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The Citizen, 1994-06-01, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE1,1994. GJ The North Huron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M1H0 Phone 523-47! FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell raio 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/yenr ($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 © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 E ditorial Enough already! Like a sore spot in your mouth that you just can't help touching with your tongue, the possibility of Quebec voting to leave Canada seems to be something Canadians (or at least our politicians and press) can’t leave alone. On and on the debate goes, despite the fact everyone acknowledges people just want to be left alone. Lucien Bouchard manages to keep sucking people into a debate they say they want no part of. He keeps saying outrageous things and our political leaders keep getting suckered into saying outrageous things that will only help the separatist cause. The upcoming Quebec election and the independence referendum that is likely to follow is a lot like that famous painting by Alex Colville, of the horse heading down a railway track toward a distant speeding locomotive; there's a deadly fascination with what is about to happen. After 30 years of trying to accommodate the aspirations of Quebecers, many in the rest of the country seem almost looking forward to the collision of a vote to separate. They seem anxious to warn Quebecers that it won't be a peaceful divorce. The more they talk, the more challenged Quebecers are likely to be to vote for independence. Quebec nationalists seem unwilling, however, to give citizens within their boundaries the same democratic right to self- determination that they want for themselves. In the midst of this babble, the only federalist leader who seems to be showing the right attitude is Prime Minister Jean Chrdtien. Pressed to discuss what Canada would do if Quebecers did vote to separate Chretien says he refuses to discuss hypothetical possibilities. He refuses to get tricked into saying something that might make people decide to vote for separation. The media, looking for controversy and conflict, keeps trying to urge the prime minister to wade into the fight, but for the most part he has refused. Other leaders, from Preston Manning to British Columbia's Premier Mike Harcourt, keep getting involved in the debate and giving Bouchard the ammunition he needs to anger people in Quebec into voting for separation. For the sake of our sanity, and for the future of our country, let's just shut up on national unity. This preoccupation can do nothing but make things worse, continuing the uncertainty about the country's future that will make both foreign investors and Canadian consumers nervous, prolonging the recession. Ignoring the issue won't make it go away, but it will make it less of a problem in the meantime. — KR Losing a generation Across Ontario these weeks a new generation is graduating from colleges and universities, but there isn't the excitement that usually accompanies such ceremonies. While graduates usually look forward to putting the student part of their lives behind them and moving on to the working world, this year's students face only the uncertainty of a bleak job picture. They are the most educated generation in history, many the sons and daughters of what had previously been the best educated generation in history. They have been told that they must get an education to ensure their future prosperity. Now they have the education but, loaded down with student loan debt, they have no prosperity in sight. The world has changed since they entered university four years ago. What was a wise career-path choice then may seem disastrous now. They have been urged on by government and business leaders to further their education but now the same government and business leaders have changed the rules and all they can say is "sorry". What are they to do, this best-ever-educated group of unemployed? They can't even lower their sights and turn to more menial work because those jobs don't exist. We have let this generation down. We have told them to dream and hope, then crushed their dreams. Perhaps they will eventually find jobs that they are qualified for but how long will it take? And how cynical will they be by the time they are rewarded for their long years of work and study? Will they, like the generation of the Great Depression, be scarred for life because of the betrayal they feel? Will this shape our politics and social policy for years to come? The piece of paper, that diploma or degree, seems like a pretty flimsy reward for 18 years of schooling. Perhaps someday these young people will appreciate their education for the sake of education. For now they just want to get on with their lives, but they can't. — KR A pastoral pose Photo by Janice Becker Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Brussels Post, Blyth Standard and The North Huron Citizen 48 YEARS AGO MAY 29,1946 Grey and Morris Townships were the sites for temperance meetings, organized by the Huron County Temperance Federation and local pastors. The Blyth Lions club presented a minstrel show at the Brussels Town Hall. For the first time, school children in Brussels were immunized against diptheria and whooping cough. Many desks were empty at the local schools as a measles epidemic swept the area. Brussels councillors approved the payment of the following bills: R.S. Warwick, salary, $35; Wm. Bell, salary, $50; Jno. Campbell, salary, $85; Assessor, $85; fire insurance, $24.50; street lights, $108; Hall lights, $2.60; fire department salaries, $13.75 and a police uni­ form, $20. The last shipment to Red Cross included 19 pairs of infants leg­ gings, 14 boys' sweaters, seven pairs of boys' socks, 17 pairs of boys' mitts and three quilts. Agriculture Minister Gardiner announced the removal of the two cent subsidy on a quart of milk. The authority for price-fixing was returned to the provincial boards and a price increase was expected. Those holding ration tickets for the subsidized price had to pay the extra ..cost. Ration coupons were still being used for sugar, butter and meat. Mrs. Lylie Gordon was hired as the teacher for SS No. 7 Grey Twp. 32 YEARS AGO MAY 31,1962 The Huron 4-H achievement day was held. Four girls received provincial honours. They were Teuni Van Loo, Irene Noble, Mari­ lyn Knight and Mrs. Jean Ann Kerr. County honours went to Mary McKercher, Barbara McNaught, Doris Ludington, Marilyn Mitchell, Janice Simpson, Mary Elliott and Rosemary Bracon. Candidates for the June federal election were incumbent L. Elston Cardiff, PC; Ernest Fisher, Liberal and Earl Douglas, Social Credit An interesting piece appeared concerning the younger generation. It stated, 'From the day your baby is bom, you must teach him to do without things. Children today love luxury too much. They have exe­ crable manners, flaunt authority and have no respect for their elders. They no longer rise when their par­ ents or teacher enters the room. What kind of awful creatures will they be when they grow up?' The statement was written in 399 B.C. by Socrates. Brownie's Drive-In in Clinton featured Tall Story with Anthony Perkins and Jane Fonda and Elvis Presley in Boy Who Stole a Million. Back in time A reader brought us this picture of Alfred Cook's Sunday School class taken 40 years ago. Most have been identified. Back row, from left: Bruce Barrie, Dave Webster, Robert Marshall, ? Armstrong, ? Campbell, Dave Nesbitt, Russell Fear. Middle row: Don Craig, Bruce Falconer, Reg Hesselwood, Ken Johnston, Norman Walpole, Doug Whitmore, Dennis Weymouth, Harold Knox, Bodie Craig, Robert Charter, Alvin Wallace. Front row: Ron Phillips, Ken Howes, James Howes, Carman MacDonald, Short Shobbrook, Ken Badley.