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Times-Advocate, 1983-11-09, Page 5Times-Advocgt., Novmb.r 9, 1983 Imes dvocate Times Established 1873 Serving South Huron, North Middlesex Advocate Established 1881 & North Lambton Since 1873 Amalgamated 1924 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications limited LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKFTT Advertising Manager BILI BATTEN ROSS HAUJGH Editor Assistant Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager DICK JONGKIND Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 235-1331 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $21.00 Per year; U.S.A. $56.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' and 'ABC' The children - deserted, forgotten, thin clothing. Terrible dreams of war, soldiers, and weapons. War's children They suffered too of hunger, disease, and neglect. No parents - not anymore - Just loneliness in the cold, dark night. Fingers rapped While the federal government will probably appeal a court decision handed down in Ontario this week that dealt a blow to the metric conversion program, the politicians should fully assess what the court was primarily saying. The move to metric conversion in itself was not de- nounced by the courts as much as the manner in which the government attempted to stuff it down the throat of every Canadian. While people balked at the idea of changing to metricprimarilybecause of the cost and inconvenience involved, the attitude grew to one of resentment through the bulldozing tactics employed by a govern- ment which had been less than honest in the manner in which the conversion decision was made and in fail- ing to live up to a promise that indicated it would be They cried - those children who were left to suffer, to die. Shondi Bly Taber, Alberta a slow process in which people could take their time to become acquainted with the system. People only wanted to have the privilege of com- paring metric weights and measures with the system with which they were more familiar so they would know what they were paying for the items they were buying in the marketplace. All but the government, it seems, recognized that within a generation the metric system would be mastered through the education process and there was little harm in allowing the two systems to co -exist un- til that transition could be completed in a voluntary manner. It's too late to reverse the mamm th costs that have already been incurred in terms dollars, but hopefully the court decision will reverse the govern- ment's high-handed approach to metric conversion. Uneasy situation Anti-nuclear proponents are getting strong support for their concerns regarding the dangers inherent in hydro reactors in view of the unending problems be- ing experienced by Ontario Hydro's nuclear stations at Pickering and Kincardine. So many problems have arisen lately, that the possibility exists that Ontario Hydro may have to im- port power from the U.S. The cost of the repairs and of finding other sources of power to meet the province's needs are disconcer- ting to beleaguered customers who will have to foot the bills. Last week, Hydro officials suggested there was no danger to the public from a small leak that resulted in radioactive heavy water being dumped into Lake Ontario. However, they did little to calm the fears when they explained that the source of the leak had not been determined and they would have to wait until it.became larger so they could find it. Just how large does it have to become and how much more radioactive heavy water will be dumped before it is fixed? Apparently that's anyone's guess and while there has been no proof yet to refute Ontario Hydro's reassurances, they must recognize that many people are starting to grow increasingly uneasy about the situation. Looking for government position? 8. At renewal, will my mortgage still be amortized over a 25 -year period? Not usually. The amortization period is usual- ly reduced by the years paid in the previous term (s). For instance, if your original mortgage had a 25 -year amor- tization period and a five-year term, your new payments would most likely be bas- ed on the principal balance at the end of the term, and on a 20 -year amortization period at the current mortgage interest rate. The preceding information is among that contained in a recent booklet which arrived on the editor's desk from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, en- titled Homeowners' Guide to Mortgage Renewal. The information contained in the booklet will be helpful to those attempting to sort out the various mortgage renewal plans available, but the waste of tax- payers' money and natural resources evi- dent in the preparation of the booklet is ludicrous, although unfortunately, it ap- pears to be in keeping with the attitude of federal and provincial departments that there is a bottomless pit of public funds available for production of information booklets and reports. The paragraph gleaned from the booklet under discussion and reprinted at the outset of this column, entirely con- stitued one of the 22 pages in the 81/2" by 11" production. It was, on average, in- dicative of the amount of information con- tained on each of the remaining 21 pages, given the fact three of the pages were en- tirely blank. The booklet was, of course, printed in two colours and is naturally available in French. Readers don't have to be printing layout specialists to take out their rulers and measure the content of the average page and make their own determination of how many pages they could have saved through a more judicious publicaton design. If you can't cut those 22 pages down to at least four, then you showdefinitesigns BATT'N AROUND with the editor of having the talent for which the govern- ment is looking ii. the never-ending search for people who can waste taxpayers' money. The CMHC slogan is "making Canada a better place to live". May I add that it is also doing its part in making Canada a much more expensive place in which to live? It's not often that an opportunity arises to extol the benefits of smokers to socie- ty. For years the nicotine addicts have been attempting to justify their habit by pointing out the economic benefits to the public purse through the excessive taxes they are forced to cough up. Ontario tobacco growers recently com- missioned a study into other economic benefits, such as the large number of jobs which are produced annually through direct and indirect association with the tobacco industry. In general all the arguments have been more than offset by the cost of health ser- vices generated through tobacco use and the smokers have had to slink away in defeat. Now, however, there is an added argu- ment for their position that the smoking habit does contribute significantly to the economy. It comes from an associate pro- fessor of Toronto's faculty of medicine. Anthony Rebeck, MD, told a recent workshop on the cost of smoking that Canada saved an estimated $565 million in 1980 as a result of cancelled pension ex- penditures following "deaths caused by smoking-related diseases." So, the next time you're prompted to tell smokers to "butt out" just remember they're doing their part to guarantee funds will be available for your retirement. • . . * While people appear intent on establishing 'firsts and pay great homage to those who set records, the last words of famous people are also of some particular interest. The last thing inventor Alexander Graham Bell said was, "So little done, So much to do". Poet Emily Dickinson's final expresion was, "I must go in for the fog is rising." Actor George Sanders left his last words in a suicide note: "I am leav- ing because I am bored." The progenitor of today's "gallows humor' has to be the final utterance of William Palmer who, as he was about to be executed by hanging, stepped onto the trapdoor and inquired, "Are you sure it's safe?" No doubt many people envision coming up with some final, profound statement in their last gasp prior to departing this earth. Unfortunately most of them wait too long and miss out on the opportunity. Better to get it off your chest now so it can do some good, because there's little doubt that the world does suffer from a lack of profound thinking these days. SasT FLEW OVER 'CREPITO)LITY GRP' v 3' "Ssshh! I'm on a secret peace initiative mission!" Question is loud and clear A few years ago I swore I'd never write another column about Remem- brance Day. Not only was it hard on me, emotional- ly, but I felt that if I con- tinued, I'd start falling in- to cliches, like throwing the torch to the next generation. Well, we didn't throw them the torch to carry high, and Flanders fields are old bones now, but the torch is there- a different kind. The torch, not of gallantry and defending certain ideals, and being prepared to die for them, but the torch of terrorism, vicious hatred of other col- ors, religions and political systems, and new wars and slaughter in the paper every day. With another Remem- brance Day coming up, I must break my promise. An essay by Canadian Hugh MacLennan, called "Remembrance Day 2010 A.D.," reread after ten years, brought home to me once again the utter folly of mankind, and his apparent obsession with destroying his own species. Written in the 1950s, the essay is an ironic warn- ing that is just as valid to- day as when it was written. With prophetic insight, he saw the arms race building until the human race is m the delicate egg- shell it is today: constant escalation of nuclear weapons, paranoid suspi- cion of the "enemy", and teetering on the tightrope of oblivion. He foresaw a space war, which is just over the horizon, if something worse doesn't happen first. We hate to think of it.We go right on, grunging around in our own little world,whining about taxes, beefing &.wut "the gover- ment", and stuffing our brance Day. Most of us were in our twenties. We looked with affectionate condescension on the "old guys" veterans of W.W.I. They were in their late 40's and 50's. Now, most of the "old Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley guts while half the world or more is literally siary Eng. Most of us are not on hard drugs. But most of us are on the soft kind, sym- bolized by television, which tells us that we'd be happy if we drank this beer, or used that sham- poo, or used ever -thinner sanitary napkins, or ate Krinkly-Krak for breakfast. All lies, of course. Subtle, but lies. And often symbolized by our "leaders", who lie to us until the truth comes up, then lie some more. And do not lead, but follow - the latest poll. A vote is more important than a good citizen: self-reliant, independent, thinking. Doesn't it turn your guts a bit? It does mine. But, like everyone else, I'm too preoccupied with my busted shoulder, my pen- sion, the constant demands of family, and my own comfort, to face the facts. I remember the first few times I marched in the Legion parade on Remem- guys" are gone, except for a corporal's guard, and we cocky young strutters are the "old guys". It's depressing, but the word that constantly forms in my mind is WHY? Why did millions of young men go through the gruesome, bloody, insane dense macabre of World War 1? Correction: millions of them did not "go through" it. They left their bones and pus and blood in little foreign places with funny names. And they left nations of weeping women and children. Of course, they died to save democracy. That's what it said. Or, perhaps; because they followed the leadership of senile and/or stupid leaders, who thought little of killing 100,000 men to gain a few hundred yards of mud. Why did millions of young men, only two decades later, do it all over again? of course, they were fighting for freedom from dictator- ship, for "our way of life." Same old crap. Wiiat was ae- complished in two' world wars? Tens of millions killed, and the second time around, many of them civilians. It kept down the surplus population, of course. And the tremendous damage to property kept our Western factories humm- ing after each war, replac- ing what had been destroyed. Is that what it was all about? Have brutality. torture, binodshe.i taught mankind any sort of lesson? Ob- viously not. Korea, Viet Nam, the Middle East, Africa, India, South and Central America, have spawned more killing, more torture, more blood- shed, more two-bit dictators. I don't care how right- wing or red -necked you are. Don't laugh at the peace marches. They seem to be the only thing however incoherent and ineffective, that suggest any sanity in the modern world. I take nothing from the dead of those wars. In the first one, they were my uncles. In the second, they were my comrades. I have a lifelong admiration, even love for them. They really believed in what they were dying for. Let them rest in peace. But from their grumbl- ing graves, as they look down, or up, at the lnsani- ty of today's arms race, the blind violence, cruelty and viciousness of the world they were "saving" I can hear one question, loud and clear. WHY? Can't find the meaning Every so often, while driving to work, I twirl the radio dial to find my favourite station and am suddenly subjected to a violent blast of what passes for modern music, and am forced to reflect on the dastardly concoc- tions that have come out during the last few years. What bothers me the most is that young people seem to think that there is really something mean- ingful in the lyrics and the tunes. All I can hear is this can't be music. something which is Why when I was a kid Perspectives By Syd Fletcher assuredlya cross between a chain -saw and a sea gull caught with its leg in a garbage can lid. Surely they had good stuff like "my friend the witch - doctor, he told me what to do. He said 'oo-ee-oo aw- aw. Ting -tang, walla - walla, bing, bing" and so on. Stuff that really meant something. And surely you remember that old favourite of the fifties 'putty -putt, cement - mixer'? I think that if the song- writers of the eighties would just look back a few years that they would find all they need to get a de- cent message across to the kids of today.