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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-06-29, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1994. CitizensTheNorthHuron CNA P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M1H0 Phone 523-4792 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 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing I 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/yaar ($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. Advertjsing 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. PWe are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs, ontents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mall Registration No. 6968 possibility of the country’s break up. E ditorial I.. .......... ...1 Let’s not panic As Canada nears the 127th anniversary of Confederation on July 1, it's perhaps time to put a little perspective on the current frenzy over the From media commen­ tators to market analysts to opposition politicians, the sense of panic in the country and abroad over the seemingly inevitable election of the Parti Quebecois dominates the headlines these days. Our dollar suffers because of this fear and the country's leadership sometimes seems to be paralyzed. But why? If, as expected, the Parti Quebecois wins the Quebec provincial election this fall, it won't be the first time the separatist party rules in the province. Nearly 20 years ago the PQ, under Ren€ Levesque, panicked the country with his election win. In the subsequent referendum on independence, however, the PQ lost. The election of the PQ is inevitable at some time, whether this fall's election or the next one. That's because the PQ is the only alternative to the Quebec Liberals. Either Quebecers are going to opt for one-party rule, or they are going to have to elect the PQ. Yet over and over and over again the polls in Quebec show that the electorate of Quebec is no more in favour of separation today than it was when the 1980 referendum was lost The latest poll by Maclean's magazine on the weekend showed that 90 per cent of Quebecers feel Canada is the best country in the world. A majority even said they felt more attachment to the country than to their region. Canadians, it seems, have never understood the words of the late U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself'. Canada was founded in fear (of a U.S. invasion in support of the Fenian movement) and it sometimes seems that nearly every decision since has been based on fear. Throughout this panic there has been one beacon of positive leadership: Prime Minister Jean Chr6tien. To the cynical it can be dismissed as whistling past the cemetery, but the Prime Minister has refused to be drawn into the current frenzy. Whatever panic he may feel privately, he puts a brave face on for the public. Time will tell if it is the right strategy but it seems there is more to gain, whether with international money markets or Quebec voters, by giving a positive view of Canada than by reacting in fear. — KR But what if nobody follows1? Many times people lament the lack of leadership in small communities, but what if there are leaders but nobody follows? For the past year a small band of dedicated people in Blyth have been planning this year’s Rutabaga Festival. They have put in long, long hours because there were so few people willing to help out. Saturday should have been their reward for their work. Instead there was a miserably small turnout for everything from the superb parade to the games and activities. No doubt the threat of rain kept some people home. No doubt others were worried about the condition of the construction on main street. Still, it cost people nothing but their time to show up for the parade and few did. Everybody wants to see small communities survive and thrive but not enough people want to pay the price, even if the price is getting free entertainment at a parade under threatening skies. Thanks to the hard working committee who put on the event. No thanks to all those who didn't support them. —KR Please, save us from democracy Having lost her bid to legislate same-sex benefits, Marion Boyd, attorney general of the NDP government, has indicated she may let the courts do what she couldn't do in a democratic vote.If gay couples take the province to court demanding the benefits that would have been granted under the defeated bill, she might order no defence be put up. While everyone defends democracy, nobody seems to trust the will of the majority. Right-wing business leaders wanted free trade, at least to some extent, because a borderless economy would prevent governments from imposing more regulations. Pierre Trudeau created the Charter of Rights to guard against majority rule by legislators undermining individual rights. From John Diefenbaker onward, prime ministers have opposed capital punishment even though polls show a majority of voters want it. We all like democracy until the majority doesn't agree with us. —KR Wish you were here Letters THE EDITOR, I would like to acknowledge the volunteers who gave their time in the Cancer Campaign. The total collected in Rural Wingham was $21,114.60 which includes $236.50 for daffodil sales. The following is a list of the various areas which makes up "Rural Wingham" and the dona­ tions: Belgrave, $3,513.25; Bel­ more, $1,265; Bluevale, $2,867.14; Brussels, $2,601.91; Cranbrook, $1,023; Ethel, $948; Fordwich, $1,818; Gorrie, $1,578.80; Lakelet, $882; Molesworth, $416; Moncrief, $161; St. Helens, $657; White­ church, $2,190; Wroxeter, $957. Each year we have surpassed the previous year. We will make a difference. Just keep it up! Many thanks to you all. Doris McCall Rural Wingham Chairperson. THE EDITOR, Thanks to Doug Trollope for his response in the June 22 issue of The Citizen to my article in the June 15 column "From the Minister's Study". It's reassuring to know that he reads that column. I know there is no future in debating with Doug the relative merits or demerits of Secular Humanism and Christianity, but there is a response that I think that I can make to the issues raised in his letter. Photo by Janice Becker Pastor has his say First, I plead "no contest" to his allegations that there have been many atrocities committed in the name of the church down through the years. That is a matter of historical record. I would got a step further than he has, even, and recognize that the church is ever in danger of drifting and that the Bible itself warns of that danger. Christ's words to the church at Laodicea (Revelations 3) indicate that a cooling-off process had already begun in that church as early as the beginning of the second century, and the results were altogether unpalatable to Him. The rule of thumb is that a church will likely not adhere to its original principles and practices beyond one hundred years of its history. That is why the church is forever in need of revival and renewal. When the church refuses to be revived, as it so often does, it degenerates like any other human institution. To suggest, however, that these atrocities were "relentlessly logical outcomes of the core doctrine of Christianity" indicates to me that Dr. Walters, whom Mr. Trollope quotes, knows nothing whatever of the core doctrine of Christianity. His bias is showing when he makes such a statement Let me express my utter amazement at Doug's statement that the Nazis are now to be included within the Christian camp! It is common knowledge that the philosophy that undergirded the Nazi movement was that of Friedrich Nietzsche and he was anything but a Christian! A look at any encyclopedia will confirm this contention. The Nazis were Secular Humanists! As for Jim Jones and David Koresh, they were either not true Christians in the first place or are examples of many who started well but apostasized and departed from Christ and His teachings. Now, Mr. Trollope tries another end run when he expresses his admiration for alleged Humanist Andrei Sakharov, an admiration that I share, by the way. The matter that Doug chooses to overlook is the fact that Communism, "the totalitarian regime in power," doesn't belong in the Christian camp either! If, in fact, Sakharov is a Secular Humanist he found it necessary to repudiate the very humanistic system that he espoused originally! This reminds me of the fact that, if the church has its history of atrocities, so does Secular Humanism. Hitler and Stalin, and the systems that they represented, are only a couple of prime examples! When Doug cites Henry Morgentaler as an example of Secular Humanism I agree totally, though I lack the affection that he has for him. Morgentalor demonstrates the principles of Humanism in his total disregard for the sanctity of life, even as Hitler and Stalin before him. As a form of birth control, in the vast majority of cases, Morgentalor slaughters babies systematically and makes a good living at it. The fact that he is praised by feminists such as Continued on page 8