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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1974-09-04, Page 2WO/LOWED Brussels Post WEDNIKSPAT',.SEIPITIMBEIR, 4, 1974 Serving Brossels and the. surrounding community, Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario by McLean Bros.. Publishers, Limited, Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Torn Haley Advertising. Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association. Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $6.00 a year, Others CC NA " $8.00 a year, Single Copies 15 cents each, • lir, Second class mail Registration No. 0562. VERIFIRO TAFICUI.ATION Telephone 887-6641. BR ME ILS ONTARIO Sports and violence Brussels is a big sports town. Almost everyone in our village watches, plays or has interest in at least one sport. Our adults are great curlers and lawn bowlers. Kids and adults played baseball with enthusiasm most of this summer. Dart leagues are big with some of our residents in the wintertime. But probably the biggest Brussels sport is hockey, especially minor hockey. From the little Squirts on up, Brussels teams have won a few hockey championships and whether they win or not, many local children enjoy playing hockey as long as possible every winter. Because the whole village generally follows Brussels minor hockey teams with interest, the recently released report of the Commission which was looking into violence in amateur hockey in Ontario should be important to us. The report says much of the violence is in imitation of the N.H.L. Organized hockey is great when the kids really enjoy it, the editor of the Kincardine News points out, but there will be no end to this violence as long as parents push kids 'in hockey to boost their own egos. The Kincardine editorial says: "There is absolutely no reason that fighting, attempts to intimidate or using a stick to hurt or intimidate should be tolerated at any time under any circumstances in hockey, particularly amateur hockey." Those words appeared last week in a provincial government report dealing with violence in Ontario amateur hockey. The statement makes a good deal of sense and one wonders why the bodies that govern minor hockey in this country don't simply bring in stiff penalties and suspensions for players who insist on fighting, spearing and butt ending. Unfortunately common sense is seldom a criterion in this day and age. The hockey moguls have already panned the report and stated that nothing can be done to curb violence. The sad thing is they are likely correct. There are just too many parents who try to live the life they missed through their children. They want their youngsters to be big touch, stars who win lots of hockey games and eventually make it to the National Hockey League. You've no doubt seen the odd one in the Kincardine Arena. parents urging their children to "hit him" to win at any costs. Parents are often seen making their children play ball or hockey when they have no desire. What for and with what results? The results are not too hard to see. Most players drop out of organized sport 8 by the time they are 16. They have had enough. Let's give the games and the joys of childhood back to the kids. Erosion at Elora Gorge Sugar and Spice By Bill Smiley Perhaps i sounded a bit grumpy last week because this has been one of those summers when a chap feels that he hasn't done anything, seen anything, or been anywhere. And it has. But that is not to say that it has been . without interest and incident. Last week, I whined about our scanty social life: one funeral, one wedding., However, we've had some very interest- ing visitors. Almost every day. Roofers, painters, a columnist, a student, a syndicate man, a physiotherapist, and - the most interesting of all - my grandba by. Arid I reckon I've learned a wee bit about human nature in the process. Perhaps that's what it's all about. I like physical nature as well as the next man, but I am fascinated by human nature. Physical nature is interesting and fairly predictable. You plant a seed properly, nurture it, give it plenty of fertilizer, the right amount of sun and water, pluck out the weeds around it, and you wind up with a dandy cucumber or turnip, or whatever you planted. But you can't do that with humans, though you try. Maybe we give them too much fertilizer; or don't pluck the weeds. We plant what we think is going to be a rose, and it turns put to be a cabbage. Or vice versa. Any parent knows this. By the way, don't get excited, or nervous. This is not a tract on Freudian sexual symbolism. It is merely a middle- aged man trying to express his astonish- ment at the variegation of the human species. Once again, I drift into one of those remote channels that end up in a swamp, Why not stick to the main stream? Back to our slimmer visitors. There are two categories: those who caught us at home, and those who did not, ,Those in the latter category came around w hen we were out doing something exotic, like shopping, Or at night, When we were cringing in the TV _tooth, lights -out, doors locked, phone off the hook, arguing about whether we'd watch the John Wayne 1940 western or the Audrey Hepburn 1953 dazzler. Among these Doris ere two people who left notes. One was D Humphries," lively columnist in the Renfrew Mercury. "Darn ,you, Bill Smiley, I came all the way from Renfrew— -Sorry„ Doris, I'll buy you a Ointier next time. I read your column every week in one of Canada's best weeklies. And remind your boss that he still owes me a dinner. (He was a terrified infantryman when I was a terrified Typhoon pilot.) Another note was from a student. Sharp mind, headed for university and law. Beware, you lawyers of five years from now. Don't fool with this young lady?, punk?, woman?, person?. She'll murder you. Typically, with the deep respect my students have for me, her note began, "Hi, Smiley, I came around and you didn't even have the decency to be at home,.." A few of the visitors caught us at home. One was Bill Craig, of Aigyle Syndicate, who has more to do with getting out this column than anyone except me. Our previous acquaintance had been on the phone. I expected a smart-alec young punk of about twenty-six with the big sideburns, the big pants, and the hearty manner. I was shattered, He and his wife Betty arrived for that notorious pre-dinner appetizer. They have an eighteen-year-old daughter and a sweet, shy little on James, who is five. Bill is a Korean war veteran. He demolished me at two games of chess, and played a fair piano. So much for preconceptions. Some of the others who caught us in were the painters and the, roofers. When we were up at the crack of dawn, ready for any questions, they didn't Show up. When we were up at the crack of noon, not expecting them, they were buzzing the doorbell at 8:30, like hornets, I report, not happily, but just as an observer, that they were all stung severely by a number of hornets in our roof and environs. Then there was the Scotsman. He is a physiotherapist. Boy, that's a hard word to spell. He wanted work, after hours, so he could buy a house, I was rather intrigued by the idea that a young man actually wanted to work. And then there was my bad back, which conies in handy very often. He's an excellent gardener, and our place looks better than it has in a decade. But there, I've run out of space, and I haven't OVOIT told you of the party in our backyard for retarded adults, or the hellery of my grandba by: 1-to has just arrived again, and I can hear hint shouting downstairs for Bill, or somebody who understands that when he's asleeP, h6 lS pure d aenvgi. el l, .and When he's awake, he s To the Editor Sir: I am enclosing a cheque for renewal of the Brussels Post subscription. Although I left Brussels iti 1918, still there are items of real interest appearing in "The Post" from time to time, I enjoyed reading of Miss Muriel Brothers' visit to Brussels as she was a much loved teacher. We have been in touch again as a result of the Centennial. Also the occasional view of the Maitland adds interest for the. Margaret White Bolt 1454, Drumheller, Alta.