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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-10-13, Page 4C The North Huron itizen eNA P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Publisher, Keith Roulston BLYTH, Ont BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Editor, Bonnie Gropp Phone 523-4792 Phone 887.9114 Sales Representatives, FAX 523.9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell 1,10 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. I%) 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 © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 VER1111113 coecusarnpne PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993. Down in the valley Powerless people lash out The multi-million dollar musical Show Boat began previews in Toronto recently with angry protesters from some black Toronto groups picketing outside the theatre, claiming the show is racist. In the audience enjoying the show, instead of protesting outside, was famous American black actor E ditorial James Earl Jones. Commenting on the protests later, Mr. Jones called them misguided but understandable. "If black people knew how to solve the problem of young black people destroying themselves and others, I think that's where the anger would go. But we feel so powerless. The only thing you can gain from such a protest is an insight into that feeling of powerlessness". Similar senseless bouts of "political correctness" have recently undermined the credibility of the women's movements as some leaders make ridiculous demands that amount to a "men are scum" sentiment. It's easy to dismiss these movements to "victimism" gone mad, but perhaps the same kinds of lashing out are evident in our larger political system heading up to the Oct. 25 federal election. The big winners in this election seem to be the two parties that come closest to the "none of the above" category many people would like to see on the ballot. The Reform Party in English Canada and Bloc Quebecois (BQ) in Quebec are attracting supporters not so much because people support what the parties profess to believe in, but because they refuse to vote for any of the older parties. In Quebec, for instance, we are assured that many of the people voting for the BQ are not separatists but just plain disillusioned voters. How else but a protest vote, do you explain the apparent switch of many voters in British Columbia from the New Democratic Party, on the left of the political spectrum, to the Reform Party, on the right. The NDP, the beneficiary of this disillusioned vote in the 1990 provincial election in Ontario, and later in B.C. is now a victim like the Liberals and Tories of being seen as a party that doesn't provide the answers. There is no shortage of people who feel like victims. The difficulty, as Mr. Jones points out, is that protesting doesn't do a lot. Marching up and down outside a Toronto theatre and writing letters to the editor charging racism, doesn't do much to improve the lives of the young people in the Jane-Finch corridor, the most depressed area of black population in Toronto. Similarly, voting for two parties which cannot form a government because each is ignoring a large proportion of the country, is no real solution. Both the BQ and Reform can fight to have their own agenda brought to the notice of the Commons, each can hope to hold the balance of power in a minority government, but neither will be in a position to have a positive effect on the country. Part of the problem, as parties like Reform are pointing out, is that we have put too much hope in government. There are too many things we expect government to solve for us, instead of taking matters into our own hands. Government cannot, with a signature on a piece of legislative bill, instantly make life better for black youth in Toronto or farm youth in Huron County. Solving the problem of violence against women is not as simple as the good wishes of parliamentarians. We will only put power back into our own hands when we decide not to expect government to solve all our problems but to try to find solutions through individual, group and community action. We will no doubt find, in taking action, that the answers aren't easy: perhaps we'll learn then why our politicians can't bring us Utopia overnight. We will, however, begin to feel more in control of our own lives and be happier for it. — KR A generous move For people elsewhere in Huron County, Goderich is sometimes looked on as our little Toronto: wrapped up in its own importance and apt not to recognize the needs of the rest of the hinterland. Last week's motion, led by Goderich, to change the voting system at Huron County council, showed a huge amount of generosity. Under the old voting system, Goderich had three of the 32 votes at Huron County council. Under a new system, Goderich will have but one vote, the same as Brussels, Blyth, Morris, Grey, East and West Wawanosh, McKillop, Hullett and other municipalities with much smaller populations. It isn't the system Goderich wanted. Other voting systems that would have rewarded larger municipalities with more votes were considered, but small municipalities stuck to the belief each municipality should be treated the same. Stuck between the small municipalities, and Exeter, which wanted more power, Goderich generously gave up some of its powei. Would that more municipalities would be so magnanimous. — KR Letters JK decision displeases reader THE EDITOR, Democracy, it would seem, is dead according to the action taken by the vast majority of the trustees of the Huron County Board of Education (HCBE). It would also seem that Mr. Klopp, and our provincial government have absolutely no concern for the wishes of the electorate. Despite opposition to Junior Kindergarten in this county and elsewhere, the province has passed legislation forcing JK on every school board in Ontario by 1997. The process of JK is apparently either to begin by January 1994 or the board is to apply to the Ministry for exemption. But, despite this exemption clause, despite the opposition of taxpayers, the HCBE trustees voted to begin JK, making their case on several points. First, they buckled because of the carrot held out by the province in the form of grants to the board if they start JK in 1994. Apparently, JK will cost the board less to implement in 1994 than the grants received from the province. The temptation of surplus funds was something our trustees would not ignore. What they did ignore, was the fact that Huron County taxpayers are also Ontario taxpayers. The trustees would also argue the Huron County taxpayers are entitled to receive the same programs as those offered by other boards. This despite the fact that JK, beginning in 1994, will likely not be available at every school throughout the county. Unequal access for all is inexcusable. The province's fiscal irresponsibility is also inexcusable. In spite of cutbacks everywhere — Social Contracts, and ever climbing deficits and debt, the province forces these frills — this daycare system — on financially pressed taxpayers. Just last year the trustees sent home a questionnaire to parents asking tor their comments on the possibility of deleting the Design and Technology/Family Studies program for students. (Shops/Home Etc. to our generation.) That our trustees would consider dropping these life skills programs and then offer JK is absolute lunacy. Apparently there is a movement which would remove our "local" trustees and have the school boards run from Toronto. If our trustees can't represent local taxpayers any better than they are, that might just as well be the case. It's interesting to note that in Bruce County the trustees are still fighting to keep out JK. All the School Boards in Ontario should unite to fight off the bullies in Toronto. But, instead, our trustees roll over and play dead. There may still be a chance to change the minds of our "representatives" on the board. If they were to be hounded by taxpayers who would make their opposition to JK known, perhaps the message would sink in. It would take only a little extra time to call Mr. Klopp's office and give him the same message. Remember, even though there would seem to be short term "profits" for our county board, the decision they made on Oct. 4 will most certainly come back to haunt them. When the provincial money runs out, they will be stuck paying for a program they cannot afford. Of course, they could always raise taxes. Allan Dettweiler. THE EDITOR, The official board of the Walton and Bluevale United Churches protests the decision of Huron County Council to discontinue funding for a part-time pastoral care chaplaincy at the Huronview/ Huronlea Retirement Homes. While recognizing the fiscal realities of the day, we nevertheless affirm the importance of the chaplaincy programme and the number of invaluable volunteer hours that it has generated. We do not feel that individual ministers and lay visitors will be able to provide the same level of ongoing pastoral care that residents were accustomed to receiving under the chaplaincy programme. We want to know in what manner these facilities will now be providing spiritual and pastoral care to their residents. Doug Garniss, Secretary for the Walton-Bluevale Pastoral Charge Official Board. Photo by Janice Becker THE EDITOR, I would like to thank Richard Packer (Letters, Oct. 6) for his concern about my salvation but I don't think there is any need to worry. As Gordon Sinclair, a prominent Canadian atheist once said, if there really is a God and He is as all forgiving as He is said to be, there shouldn't be any problem when I do die. Why is it people continue to quote from the Bible, a book of revelations that would take a revelation to even figure out, which is neither authored nor dated. It is based entirely on hearsay yet it is taken as gospel. There are other books available besides the Bible from which one can get enlightened. For example to quote from Bertrand Russell (1872- 1970) "Why I Am Not a Christian". "We want to stand upon our own feet and look fair and square at the world — its good facts, its bad facts, its beauties, and its ugliness; see the world as it is and be not afraid of it. Conquer the world by intelligence and not merely be being slavishly subdued by the terror that comes from it." "The whole conception of God is a conception derived from the ancient Oriental despotisms. It is a conception quite unworthy of free men. When you hear people in church debasing themselves and saying that they are miserable sinners, and all the rest of it, it seems contemptible and not worthy of self-respecting human beings." "We ought to stand up and look the world frankly in the face. We ought to make the best we can of the world, and if it is not so good as we wish, after all it will still be better than what these others have made of it in all these ages." "A good world needs knowledge, kindness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men. It needs a fearless outlook and a free intelligence. It needs hope for the future, not looking back all the time toward a past that is dead, which we trust will be far surpassed by the future that our intelligence can create." I do find it very hard to comprehend how any one can propagate the myth that Christian religious socialization fosters moral behaviour, given the bloody history of Christianity. If Mr. Packer did Continued on page 5