HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-12-06, Page 23COMM1 INITY
11,
ur
Letters to the editor
Reader tired of 'sob stories'
"I don't believe it's my God-given
right to be supported by every
other taxpayer."
Dear Editor:
Dear Miss Cowell:
I'm writing about your letter in last week's Times
Advocate. I don't want to slap you in the face but I
hope to shed some light on reality for you.
First I'II tell you a bit about myself. I'm a 19 -
year -old agnostic existentialist who has a job and
pays his own hills. I pay taxes, give blood, follow
the laws of the land, care about my fellow commu-
nity members and humanity as a whole, and I con-
sider myself to be a generally good person. 1 will
spare you the details of my literary career, how high
my marks were in half a dozen classes in school, or
about my dog's fetish for polyester lacks because
none of that is relevant.
Moving on to my views:
I don't believe it's my God-given right to be sup-
ported by every other taxpayer. 1 do admire Susan
Dolphin for supporting herself and her children.
I'm glad that your mother is there for you 'with
open arms' but I don't think that she has to live off
of social assistance to be a good parent.
I'm sure that God does have tirneto listen to your
'sob stories.' 1 , on the other hand, must admit that I
get tired of hearing people complain about their
lives while they lie to themselves and to others
about the real reasons they live the way they do; be
it ignorance, fear of decision, comfort of present sit-
uation, enjoyment of martyrdom, or anything else.
It's nice that you're a Christian and I'm sure that
the church gives you comfort, however I believe it's
wrong to hide behind a religion or anything else.
My friends include devout Christians, fierce athe-
ists, and everything else in between. I respect these
people because of who they are as individuals, not
as members of a religious belief.
1 apologize if you Lind me politically incorrect,
rude, or offensive. I'm sorry that you've had a hard
life but a simple and important fact of life is that
you, your mother, Mrs. Dolphin, myself, and every-
one else are ultimately responsible for ourselves.
Bless yourself,
Dan Bengough
Concern over vandalism in Exeter
... what were your
children doing out at 3 o'clock in
the morning?...
Dear Editor:
I'm writing to express my concern over thc van-
dalism occurring in Exeter.
We had a wooden painted snowman and Santa
screwnailed to the front pillars of our home, vandals
ripped then off at 3 o'clock in the morning. We
now have to explain to our four year old that there
are had people who do had and wrong things.
Now we know this happened at 3 o'clock in the
morning because our little girl woke up crying be-
cause she heard a hang outside her window.
To the vandals who did this, were you never
shown love or caring or taught to be a respectable,
responsible and caring person in our society, if not, I
feel very sorry for you!!
To the vandals parents, what were your children
doing out at 3 o'clock in the morning? Were you not
able to raise your children to know what is morally
acceptable!! "Wrong and right".
This is not acceptable behavior!!
With hopes for the future
Terri Reid
Exeter, Ontario
More cuts announced in provincial spending
... this majority elected government
is attacking values and standards
developed over 60 years ago....
Dear Editor:
The Treasurer of Ontario announced at the end of
• November, yet again more cuts in provincial spend-
ing. Besides cutting our fiscal lifeline, this majority
elected government is attacking values and stan-
dards developed over 60 years ago as a response to
the first "Great Depression".
As front line staff who provide direct support to
physically and developmentally challenged individ-
uals we are not merely, selfishly worried about your
jobs hut are deeply concerned about the lives and
workplaces that give dignity to people living here,
in our neighborhoods, in our apartment buildings,
and in our towns. To simple say "we can't afford to
hand out pensions to everyone!" is not realistic.
What are the alternatives?
We know that generations ago handicapped mem-
bers of society were at the mercy of their families,
some tragically hidden in bedrooms, isolated and of-
ten feared by thc community. Institutional care be-
came the cry of the professionals and thousands of
people took up new residency where they received
food and shelter at what was thought to be alYorda-
ble cost. We now know that these outdated build-
ings are in a state of disrepair and the provincial
government is rapidly closing them due to unrealis-
tic operating costs. Once again families are raising
children in their own homes and are growing up
with the rest of their peers. Rightfully so!
We all have choices, but as parents, friends and
people in the business community. we should be
worried that a society that doesn't value the last of
it's citizens will callously throw them out of pychi-
atric hospitals, close group homes, or worse yet re-
duce staffing levels so low that the individuals can't
participate in their communities because for some,
paid staff is a necessity. It is doubtful that they will
he able to fend for themselves out on the streets. If
we aren't careful we might embrace a very powerful
idea poparlized by a European Leader in the 1940s
who advocated "getting rid of them". I sincerely
hope not!
When you read that a union is fighting for job se-
curity, resisting cutbacks, please show your support
for these caring staff as you never have done before.
The very soul and fabric of our society is reflected
in how we help others and the need for organiza-
tions such as Community Living will never diminish
unless we turn our backs on each other. I pray we
don't fall to that level.
Janis Bishack
President CUPE 2597 - Community Living South
Huron
Hay's anniversary begins
with the Festival of Lights
HAY TOWNSHIP - Hay Town-
ship is gearing up for its 150th an-
niversary.
This month thc Festival of Lights
bus tours to view lights of res-
idences, businesses and institutions
will take place.
Participants are encouraged to
dress in period costume at the lev-
ee, (reception) which is slotted for
January 7 and marks the official
opening of the celebrations. This is
also the registration time for the
beard -growing contest.
.In February there will be an his-
torical fashion show followed by an
Old Timers' Hockey Game in
March. April promises a bowling
tournament and community tree
planting spree as well as an educa-
tional Hay Days' Student Aware-
ness stint.
As for next summer's agenda,
there is a mixed golf tournament
and hay sculpturing contest as well
as a Homecoming Weekend in-
cluding a giant church service, mi-
nor baseball tournament, historical
parade and international tug-of-war
contest.
September will host a car rally,
Ootober a Halloween costume skat-
ing party, and November a Family
Night followed by a second Fes-
tival of Lights ceremony to con -
elude the year's celebrations.
Anniversary paraphernalia such
4- `hats, T-shirts, plates, coins and
Ir�tmation calendars are available.
Also, "Hay Township Highlights,'
a Hay Township historical book
compiled by committee members
since February, 1992, will be avail-
able in January. Celebration details
may be found in a brochure to be
released next week.
"It's 150 years of a township,"
said Glen Thiel, head of the pro-
motions committee. "I feel it's a
great honor."
Hunter-Duvar
Auto Body
284-2888 St. Marys
The treatment of
varicose veins
and facial veins
by painless and effective
injections of saline and
sugar solutions
(sclerotherapy), has
become a routine
procedure in this clinic.
There is no charge for
the initial consultation.
DR. MARIO CAUCHI
1
Our philosophy is that each indivi8Nrl is impoNwPlt, and that the%
should 6e re) the choice art9 means 'to be the best they con 6e.
THE LORAMAR CENTRE FOR COSMETIC MEDICINE
27 Bruce St., W, Goderich (519) 524-4430 1-800896.4430
DR. MARIO M. CAUCHI LORRAINE CAUCHI R.N.
Times -Advocate, December 6, 1995
Page 23
Santa'
for your
0<5
h•
Santa has asked his helpers at
the Exeter Times Advocate
to collect letters from his little
friends and print them in the
Christmas editions on
December 13 and 20.
Santa loves to see pictures of the children
who write to him, so please send one
along. Write the child's name on the back.
If you wish to have the photo returned to
you, either pick it up or include a SAS
Drop your letters off at the
Times Advocate or send to:
Santa Claus
c/o Times Advocate
424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario
NOM 1S6
DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8
Please! Keep the letters short and very neat as Mr. & Mrs.
Claus have a lot of reading to do. Use pen please.
Write your letter here:
Child's Name:
Place of residence:
Age:
Parent's nam(s)
•