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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-12-19, Page 4Page 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1984 The Clinton Habit'-Recgrd is published Poch Wadm:,149Y at P,m• 150X 39, Clinton. Ontario, Canada, NOM 10. Te4,402.3843. Subscription Rate: Canada -519.75 Sr. Citizen - 516.75 per yoar U.S.A. foreign • 555.00 per year it is registered as second class mail by the polo ofticu under the permit number 0817. The News.Record Incorporated In 1924 the Huron Nows.Bocord, founded in 1881, and The Clinton News Era, founded In 1865. Total press runs 3,700. Incorporating THE BLYTH STANDARD J. HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher SHELLEY McPHEE - Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager MARY ANN HOLLENDECK - Office Manager CCNA� MEMBER MEMBER Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Cord No. 15 effective October 1, 1984. Celebrate --every day "I wish Christmas was over. "Christmas is too much work." "I'm not readciy for Christmas yet." Too often, people lose their perspective when it comes to Christmas. They .get caught up in the superficial nature of the holiday, and bogged down with the bla- tant commercialism that comes with the festive season. • The trouble with Christmas these days is that we're faced with too much of a good thing - too much buying, too many parties, too much hustle and bustle. The glitter and the festivities are fun and an important part of the celebration, but after a point it all begins to turn sour. I feel sorry for the people who have forgotten what Christmas is all about. They are missing the most important, and most wonderful aspect of the celebration.. First and foremost Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time for us to renew our commitments to peace, love, caring, forgiving and joy. We do this through our Christmas celebrations, by exchanging gifts, through song and festivities. However, the commercialism surrounding Christmas has distorted many peo- ple's views of what the celebration is meant to represent. And too, many others misinterpret the real meaning of the season. They sing the carols, go to church c,i C.,, :Amos Eve and admire the nativity scene - but the sentimentality ends there, for another year at least. • The true spirit of Christmas is not meant to be a one day celebration. The birth of the Christ Child was not an event to be honoured one day and forgotten the next. While the religious aspects of the Holy birth may have faded through time, the essence of the historical occasion is one that's not forgotten. And Christmas, like a rose in winter, reminds us all of hope and beauty and the truth that shone on the first Christmas centuries ago. Today the true realization of Christmas comes in the understanding that it is not only a celebration on December 25. It is possible to extend the spirit of Christina's throughout the year. The love and hope, goodwill and generousity that we feel at Christmas is important each and every day of our lives. So often, many of us say we wish that Christmas would lost all year. As f think of Christmas, I realize what a better place this world would be if we all had that spirit year round. I hope that the special magic of Christmas stays with me for the next 12 mon- ths, and with•you as well. MERRY CHRISTMAS! QVA e-Fke_e_ The meaning of (hristttiis . By Helen Owen Stores are filled with gifts and toys, S "-.ta talks to girls and.boys. Houses sparkle, trees are bright And letters that the children, write Are sent to Toyland so that elves Can fill the stockings from their shelves. The Christmas bells and winter nights, • The carols, parties and delights Reflect the warrrith, the season's glow Alas it was not always so For the child that was born in a cattle stall And destined to be the Lo, d of all. For him no toys, no home, no bed ' Ina hay -filled manger laid instead. Only his parents standing by To hear his.tiny infant cry. • Hut soon the shepherds fowl(' their way Told by the angels where he lay. . Awed bythe truth to thein revealed Humbly, at the crib they kneeled They understood, these simple then; The miracle that had happened then The message that they took away Is with tis now on Christmas Day! '1'he ('hrist child lives - Ilis Faith survives The generates - and our lives. This is the message we must convey. The Saviour was born on Christmas Day! Behind The Scenes Kqleidoscope Every year at this time, local newspaper reporters go throCgh this big performance about what a hassle it is to cover upteen million Christmas events, parties, school concerts.... We always complain about it. After a suitable period of playing the hard nosed, cynical role there is a point when many of us break down. The first Christmas concert does it to me. After that, I'm a complete softy for a children's Christmas pageant. There's no greater joy than seeing those intent little faces as they work hard to remember all the words to their Christmas songs; watch them as they wiggle and jiggle about in their un- comfortable elf costumes; to see their smiles of accomplishment and waves of af- fection to mom and dad in the audience; and the wide eyed sparkle when Santa finally ar- rives. No two Christmas concerts are alike. There's the delightful bedlem of dozens of little ones at Christmas concerts like the one that was held last week at the Tuckersmith Day Nursery. There's the weeklong festivities that make Christmas at Huron Centennial School an unusual and unique celebration. There are wonderful plays with costumes and scenery, songs and acting. And there are simple, beautiful celebrations like the 'impressive choir presentation and readings given at the Clinton and District Christian School every year. I always arrive at Christmas concerts about half-an-hniir late i ticnally because By Keith Rouiston Fix it 1)atih1y- Christmas is supposed to be a time when we're filled with,.a feeling of peace. and con- tentment. It is not a nice time of the year to feel obsolete. Yet every time I watch the ads on .TV for the "in" things to give for Christmas this year I get the feeling 1 was born a century tot late. I hadn't.quite caught up to the point where you had to be an expert mechanic to run all the gadgets at Christmas and now 1 realize you've also -got to have a degree in electronic engineering. One thing that was nice about the Cabbage Patch Doll craze was that you might have to memorize the name of the little darling but you at least didn't have to assemble her. But this year, the experts say, robots are even bigger than those funny looking dolls. Well they won't be coming into my house. First of all; I pale at the price tag) -,orne of them at about $300 I hear). Secondly, I have the feeling that I'm going to be replaced by one of these things someday soon anyway and I have no intention of opening the front door to them. Even if we .are supposed to be friendly at Christmas. There are enough humans in my house that outsmart me without having a ma°bine do it. And finally, I know that I will get that machine out of the package, turn on the switch and it will run around the room twice and keel over dead. And one of my dear.children will utter the frightening words: "Fix it daddy." There is nothing sadder than- watching a child's respect for his father dram slowly away as he dissolves in tears after two hours of try- ing to understand the mysteries of modern By Shelley McPhee I've had other events to cover as well, name- ly Christmas—concerts). It's always cold, windy and rainy on Christmas concert nights. I can't find a place to park. I drag myself and my camera equipment out of the car and into the warmth of a dim- ly.lit auditorium. Like magic, my spirits are lifted. I take my photographs of the children and watch the delight and joy in the faces of the au- dience. I linger in the darkened corners of the hall, watching, listening and singing along. Often a lump comes to my throat, and tears to my eyes. Quietly I depart. Back to the windy, dark parking lot. But this time it doesn't seem quite so cold or wet. I no longer feel inconve- nienced for being dragged out of my warm little house to take pictures at another Christmas concert. I take the scenic tour home, by houses with lots of lights, 1 Townshend Street is the best) and loudly sing Christmas carols to myself. At home I gaily chatter to my husband about' this wonderful concert, about the adorable kids and how next year I'm going to take him with me. The Christmas concert reminds all of us of our own childhood, of simple pleasures and stage struck excitement. Christmas concerts remind me of the im- mortal words -Fear not: for behold, I briyng you good tidings of great joy, which shall hp fn yell is horn this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." That was the year I was a beautiful angel in our Sunday School play. Concerts also remind me of red gingham and the chocolate gunk that was plastered on my face when I played Aunt Jemima another year. Childish memories, sentimental stuff - yes, my thoughts are those - but that's what Christmas is all about. xxx - Christmas through a child's eyes - surely there is no better way to celebrate the festive season. Physical age really has nothing to do with it, for Christmas is a time when we can freely let our imaginations go and express .our affection, joy and love without disguise. xxx We found a special treasure when we were ` rummaging through old newspapers this ygar, a lovely old, colour drawing that we felt would be a perfect front page for the 1984 News -Record Christmas edition. The picture of the angelic little girl featured on this year's front page is taken from our 1925 Christmas issue. Isn't she wonderful? xxx All of us at the News -Record wish you, your family and friends all the splendours of the season - wonder and, tradition, celebra- tion and sparkle- and best of all, fantasy and childish fun. toynlaking. • I hove always been reduced to blubbering at th task of assembling ( insert screw X in- to flange Y but make sure not to block slot careful, you could /.) but at least if you well' Z.) away to yourself by putting the toys together when the kids were in bed. But with robots, and ren Al: control cars and cons- puters and lord knows what other devilishly clever invention of modern science, a mechanical and electronic: imcompetent like nit, doesn't stand a chance. i mean it used to be safe to givt' a watch. 'You took it out of the package, you wound it, you buckled it on their wrist that much mechanics I could manage) and it ran for years. Now you've got to push buttons and change batteries and you can end up fling- ing the little inonster against the wall. It's not safe in the kitchen anymore either. You used to get the wife some gadget that, if it broke down i and they were good for at least a few years in those days) you could at least have a chance at understanding. Now you've got two choices: throw it out or mor- tgat;e the house and get somebody to fix it. i think it's a plot by the electronic geniuses of the world, they are making themselves essential to our future by designing gadgets that only somebody 'with an iQ of 180 and a bent for electronics can fix. We'll all end up with an electronics technician in the house the way people once had maids, just to keep the labour saving devices working. Oh well, it will mak* me look with special favour on the 12 pairs of socks i'll get again this year Christmas reflection Sugar and Spice by Anne l\arejko 1111Crk(,t (;hriSiniaS °Wouldn't it be fun to have the power of Santa ('laws just for a day and give everyone the gifts they really," truly wanted, regardless of cost, instead of the junk they get.' What would you do if you had such a power thrust upon you suddenly- Would you Ileal' your favorite people with Hunk coats, ('adillacs, automatic dishwashers, new $90,000, homes? if you did; of, course, the magic power wouldn't last, and on ('hristnias Horning, all the fabulous presents would vanish, just after they'd been unwrapped. And you'd be as popular as a socialist in the Senate. Because, you see, those arent't the things that people really, truly want. And the Santa Claus magic would work only for really, tru- ly gifts, not just the things people want for the sake of vanity or prestige or comfort. 1 know some of the presents I'd' hand out. To childless couples who wanted children terribly, I'd give, on Christmas morning, not one. but four of the fattest, prettiest, pinkest, wettest babies you ,ever saw. Two boys and two girls. And to even things out, I'd throw in a large bottle of tranquillizers and a pair of strait jackets. To all children, I'd grant a set of parents who would answer all questions patiently, read stories every night at bedtime. go sliding on the hill with them; not make them eat anything they didn't like, hug and kiss them when they_ were hurt, and whale the tar out of them when they needed it. On Christmas morning, I'd present to all old people a three months reprieve from all their aches, pains 'and ailments. I'd give there a good appetite and a rare fine set of new choppers to go with it. I'd give them love and kisses in large measure from I , veritable host of grandchildren. And I'd throw in a round-trip ticket to Miami, paid - in -advance reservations at a posh hotel there, and a sizeable cheque to let them play the races, get married again, or do whatever else they wanted to do. To all clergymen, whatever the color of their cloth, I'd give a special present By Bill Smiley They'd get a church packed to the doors with people who sang lustily, listened atten- tively, prayed "humbly, gave bounteously, and continued to do these unusual thing's throughout thefotlowing year. All mothers 'of large families would get something they really, truly wanted for ('hristnias. I'd give t.hern families who ap- preciated all the work they did, praised their cooking, told them once in a while that they looked pretty, wiped their feet when they came in, did the dishes frequently. and paid attention to them on occasions other. than Mother's Day. And I'd throw inthe ser- vices of a cracking good housekeeper, and pay her salary for a year. On Christmas Eve; I'd give all merchants a cash register stuffed with money, and, at the same time, an irresistible urge to go out and spend the bundle on retarded children, or unwed mothers, or somebody. What would I leave under the Christmas tree for the farmer? You guessed it. I'd grant thein a whole year of exactly the kind of weather they wanted, regardless of the Comfort or convenience of the rest of us. Of course, I'd have to find them something else to bellyache about, but they could probably fall back on the', complaint that those tremendous crops were taking a lot out of the land: All amateur golfers would be donated one season in which they sliced not, nor did they hook, but banged every one down the centre. Al anglers would be given one year in which they were as srnart as the fish. All weekly editors would be given one week in which there were no mistakes in the paper. All. teachers would be given a free 10 days in a sanatorium at Christmas. All wives would be given one year's absence from the boring, insensitive, callous, inattentive cretins they are married to. And all husbands would receive a similar parole from the nagging, complaining, spendthrift, over -bearing harridans they married. Serve them both right. There, I don't think I've left anybody out. But if I have, just drop me a line at the South Pole. I'm sort of left-handed, or southpole Santa Claus. Give us a chance Dear Editor: i ani a cast ' member of the Drama production "No Sex Please We're British" and 1 am concerned and annoyed with the attitude of C'II.S.S. students and some teachers towards the cast members of the play. All I hear around the school is that the Drama Club isn't going to be any good without our past actors and actresses like Randy Lobb, i,aureen Craig, Anne i,avis, John L. Lawson, Marcel I,a Porte and Karen Cook, but give us a chance! i know these people put on exceptional productions and gave their 100 per cent in every play they did, but who says we can't do the same. ('.Ii.S.S. students have very high expectations and want the old cast members' back, but life goes on and times change. Who says our east members now. can't give their 100 per cent and pull off a great prodtTction. I don't see any other students in the school with enough guts to get up on the stage and perform. How can any school say they have "school spirit" when they don't back up their school? Clinton has been put down for years and I'm sick and tired of it. It's time to change people's attitude, and one way of doing this is through the Drama Club. Mr. Steve Oliver, director of the Drama Club has put a lot of effort and time into the Drama Club in the past three years to rebuild its reputation and I would hate to see it crumble just because we don't have community support. Eleanor Hunter