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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-05-27, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 27,1992. E ditorial Hanging on to old times The government of Brian Mulroney was almost as unpopular at a meeting of NATO leaders last week as it is with the Canadian electorate...but this time Canadian voters are likely to applaud the government's stubbomess. NATO leaders were putting pressure on the Canadian government last week to reconsider its decision to pull Canadian troops out of Europe as a measure to help cut the deficit. The government insisted it wouldn’t change. The Cold War is over, Canada said and the need to have troops stationed in Europe is no longer real. To which a vast majority of Canadians would say "amen". Even when the Cold War was raging, there was a considerable amount of public opinion in Canada that our troops had no business in Europe, particularly when it left us with too few troops at home to defend ourselves. The counter argument always was that if the Soviet Union decided to attack western Europe, its huge tank supremacy would let it sweep across the continent before Canadians and Americans could mobilize their forces in North America and come to the rescue of the Europeans. Canadian and American troops must remain in Europe, we were told. So what is the threat now? There seems more chance of a war between Russia and the Ukraine than there is an attack by former Soviet states on the rest of Europe. France and Germany are now more powerful than their former eastern opponents. The only reason for Canadian troops to stay in Europe is to continue to be the main industry of some of the towns near the bases. There will be hardships in towns that depended on the business brought by thousands of Canadian troops and their families. Many Canadian towns, including Clinton, already know how hard it is to lose such a major employer as previous governments closed Canadian bases to save enough money to continue to fund our troops in Germany. The threat in Europe is over. There may be logical reasons to keep Canada's defence strong but there are none for keeping our troops in Europe. The government is right to insist they're coming home.— KR Job well done! The lights have been burning late in many East Wawanosh township homes in the last week. Residents have sat down to have a glance at the new Wilderness to Wawanosh history book and hours later, found they had to tear themselves away to get to bed. Over the years many townships have sat down to put together a history but few have been as impressive as the East Wawanosh effort. Almost 500 pages long, topping the scale at more than four pounds, filled with the history of every lot on every concession plus schools, industries and other community institutions, brimming with photographs old and new, the book is the kind of permanent record descendents will seek a hundred years from now. Dozens of volunteers have put thousands of hours into researching and compiling this book. People all over the township devoted then- energies for several years to make it happen, and to make it as complete and correct as possible. It's too bad they can't be a fly on the wall watching the enjoyment their efforts have brought to so many homes. Why is a history book so important? History tells us about ourselves. It can help give a sense of direction to people, let them know that they are part of a past as well as a future. It can, hopefully, let us see the mistakes of our past and try to prevent them happening again in the future. It can also let us see the successes of the past and draw from them lessons that can be translated to meet present needs. History books probably don't need to be so beautiful. They can get along without the beautiful colour photos the East Wawanosh book has at the back. Books without the elaborate 6000-entry index can be useful still. But a book as interesting and gorgeous as the East Wawanosh book can make people more interested in reading about their past, and in so doing, can bring more people to a knowledge of those who went before: give them some perspective on how we got to where we are today. Some other local communities already have their history down in black and white, but perhaps those who don't may be challenged by the work of the East Wawanosh volunteers to tackle a comprehensive history. They'd be in for a lot of work but it's the kind of work that will bring immediate rewards. They'll also know that as they work, they will earn the thanks of their children, grandchildren and great­ grandchildren who will read the book for years to come.—KR Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO May 29,1991 Blyth's new library branch offi­ cially opened in its new location in the north wing of Memorial Hall. Bob Richardson and Eric Ross of branch 218 Brussels placed sixth in the Dominion dart championships in Vernon, British Columbia. The first Farmers' Market opened at Brussels Livestock. THREE YEARS AGO May 24,1989 Ida Evans was chosen as Brus­ sels' Citizen of the Year by a panel of Brussels area residents. Her nominators praised her long years of service to many different organi­ zations. A trial date was set for Klaus and Kirstin Henschel on charges con­ nected with the collapse of Brussels Stockyards Limited. The couple elected trial by judge or jury on each of the 15 counts of fraud and theft. Local basketball star, Ron Ver- cruyssen, a 21-year-old Morris­ township native, made the Canadian National Basketball Team. FIVE YEARS AGO May 27,1987 Brussels Legion Pipe Band mem­ bers from past and present celebrat­ ed the 35th anniversary of the band with a dinner and dance at the Legion Hall. Vivienne Stephens, of Bly th, a student at Central Huron Secondary School and Lori Appleby, the Blyth area shot putter for F. E. Madill Secondary School, qualified at the OFSSA Western Regional champi­ onships for advancement to the OFSSA championships. Production company Raymond International Ltd. and Shatalow Productions Inc. recruited 200-300 extras for ball game crowd scenes for the movie Blue City Stammers. Blue City Stammers, filmed in Blyth, was adapted from the play Blue City, written by Layne Cole­ man and first performed at the Blyth Festival in 1984. CitizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429,P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont.BRUSSELS, Ont.Publisher, Keith Roulston N0M1H0 NOG 1 HO Editor, Bonnie Gropp Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Sales Representatives, FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil and Merle Gunby The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $31.03/year ($29.00 plus $2.03 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywright. 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