The Brussels Post, 1977-12-14, Page 2SNUSSE
ONTARIO
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1977
Serving Brussels and the surrounding community.
Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario
. by McLean Bros. Publishers, Limited.
Evelyn Kennedy - Editor
Dave Robb - Advertising
Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and
Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association
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Country roads.
Behind the scenes
By Keith. Roulston
The joys, of country living
4..Brussels Post
Separatism
Two recent surveys regarding Quebec
independence have revealed and confirmed some
startling facts about attitudes -- both Anglophone
and Francophone -- in this still legally undivided
country. One survey, conducted by the Toronto Star
and Southam Press, indicates that support for
separation from Canada by Quebec is waning. The
other, by the Readers Digest, is less convincing.
Polls, being what they are, do not always provide the
definitive answer in questions that involve emotion
and deeply held ideas.
But what does emerge from these very detailed
investigations and analysis of attitudes is that many
Canadians have deeply developed prejudices and
misconceptions about each other. Confusion and
distrust are common' denominators while morale,
especially in English-speaking Canada, is generally
low.
What disturbs is the depth of bigotry and the
arrogant attitude of a majority of Anglophone
Canadians that Quebec should stay in Confederation
but on English terms. The survey makes it clear, as
well,. that these same English Canadians are
prepared to sacrifice very little to keep Quebec in
Canada.
Our country, 'which only a few years ago was
billing itself a little piously as the Just Society is
emerging as a n ation where people are condemned
and put down for the color of their skins (Pakistanis)
or for the language and culture they hold dear
(Quebecois).
The survey indicates that many Qtiebeckers are
dissatisfied with their lot under the existing
constitution, yet it points out so are many westerners
who wish to see greater provincial autonomy. As the
University of Toronto's leading literary critic, Prof.
Northrop Frye, told a recent unity conference, "The
flowering of regional cultures is to be welcomed
rather than resisted."
Surely we could all make the modest sacrifice
necessary to allow our sisters and brothers in Quebec
feel that they are equal under the constitution but
also equal in the eyes of all Canada as persons whose
unique and vibrant culture has much to offer the
whole country. Surely we could sacrifice a modicum
of our materialism and apathy and get to work to
force our political leaders to change our constitution
to accommodate diversity. Highly centralized
federalism may not be the only form of government.
But above all, we must sacrifice our prejudice.
That is what we are being asked to give up.
(The United Church)
People. I'm sure think • I'm ,crazy for
,wanting to live in the country. I get these
strange looks from people When I tell, them
where I live, particularly in the winter'time.
For so long people thought of living in the
country as a sort of punishment that must be
taken as part of being a farmer, along with low
prices and crop failures. People `were
supposed to long for the day when they could
escape to the city, or at least to town'.
A few years back the trend started to go the
otherway. City people began to drive out in
the country and look at abandoned farm
houses and offer money to- farmers to sell
them. The farmers would shake their heads in
disbelief, the city folk would think they were
bargaining for more money and the price
would go up. The farmer would walk 'away
with more money for a ramshackle old house
he'd planned on tearing down and a couple of
acres than he'd have gotten from a whole
years barley crop. He'd tell his neighbours
about the crazy, city people and the neighbours
too would shake their heads as they saw the,
local building supply company bring truckload
after truckload of " supplies to the place.
Imagine, pouring good money after- bad into
that old shack.' These city people had more
money than brains.
And they probably did too. But they also
had a feeling of loss that drove them ,back to
the country. They deeply needed the things
that farm people took for granted, things like
the sound of the wind in the trees and
beautiful sunsets.
I spent only three years in the city but those
three years were enought to make me realize
what tremendous advantages had growing
up in the country. Even living in a very pretty
village or small town couldn't give the same
kind of gut feeling you get in the country.
Why I live in the country is most- easily
answered by last Sunday morning. We'd had
several miserable days before, the kind of
days when people really think you're
bananas when you want to live in the country.
You may even think you're a little nuts
yourself if you're planning to go somewhere
but you're worried about whether you'll get
home safely or not.
We had a blizzard on Friday and Saturday
had been one long, never-ending snowfall.
But Sunday the sun came up over the hill and
the sky was a brilliant blue and the world
outside was a fairyland. All the snow that
seemed like such a pain in the neck the day
before, turned the white landscape into the
rarest picture in the world. It lay undisturbed
for a mile in any direction. The pine trees were
weighted down' by the millions of crystals that
reflected the light back in sparkles of light like
as many tiny mirrors.
Outside the air was crisp and a strange
silenCe lay over everything. The foot-deep
snow muffled everything. The white blanket
of snow was so natural, so. untouched by
humans that you hated to take the first step
and break the spell. Nothing, no precious
jewel, no painting, no photograph can equal
the beauty of such a scene. The colour of the
leaves in fall, the mellow greeness of the new
grass and leaves in spring, the rhythm of the
swaying grain fields in summer • are all
delights of country living, but even they can't
match such a morning. For there is in those
beautiful summer mornings the knowledge
that in a few minutes or at most hours, the
beauty will'disintegrate, like the beauty of a
soap bubble floating through the air suddenly
evaporates when it touches something sharp.
Perhaps you think I'm overly romantic
about the whole thing. Perhaps I am but I
think m aybe you have to see the snow turned
to, black sludge on a downtown Toronto street
before you really can appreciate the
immaculate whiteness of such a morning. I
think maybe you have to live with the constant
throb of city traffic, with noises seeping
through the walls from the next apartment at
all hours of the day and night before you can
appreciate the silence of such a morning. No
amount of money can buy the feeling you get
when you look on that kind of scene. That's
why so many people have been so willing to
give up 'good paying jobs in the cities to give
up exciting careers to move to the country.
Espite the excitement of the day; despite the
fun, fun, fun you're supposed to have in the
city if you pay attention to the whole media
blitz, there is something in many people that
makes them need the kind of precious
moments that only nature can provide.
Eaton's can't sell you the feeling you get when
you look out the window Sunday morning.. It
can't be bottled. It can't be imitated. It's there
for a few moments, and then it's gone and
ycu 'realize that all the "hardships" of country
living, all the week-long snow storms, all the
getting Stuck, all the strange looks you get
from friends, all these things are worth it for
that one rare moment.
To the editor:
Congratulations to Brussels _north and Grey
The Yolleck family wishes to commend the
Brussels, Morris and Grey community on the
occasion of the official Opening of their
community centre.
The impressive new structure with its
strong, clean lines and unobtrusive' ground
site typifies the solid reality and communal
. A .
spirit of the area's people.
The plaque unveiling ceremony honouring
pioneer and old families. was moving in its
simplicity. The plaques and Memorial Book
Are appropriate and dignified.
The various coininitted theft Or's deserve
credit for what they have Wrought in this
building. in addition to the physical structure,
4 y.
they have raised a monument to the honoured
families of the departed and a great gathering
place of sport and fellowship for the living,
Little wonder that those of us who live
elsewhere in Canada and the United States
still take pride' in out roots,
Snit
Ben A Vaileck