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The Citizen, 1995-10-18, Page 6LING WI CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN PARTY by OPTIMIST CLUB OF BLYTH & DISTRICT Saturday, Oct. 28 Blyth Public School 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Parents Welcome Games, Treats For more information call 523-9200 evenings thel The news from Compiled by Margaret McMahon Phone 887-9250 10 tables of euchre in play If Bell's Discount Centre if • • Variety Video and Card Shop Queen & Drummond St., Blyth Open 7 Days a Week Your One-Stop Family Savings Centre 325 gr Bag , Reg. $1.59 • $1 09 SALE SUCKERS Choose from 24 Paddle Pops, 101 Pack Kiddy Pops, or Fruit Slice Pops 0/0 Ott co 0 ova ESE 0 V-044 Wee SWEET- UMS CARAMELS 350 gr Bag Reg. $1.99 $1 69 SALE TINGLES 101 pack Super Buy Reg. $2.99 JVC 1-120 VIDEO TAPES Reg. Quality Sale $3.99 Liberty Quality SALE $499 SALE $1 99 MICHELLE MAXI NAPKINS 24 pack SALE $25° or Playtex Tampons 24 pack SALE $399 Rent Two Movies at our reg. price Bell's Video Centre Get the 3rd Movie FREE Prices in effect from Oct. 17 ,- Oct. 31/95 • HALLOWEEN SUPER BUYS 35 count bubble gum pops, 201 count fun fruits or 22 count sweet tarts SALE $1 89 CADBURY'S MINI CHOCOLATE BARS 12 Pack of Assorted Bars Reg. $2.99 $ SALE $249 ALLAN'S' CANDY KISSES /1 NESTLE SUPER VALUE MINI CHOCOLATE BARS 20 Pack Reg. $3.49 $ SALE $2 79 SALE $1 99 RAYOVAC ALKALINE BATTERIES 10 Pack AA Reg. $7.99 SALE $499 PAGE 6 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1995. By Janice Becker In the second of a three part series on coping with AIDS, a single father of three tells his story of coping with his own illness as well as comforting his ailing children. It is with a sharp and sometimes cutting sense of humour that Rob deals with living with HIV, but if one listens closely and watches his eyes, the suffering and struggles faced by his family comes through. It was just five years ago, when Rob's wife tested positive for AIDS, that the entire family's life changed. His wife died in 1993 and Rob was left to care for three children, two of whom had also contracted the disease. The two boys, Robbie and Tommy, have AIDS. For Robbie, the youngest at only seven, the full- blown symptoms of the disease have hit him very hard. "He rides a roller coaster every day which shows no signs of stopping," says Rob. "He goes from ill to very ill and even worse. Right now he is in the 'even worse' stage." "Though he has been sick for five years, we must keep dragging ourselves out. As long as he is not in great pain and he can laugh and smile once a day, we are doing what we can." Rob's other son, Tommy, also has AIDS, but is not yet showing any major effects from the illness. The eldest child in the family, Rob's step- daughter, who is not infected with HIV, has become a spokesperson for AIDS education and awareness. Because of her dedication to speaking to students and adults alike, she earned an Ontario Junior Citizenship Award last year. "She is.doing this in memory of her mother," says Rob. As for Rob himself, he smiles and says he's lucky because he was able to retire at the age of 29. "It's just how you look at it. I get to spend a lot of time with my children." It is that optimistic and 'I'm not taking any bull from anyone or anything' attitude which seems to have helped Rob get through the last five years, as well as have the strength to support his family. He has not allowed an HIV positive diagnosis to end his life. "I am presently living with a woman (Lori) who tells me we are engaged," he laughs. "I miss my wife very much, but life does go on. Lori has a beautiful relationship with my children and though I thought it would be hard for my daughter, I think they have a better relationship than my daughter and I do." I am just the average person-next-door, says Rob. I must carry on with a smile and a positve attitude. Aside from the physical difficulties caused by HIV/AIDS, Rob says there are always the financial aspects to be concerned with. Along with disability pensions which are available, there are support programs through the government, but they must be asked for, he says. "There is no one telling us what is available. You have to go through family services." Because of his struggle to find support, Rob was instrumental in assisting the London HIV/AIDS group to write a book on where to go for help. If there is one goal Rob has set for himself in his work with AIDS education, it is to teach abstinence to the youth. "It is not just the wisest way to go to avoid AIDS , but also other STDs and pregnancy." "At the age of 15 to 18, young people have not pulled themselves together enough to understand what they are getting into. They believe they are invincible. They think, 'it won't happen to me', but we are here to tell them, 'yes it will'. (Abstinence) will prevent anything from happening and they will feel better about themselves in the future." As a tribute to his son, Rob helped initiate the Robbie Care Fund in London which raised money for pediatric AIDS research and helps families affected by the disease. Writer looks back fondly on time in Blyth Continued from page 4 for their kindness and support over the years. The experiences that we all had while living in Blyth will be things we will never forget and will keep us from ever finishing our goodbye. Trust all is well with everybody. With great respect, Peter Smith. THE EDITOR, In his most famous speech Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said that he had a dream that one day people would be "judged not by the colour of their skin, but the content of their character". To my mind, that phrase sums up what employment equity should be all about. Any person applying for any job, anywhere, should be judged solely on his or her abilities and experience. Their colour, race, gender or other such characteristics should not enter the equation. The sole criteria should be merit. While the previous governthent tried to pass the system off as "voluntary" and talked about "quotas and timetables", the bottom line is that under Employment Equity, companies would have to hire minimum numbers of visible minorities, Native Canadians, disabled people and women. When you are legally required to hire by race, colour, sex or other physical characteristics, that is a quota. It is also a recipe for discrimination, tokenism, resentment, racial division and fundamental unfairness. There were 10 tables of euchre hosted by Helen Cullen, Alvin McLellan and Grace Smith. Winners were: 50/50, Helen Cullen; high lady, Grace Smith; high man, Scott McLean; low lady, Jean McNaught; low man, Mel Jacklin; most lone hands, June Jacklin, Shirley Verstoep, Isobelle Gray; birthday in October, Rick Quite simply, it is wrong to discriminate on racist, sexist or other similar grounds while hiring people. A system which actually requires such discrimination will end up forcing the hiring of less qualified people in order to meet the quotas. In short, reverse discrimination is just as unfair as any other kind. So, what is the answer to the problems of discrimination and lack of opportunity that members of these identified groups still face in the workplace? Ontario already has laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring practices. If these laws are not working, they should be rewritten and toughened. But the toughest anti- discrimination in hiring practices and, indeed, the toughest quota systems will still not produce for example, more women engineers. This will only happen when more women study engineering. When must modify and use our education and training system to ensure that all Ontarians, especially members of groups that are under- represented in certain fields, have the opportunity to reach their full potential. You cannot force more women to study engineering, hut you can encourage them, ensure barriers to study are removed, and ensure when they graduate they will have exactly the same chance at a given job as any other engineering graduate. In other words, we must allow Elliott, Lois McLean. The next euchre is Oct. 23, 8:30 p.m. Lost heir tournament is Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. An Open House was held at the Pentecostal Church, Listowel on Oet. 14 for Walter and Millie Rutilrford on the occasion of their 25th anniversary. and require employers to judge each person as a person and to make hiring decisions based on people's merit . .. on the content of their character, not the colour of their skin. Only then will we have a system that is fair to everyone. Helen Johns, MPP Huron. THE EDITOR, I would like to thank all the volunteers and supporters who helped in any way with the Auxiliary to Clinton Public Hospital's 41st Annual Penny Sale. The gross proceeds were $4,600. Volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Sincerely, Reta Kelland Penny Sale Co-ordinator.