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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-10-01, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, October 1, 1997 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lord Advertising* Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy News; Heather Mir, Craig Bradford, Chantal) Van Raay -Brenda Burke, Kate Monk, Ross Haugh Prpduction• Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hern, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transeortation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Carol Windsor Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple, Ruth Slaght, Sheila Corbett The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership EUITOI' 1;A 1 Publications Mail Registration Number 07511 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; One year rate for Canada subscribers - $35.00 + GST Two year rate for Canada subscribers - $83.00 + GST OTHER RATga Outside Canada -.8102.00 Give three cheers for active participants he air is as crisp as an autumn apple, and the leaves are brilliant shades of rust and gold. The kids are out:there on thefootball field, fighting for that -glorious win, the cheerleaders are trying a couple of new. yells, and the crowd of onlookers - all 20 or so of them - is applauding someone's touch- down. Hold on, folks, something isn't quite -as it should he. About 400 years ago, when most of the parents of those football players.and cheerleaders were at high school, the big game would at- tract hundreds of kids: The noise of the cheers could be heard for miles. A really good game would attract students from other high schools, and sometimes.the police. Cheers would re- sound with every touchdown - or fum- ble, field goal, first down -.-any. excuse to shout -the school song. The school band would turn out to march across the field at half time, and crowds of kids would dance through the stands. It was wonderful, fabulous, boisterous fun. A true appreciation for football was optional - the idea was to be there, with 'as many friends as possi- ble, to make as much noise as. possible. So where were the noisy crowds, the band.playing the school song, the cheering section'?.Likely. at home, watching television --doing the same thing their parents do when there is,a public meeting on a.controversial issue, or a rally to support something impor- tant: • Even council meetings rarely get . more than one or two observers, despite the fact that our tax dollars are being spent, and decisions are being made which will affect our way of life for years to, come. •. Pah* have become too busy, or`'too complacent, to show interest in anything beyond our homes and offices. Perhaps television has'trained us to be a nation of armchair athletes. And perhaps this society has become a little too cool and dignified for its own -good. Those football games, where the crowd was almost as rowdy as the play on the field, were fun. There.was a lot of yelling and goofy behavior, and plenty of letting off steam. You. had the feeling :you weren't just watching -the game; you were part of the action: And it was a heady feeling indeed. - The simple fact is, being a cool., dig- -riffled observer isn't much fun. And be- ing an active participant is - no matter what the game happens to he. - It's -time we. taught our kids a lesson about leaving the sidelines and getting into the middle of the excitement.. Find out -when the school plays hockey, field hockey, football or any other sport. and go to a game yourself. Take a Thermos of coffee and a lawn chair if you must, but go. The kids may be a bit mystified, :but your support wilrbe welcome. Go and talk lo the teachers and sup- port staff marching outside your local school: Find out why they are there even if you are inclined to support the govern- ' ment's legislation. Take your kids to a real, live council -meeting, public rally, or -all candidates meeting - anything to introduce them to the concept -that there are spectators. and ..participants,.and the latter have a lot more fun, are a lot -more aware, and suf- fer -no ill affects from missing one or. two episodes of Seinfield. . reprinted froth Surtgra City News 1919- 1994 tAt A♦f�5 A SSW..., •r.t sr•a Vf Ks CO'''. Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1S6 by 1.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Telephone 1-519-235-1331 • Fax: 519-235-0768 O.S.T. #R105210835 EVEN AFTER 25 YEARS, HARRY STILL GETs EMoTIoN- AL ON THIS ANNtVEgpg11 Your Views Letters to the Editor Lucan Lions busy.. "It is our fiftieth anniversary... ". • Dear Editor:. . Lucan and District Lions Club arc constantly and consistently helping improve the community. Among their many accomplishments for the past year are: completion .of Lions Park ($00.(Xx)). and purchase of a van for the Ailsa Craig Food Bank for $10.000. Their continuing support of Camp Joe, a facility for training Leader Dogs ($3.00)) and a donation to Lucan Community Center of $2,000 will help the youth of the area. Other donations were given to Lucan Scouts. Lucan Figure Skating, Public 'Skating, Foster Parents. Seniors Christmas and the Umbrella Club. - We are very excited about the coming year. It is our fiftieth anniversary and Charter Member Lion, • Clarence Haskett is our fiftieth president. He was also our fifth president. and has continued to be active member. This is quite an accomplishment. Lucan Lions are looking forward to seeing you at yarious.functions in the next -few months. including our annual fish fry in February and St. Patrick's . Bash in March. Our meetings are the firstand third Monday of every month at the Lucan Community Center. New members are always welcome. Thank you for your continuing support of Lucan Lions Club. Mike Tuxford .t A View From Queen's Park By Eric Dowd TORONTO -- Premier Mike Harris is being accused of blinking when unions threatened to strike; but he also is keeping his eye on an elec- tion. Not known as a friend of unions, the Progres- sive Conservative premier abandoned curbs he planned on them to smooth reorganizing and downsizing in municipalities, hospitals and school boards, and speculation on Why he did it is unending. - ' Hams originally would have set up mecha- nisms to forbid employees from striking and appoint tougher arbitrators to settle contract disputes, but dropped them after unions warned, of mass walkouts in his biggest policy retreat in 27 months as premier. Among the theories: Harris backed off be- cause unions who had not shown much solidar- ity now seem united and preparing intensively. Front page headlines in Toronto newspapers next day concluded that "Harris bowed" to un- ion'presiure. The unions themselves claim credit, but be- cause the retreat was so massive are still not quite. willing to accept that it took place: Partly because of acting hastily, Hams has been low in polls (only 33 per cent) for months and wants to avoid labor unrest that could drop him so deep he might never be able to climb out. Ontario is basking in an economic boom and strikes in the public sector would shut down many services that keep it prospering, includ- ing transit, schools, hospitals, garbage collec- tion and even police. The loss of the spending power of hundreds of thousands of broader public sector employ- ees for weeks in strikes would itself take some bloom off the boom. • Investment by business also is high and wide- spread stoppages of public services would turn off some confidence. Any one or a combination of these pressures could have swayed Harris. Kate's takes By Kate Monk Nice game ma'am It happens 16 all of us at some point in time. When it first happened to me, I felt many emotions: surprise. confusion, . sadness and indignation. What. was this milestone? Being addressed as "ma'am." I:was shopping the first time I heard it. A young voice said. "Can I help you with anything . ma'am'?" I know the young buck was just trying to be helpful but it somehow put me on edge. It was a simple statement with a profound impact.: - I've been addressed with that tour -letter word several times • since. It struck me the hardest • when I was refereeing at women's volleyball tournament. When the players finished shaking hands. a young captain came up to me and spoke words that cut to my heart: "Nice game - ma'am." • • Here I was. competing againsi this young lady in highly competitive volleyball. And she addressed me as "ma'am." I have to admit, I've been playing volleyball longer than she has been alive. But how old. did she think I was" I always thought that particular term of respect was meant for - middle-aged people. not - someone barely in her 30's. I'm not the only woman_to be effectedthis way..I,was speaking with a flight instructor who was teaching teenagers to fly. During the interview, I• asked her to describe the most - challenging aspect of the six-week school. Was it letting the student take control of the plane or practicing stalls and spins or the first solo flight" No. 'The most challenging aspect was getting accustomed to being called "Ma'am." . • .1.don't think I'll ever become comfortable with the term. Don't get 'me wrong',- I appreciate the respect hut I don't think I'm ready for the baggage that. in my little mind, comes along -with it. We all have milestones engraved in our minds — graduation, getting a.driver's - license, buying a home.. My list iticludes: lna'ain.' By the way..I wouldn't • - recommend you call me "Ma'am." If 1 can catch you. I'II swat you: We welcome your opinion. All letters to the editor must be signed and are subject to editing. Deliver to 424 Main Street, of mail to P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6 Harris does not back down easily But the Tory premier does not have a history of backing down easily. He has shown a single- minded tenacity, even a one-track mind, in .. working toward goals. • An example was when he produced his Com- mon Sense Revolution platform and was derid- ed by opponents and mostnews media, but plugged on and eventually convinced voters to like it and make him premier. Harris's only other major retreat on policy - had been when he raised doctors' pay after they started turning away patients, but they are most- ly friends -who will vote for him next election. If Harris had pushed on with his original leg- islation curbing unions, it would have quickly produced the biggest strikes in the public sec- tor in memory. The premier would have got much of the blame, particularly because he decided to curb • the unions without the slightest semblance of consulting them. Harris has since met unions and conceded consultation should be part of - . the process. Many would have felt also that. while they want to save costs, life was going on reason- ably smoothly before Harris started his uphea- val and it would have been better to leave things as they were. . But Harris has now placed an obligation on - the unions to meet him part way, show reason in demands and help make public sectorrreorga- nizing work. If they fail to do this and disrupt the'reorga- nizing, voters will be Tess inclined to blame Harris; but feel he made concessions and tried to avoid a fight. In this case, Harris could bring in curbs simi- lar to those he dropped and force the reorganiz- ing, but it would be a feather in his cap that he tried to manage without them. Harris also been battered for being too right wing and is seeking an image as a more moder- ate Tory. His retreat could be a giant step in that direction.