turned His face from the nations that had withdrawn from Him and looked no more to Him for anything. He ,prophesied damnation and everlasting hell for all who had fallen from God's way. He expounded with such frightful excitement that I somehow got the feeling he received as much pleasure, from imagining how 'the sinners burn in hell' as he did from the action of those who heard the message, repented and were saved. He reminded me of Jonah who went, reluctantly (to say the least), to Ninevah to warn of the destruction that was to fall on that evil city. Was Jonah thrilled when the people repented and cried to God for forgiveness? Not at all. Unlike Moses, who interceded for 'the stiff-necked people', and Abraham who pled for Sodom, Jonah wanted Ninevah to get its just deserts. His anger knew no bounds when God excepted the repentance of Ninevah and changed His mind about its destruction. There's a poem by Thomas John Carlisle that vividly por- trays Jonah's feelings. It's called Tantrum. The generosity of God displeased Jonah exceedingly and he slashed with angry prayer at the graciousness of the Almighty. "I told You so," he screamed, "I knew what You would do, You dirty Forgiver. You bless Your enemies and show kindness to those who despitefully use You. I would rather die than live in a world with a God like You. And don't try to forgive me either." There's quite a bit of Jonah and the fire and brimstone preaCher in all of us. We like to see people get what's coming to them, and many of us would certainly not be so foolish as to forgive either those who treat us badly or those whom we feel are not living up to God's expectations. When retribution doesn't fall on their heads we're apt to pout and sulk and wonder why God doesn't dp something about it. And we may even decide that if that's the kind of Person God is, we don't want to have anything to do with Him either. We'd better be careful. Because when we take a good, long look at ourselves we can well be thankful for God's overlenience, for his foolishness in forgiving us, for his mercy and compassion. There is much to be forgiven: We need forgiveness in a time when children are starving and haven't the other basic necessities of life, are being made orphans by wars, are being attacked in their cribs by rats . . We need to be forgiven for our greediness, our reluctance to share the abundance of what is ours (be it energy or some other commodity) with those who haven't as much We need to be forgiven for clogging our atmosphere so that in some areas we can scarcely breathe . . We need to be forgiven for becoming so spiritless we can no longer discern what is right and what is wrong, what is justice and what is tyranny . „ We need to be forgiven for not being able to tell the difference between life and death. Oh yes, we desperately need a God who is foolish enough to forgive us. Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 toreferZimes-Abuorate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor -- Ross Haugh Crisis may be good for us Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Clats Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance' Circulation, March 81, 19n, 5,037 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $9,00 Per Yeor; USA $11.06 iagrETWAMENZIZISISS„-, 10,41. You 51.!J • NO - SPoIS . ...• g is personalized playing cards SINGLE DECK $ A. 1 0 50 DOUBLE DECK $650 Cards ate available in WHITE MAROON BLUE BLACK ORANGE GREEN 0011440444%*6:54:040Atirmoem Wm Vrrol•Nits NoVa•Vaa 5gariiiA Vim !)lita NAVAI:4•0M4 V.9isia Wen Was.rtisa 00.141Piio MAW:0 !?!.i:a Nz Nita.fta sWi'as Wisg. 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