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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-03-31, Page 4The North Huron itizen Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 PAID P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 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, Ustowel, 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. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships. Spring break Letters THE EDITOR, In my letter to the editor in the March 10 issue of The Citizen the word nip-picker was changed to nit-picker. Misprints, typographical errors we understand and accept. In the first printing of this letter (or part of) "nit-picker" was not the word used. "Nip-picker" was. Nit is a parasite, an egg attached to a hair, particularly to the hair of a louse. That definition is in the American College dictionary. Definition of "Nip", to check in growth, or development; to nip a plot. The art of nipping a sharp or biting remark. Definition of "picker", -- one who picks. Verne Dakin. THE EDITOR, I don't understand why Mr. Trollope is so paranoid. In my letter to the editor (The Citizen, Feb. 1 7 /93) I made a casual observation that atheistic and humanistic writers form his opinions just as the Bible does mine, and he proceeds to charge me with being narrow-minded and limiting his freedom to read what he will and say what he likes! I didn't say the literature of Thomas Paine was "mentally harmful;" (The Citizen, March 10/93: "Reader Voices Objections To Pastor's Letter.") I said it was htitnanistic. And how would I know that Paine and Voltaire and Nietzsche, et al, were humanists, except that I had studied their works? What does he think we considered in philosophy courses? So much for my narrow-mindedness! What is this about the Bible teaching that the world is flat? Friend Doug must have missed in his Bible-reading Isaiah 40:22; "He Photo by Bonnie Gropp sits enthroned above the circle of the earth ..." I fail to see any relevance with regards to the Bible being admitted as evidence in a court of law. Neither is testimony that might be found in today's newspaper, regardless of how factual, "authored," or recent it might be. Evidence is only valid as it is submitted by persons who were personally involved at the time. It is interesting that Mr. Trollope does admit the Bible is respected sufficiently that an oath taken upon it is honoured in court. Has one ever heard of an oath taken upon the works of Thomas Paine to be ever so honoured? I am amazed Doug has yet to meet a genuine born-again Christian. I could introduce him to hundreds of them! Perhaps a person sees only that for which he honestly looks. Talk about my lack of enlightment! How enlightened is a person who subscribes to the Continued on page 5 PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993. E ditorial Globalizing stress At the same time globalization is forcing countries and their workers to be more and more competitive, a study by the United Nations' International Labour Organization has come out recently to say job stress has become a worldwide epidemic affecting people in some of the most ordinary jobs. Perhaps we're heading in the wrong direction. The study says pressure to keep up with machines and work for low pay for long hours has left millions of workers burned out, accident prone or sick. In the U.S. alone, job stress is estimated to cost the economy $200 billion a year from compensation claims, reduced productivity, absenteeism, added health insurance costs and direct medical expenses for related diseases such as ulcers, high blood pressure and heart attack. In Japan, the country that leads the way economically, 40 per cent of all workers fear they literally will work themselves to death. They have a phrase for death from overwork: karoshi. Yet the study was completed before the effects of globalization have set in for most of the world. Job stress among Canadians, for instance, has undoubtedly increased in the last two years as workers wonder if they will have a job tomorrow, let alone next year. In the name of competitiveness, Canadian workers are being asked to do more for less. There is the constant fear that someone, somewhere in the world may be willing to do your job for less so you might lose it unless you cave in. There are demands for more efficiency on the job, including systems that now electronically monitor the output of workers who type into computers. Some employers electronically eavesdrop on employees to see they're working fast enough. One of the study's authors noted that the lack of control workers feel on the job often contributes to the stress of work. That is exactly, however, what globalization is about, taking control not only from the workers and their unions, but from the legislators that might bring in legislation that might give workers more controls over their lives. When multi-national companies can move their factories and offices, at a moment's notice to some location that is more "friendly" to business, both government and workers are left in a position of begging business to stay, at any cost. Globalization, now accepted as a fact of life by politicians of all stripes, seems sure to make working life more of a hell for workers than ever. — KR At least we're honest There are plenty of things that are wrong with Canadian society, plenty of reason we can't afford to feel smug about ourselves, but at least we seem to be a little more tolerant of others and many people south of the border. Two incidents in the past week illustrate the point, one with humour, one with more serious consequences. The admission of both Kim Campbell and Jean Charest, contenders for the Conservative Party leadership, both admitted in the last week they had smoked marijuana when they were teenagers. They even inhaled! That may sound silly that they admitted the obvious but you have to place that beside the confession of U.S. President Bill Clinton that he had once tried marijuana but he didn't inhale. Sure Bill. The sad thing js that the President felt he had to fib, that the people of the U.S. would be so intolerant, so blind to the realities of life, that they wouldn't elect him if he had inhaled marijuana smoke 20 or 30 years ago. There is evidence he was right in his doubt, however, in the political hay opponents made over the fact he attended anti-war demonstrations in London, England when he was a student, that he once visited Moscow as a student and that he hadn't served in Vietnam. Meanwhile the comic strip "For Better or For Worse" by Canadian Lynn Johnston, has been dropped by five U.S. newspapers and 12 others have refused to use current panels of the series, because one of the characters admits to being gay. The character in question isn't one of the family members who make up Ms Johnston's central characters, but the friend of the teenager son. One newspaper publisher claimed the cartoon almost promoted being gay. Most people see the series as an attempt to build understanding about those who are different. Ms Johnston, who lives in North Bay, says she has a gay brother-in-law and has a friend with AIDS and wanted to find a sensitive way to promote acceptance of gay people. Put in perspective (there are 1400 papers carrying the cartoon), the reaction to the strip is minor but it shows an intolerant streak that is not to be envied. Hopefully we can keep intolerance at bay in Canada.—KR