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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-12-24, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young, Cindy Smale The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $28.00/year ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80.00/year in U.S.A. and $100/year in other foreign countries. 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 newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP)-toward our mailing costs . Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 40050141 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1HO NOG IHO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuronOscsinternet.com Wobsite www.northhuron.on.CO ocna ENA Member of the Ontario Press Council Goodwill among mankind The greeting of the angels to the shepherds in the field has been replayed for 2000 years: "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men". Perhaps the first wish would have been easier to attain if the second had said "goodwill among men". Goodwill is a common thread lacking whenever humans come into conflict with each other. Instead of finding our common humanity, we concentrate on seeing the worst in others, in creating a "we" and "them" situation. The world is currently gripped by terrorism because people, in the name of supporting their religious beliefs, feel it is acceptable, even desired by God, for them to kill other people. On our side, we have powerful U.S. and British leaders who argue the danger posed by an evil regime in Iraq, justifies a war that will kill many innocent civilians. Smaller civil wars that plague many areas of the world are often triggered by people in powerful positiogs who have too little regard for the less privileged in their country, but the niiery :s compounded by rebels who feel hurting the poor they claim to be nlping is justified in the name of getting rid of the oppressive government. We have seen so many wars based on hatred and demonizing of fellow citizens. From the slaughter in Rwanda to the insanity of Yugoslavia to the long troubles between Northern Irish Protestants and Catholics, all the trouble was caused by the unwillingness of people to show goodwill towards people who had something that made them different. Close to home we had David Ahenakew blaming German Jews for their own demise in the Holocaust, saying they were the reason Hitler came to power and that he had killed six million peoplein an effort to get rid of the problem. Coming from someone who, as a Canadian Indian, had been the target of the same kind of easy blaming for their own victimizing, Ahenakew's comments were particularly strange. South of the border, Senator Trent Lott resigned as senate majority leader following weeks of criticism over a statement that appeared to support segregation policies against blacks. Though he apologized several times, he never really seemed to condemn one of the darkest eras in U.S. history. Unfortunately we can do little to change the situation in Iraq or cool the passions of terrorists. We can only change our own little corner of the world. This Christmas we can each look for the best in the people around us, not the worst. We can try to put ourselves in the shoes of others to try to understand them, instead of making easy judgements against their actions. In the big picture of world peace those actions may seem insignificant but creating peace starts with each of us. — KR So much plenty, so many poor As Christmas approached in Canada in 2002 with a booming economy, it was shocking to hear that business was also booming at food banks and the need for toys for poor families is higher than ever. Something is wrong with this picture. As Christmas approached a report from a coroner's jury into a woman's death in Sudbury brought plenty of opportunity for critics of the Ontario government to blast the Ontario government's policies. Kimberly Rogers committed suicide while under house arrest because she had been convicted of welfare fraud. The jury said the government should halt its lifetime welfare ban for people caught cheating the system. Much of the criticism of the government's welfare reform seems to be knee-jerk reactions of people who wanted to continue the system that was already in place. For these critics, the Rogers case was just the ammunition they needed to show this was a heartless government. Yet in many ways the government's carrot-and-stick approach has worked. The government offered training for people to get off welfare and threatened to cut benefits to those who refused to make themselves willing for work. In some cases this seems to have helped people break the welfare cycle. But the fact remains that for those who have no choice but welfare, the situation has become more desperate. The government initially cut welfare benefits and has not raised them since to keep up with inflation. Yet costs keep going up for housing and utilities and food. People who depend on welfare have to make tough choices, choices that are sending them increasingly to food banks and other charitable problems. Finding the right path between tough love and compassion will always be difficult. As the rest of us enjoy Christmas bounty we should remember Letters to the Editor PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2002 Editorials Opinions Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITUR, The Alzheimer Society appreciates the Coffee Break hosts and participants for the success of Coffee Brcak 2002. In total 117 Coffee Breaks were held within Huron County. Through your generous support $11,000 was raised. The proceeds from this fundraising event will be designated to supporting local services as well as research. Sincerely, Theresa Wilson Fund Development Co-ordinator Alzheimer Huron. Dec. 22, 1987 Right Worshipful Brother Norman Hoover of Brussels was presented with his 60-year jewel in recognition of six decades of service with the Lodge. He joined in 1927 and.served as Master in 1932-33. A Teeswater girl and a Listowel boy were among the Ontario Junior Citizens of the year. Lisa Kuenzig, 18 was chosen for her efforts in overcoming a physical handicap to become actively involved in Brownies, Guides and the Junior Farmers. Geoff Carnegie, 14, was involved in community activities that encompassed projects ranging from taping church services for shut- ins to organizing a bake sale to raise money for a tornado disaster relief fund. McKillop Twp. council was seeking a replacement after Councillor John George resigned. Jack Lee was named Citizen of the Year for Hullett Twp. for many years of volunteer service in many capacities. Blyth village council made a presentation on behalf of the Blyth Memorial Hall board and the recreation committee to Amy McCrea on her retirement after 19 years as secretary-treasurer of the groups (along with the Blyth and District Community Centre board, which had also presented her with an award the evening before). Bob Bell was the new Huron County warden. For the second time in six months, the Blyth and District Community Centre was without an arena manager. The resignation of Robert Stuart was announced at a council meeting. One of the province's top young showpersons. Jennifer Procter of RR5. Brussels showed her barrow in the reserve championship over 112 other hogs at the Ontario junior barrow show at the Royal Winter Fair. Myrtle Vodden was named president of Blyth's UCW. Glen Sturgeon of the Wingham office of the Ministry of Natural Resources was named conservation officer of the year by an international sportsmen's organization. Dec. 23, 1992 Blyth and District Optimists got a full load of food, clothing and gifts when they picked up the results of the Share Christmas in Blyth campaign. Most Blyth merchants were involved in the campaign in which a business would donate five per cent of the purchase price on an item a customer bought if the customer brought in an item for the Huron County Christmas Bureau. These items plus the merchant's share came to a pick-up full of items to be given to the needy during the Christmas season. A stolen van taken from a Blyth arena parking lot was recovered by Waterloo Regional Police after being involved in a single vehicle crash. A picture could hardly do justice to the ingenuity and hard work put into the Christmas display at the home of Bob and Joyce Alexander in Ethel by their sons Michael and Brian. What began as a single star four years before had grown to become a very visible and highly enjoyable annual spectacle. The Brussels Jr. C Bulls continued to play solid hockey on the road, but their inability to win on home ice allowed the Wingham lronmen to move into second place, two points ahead of the Bulls. The Blyth Bantams were on a roll with double wins. It was an unpleasant surprise when a Morris Twp. family returned home from Christmas shopping to find the back kitchen of their home gone and extensive heat and smoke damage to the rest. The Belgrave and District Kinsmen presented the annual Kinsman of the Year award to Jim Scott. Dec. 24, 1997 The issue of fire response to the fringe area of Brussels looked like it may have been resolved. The Morris Twp. council chambers were overflowing at a special meeting to resolve the problems with representatives from the Wingham, Blyth and Brussels fire departments, Brussels council, the Seaforth hospital dispatch and Morris residents in attendance. After almost two hours of discussion it was determined that a defined area around the fringe of Brussels would become the response area of the Brussels department. The problem had come about because the Morris residents in this area did not feel the Wingham firefighters should be responding to a fire when the Brussels department was so close. A love of the season and its decorations turned into a social event for two Blyth-area sisters. Deanna Snell of Hullett Twp. and Wilma Scott of East Wawanosh Twp., owners of Christmas and Country opened their homes for public viewing. It was a very special occasion for Kathy Burkholder as she accepted a plaque dedicated to her late father Ted Elliott, who gave years of service to the Brussels Royal Canadian Army Cadets. The Brussels Optimists continued to do its part in keeping The Ark afloat with a donation of 12 cheques to cover the rent for the next year. Janet Amos and Ted Johns performed a tribute to Blyth at the annual Christmas pageant.