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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-06-03, Page 4tee Smiley's Smart or dishonest A small boy stood before a candy counter. His eyes were wide, the goodies so tempting. He had to,have one. A quick look around and into'his pocket went a handful. A story so old that it hardly bears repeating, What kid hasn't been tempted and given into the temptation, only to suf- fer the pangs of conscience all night long to the point where the candy became tasteless. But there's more as we were told one Sunday recently by a pastor who was witness to the whole thing. Morn was stan- ding with her back to the kid. She turned just as the dreadful deed was done. Her reaction? "For heaven's sake, Johnny, don't do that, a policeman might see you." Perhaps more than anything that il- lustrates the morality — or lack of it — that threatens the very fibre of our society. Don't do anything dishonest unless you're sure you can get away with it, Cast nets, not stones The disease comes in many names — new morality, situational ethics, passivity, tolerance — but its face is the same. Dishonesty is okay as long as you don't get caught. So how does Johnny learn? He only learns to watch for police more closely and his conscience will cease to prick him. After all Dad pads the expense account, Morn brings home towels from the hotel, the other kids cheat at school and everyone thinks they're so smart. Politicians condone everything but an open revelation of their actions. Athletes Place winning ahead of all else. Anyone who disagrees is dismissed as an old-fashioned square, a common scold, Expediency is the order of the day. The moral fibre of a nation depends on honesty, integrity and the ability to dis- tinguish between right and wrong whether we get caught or not, And integrity begins in the home. • Teenagers and summer lobs Of the nearly 7000,000 persons out-of- work in the latest Statistics — Canada figures, almost half of these are under 24 years of age. The grim picture painted by the statistics still does not fully reveal the anxiety of those who, before they even enter the labor force, are faced with the kind of desperation that comes from a lack of meaningful employment. Add to the already dismal statistics the influx of students seeking summer jobs to help them through next winter's studies and we face a situation that could thoroughly demoralize and alienate some of the most important people in our society. Although we subscribe to the theory of providing jobs for all people who wish to work regardless of their age or sex, many teenagers are squeezed out of the work force because of the length of their hair or because they prefer to wear jeans. Yet, it's also true that Jesus was Himself capable of the most tremendous invective when He saw blind self-satisfaction and hardness of heart in what were supposed to be professionally good and religious people. How quickly His mood changed, however, if anyone gave the slightest hint Of a Change of heart. For us to keep on rebuking someone or ignoring them after they've shown signs of being sorry and wanting to change is to play the Pharisee. To use the words of Sam Shoemaker, a marvellous Anglican clergyman, now dead, "Whatever will redeem the person is the right course to take. We must first ask God to forgive us for personal resentments and unredemptive anger, and then be honest and unafraid to put the challenge to them. There are times when heedless, irresponsible people must be brought up short, for their own good, as well as others'. But we should try to keep so free from bitterness that a good relation- ship may be maintained, Then the whole process is one whose ultimate intenton is redemption." None of us dare take a scornful position of others' sins for we all fall a long way short of being sinless ourselves. Jesus showed us that Christians have no business casting stones. He suggested, instead, the casting of nets . nets of condern, nets of in- volvement, nets of caring. It's with such nets that we draw people into the orbit of the great lovejand forgiveness of God. Remember what Jesus said to the righteous and the scornful who, were about to stone the prositute, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone". Yet how often, we who are clothed in our own self- righteousness, easily fall prey to the sin of condemning and criticizing. And to what purpose? How many people have we won to Christianity by derisively pointing out their faults , , by throwing stones at them . . or by turning our backs on them because we don't want to be seen associating with ,them? There is a common saying which states, "love the sinner and hate the sin". But, it seems to me, it's not all that simple either. As Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr warns !us this idea is "not altogether sound morally; and is also psychologically difficult, It is based upon the supposition that the evil-doer has been prompted merely by ignorance and not by malice. Yet a very great deal of evil is done in malice; and the proper reaction of anger must include the doer as well as the deed," It's not always easy, as Dr. Nei buhr suggests, to separate the sin from the sinner. The evil deed was first in an evil will and no man or woman has to keep an evil will nor express it. They can see the error of their ways, repent and change. Jesus taught us by his actions that we must dare and care enough to put the challenge of the person's wrong doings before him. The key to mature, right relationships is 'speaking the truth with love'. Homeowners and others will often resort to the uncertainties of the yellow pages rather than hire responsible summer students eager to provide services ranging from babysitting to housepainting. Society as a whole stands to gain from young people still within the formal educational process who receive work ex- perience from on-the-job training, not to mention the feeling of independence that comes from earning one's own living. We must insist that government and large employers are provided with the necessary regulations and incentives that will provide a place for unemployed teenagers and students in the work force, for their sake and society's sake. Otherwise more and more young peo- ple will drift onto welfare and we will con- tinue to waste one of our most valuable resources. Strike no — directors yes The fall of a starling By KIT SCHILLER So you buy a house that looks well sealed, good roof, no visible signs of decay and then you move in, and suddenly life is full of surprises. Like the starling in my bedroom. Starlings have a way of getting into bedrooms. I had this friend, this nature-lover, who boasted about the starling family she and her husband had somewhere in the upper reaches of their bedroom closet. They (my friends, not the starlings) used to lie in bed of a Sunday morning, while the kids burned 'the bacon, and listen to the raucous arguments the starling married couple got into. It was really something my friend would declare. Why those birds sounded downright human. First they'd be mad at each other (screech, screech), then they'd make up— barely audible sounds of most un-starling-like cooing. My, how she loved those birds, until — d'fferentation was not our way in a multi- racial, multi-cultural society. Perhaps the recent decision by the West German government to place workers on the boards of directors of all large firms, chosen by labor and accepted as equal partners and in equal numbers with management would be a more positive step. Lack of productivity never solved infla- tion. Canada, with the second highest strike figures in the Western world, does not have a good record of productivity. The West German idea of having labor equal to management on corporation policy-making boards would give workers the voice they need in the boardrooms and might ease class tensions which exist today. At the same time safeguards against exploitation .by management would be guaranteed and a united front to combat inflation would be mounted by the two groups most able to combat it, labor and management, And Canadian labor on boards of direc- tors? What an innovative idea and what better way to Canadianize all those major U.S. subsidiaries and other multi-national corporations which dominate the economy of Canada, There's only one flaw in her aberration. Get her a piano and you never get a meal. She's too busy playing the thing, Get her a record player, and everybody who comes in range must be interviewed. Forget about reading a book or relaxing. Right now, it's the new sewing machine, It's a beauty, according to her, a Bernina, the Cadillac of sewing machines. It will do anything, In a flash, your gar- ment will have seven new button holes or a monogram stitched onto the pocket in purple thread. We're probably the only people in town who can read in bed without taking a book, We just turn down the sheets and spell out what she has stitched all over them.Things like: "Cold feet make cool bed-fellows" and "Some limousine is my sewing machine," and "How now, brown cow." It's a lot of fun, but it's hard to get to sleet) with all that Braille stitching tapping out messages on your anatomy. I'll admit the new machine will do everythingbut button up your fly. But it's playing havoc with our domestic life, She can't drag herself away from it. The Old Lady is up at five o'clock in the morning, sewing. She sneaks down after the news at 11 p.m, to whip off a few stit- ches. I have to get mostof the meals. She has time to iron only one shirt and wash one pair of socks at a time, which rather keeps me on edge, sartorially. I am barraged with totally incomprehensible terms such as tucks, darts, pleats, basting, gathering. I know it will end, once she is on more familiar terms with her new toy. But until then, it is rather like living with a child who has discovered what fun it is to pound on drum. Maybe I should have got her one of those garden tractors, with tiller and cultivator. At east she'd be getting some fresh air, and I'd be getting some peas, student veteran. Our total income was $88 a month, believe it or not, Our rent was $75 a month. We ate only because I took part-time and vacation jobs. One day I came home and was stunned to discover she'd bought a sewing machine, for $149.95. She had also signed up for a sewing course, at $15, and had bought material to make a suit, for $20. I have never been stingy, but I was a trifle aghast. She had bought it on the in- stalment plan, naturally. The story has a reasonably happy ending. She quit the sewing course after a few lessons, finally threw out the suit material, about 10 years later. But she traded in that sewing machine on a new one the other day, and got $75 for the old one. So her sewing has cost her about three dollars a year, over the years. Even a skinflint couldn't quarrel with that. Another day I came home and steam started coming out of my `navel when she coolly informed me she's bought a grand piano, for about $4,000 also on the in- stalment plan. Our income by this time was just about $4,000 a year. "Migawd," I thought, "Hate to do it, but I'm going to have to' have her committed. We've gotta educate the kids, pay the mor- tgage. She'll ruin us." Once again, her extravagance turned out to be shrewd dealing. She gave piano lessons, the kids were educated, the mortgage is paid. And the other day, an ex- pert told her the grand piano as it siands,is worth about $5,500. I compare these gambits with my own investments, in which a couple of thousand dollars worth of stocks inevitably wind up as 50 shares of moose pasture, and I can't be anything but humble. This has gone on through the years between, and I've never ceased to be amazed at this woman's thing about a new machine. Green stuff Dennis McDermott's recent call for a general strike by all Canadian unionists might very well do what organized labor wishes, and that is to defeat the Trudeau government on the issue of wage and price controls. The Canadian head of the United Auto Workers said recently that he thought labor had the will and the ability to bring off the first official general strike in Cana- dian history. Perhaps it does. We wonder though if this is the best way to dramatize the very real opposition — and in some ways very justified opposition — that labor has for wage controls. At a time when suspicion with almost all aspects of public life is at an all-time high and when tensions between groups already is exacerbated, will a class strike achieve the long-term stability which will serve labor's ends as well as those of all Canadians? A general strike would have enormous effects on people already the hardest-hit victims of inflation — the aged, the poor, the minorities, the disabled and the voiceless. It may well defeat the Liberals but it will also heighten tensions in a socie- ty which has long prided itself that class Some women's hearts are won by French perfume, mink coats, and diamonds. I've managed to steer clear of this type. All it takes to make my wife happy is a new machine. After years of comparative poverty, during which everything we had was second-hand, falling apart, or broken, I am occasionally able to gratify her lust for something that hums, purrs, growls or roars. None of those verbs ap- plies to me, by the way. It doesn't matter what it is, anything from a kitchen gadget to a grand piano; it pleases her pink, for a while. Not for her the big bouquet on Mother's Day, the fancy ear- rings on her birthday-; the voluptuous dresSing-gown for Christmas. She wants no part of such frivolities, Just give her something that beats or churns or sews or polishes, and she's in ecstasy. I didn't know this when we were first married, I thought she was a normal, greedy woman, and kept trying to please her by bUying blouses that didn't fit, sweaters the wrong color, earrings she wouldn't be found dead in. My first knowledge of her true cravings, in material possessions, came after we'd been married a year. I was a clam ourous cacophony. The bird tumbled down to the floor and eyed me coldly. I wish creatures didn't have this habit of looking me in the eye. It's unnerving. Dogs, cats, mice, squirrels, birds -- they all stop what they're doing and stare, as if to say "if you think you're the boss, you're mistaken", But I was the boss. I would catch my fine feathered friend and turn him outdoors to join his kin. As I was planning how to catch him, he was making an inspection of his new, larger quarters, on foot. Obviously the dumb bird couldn't fly. He was probably the slow member of the family, and his falling down the chimney (for that is what must have happened), was no more than you could expect. Best to put him outside, and let some hungry cat make a meal of him. I looked at him again, and he looked right back. "Who asked you here anyway?" I said, He let out a screech, Not only was he homely and stupid, he also sounded dreadful. No asset to any home. Survival of the fittest, according to Charles Darwin, implied that that bird should become catfood. The Times-Advocate baseball team didn't fare too well on their initial outing last Thursday night. After putting in what seemed to be an endless seven innings against the Northlanders in the Exeter Recreation League we all left with the understanding that we could make a few im- provements iii certain areas. Every time I look out the window of our home I become more convinced in the truth of the old saying that "the grass is always. greener on the other side." In fact I become downright jealous of the plush green lawns of the neighbors. Our view from the back window is highlighted by a large pile of dirt that is presently providing a good base for a And growth of weeds. At first the fact that I didn't have a lawn was no bother to me at all because cutting the fast growing green stuff was always a dreaded chore. Most of the homes I drive by on the way to the office have beautiful lawns and the residents seem to be always out on the grass enjoying themselves. I can hardly wait until our lawn is planted and we'll be able to walk around the yard without being up to your ankles in mud. To make matters worse I have an almost new lawn mower in the basement that has never seen action in Exelter, condition to play the game. The complaints of sore arms and strained legs on Friday morning is a good indication that most of us used muscles we didn't know we had. position scoring 26 runs while holding our effort to getting two people safely across home plate. This victory will probably send the Northlanders into their next game with plenty of confidence. I know it made us realize that we will have to put in a much better performance/in future games to even get the score a little less Perhaps it was the number of one-sided. errors we made in the field or the One thing this writer un- lock of hitting power when we derstands now is that it helps to were at bat that led to the op- be in reasonably good physical .„ • " • le ,' Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 50 Years Ago Miss Vera Rowe has resigned her position with Gladman and Stanbury. Miss Margaret Strang of Usborne was successful in winning second class honors in honor science at UWO.. Miss Carrie Davis has taken a position at the Post Office, in place of Miss Alice Pfaff who has resigned. Mr. Bruce Medd returned home last week having graduated from the OAC Guelph with the degree of 13 .S.A. Mr. Garnet Frayne has pur- chased the hog business from Mr. H, Elworthy. Despite the severe trouncing we took in our debut alI of us enjoyed the game, however, at a recent team meeting it was decided to change the team from the "T-A Tigers" to something a little less aggressive. • • -,:,-•':rfew",•''''rItIrttgelign Amalgamated 1924 • Itteetefetlimaatveate 20 Years Ago Gangs of up to 50 members are making rapid progress on con- struction of the addition to Exeter Legion Memorial Hall, Members have been turning out in large numbers for volunteer work at night, Highest University of Western Ontario award, the Hon. G. Howard Ferguson trophy, was presented to SHDIIS graduate John Harberer, Zurich. Major step in the restoration program of Trivitt Memorial Church was taken Monday night when the vestry approved plans for rewiring and new lighting of the church. Glen Lamport, 13-year-old son of Mr, & Mrs. Lamport, RR 1 Hensall, maintained his family's reputation for producing top beef by winning the gain honors at Hensall Feeder Calf Club Friday. He received the George T. Mickle and Sons trophy. Until one day she got home from work and found the starling family had completely taken over her clothes closet, with the inevitable soiling of her dresses, her husband's suits and (is nothing sacred?) her mink coat. That did it. She called the family cat into the bedroom, and after a battle which shook the house, the cat emerged with a smile on her face and my friend had only the feathers to clean up, and all of her clothes. So much for sen- timentality, I told myself when it became obvious there were uninvited guests above my bedroom closet. My first reaction was one of panic. From the sounds of things, the birds were getting ready to take over, Whose house was it anyway? After a cup of hot tea panic gave way to the calmness of desperation. Something had to be done. The ceiling had to be removed and the problems) squarely faced. I had never removed a ceiling before. It was covered in panelling which came off neatly when I used a screw driver and pried, and with it came one frightened baby starling. Only one — 1 had estimated a flock from the Nuts to Charles Darwin. I wondered what Dr. Samuel Johnson might have said. Perhaps something like this: "The bird, Madam, was born in the house, which gives him a sort of primacy of tenure. You were not born in the house, nor did you purchase it from the starling family, TherOore you might Madam in the eyes of the Almighty, be regarded as an interloper. As such certain obligations fall on you. They might include treating one who was born in your house with charity and respect". I fixed him a make-shift nest, I got him suet and bread crumbs and a tiny dish of water. I closed the door to keep the dogs out. I wished him well, and told him he could use the entire bedroom for time flyin mgclaesseot and when the right The next morning he was dead. He had not died violently, and he had next week, diedinh wn home. More of that SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAK C.W.N,A,, 0.WN.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited Editor — Jim Beckett — AdVeitising Manager Assistant Editor — Leigh Robinson Plant Manager — Jim Scott Composition Manager — Dave Worby Business Manager Dick Jorigkind Phone 23S-1331 Boost YOUR HOME io TOWN Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Moil Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,420 SUBSCRIPTION- RATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $11.00 Progress chart A new sign will soon be cat- ching the eye of people who pass along Exeter's main street, The sign will be erected on the west side of the street in the vicinity of the RIC office and will show the progress being made in collecting funds for the South Huron Recreation Centre. It has been designed to look like an ice surface that will be unveiled gradually as donations are collected for the new centre, 'the building of the recreation centre will be an interesting topic of conversation in this area and the sign will attract a great deal of attention in the months ahead. Estimated cost of the structure is one million dollars with half of the financing available through various government grants. The remaining $500,000 will have to be raised locally, hopefully by donations from local industries, businesses and individual families. The sign should be an excellent way of keeping people poSted on the progress of the fund raising. 25 Years Ag0 Many former residents from all over Canada and the United States returned to Crediton over the weekend to join in the Cen- tennial Celebrations of Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church. A clock and fan depot is to be opened in Exeter on June 5 for the convenience of hydro customers who wish to have their clocks and fans changed over for operation on 60-cycle power or to exchange them for the latest 60-cycle models, Exeter Greys Softball Team walloped a younger and more inexperienced junior team from Lucan Tuesday night to win their first game of the season. At the Spring Fair in Hensall, the Ladies Aid of Carmel Presbyterian Church raised MO from the booth they sponsored. 10 Years Ago Improvements to the electrical distribution and street lighting system are included in a Flydro program being undertaken this year by the Exeter Public Utilities Commission. Five new members, Joanne Roweliffe, Christine McGregor, Deanne Reaburn, Wendy Dixon and Kathy Kyle were received into the Henson Brownie Pack Tuesday, Exeter's year-end surplus stood at $13,000 compared to the high of $43,000 accumulated back in 1063 the 1065 audit report revealed,