Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-05-27, Page 4"I hear our next project is to try to change gold into gasoline." 'Smiley's Words,old and new By KIT SCHILLER Coping with sexploitation The storm of protest over violence in TV is at last having an effect that will be evident in future programing. Now another trend needs to be challenged — the fascina- tion with sex. This is evident in some situation com- edies spiced up with bar-room humor, leer- ing dialogue and seduction scenes. Unfor- tunately these shows catch whole families off guard in prime viewing hours. So maybe it's time to raise another chorus of protests and chastise the sponsors of such programs by boycotting the products they advertise, As for TV movies, which can be pretty gamey, the problem is simpler. Most are shown in later hours to an adult audience. And viewers are often warned in advance that the scenes and language may be offen- sive, Labels are usually misleading and when we talk about loss of freedom in our society, immediately images of excessive police action, repressive legislation, cen- sorship and violence spring to our minds. But there is one method of limiting freedom that goes along quietly, and with the utmost acceptance on the part of government simply because so few of us have any understanding of its insidious methods. We refer to the unchecked growth of corporate conglomerates, those widely diversified concentrations of power in the hands of a few enormous and relatively hidden corporations like Power Corpora- tion of Canada or Argus Corporation, both of which nearly merged a couple of years ago. In the area of the mass media alone these two corporations control 17 newspapers, 19 radio stations, 11 television stations and several cable outlets. This con- centration of power inhibits, or could in- hibit, the freedom of the individual to know what is going on in his city or nation. The power of these corporations reaches into the highest levels of govern- ment and the tax concessions made to them through a plethora of loopholes limits the equality of opportunity that has been a cor- nerstone of democracy. Conglomerates Whether one espouses the socialist or the free enterprise systems of government, whether one's political philosophy opts for greater or lesser state involvement in the economy, one must decry the unchecked growth of the huge conglomerates that destroy free enterprise, that upset the balance of equality in our economic system and move to control from the boardrooms the individual freedoms of most Canadians. For the directors of one conglomerate are invariably on the boards of another. We suggest that Ottawa should move quickly to force the huge corporations to disclose lists of major shareholders and subsidiaries (Power Corp., alone controls 157 companies worth billions of dollars). Appointees to government agencies should disclose all their corporate interests and directorships. Media conglomerates should be dismantled and no conglomerate should be allowed to dominate any sector of the economy or to hold exclusive advantages through marketing links. We hesitate, out of sheer realism, to advocate the dismantling of all Canadian conglomerates for two reasons. One, our multi-national conglomerates seem imper- vious to Canadian controls; and two, the present government seems committed to outright approval of conglomerates to the extent that limitations on their growth seems the most practical first step. Such warnings, in fact, may well be used more widely, Theatres showing no- holds-barred films must label them as adult or restricted. But does this prepare decent people for shocking language, nudi- ty and explicit sex? Not at all. Similar war- nings flashed on the screen at the start of a picture come too late. Why shouldn't theatres be compelled to put strongly worded, highly visible signs near the box office to tip off the public as to the true nature of the entertainment in- side? Why not adopt similar cautionary statements on the jackets of lurid novels liberally spirinkled with four-letter words? In fact, no commercial interests should assume that everyone enjoys highly sex- oriented, vulgar entertainment. Sinking feeling for teachers as only 16 days remaining The giam camp-yet at the Commun.* Park :n town at- tracted almost: 2,ieee people this year and could have. contributed as much as S25.1.tee to the businesses in tral_ This figure would he based on each person spending ap- proximately 812.50 from when they arrived Friday night until leaving Monday. The sidewalks, usually busy on the weekends, were crowded with people both Friday evening and all day Saturday. All the campers I spoke with told me they were enjoying themselves in Exeter and were extremely pleased with the hospitality they were being shown. The campers are members of the National Campers and Hikers Association and it was Exeter's turn to be host for the activities. Although weather conditions could have been a little warmer it was just fine for the campers. Times Established 1873 Friday evening I had the op- portunity to take a tour through the campgroundand meet a few of the visitors. The thing that impressed me most was the variety of camping equipment the people were using. You could see equipment that ranged from motor homes that have nearly all the luxuries of living at home to tents that perhaps appealed to the more adventurous camper. Everybody seemed to be enjoying them- selves getting things setup for the night. These campers seemed to be a little more professional and most of them had their camps established in a matter of minutes. It never ceased to amaze me to see someone put up a large tent in a very short time. It seems that every time I try to put up our tent that something goes wrong and the whole thing falls down around me. Advocate Established 1881 I If the badges worn by these campers are any indication they have camped many times before and were completely familiar with their equipment. Perhaps in a few years I'll be able to put up a tent just as well as anybody else. Taxes lump Mayor Bruce Shaw's an- nouncement last week that Exeter property owners could expect a tax hike of 11 mills (about nine percent) probably won't be much of a shock to most people. A nine percent increase on anything in these times of in- flation doesn't surprise me. It will be interesting to see the new budget that will show all of us just where our tax dollars are going. With the modest increase for 1976 it's difficult to imagine many new projects being started. Amalgamated 1924 This is a time of year when a lot of school teachers get a sinking feeling, All year they have been laboring in the fairly barren vineyards of their students, sustained by the knowledge that there is still time to produce a green shoot or two, and maybe even enough grapes to make some kind of brew. Suddenly, there are only 16 teaching days left, and there is the dreadful realization that they have exhausted all their skills, and that it had about as much effect on Susie and Joe as would a bucket of water poured over a seal. It just doesn't stick. Thus, when they should be looking forward with anticipation to end of term and summer vacation, many teachers find themselves instead in a veritable Slough of Despond. It is the students' perennial belief in miracles that puts the teachers onto anti-depressant pills about now. Aside from school work, adolescents are not dumb. They are quite aware that education these days is a sociological jungle from which they have a far better chance of emerging unscathed than do those poor devils who try to teach them. Packages now give greater information The next time you travel down the aisles of your grocery store, notice the facelift many of the packages of food products have received. Food specialists at the Ontario Food Council, Ministry of Agriculture and Food report that many packages have been revised to include the more detailed ingredient listings stipulated in recent months by revised federal government regulations. In addition, bilingual labeling can now be found on most items, and in a few months virtually all food items will be labeled in both French and English. The list of ingredients shown on the package label includes all items contained in the product as well as the specific components of some individual ingredients, For example, if a ready-made frozen piza contains mozzarella cheese, the label will also show the ingredients used to make mozzarella. This method of labeling is costly to the processor but beneficial to the consumer, Take the time to read labels in order to indentify any ingredients that you may be allergic to or are restricted from having by your diet. Labels now list all food ad- ditives, many of which may not be familiar to you, But do not become over-concerned about ingredients that you do not recognize; in the majority of cases, the product is exactly the same as it has been for several years, but with the new labeling regulations, some ingredients may be listed for the first time. An ingredient's appearance on a label for'the first time may be an indication that it was not required to be listed previously, space was limited on the package and an added cost would have been incurred in redesigning the label. They know that in our enlightened society, "failure" is a dirty word, and that everyone from the Minister of Education, through the school board, down to their classroom teacher, will do back flips trying to avoid pinning such a label on them. Many students know perfectly well that they can goof around most of the year, play truant, miss assignments, be late with essays, and nothing very terrible will happen to them. In fact, if they go around looking serious and sincere for the last few weeks, and do a little work, there's every chance that they will scrape or scramble through, only to repeatthe whole process the next year. Born and raised in a society where it is no shame to accept Charity, because it's now dignified as welfare, where unemployment insurance is a cosy cushion against adversity, where their aged parents will be looked after by the state, where the work ethic is scorned, where the semi-literate hockey player or pop star is not only idolized but rich, the kids are not going to get their shirts in a knot over something as apparently irrelevant as doing well at school. And let's not blame them too much. Let's take a look at the world we're passing on to them. It's a world strangling- drowning in its own poisons, created by the greed of past generations. The kids see the greed and the poisoning going right on. Small wonder they are a little cynical about some of the virtues such as unselfishness and the golden rule. It's a world in which the rip-off is admired, on the whole. They see unions ripping off management, management ripping off the consumer, everybody trying to rip off the 40 Years Ago Mrs. Gambrill and Miss Violet are leaving Exeter June 2 to reside in London. Mr. Bert Gardiner of University of Toronto is home for three months. Mrs. Arthur Page is in Sarnia this week attending the London conference W.M,S. Convention. Mrs. Page is the Conference Secretary of Mission Circles. Mr. G. Yelland has returned to Exeter from Windsor, where for many years he was employed in the CNR round house. Before leaving Windsor, Mr. Yelland was honored on different oc- casions showing the high esteem in which he was held. 25 Years Ago Exeter council gave in- structions to proceed with the installation of the pumping equipment in the Carling Street station, at their first regular meeting Monday night. The largest shipment of cattle to leave Hensall in 20 years was shipped last Saturday, May 19 from the local co-operative, Seaforth Council gave its ap- proval to the Public School Board for the erection and equipping of a new school, to cost not more than $275,000. A two-night training school for volunteer firemen was held in Mitchell on Monday and Tuesday for the benefit of the local fire brigade. government. So why not rip off the school system? It's the biggest sucker of all. It's a world in which the media pander to the bizarre and violent. The hijacker, the terrorist are overnight sensations. Is it naive to suggest that these are responsible, to some extent, for the bomb warnings, and the in- credible vandalism in our schools? It's a world of drugs. The old man has his drinks every night and gets smashed on the weekend. The old lady has 18 different kinds of pills. Why not run away from reality by .emulating them. It's a world in which the daily papers are full of examples of corruption in high places. A senator here, a president there, has helped himself. So what's wrong with cheating, as long as you aren't caught? It's a world in which the best and bravest are often bullied by the brutal and belligerent. So why not give the teachers a hard time? "They can't do nothin' to ya, anyhow, 'cept senja home. So what? Write. a note and sign your old man's name," Not a very pretty picture? You're right, gentle reader, But this is not an indictment of students. It's a cry of shame for the society we're handing on to them. Let's restore "failure" to our vocabulary. Let's restore "ex- cellence," another word that's been dropped. Let's show the kids that apathy is ugly, that reason is superior to violence, that love and sex are not synonymous, that compassion and courage far outweigh cruelty and cowardice, I'm sorry for them, and what we have shown them. But I don't despair. Let's show them it's a beautiful world, and that they are beautiful and that they are needed to make it more beautiful, Then watch them go. 20 Years Ago Mrs. Reg Armstrong has purchased the restaurant equipment and business formerly owned by Monetta Menard at the corner of No. 4 and 83 highways. General Coach Works of Canada, Hensall, expects to be using its new $80,000 addition inside of two weeks. Keith Coates, Irvin Ford and David Morrissey were among the 45 students who were presented with diplomas at the graduation exercises at Western Ontario Agricultural School, Ridgetown. 10 Years Ago Mrs, Doreen Poole, education consultant with Children's Psychiatric Research Centre, London, was the guest speaker last Friday night, at the Lucan- Clandeboye CGIT and Explorer mother and daughter banquet, held in Lucan United Church schoolroom, Provincial parks in the Lake Erie District were officially opened on Friday, May 13. Growth of field crops continues at a slow rate because of the cold weather. George Sheard, 10 and Danny Calcott, 12, were presented with hockey sticks, autographed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, for the outstanding ability and sports- manship throughout the 1965.66 Minor Hockey Season at Huron Park. A friend of ours in Bermuda told us, last winter, of being in the home of his friend, Charles W. "Chuck" Colson when the latter returned after serving seven months in prison for his part in the Watergate affair. It was a heart rending sight, said our friend, to witness the reunion of the so called "hatchet man" with his family . . it was made more even more dramatic because of the change in the man. Shortly before he was sent to prison Colson was visited by his friend, business man Tom Philips, who told him of com- mitting his life to Jesus Christ and who spent an evening reading to him from C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" . a chapter on pride. "It was a torpedo," Colson says, "I could just see my whole life . . . I felt unclean. But I wouldn't admit it to him. I was the big-time Washington lawyer. That night I couldn't get the keys into the ignition because I was crying so hard. I prayed in the car and I thought. It was a sort of an eerie feeling sitting by the side of the road, alone and yet not alone now." Colson, who pleaded guilty to spreading derogatory in- formation about Daniel Ellsberg says that before his conversion he based his moral decisions on "what you could get away with, I guess, on what you thought you had to do to get a job done." "I'd been an Episcopalian," he says, "I went to Sunday School and learned about Christ as an historical figure, a prophet, a cut above his time. . .My biggest Dictionaries can be fun which anyone can attest who has started out to look up the meaning of one word, only to remain immersed, fascinated, for half an hour or more, as unknown words are discovered, like fascinating scraps found in Grandma's ragbag. It's good sport on a rainy af- ternoon to compare how words have changed in meaning, or even ceased to exist, since England's first great dictionary publisher, Samuel Johnson brought out his mammoth work in 1755. From Dr. Johnson comes this delightful definition of a Tory (he was one himself): "A cant term, derived I suppose, from an Irish word signifying a savage." Then he continues more soberly — "One who adheres to the an- cient constitution of the state, and the apostolical hierarcy of the Church of England, opposed to a whig." It's difficult to imagine how the word 'fey' in Dr. Johnson's dictionary was defined as a verb, meaning to cleanse a ditch of mud — while today the Oxford English Dictionary defines 'fey' as "fated to die, at the point of death", etc. Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice would remark. The word 'belly' is defined in the same way today as it was by Dr. Johnson. In the eighteenth century though, one's belly must have been thought about more, if one can judge by the ap- pendages to the word. In Johnson one finds 'bellybound' to mean diseased, or shrunk in the belly. Similarly a bellygod is defined as a glutton, and belly-timber is, rather logically, defined as food. Was Dr. Johnson being prophetic when he said of the word 'pot' — "to go to pot. To be destroyed or devoured"? And what ebulient words have bitten the dust through the centuries, If things were `puggered' in 1755, they were "crowded or com- plicated". In like vein, a `bellibone' was "a woman ex- celling both in beauty and goodness", "ro glout' was to pout or look sullen, 'ro clapperclaw' is "to tongue- beat, to scold". Dr, Johnson problem had always been in- tellectual reservations. I knew there was a God, but I could never see how man could have personal relations with Him," Telling of his own moral failure while a White House advisor, he says, "I did whatever the president of the United States ordered. I followed orders," He says the Nixon team was a "bunch of guys desperately trying to hold things together," but lost sight of the fact that a government doesn't exist for its own sake. Since his release from prison, Chuck Colson works at developing a nation wide network of evangelist convicts "On a commission for Jesus Christ" behind prison walls. "I know God can change men's lives in prison," he says. "I've seen it and experienced it. Where men- and prison programs have failed, God's ways don't fail. We just want to give God a chance to work inside prisons." Colson has received the "green light" from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and he and his colleagues are giving two week training courses each month for groups of 12 prisoners, released temporarily from U.S. prisons for that purpose. He says that "when other in- mates see these men or women come back to prison filled with the Spirit, they say, 'I don't know what it is, but I'm curious.'" From then on, Colson adds, miracles happen in changing prisoner's outlooks and lives. Yes, miracles still do happen. defines a `slubberdegullion' as "a paltry, dirty, sorry wretch". Intriguing phrases come tumbling out of this early lexicon. 'The almonds of the throat' was synonymous with tonsils. Botanists might be surprised to learn that the 'apices of a flower' are "little knobs that grow on the tops of the stamina, in the middle of the flower of purplish hue . a sort of seed vessel". Today such a person is called a stool pigeon. In Dr. Johnson's time this questionable sort of character was known as a 'knight of the post'. Today if a person rules the roost, he or she is thought to he boss of the household. One might think the derivation pretty obvious -- a barnyard analogy. Yet according to Dr. Johnson, the expression is 'rule the roast', meaning "to govern, manage or preside", He goes on to suggest "It was perhaps originally roist, which signified a tumult, to direct the populace". If some information is 'sub rosa' it is a well kept secret — a Latin phrase which is still heard, read and spoken. But how much more poetic to say it in English in the manner of Dr. Johnson: `to speak under the rose' is "to speak of anything with safety, so as not afterwards to be discovered". For the future of the English language Dr. Johnson had one pious hope, He fervently wanted it to become pure again. By "pure" he meant that words in everyday use should be those derived from the Anglo-Saxon or way words of French or Latin Germanic roots. He deplored the • derivation had crept in. He probably had the Norman inv- sion of Britain to thank for that. What would Dr. Samuel Johnson say of the English language today, whidh almost daily incorporates new words from languages throughout the world? Words like kung fu, guru, yoga, nirvana, deja vu, au courant, aperitif, manana, Blitzkrieg? Perhaps because English happily absorbs words from everywere, it may one day be the language of one world, under one government, How's that grab you Sam? eteferZimesainsorafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLANID C.W.N.A,, 0,W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited Editor — Jim Beckett — Advertising M?nager Assistant Editor — Leigh Robinson Plant Manager Jim Scott Composition Manager —. Dave Worby Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 "Exeter hospitality is great, we'll come back again." Campers Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,420 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $11.00 "We finally got the car in the garage—but we had to make two trips!" Behind prison bars