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Times-Advocate, 1978-08-24, Page 4Times-Advocate, August 24, 1978Page 4 Circle of danger Each day an ever-widening circle of danger surrounds mankind. It is a vicious circle that reaches the front pages only occasionally. It is the com­ bination of babies and bombs. Each day, the world’s nations are spending considerably more than $1 billion on their bombs and their military es­ tablishments. And each day, 170,000 new babies come into a world threaten­ ed by a shortage of basic resources. In a century that is haunted by the memory of two global wars and countless lesser but nevertheless grisly conflicts, the great powers and all of the smaller nations are spending between $375 billion and $400 billion on various military expenditures each year. The $350 billion figure for the year 1976 represented more than the combined national product of South Asia, the Far East and Africa. Games at Edmonton Thank goodness the Com­ monwealth games were not being used for political purposes as were the Mon­ treal Olympics in 1976 — or for political terrorism as in the Munich Olympics. 1972. While it may be true that politics are entrenched in every facet of socie­ ty and cannot be ignored, we should all be able to divorce our serious side for awhile in order to enjoy something simply for enjoyment. Not that the hundreds of athletes participating in Edmonton weren’t there to win medals and prestige for their home countries, mind you, but really it is the game itself which is most important here. The colourful magnificence of the opening ceremonies and the modest, but meaningful speech from Queen Who’s responsible? Huron County can be excused if its reaction to the current polio scare is one of confusion. Immunize, no matter what, we hear on the one hand. Polio vaccine isn’t necessary for those over 30, we’re told the next day. And anyway, there’s no need for all this fuss ... the polio cases are in Oxford County, which is not exactly on our doorstep. There seems to be province wide confusion about the extent of the polio risk and the precautions, if any, all of us should take. There is little co­ ordination in the statements from public health people at province, coun­ ty and local levels. Is it logical to have special adver­ tised polio clinics in the northern part of Perth County while south Huron peo­ ple. geographically much closer to affected Oxford County get the shots only if they call the health unit or their doctor? An emergency like the polio scare in Oxford shows that Ontario lacks a united voice, consensus on an issue that’s crucial to everyone’s health. We think that’s something to be concerned about. The polio outbreak is a com­ plicated subject and we realize that out of necessity the media or those who talk to them over-simplify in the in­ terests of being understood. But the multitude of conflicting in­ structions the public has been getting hasn’t helped anyone. We need public health authorities at all levels saying approximately the same thing. They’ve got time, we hope, before the next communicable disease out­ break to get together and do just that. Meanwhile, we the public have to take some of the blame for the current confusion. Public health people have been hammering away for years telling ... Times Established 1873 __ ______ ___________ aimes - Advocate Advocate Established 1 88 I 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 Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongkind _ Phone 235-133) (♦CNA SUBSC Publithed Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Clan Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,409 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $11.00 Per Year; USA $22.00 The danger of the proliferation of weapons is matched only by the other potential disaster facing humanity — overpopulation. If present trends con­ tinue. Mexico, one century from today, will have a larger population than the Soviet Union and China combined. An unchecked population in the poorer lands will mean that the already crowded island nation of Indonesia would have 1,78 billion people in 100 years, or almost half the present pop­ ulation of the globe. The circle of danger can and must be broken. A greater awareness of the twin curses that haunt us — arms proliferation and overpopulation — can help meet the crisis. Once people un­ derstand fully that only they themselves can control the destiny of humanity, the solution will be at least within our grasp. Elizabeth served to create the kind of non-political atmosphere essential to the Games which are in themselves a symbol of man’s acheivement and of his potential. And after all, in spite of the puffed up importance that politics has been getting lately — what other form of human behaviour and misunderstan­ ding in the world? The Commonwealth Games, like the Olympics, are simple to unders­ tand. There are winners and losers. The action is physical; the completed feats measurable and comparable to past performances. And most of all, as the Queen said, they are an opportunity for people of many nations to meet and become friends with others in a spirit of happy, but earnest competition......learning how to live as one people. us to keep our immunization levels up. But hardly anyone, unless they’re travelling to Europe or have just stepped om a rusty nail, bothers. Parents have even been lax about mak­ ing sure babies get their first vital polio, diptheria, tetanus etc. shots. How many family doctors include a round of booster shots in patients oc­ casional health check ups? Would it be feasible to do so? Former Huron MOH Dr. Frank Mills has been quoted in the Globe and Mail as saying the province ought to make immunization compulsory. But is legislation the answer rather than in­ dividual responsibility? Certainly we need to understand that communicable diseases like polio don’t disappear just because there aren’t any cases for a few years. They are held in check only by a high level of immunization among the population. Some people object to immuniza­ tion on religious grounds and they have every right to their beliefs. But do they put the rest of us at risk? Some of us are lazy or forgetful about keeping our immunities up. Polio will happen to the other guy, never to us. Perhaps both the confusion about what to do about polio shots and our laxness in keeping our booster shots up to date stem partly from the same source. We’re looking for someone to tell us what to do, to spoon feed us the ab­ solutely correct answer. We don’t want to inform ourselves and take personal responsibility for informed decisions. We don’t really want to have to make choices, to know details, even about something as important as our own health. Is that it? Huron Expositer Amalgamated 1924 BATT’N AROUND Basking in the sun? THE TORONTO SYNDICATE Paul is a handsome 9-year-old, Indian in descent, with brown eyes and dark hair. He is in good health, though small for his age. His pleasant smile is matched by his personality. Paul is a bit behind in school because he did not get started early. He did well in Grade 2, however and should continue in Grade 3 because he likes school. An amiable fellow, Paul makes friends readily with people of all ages. He plays hockey in winter and in summer he enjoys camping, canoeing and especially fishing. He is a good swimmer and diver. Paul can fit into a family with or without other chil­ dren. It is important that his adopting parents give him time to adjust to a new family and encourage him, with­ out pressure, to continue the good academic progress he has made. To inquire about adopting Paul, please write to Today’s Child, Ministry of Community and Social Ser­ vices, Box 888, Station K, Toronto M4P 2H2. In your letter tell something of your present family and your way of life. For general information about adoption contact your local Children’s Aid Society. By the time readers get around to glimpsing through this epistle, the writer will be soaking up the sunshine (along with the black flies and mos­ quitoes) in the Elliott Lake district. While not being a real pessimist, ex­ perience has shown in previous years that our annual holiday sojourn will no doubt be accompanied by a severe change in the weather. So, if you’re one of those who are fed- up with this hot, dry summer most of us have been enjoying to the fullest this year, take heart...a change is probably in store right now. Actually, this summer’s weather has been reminiscent of what most people recall of those hot, lazy times of their childhood. It’s been bare-foot weather to say the least, and while the near­ drought conditions have not been welcomed by area farmers and we avid urban gardeners, it’s been nothing short of incredible for holidavers. Now, if nature can just prolong it through to the middle of December, we may be ready to face another Huron County winter! * * * Unlike many jobs, producing a week­ ly newspaper does not become easier when things slow down for the summer. In fact, it is basically the op­ posite as journalists have to dig harder for items with which to fill the blank spots between the advertisements. That’s why the editor has decided that now is an ideal time to fly the coop. With theFleck strike having been settled, we just can’t imagine from where those news items are going to come. The custodians at the Huron County schools have signed a contract, so it appears that there won’t even be a strike there to disrupt school opening and provide some news copy. First thing we know, everyone’s go­ ing to be happy with his her lot in life in the area and the T-A will have to Sugar and Spice Dispensed by Smiley Bell peals for Bill Your heading this week is mis­ leading. When this appears, Bill Smiley will be in Rome or somewhere, tossing nuns in a fountain. The perpetrator of the following is Roger Bell, a young English teacher, poet, motorcyclist and general disturber of the status quo. He is also a wit, satirist of the first order, idealist, lousy golfer, and un­ usual farmer. His radishes look like red softballs. Take it away, Roger. I an. as Smiley stated in his rather flattering introduction,'a novice motor­ cyclist, recently introduced to this liberating and exhilarating pastime. Lately, however, this freedom and ex­ citement have become tempered by all-consuming fear, and I am falling victim to a psychological malady call­ ed Highway-Biway Paranoia. It happens almost everytime I crank up my two-wheeled beast and ramble down the roadways — some idiot, in his four-wheeled, gas-guzzling monstrosity attempts to verify the natural law which states that, if struck by an auto, bounce 12 times on his cranium before skidding to a halt on gravel-gouged hands and knees. It has reached the point where I question how most of these pilots of destruction received their licences in the first place. Some, obviously, were given the right to run over anything that twitches, in the days when a driver's requirements consisted only of being able to see the end of his nose, and have the ability to spit and walk simultaneously. Others must have received their permits from mail­ order universities or boxes of Crackerjacks. A third group is those shift more attention to national and in­ ternational problems to get any news. * x ★ Some final comment on the Fleck strike appears justified, although there may be some merit in the argument that it is best to let sleeping dogs rest. Throughout the course of the strike, several visiting newsmen (who seem to have a “thing" about showing up in our area only when things are going bad) kept asking the question of hpw the situation was affecting the com­ munity as a whole. Our stock answer was, that outside those directly involved, the majority of people were simply mystified with the build-up of police, the antics of UAW supporters and the vindictiveness that was evident among some of our fellow residents. With the exception of those who were hindered in their movement through the gates at Huron Park or who found themselves in the middle of the squab­ ble. the strike had little affect on the majority. However, there is little doubt that it probably hardened the general attitude that unions in today’s society often over-step the mark and continue to lose favor with the general public. The public is too often used as the pawn (as evidenced by the post office and air­ lines workers) in union-management conflicts and the UAW made a mistake by hindering the public in their fight against Fleck, however worthy that fight may have been. *** There are no apparent winners in the strike settlement, although the strikers did win the union security for which they were battling. However, the bitterness and vindic­ tiveness of the battle will linger on for a long time, and it is extremely dif­ ficult to imagine how the strikers and having connections high up in the Ministry of Transport. The rest, I sup­ pose. were granted licences out of sheer desperation by harrassed ex­ aminers who were afraid of further risking their lives with those people in future tests. By now you’re feeling I have an overblown ego. “This turkey,” you scream, “thinks he is the world’s best driver.” I am. At least, I have to feel that I am, in order to survive the army of motorized assassins who lurk in the asphalt jungle surrounding my home. This army has all types of killers, each trained, in his own special method of annihilation. There are the snails, those decelerated demons who poke along, waiting for some unsuspecting victim to hurtle into them from behind and get a mouthful of taillight. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the quicksilvers, who feel that dogs, kids and little old ladies are hindering them in their attempts at setting a new land speed record. The gawkers usually inhabit country roads. These are rubberneckers who, slackjawed at nature’s beauty or in­ toxicated by the aroma of fresh cow dung, allow their vehicles to meander drunkenly across center lines, onto the shoulder, wherever. There are also the creepers, those timorous souls who halt at stop signs, then nose forward into traffic, and their black-sheep cousins the ig- fibrants, who feel that God put them on earth to be aggressive. Why should they yield the right of way? Let the other slob stop. L /X. non-strikers can now be expected to work side by side without showing any of the anger or resentment that was created. By slowly moving the strikers back into the work force, the company may overcome some of the problem, but ft is not an enviable task for any of those involved. People unfortunately do not forgive an forget overnight, although it will be to the credit of those involved if they can achieve that goal in a short dura­ tion. They’ll have to draw on some of the capabilities of athletes who can per­ form in bruising, contact sports (sometimes almost brutally) and<then sit around after and share a moment of comaradie with their opponents. Hopefully, the people at Fleck will use the same amount of fortitude and determination to heal the wounds as they did in opening them, *• * * One disturbing aspect of the settle­ ment was an indication that the union and company would attempt to use their influence to have charges laid un­ der the Criminal Code dropped for those who ran afoul of the law during the strike. While that may appear to be a reasonable attitude, it is a matter that is entirely out of their hands. To scrap the charges, would in effect, condone infringement of public rights and damage to private property and bodily harm. The UAW would indeed be wise to drop charges laid under the Ontario Labor Relations Act in an effort to im­ prove their public image, but those charged under the Criminal Code must be brought before the courts to answer for their conduct. PLEASANT PERSONALITY ----------------------------------------------— memorylane We have the opposites, a curiousty contrary bunch who signal a left turn, then swing right, catching unwary fools who follow the rules by surprise. Occasionally they will cross up poten­ tial victims by not signalling at all, then abruptly changing direction. Finally, we examine the just plain malicious, those loonies who delight in scaring the hell out of others by ap­ proaching at Warp Factor Five from behind, then tailgating for five miles. They gleefully speed up when someone attempts to pass them, leaving the passer stranded and fair game for on­ coming cars. They slobber with joy when they can run a cyclist into the ditch or squash someone’s family pet. They are the most formidable and dangerous road opponents because, in­ stead of being incompetent, they are irrational. What frightens me more is that, in­ stead of declining, this horde of motorized maniacs is proliferating. In view of this, I have some solutions for self-defense. I could mount a recoilless 30 mm tank cannon on my handlebars. When ever the need arose, I could blast the offender to Kingdom Come, and sail obliviously onward. I could buy a war surplus tank and clank fearlessly along, crunching snails and opposites undertread, secure in the knowledge that whoever ran into me would suffer more than I. The government could come to my 55 Years Ago Hundreds of acres of what has been almost waste land will be reclaimed for agricultural purposes by the dredging of the Aux Sables River from Grand Bend to Port Franks. Already three miles of the work is com­ pleted and it is expected that the work will be completed this fall. The scheme has been undertaken by the Canada Sand Co. A speeding event of in­ terest to local horsemen was held on the race course on Wednesday afternoon of last week and although the event was not advertised, it at­ tracted a fair number of spectators. Several in town are training horses for the fall speed events. Mr. Victor Hogarth, of Stephen Twp., who has made a speciality of raising chickens, has accepted a position to run a chicken ranch for Silverwood, of London next year. The registration in the Exeter High School has reached a new high. The Board has found it necessary to add a sixth room and engage a sixth teacher. The basement of the public library has been secured for the primary room. Four young men of the Main Street Sunday School gave addresses in Main Street United Church on Sunday morning last in the absence of the pastor who is on vacation. The young men were Maurice Ford, Howard Dignan, Bruce Medd and Lyle Statham. The theme of their dicourses was “Life Investment”, and they gave excellent addresses that were greatly appreciated by the congregation. Mr. C.E. Tuckey was in charge of the service. 30 Years Ago Highway 83 from Exeter to Dashwood which for the past two years has been under construction is now in excellent condition for travel. Mrs. Ina Sanders formerly of Exeter, was elected delegate to attend the Conservative convention in Ottawa on September 30. Mr. Al Pickard arrived in Exeter from overseas where (in company with Dr. W.G. Hardy of Edmonton he at­ tended a meeting of the International Ice Hockey Association of which Dr. Hardy is president. Exeter Legion building fund rose to $2,000 last week when $25 was received from the Winchelsea Old Boys reunion. Hydro electric power saving regulations were announced last week in­ cluding the banning of out­ door lighting and lighting of store windows. 20 Years Ago Kinsmen Deputy Governor Bill Mickle of Hensail in­ ducted the officers of Exeter Kinsmen and Kinettes in a joint ceremony at Arm­ strong’s Restaurant Thur­ sday night. Gord Baynham and Mrs. Ray Frayne will lead the respective clubs during the coming year. Cpl. George E. Noseworthy NCO in charge of the photographic section, RCAF Station, Centralia, won second prize at Western Fair this week for a spot news picture of Princess Margaret during her recent visit to Stratford. Pat Lovell proved this week that city girls have no monopoly on pulchritude when' she won the Miss Western Ontario title at Windsor, She can plow a furrow as straight as most men. 15 Years Ago The district’s newest airport, Sexsmith, will hold its first fly-in this Sunday between 11:30 and 2:30. Mayor Eldrid Simmons suggested at council meeting Tuesday night that the town should take a closer look at its lighting needs. He said the PU'C will soon be unable to finance new installations on a 20-year basis without either raising hydro rates or asking the town to float a debenture and thereby adding to the mill rate. The congregation of Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church will celebrate the 75th an­ niversary of the Church this Sunday with special services at which two men with past connections with the church will preach. aid and institute a new licensing system with only two categories — Good and Bring in the Ambulances. Those drivers in the latter category would be required to have flashing neon signs on their car roofs to warn good drivers of their presence, giving us time to seek sanctuary. It is unlikely, however, that these solutions will prove acceptable to the powers that be. so I will continue my pre­ sent tactics of self-defense — riding along with fear in my mouth and a wall of profanity around me so thick that a jet- powered Mack truck couldn’t penetrate.