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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-30, Page 6Page 6 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, December 30, 2009 www.goderlchsignalstar.com Proprietor and published by Bowes Publishers, PO. Bear 220, 120 Hurkins Street, Goderich, Ontario N7A 4Nn EDITORIAL Collective will can turn politics into a positive force Here's a holiday wish for the new year: that next year, all our relation- ships, including our politics, which is just relationship writ large, can become more positive, constructive, faithful and respectful. Nutty eh? Ridiculous. How could politics be anything other than divisive, cynical, petty and base? Here's Abraham Lincoln in the closing lines of his first inaugural address, March 4, 1861. This was two weeks after Jefferson Davis' inaugu- ration as president of the Confederacy. "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though pas- sion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. "The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave toevery living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touches, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." Here's Winston Churchill, in his first speech as Prime Minister to the British House of Commons, May 13, 1940: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. "You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lam- entable catalogue of human crime. "That is our policy." Ah, but Lincoln and Churchill were giants. It's unfair, surely, to compare their politics to ours, their leadership to ours? Perhaps, it isn't fair. But it can be instructive. How often do Stephen Harper, Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe look up from their bickering to even try to see the bigger pic- ture? Politics in Canada has grown nasty, brutish and short-sighted indeed in the past couple of years. The anything -goes blogosphere contributes to the condition. So does the media, perpetually hungry for conflict and scandal to report. . Does it really need to be this way? No. Collectively, we make it this way. Collectively, we can change it. Now, there's a wish for the New Year. All the best. Town deserves better than pet mess To the Editor; During my daily walks, which take me through The Square, I couldn't believe how many people can be so ignorant and leave their dog mess on the sidewalks and not pick it up. I, during one walk just before Christmas, counted three different piles on The Square on the same day. The most ironic part was that one was right under the town supply bags for this same purpose. I also want to say the people who think they are animal eNeeNe The Goderich Signal -Star, published every Wednesday at Ooderlch, Ontario is one of The Signal -Star Publishing Group of Community Newspapers, a division of Bowes Publishers. The Ooderich Signal Star shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad for typographical ermrs in publication except to the extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error occurred. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The Goderich Signal -Star is a pmud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers A relation (CCNA) and The Ontario Community News,-apers Association (OCNA). Editorial Deadlines... Friday at 2 pm All Advertising Deadlines... Entertainment, Births, Deaths, In Memoriams... Classifieds... Display Advertising... Friday at 2 pm Telephone Fax.... Publisher... Reporters... • 519-524-2614 519-524-5145 Dave Sykes Dominique Milburn Gerard Creces Denny Scott Letters opinion lovers and put their dogs outside and let thein bark all day are just as ignorant as those who don't pick up the poop. From the start of my daily walks until I return about an hour later some so-called pet lovers let their dogs bark and bark with no respect for their neighbours, or anyone else. What kind of person would do this without consider- ation for others? Having a dog requires more than saying 'I have a pet..' They should be teach- ing them obedience. If you can't teach it, or pick up after it, then maybe you should not have the dog. Neighbours deserve more than a barking dog all day, and if more people would speak up and phone animal control without fear of of- fending an inconsiderate owner, maybe something would be done. W. Gallow Classifieds & Subscription... Accounting... Office Manager... Display Sales... Advertising Manager,.. 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