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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-06-14, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1989. Time for cautious optimism Somewhere between the “Gorbymania” that is sweeping West Germany this week and the apparent horror of some western military leaders that peace might actually break out. lies the reality of reform in the Soviet Union. With Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev touring West Germany this week he is apparently the most popular and trusted man in that country. Polis show' he is trusted by 90 per cent of the people questioned compared to 58 per cent for U.S. President George Bush and only 50 per cent for West Germany’s own Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Certainly Mr. Gorbachev hasdone much to win that kind of favour. He has appeared to make stunning changes in the Soviet Union. He has put the Weston the defensive by proposing military cuts our side often seems reluctant to accept. U nder his leadership it often seems it is not the Soviet Union which is the “evil empire" Ronald Reagan talked about, but the reluctant military leaders of the West. And yet the happenings in China this month show just how dangerous it is to project present trends ahead in time, particularly in totalitarian countries. It is only a short time ago we hailed great changes in China led by Deng Xiaoping. After those changes the student demonstrations seemed almost like the next logical step in progress toward a freer society. But as the struggle for control of the government shows, many old-line leaders felt the changes were going too far. With Deng at their head the hardlines reversed the trend and unleased deadly violence to put down the drive for more freedoms. Hopefully the same thing won’t happen in the Soviet Union. Hopefully that huge superpower can find the right mixture of progress without enough disruption to give the hardliners the ammunition they need for a crackdown. As yet, however, the jury is still out on whether Gorbachev can pull off the reforms and indeed, on just how much reform he will allow. We in the west should take advantage of the reform period and the willingness of Gorbachev to reduce military buildups by getting all the agreements we can. We shouldn’ t however, live with the delusion that what happened in China can’t happen in the Soviet Union. Easy targets While the word racism gets bandied around too much in Canada these days, it’s hard not to see a subtle form of discrimination by reason of racial origin in all the fuss that has been made over the bullfight near Teviotdale on the weekend. Township officials, faced w ith someone who went ahead and built a bull ring w ithout any building permit or adherence to a zoning by-law have a good case in trying to stop the fight but the Humane Society’s case is much weaker. Taunting a bunch of bulls until they charge at human beings may be a little silly but it’s certainly no worse than the steer wrestling or calf roping that goes on at a Canadian rodeo. For that matter, the bulls in a Portugese sytle bull fight don’t seem to suffer any more than a horse in a horse race when the rider applies the whip in the stretch drive. The difference is that horse racing and rodeos are a well-established part of the Canadian culture. The Humane Society isn’t going to get too far trying to shut down such events. Portugese bullfights, however, are not only new to the country, they are supported only by a minority of immigrants. That is an easier target. Bullfighting of the Spanish or Mexican brand where the bull is tortured until it is weak enough to kill is a sickening activity that few Canadians could support. Other blood sports like dog fighting and cock fighting are equally abhorent to our society and we shouldn’t accept them just because people from other cultures move here and say thesesportsarepartoftheirheritage. But Portugese bullfighting seems as harmless as many of the sports we already accept. Canada won’t be a better place either for having or not having Portugese bullfighting. But then, the country wouldn’t likely suffer irreparable harm if we never had another rodeo either. We can do harm, however, if we let picking on an easy, alien target, become the reason for legal action, not real justice. Summer’s blooming Mabel’s Grill There are people who will tell you that the important decisions in town are made down at the town hall. People in the know, however know that the real debates, the real wisdom reside down at Mabel s Grill where the greatest minds in the town [if not in the country] gather for morning coffee break, otherwise known as the Round Table Debating and Filibustering So­ ciety. MONDAY: Julia Flint said she hoped they could do something to stop that bull fight near Listowel. She said she thought it was disgusting that people would tease animals that way. Billie Bean asked Hank Stokes if he didn’t think the bull fights mightn’t be a good idea. “After all if you could raise those fighting bulls, there might be more money in beef than there is in eating them." Hank said the price of beef wasn’t so bad right now but he could use some help on pork. He was wondering if he could start raising pigs to be used in the entertainment business like that one that was in the strip club act down in London. Now who would want to put a pig through that, kidded Tim O’Grady. The poor thing must have been humiliated by the degradation in­ volved. Billie said he didn’t know what that stripper was doing with that pig but he’d gladly take its place to save the degradation. Might help the dancer too because she would­ n’t have the humane society in­ volved. Well, one thing, Julia said. The pig should have felt right at home in that club: he was surrounded by swine. He wouldn’t be too out of place at Mabel’s this morning either, she said. TUESDAY: Well, said Julia, she was glad they finally got the skydome open and had the first ball Continued on page 19 Tlie Citizen P.O. Bo* 429, BLYTH, Ont NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario, by North Huron Publishing Company Inc Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $17 OO/yr ($38 00 Foreign) Advertising isacceptedon thecondition that in theeventof a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited Advertising Deadlines Monday, 2pm - Brussels, Monday. 4pm - Blyth We are not responsible for unsolicited newscriptsor photographs Contentsof The Citizen are © Copyright Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Advertising Manager, DaveWilliams cn Production Manager, Jill Roulston Second Class Mail Registration No. 6968