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Goderich Signal Star, 2017-04-12, Page 66 Signal Star • Wednesday, April 12, 2017 Goderich community VOL. 26 - ISSUE 10 PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 Signal Star Publishing 120 Huckins St. Goderich ON N7A 3X8 519-524-2614 www.goderichsignalstar.com POSTMEDIA JOHN BAUMAN Group Manager, Media Sales jbauman@postmedia.com ext. 232 • JANET SHRIER Office Manager jashrier@postmedia.com ext. 220 Members of the community gather at Goderich Public Library to prayer for the gas attack victims citizens of Syria, are engrained on my brain. The images of human beings who were so distraught from losing family members, in a photo taken to capture the heartbreak and suffering. It is easy to forget the every- Some might say the disturb - day horror that people ing images covering the gas around the world experi- attack took advantage of others once, through intolerance and grief, but I truly believe that this violence, when we live in such a violence in Syria has gone on free and accepting country. too long and needs to be shown KATHLEEN SMITH Editor Of course Canada does expe- to the world. rience issues of racist or reli- People around the world, SUSAN MCINTOSH sales gious intolerance, but our great especially in peaceful and free smcintosh@postmedia.com ext. 228 nation is overall recognized countries, need to actually see around the world as friendly, the truth of the horror that is accepting, welcoming and most happening in Syria, and hope - of all, peaceful. fully be able to empathetically Canadians do not have to feel their suffering. worry about the threat of vio- Late last week, I was invited lence in the form of bombs or by Dr. Gezaghn Wordofa, to the gas attacks. I am sure others will Goderich Public Library, to join MARY JOHNSTON Accounts Receivable attest to this, but speaking for the community in a public majohnston@postmedia.com myself, we are quite sheltered, memorial and prayer service, naive and sometimes take our for the victims of the gas attack freedom and peace for granted. in Syria. Watching the news coverage Dr. Gezaghn Wordofa, presi- last week covering the status of dent of the Multicultural Asso- Syria and the victims of a ciation of Huron -Perth organi- deadly and inhumane gas zation, volunteers to help attack, I was not only devas- newcomers to Canada. Dr. SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: tated, but horrified that human Wordofa, just recently obtained beings live in such conditions. his Canadian citizenship, but This is nothing new, but it's has had quite the journey to happening and it's happening reach this point in his life. now. From Ethiopia, Dr. Wordofa The images of human beings has also lived in Russia and lying on the ground, twitching Syria, and is truly honoured and struggling to breath dis- and feels lucky to live in .a CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT turbed me. peaceful country. . 120 Huckins St, Goderich ON N7A3X8 The images of children who Its nice to see the support suffered and died for no reason, here in our community for because of blind hatred and an newcomers and refugees. We attempt to instil fear into the are lucky to be Canadian and to katsmith@postmedia.com ext. 211 TARA CORRAN Sales tcorran@postmedia.com ext. 230 STACEY SCOTT Inside Sales sscott@postmedia.com ext. 229 RHONDA BUTT Accounting rhbutt@postmedia.com CURTIS ARMSTRONG Group Director of Media Sales 519 376-2250 ext. 514301 or 510 364-2001 ext. 531024 Editorial Deadline - Friday 2 p.m. Advertising booking deadline - Friday 1:30 p.m. Regular $50.00 indudes GST (12 months) Seniors • • $50.00 induties GST (14 months) US $249.00 plus GST Foreign $416.40 plus GST Single Copy $1.50 includes GST Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELNERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES: For any non -deliveries or delivery concems: 519-524-2614 Goderich Signal Star is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www.mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. The Goderich Signal Star shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad for typographical errors 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 proud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). Member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. ocna uanaua letter to the editor Dear Editor, How amazed and hopeful I felt when several years ago, three world leaders - President Carter of the USA, Mr. Sadat of Egypt and Mr. Begin of Israel came together and signed a peace pact. They actually said "No good comes from war", and that no mother should have to send her son to war; now well evidenced by the men and women who return from the horrors of war, only to suf- fer the rest of their lives from phys- ical disabilities or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). What is the answer? The United Nations is rendered useless because of the veto powers of certain powerful nations. Photos by Kathleen Smith/Goderich Signal Sty Dr. Gezaghn Wordofa leads the memorial and prayer meeting by discussing personal experiences with intolerance, violence and hatred. live in such a peaceful country," said Dr. Wordofa. The memorial service opened with a prayer, and Dr. Wordofa spoke on the importance of community and education to avoid senseless acts of violence and intolerance. "I don't understand how humans can do this it other humans. Living here, I am a humanitarian, I'm a volunteer. I'm giving something back. My life was often threatened in Syria and when volunteering in Russia, I was sent to Siberia. There is no sense of commu- nity. But here, people trust, each other and help each other," explained Dr. Wordofa. He told several stories of what life can be like in Syria; and the fear of literal life and death Surely it will fall, just as did the League of Nations, but I do believe in the idea of a new Common- wealth of Nations forming. The new Commonwealth will have no veto but rather a binding agreement that wherever there was oppression or aggression, all would rise to subdue it, either with sanc- tions or armed force if necessary. situations they live through, is unimaginable to someone like me, who was raised in a free and peaceful country. Maybe there is nothing we can do here in Canada, so far removed, and as citizens, in no seat of power. Perhaps the only action we can provide is a sense community, acceptance and support to the Syrian immi- grants and refugees here. The best thing we can do for ourselves and for humanity is to educate our selves on differ- ent cultures, religions, and political issues around the world. Without ignorance, there is little to no room for intoler- ance, hatred and violence to grow, and there is more space for understanding, acceptance, freedom and peace. This makes perfect sense to me. It's not my idea, but one put forth by a prisoner in Israel 150 years ago. Why not try it? Or will it take some unimaginable catastrophe in the world before we try for peace? Sincerely, Phyllis Durst Goderich,Ontario LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Signal Star welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name, address, daytime phone number and signature (for verifica- tion). Anonymous letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including letters for clarification, style and length. Let- ters must be signed and be in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander.