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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-12-08, Page 4The family As the Christmas season approaches we become increasingly aware of family ties and of broken family ties. It is sad for those of our generation to see marriages we saw start out so full of hope, broken, and children separated from one parent, and from one set of grandparents. Surely this generation with its open dis- cussion of sex, its liberation, should be more successful than our generation in achieving a worthwhile lasting relationship. Perhaps one of the chief causes of the breakdown in family life is the recent emphasis on the individual. Each partner in marriage is so busy doing his own thing, developing his own personality, that he has no thought for sacrificing some of his own desires for the good of the other partner. We have taught our young people to be selfish. We have taught them to give up if the going gets rough. We have taught them to be ruthless in seeking after their own good. Thereare no short cuts,or easy ways to success in marriage. Every family will en- counter difficulties, problems and dis- agreements. To one woman who claimed "My husband and I never had a dis- agreement," another replied "how dull!" A family is built upon mutual affection, respect and understanding that can over- come all problems. Suicide is the escape of those who have no one to whom they can turn for love and understanding when the world Jets them down. A family rallies around and loves each member in spite of faults and stupidities. Each member joys in the success of another, grieves at his failures, and shares his shame in disgrace. Our society needs stable family life. Family life trains individuals in social liv- ing. The lessons of co-operation, sacrificing for the general good, tolerance of others are learned in the family and are carried over into successful community. life. Ridgetown Dominion Everything has been said' grw,w4N-anIA,Kr, KIWO.,:mmemigmaiwk.;.?x, imes dvocate Serrin2 South Mwan. NorH. MlMkxr b Nerd, 1. been ]In[e 1277 ... . , SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Reghfration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,409 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $11X00 Per Year; USA $22.00 Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Plant Manager — Bill Weekley Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 4PCNA Comment from... *nth Vuron lined joie) 4,tboot Page 4 Times-Advocate, December 8, 1977 4 Very distressing The recent reports tabled by the men appointed as fact finders in the current salary negotiations between the Huron County Board of Educationand the teachers contained some very distressing remarks. Most noteworthy in that category is the fact that the two reports done for the elementary and secondary school teachers' negotiations both contained statements that there was an air of distrust between the board and the teachers and it was recommended that a third party be, pointed to open up the lines of communie tion. Distrust between two parties involved in contract negotiations may not be uncom- mon, but the people of Huron must shudder at the thought that it has reached that point with the teachers and the board. As the people responsible for the education of young people, it is a very distressing ex- ample. The appointment of a third party to chair negotiations may help correct the situation, but both sides should hang their heads in shame that such action is even required. Get it resolved Hr..3)toUL9 5rE 904Tag-ItIEV CAN TrIcst PAYS • At a public meeting early last month, there was an indication that the lines of communication between the board of managementof the South Huron Rec Centre and the building committee were not open as much as they could be. Unfortunately, the steps to correct that situation have apparently not been taken. There are still problems with the building that no one seems to be attempting to get corrected, partly on the assumption perhaps that the other group is looking after the matter. It is obvious that the two groups should sit down and talk over the problems that have to be corrected before final payments are made to the contractors or the engineers. A lack of communication in that regard could prove very costly. Dazzling new Tory era 'Tis the season to be wary You may have noticed that I didn't write a Remembrance Day column this year. It's not that I have turned against it. It's just that, in 20-odd years of writing this column, I think I've said everything I could about it without producing a bundle of maudlin cliches that would em- barrass me as much as my readers. I've written about the silvery wail of The Last Post on the desolate November air — that cry from the dead that would raise a lump as big as a golf ball in your throat, tears as big as tea bags in your eyes. I've written about Old Sweats chortling as they went back to Vimy and Mons and the days when they were young and gay and scared stiff. I've described middle-aged vets sucking its their guts in the parade, hoping they could hold in the pots until they finished the march and got back to the Legion Hall for a coldie. I've described the little old Silver Star mothers, wiping away one dry tear as they awkwardly placed a wreath, not quite knowing whether to salute or bow or just shuffle around un- til someone steered them away. It's become too much. I've dried up. It's a bit like being the Poet Laureate of England, and having t6 produce a sonnet to celebrate the birth of Princess Anne's first born. It's like being an editor and groaning when you're told that you will have to produce, for the 28th time, an editorial lauding the virtues of Labor Day. With any luck, the Legion will die away, because there will be no such thing as a veteran, all veterans of all wars being dead, and Remembrance Day will be something vaguely recalled as a pagan holiday back in the 20th century, when people thought they could solve their differences by killing each other. But don't think I ignore Remembrance Day. No sir. I take it out on my students. On the day before the Day, I lug to school an armful of souvenirs, and rub their noses in them. I think this is much more effective than writing a column or making a speech to a group of veterans. For one thing, I can lie and lie without fear of contradiction. Those kids are left with the clear understanding that had it not been for Bill Smiley, we'd have lost World War II and they'd now be subject to the whim of some Gestapo Gauleiter. Mind you, my souvenirs are nothing like the real stuff my un- cles brought home from World War I: belts with "Golt Mit un- 5," gas masks, shell cases. But on the other hand, they know as much about World War II as they do about the Boer War, or the War of the Roses, so it doesn't take much to impress them. I bring my flying log book, which shows clearly the number of bombs I dropped on the enemy. I don't have to mention that "the enemy" in most cases consisted of a plowed field, or a river with a bridge which I'd missed. I bring an eight by 10 picture of "your hero,'' dashing, mustachioed, standing beside his trusty Typhoon. They say: "Was that your own airplane, 'D for Dirty Dick'?" I reply casually, "We were like husband and wife." I don't have to mention that D for Desmond was borrowed for the occasion and that I flew any old, clapped out Typhoon the riggers could put together for another mission. Nor do I have to elaborate that Dirty Dick was in- deed like a wife — she yawed violently to the left on takeoff. Another feature of my souvenirs is a half dozen blown- up cartoons of prison camp life. I just sort of drop this in. Then comes the inevitable question: "Sir, did you try to escape?" I slide into my British accent. "Well, eckshwully, eheps, the Old Hun took a veddy dim view of escape attempts, but...yes," chuckling reminiscently and nostalgically, "What happened?" "Well, nothing much, really. Tried to nip off with the Obergruppenfuhrer's Volkswagen jeep and steal a !Slane. But they caught me. DemmlL" Don't look now, but Christmas has stopped creeping up on us and is rushing forward at an alarming rate of speed. For most people, it is one of the best times of the year as they hustle about buying gifts for those people whom they hold special and dear to them. It's a time for that music with which people are most familiar and there's a new sense of excite- ment in the air. However, there's an exception to every rule, and the season is also the time when those who are bent on living off the avails of others come creeping out of the woodwork to spoil the festive season for many. Thefts, both minor and major, take a sharp increase upward. Already the area has been visited by the perpetrators o4 such crimes. It is the season when others decide to take advantage of the generosity of people and cheat them with false charity solicitations and other devious schemes. In short, it is the season to be wary . . so you can join in the ho,,ho, ho and not the boo, hoo, hoo! * The population changes outlin- ed last week in Huron County were very interesting, par- ticularly in view of the fact the total growth was set at 568. By metropolitan standards, that's a mere drop in the bucket, but for a predominantly agricultural area, it is rather significant, especially when one considers that in recent years, the population has dwindled. There were a few surprises in the statistics, one of the major ones being the fact that Exeter grew by 20 people, while the county headquarters at Goderich experienced a decline of 12. It was interesting to see that the villages of Bayfield, 13lyth and Hensall experienced the greatest increases. In general, the figures show a slight shift to the southern part of the county, and if the weather of last winter is duplicated again, that southern shift may go all the way to Florida. * * * One of the favorite "Sunday drives" for the writer and his family is a jaunt up and down the concession roads in Hay swamp. It was therefore with some in- terest we noted the comments made about the area at the re- cent meeting for the Hay township secondary elan, Most area residents probably MalEilllMEArgaiiiraaMP' Advocate Established 1881 never stopped to think about the value of the swamp in terms of a natural resource, and comments made at the meeting would in- dicate some mixed feelings in that regard. However, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority manager Don Pearson had some = in- teresting statistics pointing out that the flood water storage of the swamp cost only $50 per acre foot, while dams built for the same purpose cost eight or more times than that, Recalling the hassle and huge amount of money spent on the Parkhill dam, area residents should ensure that the natural resource is protected and main- tained. * * * It is most difficult to corn- 55 Years Ago While Mr. Frank Taylor was running a shaper at the Ross- Taylor planing mill on Tuesday afternoon, in some manner his hand came in contact with the knives and as a result, he lost part of the ring finger of his right hand. The "Stand Bys", a class of boys of the Main St. Sunday School had a very enjoyable outing, Saturday at the home of their teacher, Mr. Charles Aldworth, Sexsmith. The home of Mr. W. C. Pearce on the second concession of Hay narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire Tuesday evening last. The fire, which had started in the cellar, had gained considerable headway before noticed, but by the heroic efforts of the family and neighbors, it was soon under control. The South Huron Choral Society went to Clinton Thursday evening last and sang Handel's "Messiah". Several of the foreign delegates to the World's Temperance convention visited Exeter on Friday last on their tour of Western Ontario getting in- formation first hand of the success of the prohibition movement in Ontario, 30 Years Ago Provincial Constable John Ferguson has received a new provincial police car equipped with a two-way radio. Santa Claus arrived by air at RCAF Station Centralia and was greeted by the entire personnel. Monday was the heaviest day Amalgamated 1924 • of Christmas mail when 46 bags arrived on the morning train. Mr. Gerald Lawson has just completed a course in horology, or watchmaking at the rehabilitation school in Toronto. Six of the new wartime houses are now ready for occupancy. Lucan's new water system, a $100,000 project was put into operation Thursday when Reeve Harold Culbert turned on the main valve. 20 Years Ago Retiring clerk-treasurer, R. W. Morlock was presented with a chair recently by municipal officials of Stephen township. A barn owned by Howard Pym, RR 1, Centralia„ prominent junior farmer and 4-H club leader, burned to the ground Tuesday night. Two head of Mr. Pym's Holstein herd were lost in the blaze along with a large quantity of hay, straw and grain. Ervin Ratz, RR 3, Dashwood, won the $150 draw in Exeter Businessmen's Association Christmas jackpot Saturday night. His ticket was selected by Constable John Cowan, Making one of his numerous trips to school concerts in the area, Santa Claus listened to requests from Hurondale School children following their program Tuesday night. The annual SHDHS com- mencement variety show will be presented this week. 15 Years Ago The final canvassing for the Canadian Bible Society was completed in the area this week, and total donations reached $885. This is $85 more than last year. G,C L. H. Randall, ' RCAF Centralia CO presented James B. Kirkland, Exeter, with a department of national defense award of merit for 15 years' service. Mr. Kirkland worked at the station as a messman from 1948-53, The annual turkey rolls are being staged and so far 24 of the birds have been won. In the women's leagues, Mary Goodwin and Alice Arthur won for high triples and Doreen Prance and Audrey Fairbairn won birds for their high singles, Top prize winner among the area 4-H clubs Who received prize money was Donald Weigand, who placed first in both the Zurich calf and tractor maintenance clubs. The initial canvass for the Exeter and District Swimming PoOI campaign already has raised over $4,000, vicious. 'However, the breed was developed as a guard dog. Louis' Dobermann, a German tax collector of the 19th century, wanted an animal to defend him from thieves. The breed is poten- tially vicious, as are most breeds, although the degree often depends to a considerable extent on the owner. Generally speaking, a dog is only as good as its owner, and in many cases both are found wan- ting. Dog bites are more com- mon than most people would an- ticipate. Last year, there were 700 victims in 'London. In this area, hardly a week goes by without the Exeter OPP having one or two dog bite cornplaints. Most of those incidents are of a‘ minor nature, from -the stand- point of the actual injury. However, the fear that may be generated, especially among children who are victims, is something that often lasts a lifetime and makes them suscep- tible to animals which, through a quirk of nature, sense that fear and often take advantage of it. Unlike lightning, dog bite vic- tims are often repeat victims. Of an even more serious nature is the number of maulings which are experienced each year. The London Humane Society reports there are between 12 and 15 such incidents each year in which the victims are seriously injured. How people can fight to save The word "education" is usually considered to be a derivative of the Latin verb "educare" meaning to lead out. The question that is most im- portant ig who does the leading out and how well it is done. In formal terms we talk about education as a process connected with schools and universities. History, Geography, English and so on are the divisions into which we divide formal education. We can talk about the "leading out" going on in the various subject areas and identify the process as education, What we often forget is the fact that "leading out" or education is going on apart from school. At the present time Canadian's are becoming increasingly aware that their country is in serious trouble. We now face the possibility of this country fragmenting. Quebec has decided that a new relationship between that province and the others is necessary. Quebec has decided that a new relationship between the French and the English speaking people of this country is necessary. In the process of evolving the new relationship there will be a need for greater understanding and a better knowledge of how this country came to be, what it has become and where it might be going, The schools and the universities try very hard to give students some idea of Canada's nature. In the five years of high school at South Huron, for example, three of these five years in history focus on Canada, In geography two of the five years deal with Canada and third year deals partly with Canada. In those animals is beyond com- prehension. Obviously, they have never seen the extent of the in- juries inflicted. It is a frightening scene! * * * Members of the South Huron Rec Centre board of manage- ment shook their heads in dis- belief this week when manager Kirk Armstrong outlined some of the acts of vandalism being perpetrated at the new facility. Such things as plugging toilets, smashing garbage cans, damag- ing coin-operated machines and marring walls were included in the list. Evidence would indicate that most of the antics are those of youths who should know better. At any rate, the situation should in no way be condoned. The board should step up its sur- veillance around the centre for a week or two and bring charges against those who don't know how to respect public property. This is something that must be nipped in the bud or the centre will continue to be plagued by vandals. , • The cost of providing extra staff (perhaps some conscien- tious high school students) to halt this 'stupidity may well be very cheap in comparison to the costs of repairing the damages:, addition, we have courses in Law, Politics, Man In Society, which devote considerable time to Canada. Most English courses contain some Canadian works and some English courses are entirely Canadian. Formal education does try to convey some idea of what this country is. Students in high school and university classrooms should discover in the history, geography, English and art classrooms that there is a Canadian way of looking at things. They should discover that this country has survived in spite of enormous difficulties. In the world's second largest national land mass we have held together —so far — two basic cultures. We have — so far — survived first a formal colonial domination and secondly a more insidious economic domination. In the process we like to think that we have developed a Canadianism that is not British and not American. We've never been sure what it is, this Canadianism, but now that it is threatened by fragmentation into two or more parts we may perhaps come. to understand it better. Students and teachers in the schools and universities are looking at our history differently, We are looking at the issues differently. The conquest of Quebec can no longer be summed up with "In days of yore, from Britain's shore, Wolfe the dauntless hero came". Louis Riel is seen to be much more a hero than a traitor. The relationship of Canada and the U.S. is examined more — Please turn to Page 5 You see, I don't have to explain that I made what must have been the dumbest escape attempt in WWII, after stealing the Feldwebel's lunch out of his coat pocket, and had the boots put to me, severely and accurately, by several old guys who had been badly scared recently by Typhoon pilots, and had no desire to be sent to the Russian front for letting a prisoner escape. "And what happened then?" "Well, I was sent to a special camp for prisoners whose' spirits could not be tamed, even by the dread Gestapo." I don't have to tell these young turkeys that there wzre 10,000 other "un- tamed spirits" in the camp, most of whom would have sold their ancient mother to Kubla Khan for a packet of fags. And I wind up with a rather vivid description of the final es- cape, fighting my way through Russian and German hordes as the war drew toward its climax. And falling into the arms of a Canadian corporal and trading him a PoW chocolate bar for a bottle of beer. You see, Remembrance Day will never be dead while I'm alive. iffeatrAMEIZENNItS.WANA Times Established 1873 'oeiwz,,----5",:',A1Z4VZ5:11311BEZT,5231;;;;7fz;M'",'X'',Yar' prehend the thinking of the peo- ple who fought strenuously, to have a Doberman Pinscher sav- ed in London recently. The dog's owner had asked that the animal be destroyed after it had at- tacked his three-year-old daughter. The little girl sustain- ed severe injuries to her face-and is receiving plastic surgery. The animal was finally destroyed, but not before the London Humane Society receiv- ed almost 100 calls asking that it not be "put down". Some of the callers even wanted to adopt the dog. Doberman breeders have com- plained bitterly that the news ac- count of the incident have given the breed a bad name by having them unjustifiably portrayed asi5 unpredictable and potentially •