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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1974-11-14, Page 4We were quite interested to learn this week that almost every major crime com- mitted in the Town of Tilbury this year has been solved. Police there give credit to tip- offs from the general public. As you will recall, Tilbury made the headlines earlier this year when vehicles belonging to a sergeant and two constables were burned, and police had public confron- tations with individuals, A police officer was quoted as. saying Tilbury was becom- ing known as "the place of stolen proper- ty." Police there do not say why informa- tion has been forthcoming, but they do comment that any law enforcement group is only as good as the citizens backing it up. Perhaps it would be a good thing if residents in this area reflect on the fact police officers are only an extension of the will of all of us, They are charged with en- forcing the laws which each of us make through our elected representatives. The system breaks down when police and citizens become "them" and "us". Behind the ripoffs We couldn't help but grin a little when a Sheridan student asked Senator David Croll last week why newspapers never said anything about the many people well serv- ed by government welfare and social security measures, instead of playing up the ripoffs. "Because you wouldn't read it," came the curt reply. The Senator went on to say the reading public wasn't interested in the day to day workings of Manpower, UIC or other welfare organizations. "They want to read about the ripoffs," he said. The Senator hit the nail right on the head. A large percentage of news coverage is given to ensure what we call "for-the- record" coverage. It's very rare indeed that newspapers are acknowledged for providing that everyday news. Those com- plaining might do well to take the time to read papers more thoroughly, instead of complaining about the sensational stories they are so easily attracted to and so eager to read. • It's refreshing to see a politician take that stand, rather than to pass it off as irresponsible people in the media or suggesting it is unwise to believe what you read in the press. Milton Champion Short takes A recent report on highway traffic collisions for 1973 issued by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications notes that 56.9 percent of the drivers killed on the highways last year ,had seat belts installed but not in use. On the other hand, 5.2 per- cent had them in use. "This is the final test of a gentleman—his respect for those who can not be of any service to him." "Politics is the science of how who gets what, when, and why." Just, -sttte-bits and pieces F 4 Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., 0,W.N,A. CLASS"A' and ABC Editor Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Women's Editor — Terri Irvine Phone 235-1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation March 31, 1974, 5,309 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada • $9,00 Per Year; USA $11,00 MitifACASOMMearliSMEEebatal:MMOM RI 1.1) PIRRON ?MARI) Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information Sou1t, Huron i For.A ppointMent • ,pliwo;nfie-,:r";i5.27ist. or 235-2474 All In the family Them and us ' Over the years Remembrance Days have come and gone. When I was a little girl, stories about 'the war' (1914-18), as told by my uncle and his buddies, chilled my very soul. I remember, when I was about ten, pleading a sick stomach to get out of attending one Remembrance Day service because I couldn't bear to sit and think about men being killed or killing other men.It tore my small heart to shreds, Then came 'our war'. As if it was yesterday I recall walking out into our farm yard after I'd heard the radio announcement that Canada had declared war, looking up at the clear blue sky and wondering if anything would ever be the same again, And, of course, it never was, I'm still haunted by the memory of two boys. One, we'll call him Bill, was a straight A GEE,If YOU'RE SHORT RIGHT NOW, MAYBE YoirP LIKE To TAKE ApvANTPZE OF my 0.20 DOWN ,P1NP $5 A W MIMS; student, good looking, fine thlete, popular and a born leader. He appeared to have everything going for him. His plan was to be a doctor and I've no doubt he would have been a fine one. Needs further consideration Remembrance A bits and pieces column. First item shows a malicious delight in "catching someone out" as the phrase goes. It is one of the less pleasant aspects of the human character, but at the same time has given a great deal of pleasure, over the centuries, to the human race. There is nothing people enjoy more than somebody else's feet of clay. How we all secretly rejoice, if not openly, when a cabinet minister is caught with a blonde who is not his wife, or a prominent judge is nailed on an impaired driving charge, or a teacher is discovered nurturing marijuana in his her window boxes. Disgusting, and definitely not Christian, but it's fun. I've been a victim myself. Sent out a questionnaire to elementary school teachers of English last year. There was one spelling error in it, and I didn't do it, a secretary did. But about 50 percent of the questionnaires returned had the mistake circled, and some gleeful little remark attached. Now it's my turn. I have before me a list of novels and plays sent out by the Educational Com- munications Authority, a fairly sacred cow with the Ministry of Education. The Authority wants English department heads to tick off a list of the books most used by students in our high schools, with a view to buying the movie rights to the 20 most popular, so that they can be video-taped and made available on a wide basis. A laudable plan. It was when I started to scan the list that I thought it must be a put-on. I re-checked the ac- companying letter. No, it was real, it was official I looked over the list, a fairly comprehensive one of most of the literature used in our high schools and started ticking off the obvious ones: Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Death of a Salesman, Huck Fin,. The great Gatsby. Everything in order. Then I turned to Page 2 of the list and nearly felloff my chair. I came to two conclusions. Either the chap who had dictated the list had failed to proof-read it, or the secretary who had done the typing had finished Page 1 and gone out and had a large liquid lunch before tackling Page 2. Don Quixote came out as Don Quiote. This must be an animal story about a coyote called Don. Emily Bronte must be twirling in her grave on the moors,to see her magnificent Wuthering Heights described as Withering Heights. Thomas Hardy will be having a celestial seizure when he realizes that his great Tess of the D'Urbervilles has a new title: Tess of the D!Umbervilles. D'Umber than what? A science fiction novel, The Chrysalids, has a new life as The Chrysslids, The Luck of Ginger Coffey has been transformed to Lack of Ginger Coffey. Probably some sort of rationing. A fine western novel. The Ox Bow Incident, has changed shape. It is now the Ox Box Incident, a rather square title, if I may say so. A Grade 11 standard, To Kill a Mockingbird, has become To Kill a Mocking Bird. Can't you see that bird, just sitting around mocking the old lady who owns it? But perhaps the greatest blow to Canadian literature, and certainly the one that nearly bust a gut in a number of English teachers, was the updating of that fine, old novel about French Canada, Maria Chapdelaine. It is now called Marve Chapdelaine. That is an obvious backlash by some male chauvinist pig to the entire Women's Lib movement. But I'd certainly like to read the new version. I can just see Marve up there, in the Quebec back- woods, bringing in the kindling, worrying about wolves, and having babies under primitive conditions. Poor Marve. It was OK for Marie. She had guts. But Marve doesn't sound as though he could hack it, with a name like that. I imagine he'll die in childbirth, or be eaten alive by mosquitoes, or drop a pot of scalding soupe aux pois on his foot, or something like that. Now I know this entire column is completely unfair to the poor guy who made up the list. But I got so much pleasure from it, purely malicious pleasure, that I couldn't refrain from passing it on, And the sheer joy of it is that it comes from an Educational Authority. In capitals, It would be no fun at all if it came from an illiterate bookseller. It's interesting to learn that your neighbour is going to have a baby after 15 years of sterility, or that your Uncle George had an affair in Singapore when he was in the merchant navy, and before he became a church elder. But it's sheer glee when you discover that someone away above you in the hierarchy has committed a monstrous boo-boo. We all have clay feet, but most of us keep our shoes tightly laced, or at least our socks on. While we agree wholeheartedly with the need for a day care centre in Exeter, it appears that council have again rushed into a situation without' serious con- sideration to overall planning of such facilities, In the first place, the com- munication from South Huron Hospital board was most vague, in stating that the nurses residence was not available until the hospital renovations project was completed. Members of council may be aware of the schedule to be followed in this regard, but if so, none indicated any knowledge this week. If the nurses residence is not to be available for several years, then obviously sites must be considered. However, council should at least determine what time element is involved in the hospital program and then determine if it is worth waiting for the facility. At the present time, no alter-. nate uses have been suggested for the nurses residence and it would appear to be ideal for day care use. It would be unfortunate to have the nurses residence sit idle after the hospital project is completed, , and certainly the board should have been more explicit in their communication as to whether the residence would in fact be available at some later date. If so, it may be as soon as a new building could be erected for a day care centre, in which case council should still consider it as a prime location. It appears worthwhile that council and the board get together to discuss the situation at further length so a clear un- derstanding can be reached. + + + In the second place, some readers may recall that the committee investigating an area sports complex had suggested that a day care centre may be one of the facilities included in such a structure. That too is worthy of some consideration on the part of council. As we have stated in this column previously, it may be a number of years before a sports complex becomes a reality, but the need for planning such a facility at the present is evident so that when particular facilities such as a new arena or a day care centre are required, they can be placed in their proper location in keeping with the overall plan for a complex. It may be that a day care centre would be the first part of the structure and consideration in this regard should be given by council. There are obvious benefits to 1?e derived in having a day care centre as part of a complex, both from the maintenance aspect as well as the availability of recreation and lunch room facilities for the youngsters enrolled. It may be that the day care facility would then be available for other community uses during the evening and weekend hours and would eliminate the need for duplicating space elsewhere in the community, + + + Council may be excused in part because a day care facility will be paid 100 percent by the provincial government, but the day has gone when communities can afford to ignore the fact that the money is still coming from the pockets of their own ratepayers, regardless of who ends up signing the cheques. In reality, if every community in Ontario ends up with a day care centre paid by the provincial government, it means in effect that each community has paid for its own through the tax monies they pay tothe provincial treasury. That's why consideration of such facilities here must be weighed most carefully to ensure that every saving possible is made and also that the facility be To the Editor, Last week I was invited to visit my daugher's kindergarten class at Exeter Public School. I en- joyed my morning thoroughly, except for the walk from the arena pillars to the door of the school The condition of the sidewalks ,which our children must walk upon four times a day is very bad. Surely the funds to repair or replace this portion of sidewalk can be found. This subject has been raised before and I remember that one of our council members com- mented that "boys will find mud anyway", but the fact remains that others use the sidewalk. I am certain that teachers, parents, little girls (who are sometimes more fastidious than their brothers) and even some of the boys would prefer to reach the school with clean, dry shoes. Having to make detours around broken sidewalk, mud and water holes, even missing sections should not be necessary. Children rarely complain, because they feel it is useless in this adult-run world. I would be interested in hearing what they think of the approach to their school. I doubt they like it any better than I did. Sincerely, Helen M. Hodgins 50 Years Ago The Times-Advocate received a letter from Lorne W. Brown of New York City, formerly of Crediton, congratulating us on the amalgamation of the two Exeter papers. Mr. Brown was in Europe this summer attending the World's Sunday School Convention at Glasgow. William Statham and R. Welsh of Exeter; and John Decker, of Zurich, bagged a large number of rabbits while on a two-day hunting trip at White Church in Bruce County. Miss Lila Taylor, a promising artist of Usborne township, has had her work recognized by having one of her paintings "The Homestead" hung in the Canadian Academy at Ottawa. 25 Years Ago A bronze plaque in honour of Sir John Willison, journalist, author and publicist, who died in 1927 And who began his career as a printer with the Exeter Times, will be unveiled this month at the Huron County Court House. The Huronia choir motored to Hamilton Saturday and carried off second prize at the Hamilton Music Festival. Dr. Harry Seldon, a native of Exeter, was elected president of the American Anesthetist Society, last week. The first monthly meeting of the Exeter Home and School Association was held in the school Friday evening, Mrs. Ernest Jones is president, used to its maximum by the community, Unfortunately, this type of consideration was not evident in council's decision last week to ask the provincial government to erect a new day care centre in Exeter. As stated at the outset, we are in total agreement as to the need, but are of the opinion that more thought is required in view of the possible availability of the nurses residence at a later date or the planning which is now taking place in regard to a sports complex. Neither alternative suggested may be practical, but that can only be determined after careful deliberation and should not be dismissed until that deliberation has been made by the responsible officials in this community. + + + • Belated congratulations to the young -people in the district who behaved themselves most commendably over the Halloween period. Only a couple of incidents of any serious nature were reported, while in many communities elsewhere we read of gangs of youths showing complete disregard for laws and the property of others. ' We in this area should be ex- tremely pleased with out young people and they should also be proud of themselves. BE A GOOD EGG... GIVE BLOOD FOR GOODNESS SAKE. 15 Years Ago Elston Cardiff, Huron MP was named parliamentary secretary to Agriculture Minister Harkness last week. Preston "Dearing and son Gerald, RR 1 Exeter, captured every major prize in the Dorset Horned sheep competition at the Royal again this year. Mrs. H. Cleven of Winnipeg is visiting her sister, Mrs. C. S. MacNaughton and her brother Jack Fulcher and their families. Old Orchard Lord Vern 24L, owned by Whitney Coates and Son, RR 1 Centralia, captured highest honors for Canadian Herefords Thursday when it won the grand championships ribbon at the Royal. 10 Years Ago Reform Institutions Minister, Allan Grossman urged con- sideration of the replacement of existing jails in Huron County with regional detention units. Huron County's home for the aged is to have another addition, possibly providing 100 beds. This is an estimate of need based on the rise in population at Huronview from 105 in 1960 to 224' on November this year, Two -veteran members of the Exeter School Board announced this week they would not stand for re-election for another term, Retiring after 17 year§ is W. G. Seldon, the senior Member of the board and also Ray Frayne who has served for the past seven years. The Archie Bunker family has won a wide audience in the United States and Canada. This television series has been the subject of a number of papers in various journals and magazines. The question is simply, Why such an audience? Why do so many families make it part of their ritual to watch it together? An article on the Bunker family by Dr. Howard F. Stein has ap- peared in a recent issue of Family Process. He seeks to make the point that many of the larger issues of American culture are accurately reflected in All In The Family. Some of his com- ments are worth mentioning. In this series we see man in the midst of change. The, change is not only in the world around but in the man himself. Self made man, the frontier type is being changed. Archie hangs on to the old world but his position is in- creasingly vulnerable, The self- reliant is caged. To bear this out it is to be noted that A.B.C. dropped the idea of such a program in 1967. The time was not ripe. The idealism of the Kennedy era was still strong. In 1970 C.B.S. aired the program with resounding success. The New Frontier, the Great Society, Imperial America were no longer viable ideas. The Bunker family dramatizes man caught in the vice of basic change. Archie's brave world is increasingly infiltrated with pinkos, fags, meatheads and intellectuals. Our sympathy lies with all the characters in the Bunker household., No one takes sides against Archie or in favour of Gloria and Mike, Good and evil are not rigidly separate. No one is held up to blame. Everyone has an equal chance to be a loser; and, of.. course, equality is a good American value. The Bunker household shows us conflict that always balances out, The family does not break apart because conflicts are always defused by other conflicts. The conflicts hold the family The best safety device in a car is a rearview mirror with a policeman in it. Inflation is when the creaking of the pillars of the economic system can't be heard above the rustling of the banknotes, Language is a wonderful thing. It can be used to express our thoughts, to conceal our thoughts, or to replace thinking. ultimatum of going into northern Ontario to work in lumber camps for the duration. We, his classmates, could scarcely believe his action and I knowwe persecuted him with words and in cold, silent looks. Nowl understand how much bravery it took for him to take that lone stand, and I confess I've wondered since if it didn't require more raw courage than it took for Bill to join the armed forces which everybody else was doing. When the war was over Jack came back, returned to school and went into an honorable profession. Through the years he's been a pillar of his com- munity and church, a good honest Canadian citizen who's con- tributed much to society. He's raised children who have turned out well and who are also making their mark in the world, And now, unlike Bill, he is the grandfather of several children. Dear, lovable Bill was a fellow I dated often during my mid- teens, Even now a saddness comes upon me as I think of what his life might have been had he not been killed. But, to be honest, there are times when I've also wondered if Jack didn't make the greater contribution by staying alive. It was Pierre Elliott Trudeau who said if a cause is worth dying for, it's worth staying alive for ever more, Many will disagree. Maybe he is wrong . . or at least partly. It seems there have always had to be martyrs like Bill who were willing to lay down their lives for what they believed was a just and honorable cause. But perhaps there are other martyrs , , the kind who regardless of per- secution, remain true to their faith and convictions, It is a mighty and comforting thing to know that in the great workings of God both are used. together rather than drive it apart. All are against all but not one can do with out the rest. Archie is seen as the main character but he could not be Archie without Edith, Gloria and Mike, The Bunkers are a complete family with no unneeded persons. Mike and Gloria are the means whereby Archie and Edith communicate. In one episode the young people are off on a vacation and Pa and Ma can't communicate. They are at loose ends. What would happen if Mike got a job or if the young people moved away? The equilibrium of the family would be destroyed. The lack of communication between Archie and Edith is highlighted by another episode when Archie, afraid that Edith is going to turn to the Catholic faith goes to see Father Majeski. The latter queries ,"Why don't you try to communicate with her? She's trying to reach out." To which Archie replies innocently, "Why should I? We live in the same house?" As far as he is concerned he communicates sufficiently as he orders Edith around. Mike and Gloria seem to communicate in a better way. Yet even they need to return to the family to be revitalized. They may be natural protesters seeking civil rights for others but the Bunker family is their home where they find personal support and emotional sustenance. The one thing that keeps Mike and Gloria from being totally enmeshed and drowned in Archie and Edith, and vice versa, is the conflict between generations along idealogical lines. Personal boundaries and identities are established by the varying positions taken at various times by the members of the household. Paradoxically Mike and Gloria both need Archie and Edith close to them and yet by use of conflict keep them at a healthy distance, Mike and Gloria are sustained in their individual identities by the older generation. The values of the older generation also are strengthened by the opposition of the younger. Archie and Edith are always a little more Archie and Edith after each confrontation with Mike and Gloria. There are many other details about family dynamics and in- dividual integrity that could be mentioned which will have to wait for another time, In the mean while we begin to have a glimmer as to why wee feel at home with the Bunkers, However, the day after he graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Air Force. On his sixth bombing mission he was shot down. Besideslosing a great person, the world lost a potential surgeon, a husband for some girl, a father for a family, and a grandfather for grandchildren. The other boy, Jack, was a shy, retiring lad. An average student, not particularly good at sports he was the type of kid you might soon forget. But we didn't forget him. We didn't forget him because he was the only boy in that group who didn't enlist. Because of religious beliefs he was a con- scientious objector. So, instead of going into the armed forces he accepted the government's