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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-01-26, Page 6editorial t LUCKN SENTINEL ' T Sepey ■ Uwe"Established1873 Luebnow 9aetheel, Wednesday, Jarairrasy 2Ik, 1983—x* b THOMAS A. TTHOMPSO - Advertising Manager SHARON J. DIETZ - Editor PAT LIVINGSTON - Office Manager JOAN HELM - Compositor MERLE ELLIOTT, - Typesetter Business and Editorial Office Telephone S28-2822 Mailing Address P.O. lox *M. Locknow. NOG 2H0 Second C1mss 1ae9 Regtstratiu Number X17 SubsetIptias trace, S13 -2S per year lr alhersee Settlor flares etre. S12-13 per year Ira adysasee U.S.A. rod , S3l4.0/ per year Ire adrawee Sr. Ot.14..S,rl. and Farelett, $36.116 per year lir salwasee Pay -TV issue clouded redtrees The current controversy over pay-TV pornography is further clouded by two subliminal issues not beim discussed by the feminists protesting First ms's decision to run Playboy films or by the politicians. In the first 'place First Choice has stated they will not be showing hard core pornography, but the women's groups believe permitting Playboy programs on pay-TV will be one short step to permitting hard cone pornography. The feminists object to films being made which depict women as sex objects to be degraded and humiliated for the sexual pleasure of men. Indeed there are taws prohibiting the filming of the whipping of a black man for the sexual pleasure of the viewer and the feminists say such laws should be in effect governing the abuse of women on film for sexual gratification. Clouding the issue is censorship. Some feminists are staying clear of the campaign against Playboy programs on pay-TV because they do not want to be associated with a procensorship stance. Some women have grave concerns about censoring something - forbidding people to have access to something, forbidding freedom of expression - because the media reflect the violent society we live in. Feminist author Penney Kome, currently writing a book on the women's lobby on the Constitution, says "For me, changing what's portrayed in the media is much less important than changing the status of women that the media portray. I don't think if you change the portrayal that it follows the roles will change." The women behind the campaign say the Playboy programming, based on bits they've seen in advertisements, is pornographic and will reinforce a degrading view of women, if not actually prompt violence against women. Richard Gwyn, Toronto Star national affairs columnist, raises another interesting issue. Pay -TV in Canada is the creation of government, rather . than of the marketplace. Canadians have never said they wanted it. Rather, successive ministers of communications and the Canadian Radio -Tele- vision and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) have wanted pay-TV to generate new revenues for Canadian programming and to prevent Canadians from switching to U.S. pay-TV. The CRTC either inadvertently or intentionally has licensed and the cabinet has approved by intent or incompetence, public pornography. The community standards, Canadians have to decide for themselves, thus concern, not whether to censor private porn, but whether to license public porn. The debate will continue and to rub salt in the wound, this material will qualify as Canadian content. Standards have changed and even the CBC, Canada's national television network, is showing erotic scenes in programs it produces, such as the sexually provocative scenes carried in Sunday night's episode of the CBC production, Empire Inc. From all reports Canadians want the Playboy programs. First Choice subscriptions have risen dramatically since the controversy started. In the end, it is a personal decision. The individual chooses the pay-TV programming he will subscribe to, pays his fee and further chooses what programs offered by the sub- scription he will decide to watch. While the feminists have a point about films being made showing the degradation and humiliation of women for sexual pleasure, scenes showing secual experiences between two consenting adults are already being aired on prime time television. letters To the Editor: The Lucknow Block Parent Association is still in existence, although for the past few years we have slipped into oblivion. We are currently underway to re organize and come back into the public eye; thus our appeal for your help. Our main concern is to protect our young people, and in order for us to accomplish this goal we must turn to YOU for help. In the village at this time, we only have 20 Block Parents. That is not nearly enough to cover the village adequately. Because we live in a moveable society we are not exempt from undesirables. They are moving from the urban areas into the rural areas. Since we are constantly on the go we need more block parents. Thus we are appealing to you, the public for your support and help. 1 urge you to give this true consideration. For further information contact: Marguerite Barb Helm Sanderson 528-3400 528-3427 Sincerely, Barb Helm Sec.-Treas. Block Parent Association. by don campbell Flora lulacCriuunon had every teas-, on to take sides in the personality clash between Kathleen Jamieson and Jane Cameron. From Kathleen, she had received nothing but kindness since the first day the "Irish woman" had set foot in Redtrees. On the other hand, Jane Cameron had gone to great pains to point out her superiority over Flora, whose background was as black and as lowly as the mine in which she had worked in Scotland. Nevertheless, Flora felt that as the wife of one of the community's leaders, she should remain aloof from the dispute between two very domin- eering women. Consequently, she never broached the subject, and if it was drawn to her attention, she side- stepped it neatly by saying: "Och, there's good and bad in the best 0' people." One day, Flora took her son to the general store. It was always a delight for little James, even to walk such a long distance. He looked forward with eager anticipation to the taste of the candy he felt sure he would receive, as soon as Kathleen set eyes upon him. The purpose of Flora's visit was to obtain some new reels of coloured cotton which had arrived in the latest consignment of goods from Toronto. Jamie got his candy and Flora selected her cotton. She was also hared an envelope addressed to Neil cCrimmon, Es- quire. There were few letters arriving in the community and these were usually left at the general store, which, as time went by, added another dimension to its purpose; that of the Redtrees Post Office. When Flora returned to the cabin, Neil read the communication, and the look upon his face told Flora that the letter contained sadness. Without a word he handed her the parchment and with difficulty, (since she was not an educated woman), she read the words: "It is with great sorrow that I inform you your father passed away in this home, March 23rd, 1844. Until the day he died he was highly respected by the other inhabitants. some of whom were also veterans of the Battle of W atertoo. We join with you in mourning the toss of a master piper, a dedicated soldier and a Scottish patriot. I have the honour to be, Sir, Major John Sinclair (Retired). Hon- ourary Secretary, The Inverness In- stitute for Retired Soldiers." Whatever the transition period be- tween this earth and the mysterious beyond, it was and perhaps still is, fitting that a Highlander should be accompanied by the music of the pipes played by a member of his own clan. As the sun began to sink behind the Caledon Hills, the strains of the MacCrimmon pipes drifted across the settlement. The Friends of Skye had no idea for what purpose the pipes played. Mac- Crimmon often practiced his art by playing a variety of music, but the prolonged playing of the lament (The Flowers of the Forest) had of course, a profound significance. From the scattered clearings, people of all ages were drawn by that inexplicable force known only to High- landers, and assembled at the Mac- Crimmon home. They watched and listened in silence as Neil MacCrim- mon, in full regalia, paced slowly to the sad but beautiful notes of his own music. After some fifteen minutes or more,. MacCrimmon broke into a quick pace, playing the traditional march of the Clan MacLeod. It was only then that some of the people allowed themsely- ripley news es to approach Flora MacCrirnmon and ask for whom the lament had been played. Softly she whispered, 'Ds frae the auld MacCrimmon, the father o' my man." Amongst the +crowd of course, were Kathleen Jamieson and Jane Camer- on. At that moment there was a message of understanding which rose above personal differences; as if all bitterness and enmity had left the presence of the exiled people, just as surely as another MacCrimmon had passed on from a glorious life. It took a lot of courage for the doctor's wife to apprach Kathleen, and even more courage for her to grasp the Irish women's hand and look with sincereity into her face. "I have been an arrogant and proud fool, ma'am. At a moment such as this, I do not deserve to have the privilege of being with my friends and neighbours, who stand here united in the memory of MacCrimmon. I pray that you will forgive me and I beg of you to take my heart in friendship, where I now place my hand." Kathleen Jamieson was not a woman given to emotion. The flower which springs from a bitter childhood does not wilt easily, nor does it bend readily at the first warm breath of wind. Nevertheless, with her know- ledge of human nature, she reminded herself that for the sake of all the people assembled there together, there must at least be a compromise to the differences between herself and the doctor's wife. "I accept your hand in friendship," Kathleen said in her usual calm and collected manner. "We came into the twilight divided. Let us pray that tomorrow will unite us in the true spirit of the people of Redtrees." Mrs. Martha MacIver of Ripley, her sister Mrs. Rhoda Ribey, Murray Ribey, and Mrs. Dorothy Brunton of the Port Elgin and Paisley area were in Toronto on Sat. Jan. 9 atten- ding the private family funeral service held in the Humphrey Funeral Home for the late Guy A. Ramsey. His wife Mrs. Margaret Ramsey, Mrs. Martha MacIver, and Mrs. Rhoda Ribey are all Campbell sisters from Concession 10 east in Huron township. Last Wednesday Ab and Fran Wylds received a card from neighbours Mabel and ° Norm Barnard who are on a six week winter holiday in Florida. They are shying in the same place as they did last year. It is the spacious, seven store}' Beachcomber Oceanfront Inn in Daytona Beach. The weather has been very good and Mabel was able to watch the waves on the ocean and the children surfing as she was writing the note. They have met several people known to them frdm last year. Also last week a note from Jim Richardson of Highway 9 west of Walkerton tells that he entered turnips from his farm in six different classes in the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Jim received three firsts and three seconds. His many friends in the Ripley Huron area are glad to learn about his success. Mae McIver of Kincardine is reported now residing in the Maitland Manor Nursing Home in Goderich. She is a sister of the late Donald McIver of Toronto written up in last week's column. Mrs. Gladys Mason of Ripley had her 80th birthday last Thursday January 20, 1983. To mark the occasion an Open House was held last Sunday afternoon at Huron Villa where Mrs. Mason now resides. Many friends and relatives gathered there to wish her Happy Birthday. In her call on Sunday evening she expressed thanks to all who came and also to the folks who worked for the par- ty. Homef rom London were her daughter Reta and hus- band Roy Webster and their families Brian and Valerie Webster apd three sons of Woodstock, and Wayne Webster and friend of Lon - However the happiness was lessened by the sad news of the accidental death of her grandson Ken Mason at Vanderhoof in Northern British Columbia. It occur- red on Saturday in a highway accident. Details are not known at this time. So in this unusual set of cir- cumstances we express both congratulations and sym- pathy to Gladys and her family. Two area deaths were just reported at this time of writing .Jan. 24. Casey Ur- quhart of Kincardine who did the bulldozing and foun- dation digging for his brother Burt Urquhart on the site of the extension to the Ripley District High School in 1963. His funeral was in Kincardine yesterday (Tuesday Jan. 25). Alex Smith 65 years of age, native of the 8th Concession east in Huron township died on Monday in 1.ordon. He is the brother of John Smith Concession 8 east and Mrs. Margaret ( Mervin) Funston of Pine River (6th Con. West) in Huron Township. His funeral is in Ripley this afternoon ( Jan. 261. Last week we received a copy of "The Scots Magazine" from Mrs. Min- nie Jefffrey of RR 1, Port Elgin. In the note she writes - "Over the years and in your column I have noticed and heard of the Lewis and Har- ris settlers around Ripley. So I am sending this Scots Mazagine". One of these pictures shows Mrs. Alex MacDonald of Drinesheader, on the Har- ris part of Lewis Island. There seated by the door of her home she is shown spinn- ing wool into yarn. All the yarn used in Harris tweed is spun in the cottage homes. Mrs. MacDonald uses natural dyes from plants. In the Spinning and Weav- ing Class at the Ripley Fall Fair last September director Mrs. Wilma ( Cecil) Sutton of Purple Grove had two sec- tions for exhibits of nature dyed yarns and also a poster explaining how it is done. One wonders where all those small spinning wheels, used by the Scottish women in the Ripley area, have gone. Postmaster Mrs. Betty Christian wishes to inform everyone that effective next Monday January 31 the Ripley Post Office wickets will remain open during the lunch hour. New wicket hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Everyone commented on the frost last Thursday mor- ning. Harvey Brooks said that the thermometer was at minus 26 Ripley Bowling League Wayne Kerr -201, Frank ( 6 1 3 ), 613 ), Shirley Holditch-222, Shirley Kirkconnell-251, Allan Holditch-224-205, Wayne Hartwick-234-233-231-(698 ), Lorraine Kerr -240, Barry Kirkconnel1-239-298-204- (741), Mary Williams -229- 268-(687 ), Dave Smith -242- 231-(645), Archie Williams - 272 -273-229-( 774 ), Joan Hartwick-261-(606 ), Willard Williams -245, Joan Nisbett - 209, Carl Gallant -252, Glenn Young -205, Ruby Colwell - 201 -201, Bob Love -261-288- 256-( 805 ), Barb Smith -255- 216-(658), Kathy Gallant -265- (602 ), Doreen Young -251, Ar- chie Wallace -262-254-257- (773), ), Sandra Schofield -225, Joan Clark -200.