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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-12-22, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2006. Editorials Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Marcie Riegling The Citizen 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 $30.00/year ($28.04 + $1.96 G.S.T.) in Canada; $85.00/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. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 P.O. 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 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com E-mail norhuron@scsintemet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Jkpcna ^cna Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Christianity’s fair game The release of the blockbuster movie The Chronicles of Narnia has brought with it a renewed attack on Christianity shortly before the most joyous Christian holiday of the year. The offense of the new movie is that it is based on the writing of C. S. Lewis, a devout Christian who used Christian imagery of death and resurrection in his classic stories for children. Lewis, the books and the movie have been savaged by Philip Pullman, another successful children’s writer, as being “propaganda in the service of a life-hating ideology”. Others have joined in the chorus of rejecting Lewis’s stories because of the pro-Christian content. The irony is that in our liberal society that promotes tolerance, the one thing that it seems to be acceptable to attack openly is Christianity. If the same insults being hurled at a Christian-influenced story were said about stories from an Islamic, Hindu, or Jewish background, there would be outrage at the intolerance, but Christians are fair game. No doubt some of the current opposition to Christianity stems from fear of the growing strength of fundamentalist religion in the U.S. Those who believe every word in the Bible is the word of God and that the story of creation portrayed in the book of Genesis is how the world actually began have been fighting to have the theory of evolution taken out of the curriculum of schools in some states, or at least taught as an alternate theory along with creationism. Faced with this growing movement, which science-oriented people see as a threat to reason and research, it’s understandable that many intellectuals have rebelled. They feel they have proof that the Bible’s version of creation is wrong. But many of these people go further than just arguing against the Biblical story of creation. When other Christians accept that evolution took place but argue that it was directed by God, these people attack this just as strongly as they do the fundamentalist views of creation. For them it’s easier to accept that the world was created by a random series of accidents than to imagine the possibility of a higher being. They no doubt also feel that a great novel can be created by an infinite number of monkeys pounding on an infinite number of typewriters. Blind fundamentalism doesn’t seem confined to religion. No one is allowed to question science these days. In fact one commentator suggested scientism has become a religion. It also has its myths. No one has ever seen a dinosaur or a woolly mammoth but we have artists’ conceptions that are taken on faith as truth, just as Christians accept an image of Christ, though they have no evidence what he really looked like. It’s ironic that the very tolerance that secular, liberal, Western society espouses comes from Judeo-Christian thinking. Now that tolerance is to be extended to all religions and beliefs except for Christianity. — KR A saint for our times If Santa Claus didn’t already exist, it would have been necessary for modern marketers to have invented him. What better way to indoctrinate young children into our modem consumer economy, built on the constant desire for more, than to tell them there’s a Santa out there who will give them whatever they wish? Having learned young that life will be perfect if only they get what they wish for, these young people will go on to become good members of the consumer society, driving the economy ever forward. So when a new video game console is announced, they’ll line up outside electronics stores at midnight to be the first to get one. Their old 30-inch television will be turfed so their lives can be immensely enriched by a large-screen, high definition TV. It’s really not Santa’s fault, of course. Somehow along the way Santa’s story has been inverted. Saint Nicholas was an example of selflessness and generosity, giving to those in need. Somehow, however, in our modern world the story gets twisted around until it’s all about getting, not giving. Santa’s been co-oped by the marketers. — KR Looking Back Through the Years Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate Information. As well, letters can only be printed as space allows. Please keep your letters brief and concise. I_______________________... ..... .................■■___—____-_____________I_____—-------------------------------------------------------------------------■--------------■----- Dec. 22, 1948 Several local residents miraculously escaped serious injury when they were involved in a car crash. The incident took place at the south entrance to Blyth. A car being driven by an Auburn man caught the front end of a truck being driven by a Blyth man, as the car was trying to pass. It then took the bank on the east side of the road, and finally came back across the road and came to a stop only after colliding with a telephone pole. Three young men who were involved were treated for minor cuts and bruises. The damage to the car was estimated at $200. The truck was only slightly damaged. Ontario Provincial Police investigated the incident, saying that partial blame could be placed on slippery road conditions. Dec. 19, 1972 The newly-built Clark Bridge was officially opened. The bridge, designed by engineer Robert Dowson, of Stratford, and was constructed by Maloney Bros. Ltd. of Dublin, cost a total of $95,836. 50. Attending and participating in the official ribbon cutting ceremonies were Doug Armitage, of the Ministry of Highways, Stratford; Murray Gaunt, Huron-Bruce MPP; Morris reeve William Elston; Dowson; and members of Morris Twp. council, Thomas Miller, James Moir, Ross Smith and Robert Grasby. Though it was cold and stormy, many people turned out for the Magic of Christmas skating carnival, held in the Brussels arena by the Figure Skating Club. Several talented skaters performed and the presentation was enjoyed by all. Dec. 19, 1973 Santa Claus paid his pre­ Christmas visit to area children at the Blyth Memorial Hall, handing out candy and finding out what it was the children were wishing for this Christmas. The Wawanosh park finally had its name. The naming contest that was held by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority came to a close with one winner. Coming out on top of some 35 entries were the following three submissions: third place, Maitland Bend Conservation Area by Dianne Scott of Belgrave; second place, Mait-E-Waw Wildlife Preserve by Sharon Carter of Blyth; and first prize, Wawanosh Valley Conservation Area by Kim McDowell, of Belgrave. Ruth Dougherty, of Blyth, was the lucky winner of the Lion’s Monster Draw held at the Memorial Hall. Ruth was now $1000 richer. Other winners of cash prizes included Bill Clancy, of Goderich, winning $300, and Charles Scanlon, of Londesborough, winning $250. The following people were winners of $25 each: Ken Hamm, Blyth; Frances Schipper, Toronto; Peter De Groot, Blyth; Sharon Schank, Owen Sound; Jean Cook, Blyth; Bertha Gibb, Clinton; Irvin Bowes, Blyth; Wendy Caldwell, Londesborough; Carman Raino, Windsor; Bruce Walker, Seaforth; Reg Cudmore, Clinton; Lorne Cronin, Blyth; Tom Duizer, Londesborough; Jim Mulhern, Goderich and Gladys Johnston, Blyth. There were a few incidents being investigated by the Wingham OPP detachment. In one, a Lucknow man struck and killed a deer with his car on Hwy. 86, east of the Huron-Bruce County Line, Turnberry Twp. Damages to the car were estimated at $225. A Brussels man was involved in a single-car accident on Cone. 4-5, west of Sideroad 25-26 in Morris Twp. where his vehicle left the road and hit a tree stump. There were no injuries and damages were estimated at $200. Dec. 24, 1973 Len Bakelaar of Auburn was elected Dec. 12 as the new president of the Blyth Broomball League for the 1973-1974 season. Students from the Zurich area had to stand on the bus trip to the high school in Exeter. A survey made on all bus routes indicated another 16 buses would be required to seat all students riding buses throughout Huron County. Three-bedroom townhouses at Vanastra Park in Clinton were advertised for rent for $110 per month, fridge, stove and all utilities included. A 4-H achievement day was held in Central Huron Secondary School, Clinton. The members, entertained friends and parents to skits and demonstrations of their project A World of Food. Dec. 22, 1989 Feb. 5 was the date set for the sentencing1 of an Ethel man after he pled guilty to charges of theft and fraud in connection with the bankruptcy of a company in 1988. A 65-year old Moms Twp. man died following a two vehicle accident that occurred on Cone. 4-5 at Sideroad 15-16 about six kilometres east of Belgrave. Prime nb roast was on sale for $2.99 per pound, Canada Dry soft drinks for 49 cents and Granny Smith apples for 89 cents a pound at EMA Foods. Tango and Cash starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell and All Dogs Go to Heaven were playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich.