HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-04-02, Page 4Page 4
Citizens News AprN 2, 19e1
=unuuuluu1u1u1uu1u1n111un1unnluuuuununnunuuuuunnu1u1u1nnnnunlnlnu1u11nn11nn1un11nunnnnuunlnunnlnulu1nn11unnunn1u1n11n1nn1^
!Viewpoint.z.c.�
_
_ .
1.............................1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111{1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111t"
Church does better on Unity
The United Church has done better as a united
national institution than has the federal govern-
ment, says Larry Krotz, a contributing editor for
The United Church Observer.
In one of a series of articles on western aliena-
tion in the April issue, Krotz says the church has
been more responsive to regional concerns than the
federal government although it faces similar
problems: distance, and funds coming from Ontario
headquarters.
Church regions got a say on the spending of
money and the designation of priorities years ago,
but they still struggle to have adequate representa-
tion on national committees, and to influence
national policies. "In Alberta the battles are still
being fought for the needs of the regions," says
Krotz. `Within a decade, half a million Edmon-
tonians will live in new sub -divisions that as yet
have no United Churches." Albertans feel the rest
of the church doesn't share their sense of urgency
that these churches must be built now.
Another article on the same subject says the
church is moving away from a system where
decisions are handed down from the top, and now in-
volves more people in decision-making than ever
before. The church also allows its members to peti-
tion to its highest court, if they have complaints.
The fundamental thing the country might learn
from the church is "a commitment by all parties to
something greater than themselves," the article
concludes.
Canadians approach 1984
Twenty years ago the idea that government
would eventually control every aspect of our lives
seemed more than a bit far-fetched. Big Brother,
the all-pervading control influence of government,
was predicted to hold sway by the year 1984. Ap-
parently some Canadians believe that 1981 would
make a good time to start.
Following the closing of daily newspapers in Ot-
tawa and Winnipeg a royal commission was es-
tablished to examine the news industry in this coun-
try. The commisssion is made up of three men un-
der the chairmanship of Tom Kent, a university
professor and and Borden Spears of The Toronto
Star. Immediate object of the hearings is to deter-
mine the role of the large newspaper chains and
whether or not, by mutual agreement, they are clos-
ing out competitive publications.
As the various witnesses are heard, however,
the discussions have ranged far beyond the im-
mediate problem of chain ownership. In factme
statements have been made which would inoiate
that there are quite a few Canadians who have not
the faintest clue about the role of newspapers in a
democratic society.
Richard Martin, president of the Manitoba
Federation of Lpbour suggested that the federal
government launch its own newspaper chain. Other
speakers suggested some form of direct govern-
ment involvement with the prgss along the lines of
the Canadian Radio -Television and Telecom-
munications Commisssion.
Commissioner Picard (formerly head of the
CBC) had this to say: "I wonder why....a newspaper
is different from a radio station or a TV station?"
That, indeed, is a good question. One which we
have posed in this column many times. Why should
radio and television be permanently controlled by
politicipns who, directly or indirectly, are bound to
influence what is heard and seen on the airwaves?,
A government -operated newspaper chain... to
provide unbiased news coverage? What a laugh!
How long would it take to develop a Canadian Prav-
da, telling its readers only what the government
wants the comrades to know and leaving out
anything that might look bad for the ruling party?
So far we have not heard or read any comments
on the subject by Borden Spears, an experienced
news man who should know what freedom of the
press is all about.
it is reasonably safe to predict that this royal
commission will prove no more fruitful than the
thousands of others which have mulled over our
problems, at huge cost, from time immemorial. If
chain newspaper ownership is such a threat to our
society it is a wonder that a royal commission did
not long ago recommend dismemberment of the
K.C. Irving chain which has owned every English
language newspaper in New Brunswick for the past
20 or 30 years.
If the people of Ottawa and Winnipeg a se
cond daily newspaper some smart businessman will
provide it. If the market is there, the product will
arrive. How long did it take to supplant The Toronto
Telegram with The Toronto Sun?
Mis> eellaneous
Rumblings
By
MARK HOUGH
This week, the rumblings are going to be a bit
different. I'm sure you are tired of hearing about the
ordinary things like wargaming, UFOs and how spring
is such a drag. This week the column is going to be
dedicated to those who love the game of golf.
I'm sure this will turn a few readers off this week's
wonderous words, but hold on, it may interest you
more than you think.
When I first saw a golf match on television, I thought
it had to be the most boring thing ever. It was right up
there with watching paint dry and the Maple Leafs try-
ing to stand up every Saturday night. I used to say to
myself, "How could grown men chase a little, white
ball around an expensive lawn?"
Then one day a friend of mine asked me if I wanted
to join his. dad and himself for a round of golf the next
day. I had nothing else to do, so I said that I'd go. When
he said that they would be teeing off at 6:30 the next
morning, I looked at him with a stare that said he w
crazy.
Of course, the next morning I was late by about,
an hour. I caught up with them on the third hole.
thought to myself, "This is great, I'm wandering
around in this wet grass and I haven't even got any
clubs," (the pro shop didn't open until 7:30).
After the pro shop opened and I rented some clubs, it
was a race back to the fifth tee where the other two
were waiting. After my first swing, I fell 0 love with
the game.
This is not to say it is impossible to get frustrated
out on the course. It can be done quite easily.
The biggest problem is the lack of concentration a
lot of beginners face, myself included. The first
tendency is to lift your head to watch the flight of the
ball. Usually, the look is there, but the ball isn't. This
usually constitutes what some golfers call a worm -
burner, the ball not getting more than a few inches off
the ground. This starts a chain reaction.
The golfer then gets upset with himself and starts
to get angry. He vows that the next shot will go a mile
to make up for the last duffed (golfer's term for being
a clod and missing the ball) shot and swings with all
his might. This usually ends in another duffed shot. He
finally connects with the ball and it sails into the trees .
running along the fairway. After taking four. swings ;'
and finally getting it out of the bush, the next shot goes
into the nearest water hazard. With this, the calm and
collected golfer returns to his clubs and goes over to f
the spot where the ball entered the water. He then
proceeds to dump his expensive clubs into the pond and 1.
walk away. t
I hav er become so enraged I have thought of
giving u e game, but there have been some tense i
momen t can become a frustrating pastime. I can
recall one time when three of us were out on a course i
near home. We tallied up the scores and one of my a,
friends had a score of 108, unfortunately thiswasafter .
the first nine holes.
Another frustrating aspect of the game is getting
behind someone and they won't let you play through.
This is usually little kids and lady golfers, but
sometimes it is the men who are at fault.
The men get on to the tee -off and stand around and
talk and laugh and drink beer. They sit there until the
group behind them is just putting -out before they start
the next hole and they have been sitting there for five
minutes. Then they take forever to get out of range of
your tee -off shot. You give them a few more minutes
to get off the green and you start. The whole process
starts over again.
It may seem strange that I am pointing out all the
bad aspects of the game after I said that I fell in love
with it, but those are some of the beauties of it.
Please turn to page 5
Published Each Wednesday Sy J.W. Esdy Publications Ltd.
Member:
Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association
Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association
News Editors - Mark Hough and Rob Chester
Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385
Subscription Rotes: 58.50 per year in- advancQ in Canada
S19.50 per year outside Canada Single copies 254