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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-06-21, Page 5fetters to the editor EDITOR'S NOTE: June 18- 24 is Nursing Home Week 1978 and the administrator of the Lucknow Pinecrest Man- or Nursing Home sent the following letter to the editor forour reader's considera- tion. THE SENIOR CITIZEN One of the greatest bles- sings to modern society is the nursing home, or rest home, or extendicare home. The senior Senior Citizen, who is living longer but not without illnesses age is heir to, must be cared for. • These aged are children, but without the winsomeness of childhood. Their chief heart appeal is their help- lessness. Most of them cannot talk, at least not coherently; cannot handle themselves; must be fed and given every conceivable care. Physical suffering is not the greatest tragedy of the 'aged. Far more painful are neglect, monotony and lone- liness. There is always something that recognizes and reaches out for the touch of love,,the closeness and security of humanity, especially one's very own. A helpless man who could not move any part of his body except his big, sad, asking eyes never had a visitor. Finally when he became critically ill, a nurse called his son who lived in the same town. ``-_`Do you need us?" she was asked. No, she replied. "Well, call us when you need us." And so the Father died alone, except for nursing attend- ants. There are, of course, families who are grieved because they can visit only rarely, and there are those who make monumental ef- forts to be with their own. Some are faithful with cards and gifts which those who receive them hold and show as proof that somebody loves them. To suffice for absent families, there may be others with time and heart to share with senior Senior Citizens. Why not make yourself a human link to happiness? Adopt one of these orphans of the heart? Visit, be especially gentle, hold a hand, fluff up a pillow, push a wheelchair, take little "surprise" gifts, guide feeb- le steps and dimmed eyes. Make someone feel he is special to you. As you attempt to lighten the few last days for these sometimes unlovely aged children who will not always know or remember, you 'fulfil the royal law' accord- ing to the scripture - Inasmuch as ye do it unto one of the least of these, my children, ye do it unto me - and thereby earn God's benediction of well doing. In so doing you will surely find the blessing of peace in your own mind. PINECREST MANOR NURSING HOME, George A. Newbold, Administrator. Books discussed in emotional atmosphere........ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 can't be concerned about people's reaction to his work but can only hope that his efforts "move" a reader emotionally. He said he respected people's right to accept or reject an author's work but not. their request to have him write a certain way. The London poet said he wouldn't ask a musician to write music without using drums which have a "primitive sexual rhythm". He wouldn't ask an artist to paint a picture. without "using the colour red" and would not ask a ballerina to perform a dance "without showing her crotch". He said "he is not expected to write but chooses to write". Janet Lunn told the audience she felt art was the "truth of the human spirit". She said she did not feel children would be adversely affected by material in the novels pointing out that well written books permit readers to share emotions with the author and learn of the complexities of human feelings. Lunn said the alleged pornographic material was a description of a "very ordinary part of human life....if it weren't we wouldn't be here". June Callwood said she was very "sympathetic" towards parents in the audience whose children are being "exposed to something the parents wish they wouldn't see". She said parents raise their children with the hopes that they can instill in the youngsters the moral standards that they believe in. She said it is very difficult when the children come to point in their lives when they go out the door and the parents are left with nothing to do but wait and see if that teaching was successful. Callwood said teenagers will turn parents' hair "snow white" assualting everything the parents believe in. She said it doesn't matter what the parents ,believe in the teens will assault it at some point in their development but if the moral teachings are strong the youth will return to them. Callwood said parents can't trust books to teach children • but have to do that teaching themselves. She said books will help the children become aware of human realities but the effect of the material will be based on the moral values instilled in the children by their parents. She said one saving grace` about using the novels in question in a classroom atmosphere is that parents have an opportunity to talk with their children about the books before they leave home. "When they walk out the door they'll be good friends if you're lucky but you'll have very little opportunity to offer them guidance through life once they leave home,'•" she said. Callwood said she did not feel as conerned about the effects of English textbooks on children as she did . cartoons. She cited The Road Runner as an example pointing out that children watch the cartoon and continuously see a character "smashed to smitherines" and get up and walk away. She said children can get the impression it is alright to hurt someone because they can just get up and' walk away. "I can't believe that the Road Runner can erase the belief instilled in children that you can't hurt people," she said. I CAN DECIDE David St. Jean, a Grade 13 student at Goderich District Collegiate Institute, said he felt a double standard was being applied by people wanting the books removed from classrooms. He said he is considered an adult legally and is old enough to decide if he wants to drink and how he wants to vote "yet people tell me what I can read and what I can't read". St. Jean said he can't make up • his mind about the novels unless he has the material in question presented to him, something that will be impossible if the books are removed from the classrooms. "Why can't you trust the to make up my own mind?" he asked. Another student said if students are old enough to fight for their country they are "mature enought to handle mature literature". Colin Lowndes, an English teacher from South Huron Secondary School in Exeter, acted as moderator for the debate and pointed out to some angry parents that the students teachers see in classrooms are not made by teachers but are products of society. He said the material used in classrooms is not held up as models for students :hut used as examples of society. He said students are taught to use "sound judgement" in confronting the social issues. He said students are taught about Adolf Hitler in history class but teachers don't ask students to go out and emulate Hitler. A 60 -year-old woman from Exeter who said she was a third year student in South Huron Secondary School said she had read all the "so called dirty books". She said she resented watching television and seeing sex in toothpaste advertise- ments. She said she resented ads where women are told they can send a picture of themselves to a gynecologist and never have to show up for an examination. "1 love young people more than people my age," she said. "At least they're honest." She pointed out to parents that if -children are "not taught the facts of life by the time they reach high school then it is you that have failed as parents not the children". LISTEN TO YOUR HEARTS Elmer Umbach, a pharmacist from Lucknow, said he had been listening to comments throughout the meeting and felt people on both sides were "very sincere in their beliefs". He said he felt the people that were speaking ori the subject were speaking from their hearts . and was concerned that the audience wasn't listening. He asked the meeting to calm down and listen to the beat of their hearts before they spoke and listen to the hearts of others. He held a Bible aloft and challenged anyone to refute its teachings claiming no one in history had been able to prove the Bible wrong. Umbach asked the crowd's indulgence while he led them in prayer and after a brief devotion began to strain the crowd's patience. "I'm going to lose my babysitter in five minutes. Sit down and let someone else speak," one man shouted. NO ONE LISTENING`''" June Callwood said she had been very attentive throughout the debate and had watched facial expressions in the audience. She said when someone is speaking half the audience. is "glowering" and half is "smiling and nodding their heads". She said the people in the audience didn't have to agree with what someone was saying but should have the respect to listen to another point of view. One young student began weeping at the microphone as she described her thoughts on the evening, She said she loved her parents and respected them very much but felt there was a severe problem evidenced by the tone of the meeting. She said many parents wanted the books off the book list but pointed out that they are not listening to comments supporting the books. Slw said she did not feel "filthy language or sexual acts corrupted people" but were examples of society. She said the issue of the books was not the fault of the novels but the fault of the parents and students because of a "generation gap". Another student said parents wanting the books taken off lists may be "surprise and disappointed" when they discovered that students don't sit in classrooms and "grovel over. obscenities". She said the books are read and discussed in classrooms both for the literary value and grammar. "If parents have a bone to pick they should do it with . the teacher and go to the school and find out what's really happening instead of doing it here in an atmosphere of hostility." She said the manner used to pick obscene exerpts from the novels appeared to be "on no more mature a leviel than an eight year old picking up a copy of Playboy for the pictures". One young woman said she as a student was insulted with the feeling by the majority of parents that students have to be spoon fed because they lack morals or good judgement to make decisions for themselves. She said she got the impression that parents were more concerned with themselves than with the students: - Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, June 21, 1978+—Page S Y'�te column that's reed for a . . .purpose IAVA by Scotty Hamilton 1 Mail your problems to "Impact.' c/o r, is paper. All letters will be answered provided a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed. Some of general itrtere$t will be published. Letters must be signed but we will NOT reveal yqur identity. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE "These Questions anb Answers based on Ontario La , are published to inform and not to advise. No one should try to apply or interpret the law without the aid and advice of a trained expert who knows the facts, since the facts of each case may rhange the application of the IaW." A Syndicated Canadian Newspaper Feature LETE FLOWER SERVICE DESIGNERS TO SERVE YOU QUICKLY & EFFICIENTLY DAILY DELIVERY TO LUCKNOW. TEESWATER BRUSSELS, GORRIE ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN COUNT ON OUR EXPERIENCE TO SERVE. YOU WITH THE VERY BEST IN FLORAL PRODUL TS LEWIS FLOWERS 357-3880 135 FRANCES WINGHAM 'A.m. w u,. ■ SEPOY DRIVE-IN Restaurant • FULL COURSE MEALS. • DAILY SPECIALS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon. -Sat. 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. SUN. 10 A.M.-MIDNIGHT LUCKNOW 528-2034 I am being harassed at home and at work by a collection agency. Can they do this? The Collection Agency Act of Ontario requires that all collection agencies be registered and registration will not be granted unless the agency has a history of financial responsibility and good conduct. Complaints concerning the, practices of any agent should be made to the Registrar under that Act. What is an insolvent debtor? An insolvent debtor is defined as a person who is not bankrupt, whose liabilities to creditors amount to at least $1;000.00, and who is unable to meet his obligations as they become due or who has ceased paying- his • current obligations in the ordinary course of business as they become due or whose property, if sold does not have a value sufficient to enable payment of his accruing and accrued debts. C. A. BECKER EQUIPMENT LIMITED Sales Service Rentals Field testa new '86 tractor to -days LUCKNOW 1S 529-7993 Recently, I purchased some carpets for my house. The salesman said that they would withstand heavy traffic. I paid only part of the price, the rest was to be paid in monthly instalments. The carpets hadn't been laid but for a few weeks and already it showed signs of wear. Can I get my money back? If you think that a salesman has used a' misleading, deceptive "sales pitch" on you the Business Practices Act gives you the right to: Ask the salesman to rescind the contract :le: you give the carpet back and you have your money returned). A letter requesting rescission should be sent by registered mail or delivered personally within six months of the contract. (remember to keep a copy for yourself). Ask The Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations to mediate the. dispute.