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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-11-20, Page 5"Home-town" reporting interests Times-Advocate staff writer e rte?/ciA/G, Nut& itodedd Our choice of beautiful Christmas things has never been greater. Please feel free to come visit us and see for yourielf. These are just a few suggestions * Artificial Centrepieces * Doorswags * Christmas tree decorations *Custom made Christmas arrangements Visit us soon . . Countpy PlimPs 395 Main $t., Exeter 235-2350 lammisalior The all Oatario Trust Company begun in 1889 VG Member Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation UCTORIA and GREY TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 Times-Advocate, Navernber 20, I 97, Page from your family market $ 1 39 Lipton Chicken Noodle & Vegetable CUP-A-SOUP 49' 59, 9 29 Dear Editor When does the right to freedom of enterprise unjustly becpme license for discriminatory Policies and misuse of the public trust? According to the Ontario Human Rights Code it does so when a dealer in private en- terprise denies public access (which is also interpreted as access to merchandise) to any person or groups of persons on the basis of race, creed, colour, language, nationality, etc, Regrettably, it appars that Huron Carpet of Exeter continues to operate ender a policy which is restrictive to the people of organized churches other than the sect known as the Jehovah's Witnesses. It refuses to deal in merchandise with the Christian churches and in so doing main- tains a policy which is discriminatory and a violation of the public trust. On the twenty-eighthof July this past summer four persons representing the manse com- mittee of the Thames Road- ' Elimville Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada visited the premises of Huron Carpet with the purpose of purchasing a carpet to be used in the study of the United Church manse. After mentioning to a salesman where the carpet was to be used we were politely informed that the policy of Huron Carpet of Exeter was not to intall carpets in any religious establishment or church related building. We could purchase a rug, we were told, but Huron Carpet would refuse to install it. Somewhat non-plussed by this revelation, we continued to browse examining samples until we were finally served by the manager. It was then that the • even more explicit and disturbing pokey of Huron Carpet was ex- plained to us. Huron Carpet would not sell any merchandise to the United Church of Canada or, for that matter, any other religious organization. The manager explained that this was a personal policy of the company in no way related to the policy of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Nonetheless it was a policy clearly related to the convictions of the manager as a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. It was carefully but hypocritically explained that Huron Carpet would sell to any individual whether or not he was a member of a church but that churches would .he refused access to its merchandise on the grounds of personal conscience and con- viction. It has never been explained what precise line of distinction it is that permits Huron Carpet from staying in business by selling its merchandise without censure to any committed member of any church. Astounded by this arrogant at- titude, the group left to purchase the same rug at Dinney's Fur- niture at the other end of town. Although news of this policy has been and will be a shock to many people who read this ar- ticle, I understand that it is not news to some others who have also been turned away from Huron Carpet on similar grounds. It is time someone challenged Huron Carpet to discard their policy of discrimination against area churches or risk the con- sequences of public censure, To make sure that I fully un- derstood the policy and also to privately express my concern about its implications to the manager,I visited Huron Carpet for a second time recently. Once again I was informed that the United Church of Canada would be refused access to any of the merchandise of Huron Carpet. In explanation, I was informed that, as a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses sect, the manager refused to deal with any of the churches of (to use his term) fallen Christendom and, in this particular case, he refused to deal with the United Church which, along with the other churches, was, in his opinion, completely under the control of Satan. Although these may riot be the precise words that were used in explanation they fairly, believe, represent the managers reasons for carrying on such a policy. As a Jehovah's Witness he i must regard all other churches as essentially on the side of the forces of evil, as unChristian, as ungodly. I must sly that I find it difficult to explain, let alone understand, such a polity which seems So black and white. Most areas of human decision Seem to me to be .controversial, that is, open to question and interpretation. Nonetheless, Huron Carpet's policy appears to very cut and dried. I expected a theological explanation, I received one. I informed the manager' that I regarded his policy and actions aS diScrirninatorY and dishonest. }le argued that he was net discriminatory in that he would sell to any individual but not to an organization or corporation such as a church, My friend failed to uhdetstand that his policy is a policy against a group Ofpeople 1110 id that any cOrporationi I f it S real arid viable, always represents a group of people, in this case, a group of le.peop ho by their own choice are members of and support the United Church of Canada , I was informed that under no circumstances would Huron Carpet sell to the United Church even If this amounted to a centravention of the existing laws of our land. Since then I have wrestled with the pros and cons of making this incident public with the per- mission of the Times Advocate, Apathy and pure human inertia have pressured me constantly to shelve it. I have no desire to hurt the manager of Huron Carpet. I did make an effort to resolve this privately, I alsofear the reaction of some people who might be prompted by this incident to treat the members of the Jehovah's Witnesses with even more con7 tempt than they now receive on their periodic invasions of privacy. However, I have written the article, A legal adviser in the offices of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Toronto, has informed me that Huron Carpet's policy is in violation of Seetion Two of the Ontario Human Right's Code which terms as "discriminatory" the denial of access to public property (and merchandise) on the basis of creed, I was asked whether or not I wished to sign a complaint authorizing the Commission to take action against Huron Car- pet. I said, "No," A good friend of mine, for whose opinions I have great respect, debated with me one night the morality of Huron Carpet's policy and, although agreeing with me in the final analysis, asked a good question which really gets to the heart of what I am trying to say here. "Why say anything about it? Even if he is wrong, you got your carpet. They didn't really hurt you. They probably run a very good business otherwise." I suppose I have said this tcI myself a hundred times during the past month as well as won- dered about the possible misunderstanding or negative reaction that writing such an article might.produce. Besides, I bear no ill will against Huron Carpet nor its manager who, in many respects, is a polite, per- sonable, honest and, obviously, sincere man. Unfortunately, Huron Carpet, maintains a policy which treats ,certain groups of our society upjustly, Obviously, any individual has a right to his creed and the laws of our land and of our conscience before God should protect that right. But that freedom does not mean licence to deny another person the right to his creed (which is the logical implication of Huron Carpet's policy as is the policy of any other individual or group within our society who will use the•means of their livelihood to foster intolerance of the rights of any individual or group. When a business attempts to deny access to its public/ services to any member or group of mem- bers of our society on the basis of religious convictions, it crosses over the line of freedom of belief into the area of discrimination and injustice. Obviously, this article reflects a personal opinion, which, I am sure is not shared by Huron Carpet, Although I have already been pre-accused of slander for suggesting to the manager that his policy receive more ad- vertisement than he is prepared to give it, I have tried to be very careful in recording the facts as they have happened and as they have been spoken, The fact that the manager was visibly upset and almost outraged that I would make his policy public makes me even more suspicious that he knows full well the questionable ethics he is using in continuing such a policy. Why should he he afraid or upset unless he is more con- cerned about keeping the reputation he has as an efficient carpet salesman while practicing a policy which treats certain groups of people unfairly? In what way, then, is he different from the big corporation president' who uses his business to implement personal prejudices against even a few people, while carrying on the reputation of a fine and reputable member of the business community? Should eithermerchant be allowed to get away with such double- standards? I think not. And in the case of Huron Carpet, while I have absolutely nothing to gain by writing this article (and while my move is not one of revenge — if it was, the property authorities tell us that legal action could be taken). Huron Carpet's policy represents a continuance of that unfortunate relationship between the various Christian communities in our area and the group known as the Jehovah's Witnesses, a group of, albeit sincere, zealous, com- mitted members of their sect, who choose to live within and benefit fully from our society but not contribute to it fully, who demand respect for their freedom of belief by their con- stant proselytizing but who will not respect the beliefs of other Christians. I for one regret the policy of Huron Carpet which DOES discriminate against the Christian Communities in our area, But it is Huron Carpet that has set the policy and who, in so doing, has taken an action against one of our most basic human rights. Barry J. Robinson Dear Sir: As a former Exeter resident I have followed discussions con- cerning the fate of Exeter's town hall with a great deal of interest. I would like to encourage your readers to support those who are calling for its restoration. It is sometimes difficult to appreciate our historical land- marks until we tear them down and then the decision is irreversible. It's only recently that Lon- doners have begun to appreciate this fact and are taking steps to preserve as many historical landmarks as possible. Unfor- tunately, for many buildings this change in attitude came too late, I sincerely hope Exeterites will realize the value of their town hall while there is still time. Victor Fuldher, London, Ontario. DRINKING, 0/161 DRIVING eruat DISASTER $c 6'' By LEIGH ROBINSON This being my first column for the T-A, I had reservations about writing it so soon after joining the staff. I thought about a number of subjects to explore and came to the conclusion that for column numero uno I had better stick to things that I know best, like myself, Then I had a change of heart, Perhaps people wouldn't be all that interested in reading about me, After all, I had kind of hoped that someone might care to read my second column. So moving away from the hazards of egocentricity, I , am deciding instead to write whatever comes into my head as illy fingers peck away at this typewriter. First impressions are always important, although they seldom reflect, the total picture. Impressions of Exeter in my first week have been very pleasant, even exciting. The staff here at the T-A has certainly helped to make a new person feel com- fortable and a part of things. Walking around town, I get the feeling that people really take an interest in the place. Not like some hamlets, where everyone complains and seems to want to leave on the next bus going anywhere. An interesting area where Exeter is situated. There seems to be a nice balance here between going forward and yet hanging on to anything from the past that might be important. That's a good sign. Sophistication seems to be tempered by a sense of humanity and a respect for tradition, I must say that I am glad that the belfry atop town hall is going to stay , It'siaLready become a part of my perception of the town, and its nice to be able to tell the time, too. I always forget my watch. Now, maybe I can sneak in a little of that autobiography that might have scared you people off in the first couple of paragraphs. My newspaper career began in Wallaceburg when I was six. I had received a toy typewriter for Christmas. Soon I was scouring the neighborhood for news. Cat and dog fights, Robby Sills' skinned knee, the cold war situation in Europe, you know, the silly things that six year olds think of as being all-important. Our next-door neighbor, Mrs. Lozonne, who was a very nice lady by the way, used to take the Windsor Star. My parents didn't, and I liked reading the coloured funnies. So I would sit down at my little typewriter and print out the news of the neighborhood on old paper bags and then run across the driveway with these priceless things and exchange them for the funnies and perhaps some milk and cookies. I titled my tabloid, The Daily Snooper", Years later, I wondered why I had chosen that title, because it seemed to indicate a' rather negative attitude towards the press. I think that it had something to do with a story my mother had told me about a reporter trying to squeeze an interview out of a woman who had just lost her husband at the scene of a terrible house fire, where the tragedy had occurred. The message that I must have taken from that was that newspaper reporters were so greedy forsensational news, that it didn't matter whether people's feelings were tromped on in the process of "informing the public", It wasn't until rather recently that I had an urge to come back to journalism and Pm not sure if I have the talent and the creativity of my "Daily Snooper" days, I'd tried a few things, some en- joyable and some kind of not. A year's stint at law school had ended in failure and I was feeling a little sorry for myself. Then I saw an ad for a newspaper reporter and I knew that I wanted to give it another try. There have already been some times and I know that there will soon be some more when I am going to find it hard to do a story for one reason or another, I don't think I could do a story like the one my colleague attempted to get at the scene of a fire. For- tunately, a great deal of the news in a rural community is of a happy nature. Must have something to do with the clear air out here. There have to be reasons, though, for being in this business, I think the biggest one for me is v an insatiable interest in people and what makes them tick. Aside from that, truth has always been important to me. And Justice, Sounds corny, I know (like the Lone Ranger or something), but I have always felt that a newspaper should be heavy on these two concepts. Kindness towards others and a sense of humor also have important roles to play in newspaper reporting. If these things can all be kept in mind when I'm doing some news reporting around these parts, maybe the six-year olds won't have to regard the newspaper as the "Daily Snooper", Save money! Cut taxes! with a Registered Retirement Savings Plan accumulating at Kurt Bowman, Manager Main St., Exeter 235-0530 a • • • •:•:•.•;; IV • • ALWAYS! MEATS Maple Leaf Ranch Style BOLOGNA By the Piece 59c lb Pork BUTT ROAST '1.29 lb. Swift Diamond A Swift BACON ENDS POLISH COIL 9341 lb.' OR $ 1 A24 6 Box m $i 41 9 lb. OYSTERS FRESH BUTT CHOPS Pork AND FISH Available. .41 Chicken of the Sea TUNA 32 oz. U,S. PRICE GOES UP, BUT DE BOER'S DOESN'T — Andy DeBoer, proprietor of the Sunoco station on Main St., Exeter, continued to pump gas at 69.9 on Monday /despitethe price freeze lift of 5.4 cents a gallon. "We'll sell what we've got at the price we bought it for before we go up exactly 5.4 cents a gallon, De Boer said, 7-A photo 4galrM Thank you you to all those who visited us last week. We appreciated seeing you and look forward to meeting you again. 4\*Ast****Avic*AVatatigRM4P Robin Hood QUICK OATS TEA BAGS 5 lb. 6 1/2 oz. MIRACLE WHIP ...„,,Fresh Produce:. Lovely & Large — Beautiful & White CAULIFLOWER Head 69' LETTUCE 29' 150 's TANGERINES doz 69' MUSHROOMS lb 79' 235-0400 Fresh YOU CAN off/ exeter frozen foods WISHURRE444;0i:Wakr 44f.::OZT:gif:'11.:i.:ZEKAUZESERISitriiiiMITIERAMMTLETE:..Z.5121/7r" We Specialize In Custom Slaughtering and Processing Memiel7MARKET PRK SHOULDER •19 Maple Leaf DINNER HAM 8Pyi et fc $ 2 . 29 lb. Swift Lazy Maple SIDE BACON Vac Pac. 11 •89 lb. 1 $