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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-04-23, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young, Patty Van der Meer 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 RO. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 RO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Aocna <*cna Member of the Ontario Press Council Another form of defence With the wartime thinking that has captured North America since Sept. 11, the idea of spending more on the armed forces to defend our way of life has been generally accepted, but apparently the idea of spending on culture to defend our uniqueness has not. In its February budget, the federal government cancelled a $25 million film and television fund that helped fund such privately-produced Canadian television programs as The Red Green Show and This Hour Has 22 Minutes — shows that help define who Canadians are. Now for many Canadians this won’t be an issue. For one thing, many, like the supporters of the Alliance Party don’t think there should be subsidies of Canadian culture. For others, perhaps some of the same people, it won’t matter because they never watch Canadian television in the first place, other than perhaps Hockey Night in Canada. In fact many people swear there’s nothing worth watching on Canadian TV. They’ll have a better argument if these Canadian show ; are killed. Sitting next door to the world’s largest producer of popular culture, Canadians have always been glad to soak up American movies, television, magazines and music, to the point we often know more about California than British Columbia, more about Florida than Nova Scotia. How this can affect the thinking of our citizens is reflected in a recent Ekos Research poll into the differing attitudes of Canadians who got their news coverage from Canadian TV or American networks. Of those polled who got their news on Canadian TV, 75 per cent supported the government’s position on not going to war with Iraq. Of those who got their news from U.S. TV, 58 per cent thought our government was wrong. Depending on how you feel about the U.S. campaign against Iraq, these figures may be good or bad. The fact remains, however, that a country can hardly call itself a country if it doesn’t know itself and develop its own point of view based on the special circumstances that make it a country. A country that gets all its news and entertainment from another country is hardly sovereign. When it comes to physical defence of our sovereignty, $25 million wouldn’t even buy one fighter jet these days, but such small amounts of money can help us develop our own way of thinking and defend ourselves from complete cultural domination by a foreign power. Apparently Prime Minister Chretien is prepared to keep us out of wars because we shouldn’t be dominated by our neighbours but is not ready to spend a little money to help us know our own country well.— KW Casualties of war War has never been pleasant as citizens of one country kill citizens of another, but recent events show the ugliness of war can extend even to people of your own country. Scenes of looting in Iraq as newly-freed people stole the possessions not just of their disgraced and deposed government but of their neighours were heartbreaking. But equally disturbing is the way Americans have turned against any of their own citizens who had the nerve to criticize the war. From Susan Sarandon to the Dixie Chicks, careers are threatened. Apparently, in the climate of patriotism, freedom of speech is worth going to war for but shouldn’t be allowed at home. — KR Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, The Blyth community has a long history of accomplishment. Local residents have shown their pride in sprucing up their village to win a national Communities in Bloom title. They have shown their commitment to the future in the recent Heart and Soul campaign to rebuild the Blyth and District Community Centre. They have earned a reputation far and wide as a community that gets things done with successes like the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion and the Blyth Festival. But now our community is at a crossroads. Our main street, the face our community shows to the rest of the world, has sadly declined in recent years often due to forces that seem beyond our control. What can we do to change the situation? There are no easy obvious answers but we believe that a community that has accomplished so much in so many other areas can find the solution to reversing the decline of our main street. That is why a group of individuals has come together to call a community meeting to bring the wisdom and energy of the community to bear in finding an answer to the problem. We hope that all people in the Blyth area who care about the health and the future of their community will come to the Bainton Gallery at Blyth Memorial Hall on Wednesday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. to lend their support. Let’s continue Blyth’s proud tradition of being the community that proves it can work together to the betterment of all. Anyone who is interested in more information can contact any of us. Bev Elliott, 523-4323 Keith Roulston, 523-4792 (days) 523-9636 (evenings) Don Scrimgeour, 523-4551 (days) 523-9665 (evenings) Steven Sparling, 523-4256 (days) 523-9746 (evenings) Brock Vodden, 523-9313 April 23, 1958 Results for the Brussels students of Wingham and District High School were front page news in The Brussels Post. Students were graded for A - 75 per cent or over, B- 66-74 per cent, C - 60 -65 per cent, pass - 50-59 per cent and below the line. Mrs. William Smith was the new president of the Majestic Women’s Institute. A proclamation from Reeve G.E. McCutcheon reminded to turn clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Saving Time. Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation, starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride, plus Roy Rogers in Yellow Rose of Texas was the family double bill at Listowel’s Capitol Theatre. Playing at Seaforth’s Regent was Aldo Ray and Anne Bancroft in Nightfall plus David Brien and May Wynn in White Squaw. At the Llashmar Drive-in Theatre the Saturday night double feature was Robbers Roost starring George Montgomery and Richard Boone and Bop Girl with Judy Tyler and Bobby Troop. A 16-oz jar of Kraft Cheese Whiz was on sale at Rutledge Grocery for 54 cents. Three tins of cohoe salmon could be purchased for $1. April 25, 1968 According to D.S. Pullen, associate ag rep for Huron, as a result of excellent drying conditions, spring grain seeding was practically completed in all of the county. Some cereal grain fields were beginning to “green up”. Com and turnips were being planted in the south. Wheat had come throught the winter in fine condition with very little winter killing evident. Field conditions were excellent for top dressing nitrogen. It also appeared that stored feed supplies for livestock were adequate to complete the winter stabling period. Some cattle were out on grass. A front page story in The Post told of a fundraiser for the Grade 8 students of Brussels Public School. It began, “Adults complain about our young people, judging all by the actions of a few irresponsible ones. They concentrate on their faults and failings and ignore the many fine qualities of the vast majority. This is unfair. The majority of them are decent young people who show an interest and concern for others and the promise of being good Canadian citizens.” The students devoted a day to cleaning cars as a fundraiser for a student exchange project with a West Indies school and for Red Cross donations. A pound of weiners cost 66 cents at Thompson and Stephenson Meat Market. Playing at Brownie’s Drive-In in Clinton was Sean Connery as James Bond in You Only Live Twice and The Way West with Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark. April 25,1973 William Thuell, long-time Public Utilities Commission foreman and local electrical contractor was named Citizen of the Year by the Blyth board of trade. Don Scrimgeour of Seaforth and formely of Blyth purchased a butcher shop in Lucknow. Central Huron Secondary School’s production of Oklahoma starred local students David Street, Catherine Street, Kim Watson, Frances Battye, John Battye, Gary Hesselwood, David Thomson, Jo- Anne Snell and Rick Snell. Pianist was Louise Lovett. A happy family fishing trip nearly turned into a tragedy for a Londesboro family. The group was smelt fishing at Port Albert when the 15-year-old daughter was pulled into the water by a strong current at the mouth of the Nine Mile River. In a matter of seconds she was swept 100 feet out into Lake Huron. The girl was not a strong swimmer and her father and seven siblings watched helplessly as she sank beneath the water several times. The rescuers eventually grabbed her by the hair and pulled her into the boat. April 21,1993 Popular children’s entertainer Mr. Dressup appeared at Blyth Memorial Hall. Doug Scrimgeour and Robbie Lawrie resigned from Blyth council. Blyth Masonic Lodge dedicated its new rooms. Linda Bird received a certificate for seven years of service with the Brussels Army Cadets. Captain John Grobbo, was presented with a Canadian Forces decoration for 12 years of dedicated and good service to the Canadian Forces. Paul Martin was the guest speaker at the Huron Bruce Federal Liberal Association annual meeting and dinner. Burt Reynolds starred in Cop and a Half at Goderich’s Park Theatre. April 19,1995 Robert Peck was inducted into the Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame. The Blyth Midget Bulldogs capped a successful season by winning the 1995 Lake Placid Cup gold. Team members were: Trainer Colin Riley, Coach Doug Chamney, Jason Rutledge, Ryan Chamney, Peter Craig, Ben Craig, Greg Toll, Mike Salverda, Jonathan Collins, Benjie Hakkers, Mark Wilson, Christopher Howson, Manager Neil Salverda, Trainer Allan Craig, John Armstrong, Chris Stewart, Tim Cowan, Chris Bromley, Michael de Jong, Chad Haggitt, Brian Marks, Brad Anderson, Coach Kevin Lee.