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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-10-10, Page 4Page 4 October 10, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Editorial Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Don't sacrlflce your democratic right to vote People hate to be lectured`. They hate to be told what they should be doing, how they should be doing it, and when or why they should be doing it. They hate to be treated like children. That's especially true at election time. And that's why the perennial complaints about low voter turnout tend to fall on deaf ears. It simply doesn't matter to some whether they show up on election day to cast their ballot. It doesn't matter that they're sacrificing one of the greatest and most recognizable benefits of liv- ing in a free and democratic society. Even when confronted with the appalling situa- tion in Myanmar, where innocent people are being shot in the streets for daring to peacefully protest for more democracy, it simply doesn't matter to some people. They just can't be bothered to vote. And to be fair, they don't have to. That's another one of the benefits of living in a democratic country -- having the right not to vote. Still it's a little disappointing that so few do. In the last provincial election in 2003, voter turnout was about 56.8 per cent, according to Elections Ontario, which is the lowest level since 1929, when 56.2 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot. And it's a far cry from the high point in 1898, when 74.4 per cent of voters came out. Why the apathy? Is it because there are few issues catching the attention of the electorate? That may be part of it. Certainly faith -based school funding — the only thing to emerge so far as a defining issue of the 2007 election campaign — is hardly a galvanizing one. - Is it disenchantment with the party leaders or the parties themselves? There seems to be some of that -- the feeling that one is as good as another, or as bad, so why bother selecting any one of them. Even it that were true, it shouldn't prevent us from voting, if for no other reason than it gives us a more legitimate right to complain. If you prefer one candidate or party more than another, vote that way. If that candidate is elected, you've done your part. If not, you can at least feel ' secure in the knowledge that you tried. Your voice was heard. And in a democracy, that's what counts, the right to express your opinion and speak your mind with- out fear of reprisal. The Stratford Beacon Herald Six months in Seaforth and Mitchell has taught me a lot Show up at an elementery school with a camera and you'll get swarmed. That's what happened two weeks ago in Mitchell when I was photographing Mitchell Public School's Terry Fox Run. So many kids gathered around me to ask if I got a shot of them that I lost count. Ten kids? Twelve? More? I don't know. Kids desperately want their picture in the paper. That's one of the many things I've learned in the six months since starting as a reporter and photographer for the Expositor and the Advocate. I've also learned that elementary schools smell a little odd and that high schools smell of cologne and perfume. Never a true sports fan, I've learned to love photographing soccer games and dread shooting hockey games. I haven't perfected arena photography yet. A country boy who never had any inter- est in farming, I've become fascinated with crops and biosecurity and agricul- tural issues in general. A long-time agnostic, I've become alarmed by the shrinking congregations that force churches to close their doors. I've learned that a church isn't just a building, but a significant part of the community it's embedded in. Where the Aaron Jacklin issue would never have been on my radar before, I now worry about the communities that lose their churches. Having grown up in a small town, I should have known how much actually goes on in one. But as a teenager, I was convinced small towns were the most boring place in the world. I even thought that as a young adult. The last six months have taught me nothing could be further from the truth. Again and again, I've been shocked to find out how much actually goes on when you take the time to look. The irony there certainly wasn't lost on me. I've learned to manage a large amount of information without drowning in it. Most of the time, anyway. On the other hand, I haven't learned to teleport myself around the province to visit the friends and family I rarely see. Nor have I learned how to sleep more than six hours a night. That's what cars and coffee are for, I guess. One lesson that sticks out is that cliches are sometimes true. For example, the most important thing I've learned is how much is left to learn. Ron at Dave Hey gavel Wake upl I'm not getting out of bed today. I've been calculating my carbon footprint... r by David Lacey I've taken into consideration all the energy required to cook What it all comes down to Is.... The world can't afford me my breakfast, heat the shower water, make my coffee.. plus the paper needed to draw my comic Strip...and the power necessary to destroy forests for the paper and transport it to the printers and deliver to readers...where after a short time it ends up on the bottom of a bird cage. It takes a huge amount of energy and money to do all thatl Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com OUIKtolt MEDIA 'We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Canada: SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 36.18 a year in advance, plus 5181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt U.S.A.: 36.18 a year in advance, plus 592.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occu- pied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 7605 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO Circulation Department P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Ne Association & the Ontario Community Newspapers- Association Susan Hundertmark Editor Aaron Jacklin Reporter Bernie Pugh Sharlene Young Bolen Advertising / Office Composing Publisher - Dave Sykes Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 89, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1W0 Maxwell Bickford Advertising Rep Dianne McGrath Front office