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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-03-26, Page 4Pane 4 Citizens News March 26, 1961 "Don't walk around with that story while daddy's doing his taxes!" _ __ :. Viewpoint_-_- _- z.C.N. "mmimiiinnmmnununnnnunnmil nnunimmnnum ummiiininm mimilimmiiimmilimmiffilmimiiiimmiiiiffilffi innninimimmiiinimnmmF Why treat handicapped different There should not have to be an International Year of the Disabled for the whole world to put the han- dicapped on the same level as the rest of society. There seems to be a need for our society to do things out of guilt. The United Nations -decided that the handicapped were being ignored by just about everyone and to do something about it, they should have this year in honor of them. This is a fine idea, but why should it be just one year. After this year is over, more than likely, everyone will go back to the same attitude towards the han- dicapped that they had before. They will patronize them or avoid them just because they are different. Recently, a large departmentstoresent out a flyer with their spring sales in it. Because it is the Inter- national Year of the Disabled, the models in this flyer were handicapped. Now, what would the chances be of this happening if this special year had not been brought about? Next to none. Why should the han- dicapped be treated differently than anyone else? The biggest problem that the handicap face is not their disability, but society's inability to overlook these minor problems and look at the person as a whole. The disabled have the same feelings as everyone else and have the same desires. Quite a few are very talented, but never really get a chance to show their ability. Society is too busy trying to pretend that they are just the same as everyone else, when all they are doing is trying to ease their own guilt feelings. They keep trying to convince themselves that they are being fair, when in fact all the patronizing is only demeaning the handicapped. The handicapped should be treated as anyone else. If they fail at something, so what, so do the rest of us. At least there is the satisfaction of knowing they tried and failed on their own. Nationalization only adds to cost You say you're concerned about that time in the future when there will be lineups at Canadian gas- oline outlets because of a shortage of oil supplies? Or when those outlets will be closed for the same reason? Not to worry; at least, some of those gas stations will be Canadian -owned — you'll be able to line up at Petro -Canada outlets, or drive by the empty pumps at Petro -Canada centres. Of course, you'll be paying more for the privilege - no matter where you buy your gasoline. Your federal government, you see, under the farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Trudeau, feels for some reason that it's important to increase the Canadian ownership of our oil industry. For that reason, your government is buying control of Petrofina Canada Ltd., for a mere $1.46 billion. That works out to $120 a share, a generous price considering Petrofina's net asset value was es- timated at $81.54 a share in December. How will your government cover this purchase price? Simple: it will pass the cost on to everyone who buys oil or natural gas. Obviously, somebody has to pay the price for a plan that will do nothing but nationalize an oil com- pany ; it won't do a thing for our supplies but drive up the price. Your government is also buying a leaderless company, since the plan has led to the resignation of Pierre Nadeau as president, chairman and chief ex- ecutive officer of Petrofina. Mr. Nadeau calls the takeover folly; it "doesn't add a drop of oil to Canada. It takes away another company that has been doing its job, fulfilling its role as a Canadian corporate citizen in developing the oil and gas industry in Canada." We couldn't agree more. That $1.46 -billion could have gone a long way to assist in the exploration for new sources of energy. Grimsby Independent By ROB CHESTER A friend came up to me in a bar in Kitchener a week or so ago. He asked how things were going in Exeter. I said fine, and we talked fora few minutes. Thenheasked if it was true I was building a 17th century cannon. Of course not I said. Why on earth would I build a 17th century cannon? He said, that was what Mark had told him. I assured him I wasn't far enough over the edge to start building 17th century cannons. He went away happy, but just a little confused. It's a 16th century cannon. I think I was born three hundred years too late. Ostensibly I'm a journalist. Anyone who knows me well, knows I'm actually a veteran campaigner of countless small wars -- a commander of troops -- who has fearlessly thrown countless soldiers into the maw of death -- who has lead armies into withering fire without flinching -- who hasbeenknownto snatch defeat from the jaws of victory -- who is perhpas only slightly better known for pell-mell retreats (routs) than tactical skill in the assault. I'm a wargamer and I collect 25 millimetre lead soldiers. My current project is a Landsknecht unit. `These soldiers were mercenaries from the mountainous regions of southern Germany. They took part in the many indecisive wars during the first half of the 16th century. During this time, the Holy Roman Empire was breaking up, and the authority of the Catholic church was being challenged. Henry the Eigth in England broke with the Pope about this time, and Luther had begun his movement in the German States. The soldiers are inch -high models of Landsknecht warriors. The unit has about sixty figures (so far), in- cluding the cannon. Just about any period of warfare can be simulated with miniature figures moved about a table top in com- plex chess -like games. For me, wargaming is an expression of model building creativity. The figures are sold as rough lead castings. Each must be cleaned, converted or modified if necessary, and carefully painted. Many itmes such as Landsknecht cannons, cannot be purchased. If you want one, you have to make one. Often it is a case of just not being able to find what you need. Wargamers visit small conventions to share battles, and sell or trade troops I once flew to Philadelphia for a two day weekend -- to do nothing but buy model soldiers. I've got most of the people close to me (mother, my girlfriend) convinced the hobby is also a good in- vestment. As with any handicraft, the figures increase in value if they are properly, done. Since they are metal, their cost is also subject to inflation. When I first started collecting lead figures about four years ago, (I'd gamed long before then, but that was before I knew they weren't toys!) they cost about 35 cents a man. They now cost about 65 to 75 cents each, though the only ones I could find in London were priced at 95 cents each! I don't like to total up the amounts I've spent over the past four years. I did it once and the total, while impressive in numbers, was extemely painful in the wallet. It could be worse though, and I'll try this excuse on my readers before Carol (the wife -to -be) hears it: I went to an antique sale and saw some beautiful old toy soldiers -- fiveVictorian British marines -- priced at the ridiculously reasonable sum of $10 each. Please turn to page 9 Published Each Wednesday Sy J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Numb»r: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association OMarie Weakly Newspapers Association News Editors - Mark Hough and Rob Chester Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Subscription Rates; $8.50 per year in advance in Canada 519.50 per year outside Canada Single copies 25(