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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-01-15, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, 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 + $ l .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 RO. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Aocna®« > Member of the Ontario Press Council ■■EZmB B.C. Premier’s case a public test It will be fascinating to see just where public opinion stands on the issue of endangering people’s lives through drunk driving in seeing what the ramifications will be for the political career of B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell over his weekend arrest. While Mr. Campbell has admitted he shouldn’t have been driving drunk when he was arrested and temporarily jailed in Hawaii and offered an abject apology, he has refused to resign over the incident, saying the incident took place on his personal time, not while he was on business. Whether the people of British Columbia will let him off with this will be a test of where public opinion sits in 2003 on the dangers of drunk driving. There’s no doubt we’ve come to regard drinking and driving a lot more seriously than we once did, when it was viewed as a semi-harmless foible, something to be the brunt of humour in the movies. Now, having toted up the victims of drunk drivers, we’ve come to accept it is a criminal act that puts the lives of others at risk. Ironically Mr. Campbell owes his current position as premier to a scandal that drove former premier Glen Clark from office and totally devastated the governing NDP party. Campbell made much of RCMP charges against Clark that he had accepted work done at his home from someone who wanted to get government support for his business. In the end, a judge found Clark guilty of nothing more than bad judgement, but his career was ruined, his party defeated and Campbell’s Liberals were swept to power. The media has so far supported the contention of Mr. Campbell’s backers that this scandal is totally different than Mr. Clark’s situation. Clark was accused of corruption, even if he was found innocent. Mr. Campbell is guilty only of personal stupidity. Generally in our society, however, we accept that white collar crime is less dangerous than violent criminal activity. Mr. Clark, even if he had been found guilty would not have endangered lives. By driving while he was drunk enough to be weaving across the road, Mr. Campbell was risking the lives of those who might have met him on the road that night. If he had been wandering the streets of Maui firing off a loaded gun, would he have been able to use the excuse that he was on personal time? Isn’t a two-ton car as dangerous a weapon as a bullet? If Mr. Campbell survives this incident politically, it will show we still don’t consider drunk driving as serious as taking a bribe or misusing a firearm. It will show we still have a way to go in taking responsibility for criminal behaviour.— KR Learning the lesson George W. Bush wants the United States to be a lesson for the world, and countries like North Korea seem to be learning from him. What North Korea seems to have learned most is the lesson that might makes right. Under Bush’s presidency, the U.S. has reserved for itself the right to decide what is right and wrong. As the world’s only remaining superpower, the U.S. has said it will act alone against Iraq, for instance, even if the United Nations and U.S, allies don’t agree with its actions. North Korea seems to have learned that a nuclear weapons program will provide the kind of power the U.S. respects. Certainly the U.S. has been a lot more belligerent toward Iraq than North Korea even though the latter admits a nuclear weapons program while the former is only accused of trying to do such research. North Korea has pulled out of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, much as the U.S. pulled out of the treaty banning research into anti-missile systems. The Americans also won’t sign the anti-land mines treaty and refuse to acknowledge an international court of justice. The difficulty for President Bush is that if you want to to set your own rules and not listen to your friends, others may take that road too. — KR Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, The holiday season was a time for caring and sharing. We reached out to our friends, family, neighbours and other who would benefit from our support. To help the people of this community and beyond keep the spirit of caring and sharing alive throughout the year we invite you to join the volunteers at Huronlea. In a free society, each citizen may make a contribution according to their talents in order to shape the community in which they live. Serving without concern for reward is a characteristic of a good.citizen. Everyone has ideas, opinions and talents to share. Whatever our talents, fortune or happiness, we often see them increase greatly when we share them with others. One of the main advantages of volunteer work is that it gives a feeling of renewal and a mastering of our destiny because it is something that we are not accomplishing because of necessity, to earn our living or to keep our position, but it is a task that we choose to do to make our contribution to society. The Huronlea Volunteer Auxiliary meets on the third Monday of each month at 10 a.m. Anyone is most welcome to attend. We would especially welcome more male members. Leona Armstrong On behalf of Huronlea Auxiliary. Jan. 15, 1958 An 11-cubic-foot upright freezer could be purchased at Machan’s Hardware for $225. A Mrs. Prosser was to be the guest speaker at a series of farm union meetings in Huron. Sockeye salmon was on sale at Rutledge’s grocery store for 45 cents a can. One pound of Nabob ground coffee sold for 89 cents, while two 20-oz cans of Libby’s deep brown beans were selling for 43 cents. Huron East Agricultural Society was holding its annual meeting and turkey banquet at Cranbrook Hall, with Huron agricultural representative D.H. Miles as guest speaker. Playing at the Regent Theatre in Seaforth was a double bill. Vincent Edwards and Yvette Dugay starred in Hiawatha. Also playing at High Society. There were CNR Saturday excursions offered. Cost from Brussels was $4.60. The clearance sale was on at The Arcade Stores in Blyth and Brussels. Featured items included women’s and misses' gabardine and flannel suits, $14.95; blouses, $1.98; men’s suburban car coats, $10.95; denim jeans, $5.50; a dozen 51-gauge nylons, 69 cents; flannel shirts, $1.50; kids flannelette pajamas, $1.59; men’s all-wool cardigans, $4.98 and women’s gowns and pajamas, $2.49. The most popular TV show belonged to Danny Thomas. Jan. 10, 1973 East Wawanosh Reeve Roy Pattison was named the new warden of Huron County. Pattison won a five-way race for the position narrowly defeating another Blyth- area reeve Hugh Flynn of Hullett. It was the first time in 25 years that a warden had come from East Wawanosh. A careless smoker upstairs in the heated area of the Blyth arena dropped a lit cigarette butt on the wooden floor. It fell into a crack and by the time it was discovered had burned a hole. Fortunately there were people around and disaster was averted. William Shortreed of Walton was named vice-chairman of the Huron County Board of Education. The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority approved the acquisition of a 400-acre parcel of land in East Wawanosh to be developed into a wildlife area. Sheron Stadelmann of RR2, Blyth was the first member of an Auburn 4-H Club to receive advanced honours for completing 18 projects. Sandra Good of Londesboro and Barb Elliott of Clinton received provincial honours. Nabob coffee was selling for 88 cents a pound at Stewart’s Red and White Food Market. The 14-oz tins of Libby’s beans were on sale two for 49 cents. Jan. 13, 1988 An Ethel man who won a small fortune in the Wintario lottery said he was taking it as a good omen for the Progressive Conservatives for 1988. Richer by $100,000 Dan Pearson was constituency assistant to Huron-Bruce Conservative MP Murray Cardiff. Blyth Festival was in the black for its 10th straight year. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food marked its 100th anniversary. A St. Columban-area farmer, James S. Ryan, was appointed to fill the McKillop Twp. council seat left vacant by the resignation of Councillor John George Brussels Bull Tim Fritz scored five goals in a game against Mitchell. The final roadblock to a new pants manufacturing plant which was expected to provide up to 120 jobs in Seaforth was overcome and the town’s newest employer began moving machinery into the plant. Dorothy and Jim Schneider opened Manchester Video and Variety. Jan. 13, 1993 Peter MacDonald and his partner Suzanne Killing took second place in the seniors dance pairs competition at the divisional figure skating competition, earning themselves a chance to compete at the Canadians. Receiving trophies at the Halirice Dairy Club’s 4-H achievement were Tanya Franken, Patrick Hallahan, Charlene Franken, Jamie Hallahan and Carla Cook. Water samples from East Wawanosh Grade 8 students’ homes were tested by the Ministry of Health as a school project. No less than 43 per cent came back with coliform counts in a range deemed unsafe for drinking unless boiled or treated. John Stafford, RR1, Wroxeter was re-elected as chairman of the board of directors of Gay Lea Food Co­ operative. Jan. 14, 1998 Sharon Hartman and Leanne Haggitt received their Canada Cord, the highest honour that can be achieved in the Girl Guides. Brussels Novices brought home the championship trophy from the Normanby tournament. The Stratford Cullitons took on the Jr. C All-Star team and came away with a solid 8-4 victory. The game was played at the Lucknow Sports Centre. The Western Region of the OPP sent 60 officers to assist in Eastern Ontario in the aftermath of a vicious ice storm. From Huron were Const. Karie Robins and Const. Nigel Tilley.