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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1999-11-03, Page 6Exeter Wednesday. October 27. 1999 zPlik rig Editorial&Opinion 4 Oa T 1 M 1 s-ADv( )CATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor. Don Smith Deb Lord General Manager Production Manager Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL Crime Stoppers launches major campaign rime Stoppers is launching a major cam- paign to encourage calls reporting cases of domestic violence. The campaign is not aimed at the victims, but at the people who know what is going on behind closed doors - the guy who is aware his sister-in-law ends up in emer- gency every time her husband comes home drunk; the woman who listens to the screams and noise of breaking glass from next door; the teenaged babysitter who is worried sick about the children she looks after; the guys in the bar who are nauseated hearing one of the regu- lars brag about beating up his wife; the meter guy who hears and sees a lot more than he wants to at a certain address; the kid who is shocked at the violence he wit- nesses at a friend's house. In other words, the campaign is operating under the usual Crime Stoppers assumption, that when a crime is committed, someone always knows. They may not want to make a formal report to police for any number of rea- sons, but they know. The problem is translating this knowledge into posi- tive action. Domestic violence is a particularly sensitive issue, because men who beat up their wives are just as likely to be fine, upstanding citizens, professionals, active in the church and respected for their contribu- tions to community betterment, as they are to be semi - employed, alcoholic lowlifes. The people most apt to know about the violence are their friends, relatives and neighbours. It must never be forgotten that victims of domestic violence are in a relationship with their abusers. They know them well, depend en them, even love them. They often have children together. Victims often say they do not want to end the relationship, they just want the vio- lence to stop. Studies have indicated many victims of domestic vio- lence are hesitant to report they are being assaulted and threatened, but would disclose the information if they were asked. This Crime Stoppers campaign increases the chances they will be asked, and given the opportuni- ty to end the violence. Recent research into domestic violence indicates a narrow "window of opportunity" exists at: the point, police lay the f`irsx charge of domestic assault. That is when the abuser first becomes aware that what he is doing is a crime. • Prompt and appropriate intervention can result in the abuser cooperating with orders to get counselling in anger control or substance abuse, and in the victim seeking assistance from agencies in the com- munity. Taking no action virtually guarantees the vio- lence will continue, even escalate. Not so long. ago, it was up to the victim to press charges in cases of domestic violence. Police were noto- riously hesitant to get involved. In part because the vic- tim was often coerced into withdrawing the charges, as well as because of the danger and unpredictable nature of domestic calls. About a decade ago, responsibility for laying charges was placed where it belonged, in the hands of police. Many departments have since taken a strong, proactive stand against domestic assault. For police to investigate a crime, they have to be aware of it. Crime Stoppers makes it very easy for friends and neighbours, even family members, to start the ball rolling. This is the first occasion Crime Stoppers has focussed on domestic violence, and there could be no better time for this campaign, at the start of Wife Assault Prevention Month, November. If you aro the victim of domestic violence. call your local police. Crime Stoppers is set up to protect the anonymity of callers, and cannot take reports from crime victims. If you suspect someone is a victim of domestic vio- lence, and do not want your identity known, make that (:rime Stoppers call, any time, day or night. Your identi- ty will bo protected, you will never have to give evidence in court, and you could earn a cash reward. The Crime Stoppers number is 1-800-222-8477. f 1 AIRLINE MERGER WAR SEATING ORDER: SHARE• ON,„,LX IRST 1HE REST HowERs EAms cl•ASS 10F US • *Issas Biassessailianswen Si; fall is RE assineas , MB a BEE ileema■e s; . 11s r BM a sasses ER co S amegast al lid is Is a MommoNate . SIB eamIS 1115o■o ESN1 Time to merge local hockey bodies I have an idea that may just improve our local minor hockey systems. Abolish them. No, I don't mean ending minor hockey and uprooting our four arenas in South Huron, arguably the heart of our communities. What I mean is merging Exeter, Stephen, Hensall and Zurich *nor hockey associa- tions into a larger body called something like South Huron Hockey Association. I admit I've stolen the root of this idea from my publisher, the illustrious and much loved Jim Beckett who once was president of Exeter Minor Hockey when his sons were young. But I've expanded on it after much thought. Thanks big guy. `AAA" associations like the Huron -Perth Lakers already take advantage of having more than one home centre. A merged Large body has many advantages: •It would provide more efficient use of ice CRAZE` time at all arenas. It could solve all those BRADFORD headaches arena staff have with who gets ice time when. No prime time ice available at South Huron Rec Centre? How about a practice in Hensall this week and one in Zurich next week? •It would pave the way for higher calibre hockey. A bigger hockey system plays larger centres. So instead of playing in the Shamrock rep league only, the South Huron association could play against teams from London, Sarnia and so ,on. Bigger doesn't necessarily mean better, but no one can dispute teams from this area regularly get their butts whipped by teams from big centres. By putting the best players from. Exeter, Stephen, Hensall and Zurich together, teams would be bigger, faster and more skilled. This paves the way to the next point... •It 'would push player development much further than what exists now. Pooling= the entire talent of South Huron together would have the best players playing together against the best of associations much larger than the ones that exist locally now. And there would be room for players of all skill levels. Junior and college hockey scouts tend to hang out more at larger centres and only venture into the rural areas if they get a tip they can't ignore. •It would save money. By pooling the resources of each arena and their respective staff, they can bulk -buy equipment and sup- plies. •It would solve the fund-raising dilemma facing existing associations. Some associa- tions have found it difficult in the past to raise funds for major capital improvements. If Stephen or Zurich can pay for mega improve- ment projects on their own, imagine what all of South Huron could do. The merged associ- ation could repair and update everything that's needed at existing arenas and some day build a larger central arena with two ice pads that could double as a, convention and performing arts centre. This is all conjecture, of course. Could it happen? Yes, but there would be a lot of road blocks involved, not the least of which would be political in nature. But if we put asidethe protectionism and the xenophobia that seems to run rampant in small town Canada, we could have a bigger, better hockey system that would almost be a shoe -in to producee ultimate goal of minor hockey associations — professional players we can watch on the tube during Hockey Night In Canada. Think about it. About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, .`Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. 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