HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-05-26, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL STAR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26,1982
DAVE
SYKES
Have you ever thought about what it is to
be a Canadian?
The MacKenzie brothers, Bob and Doug td
be precise, have done much to project the
Canadian image around the world. We may
not all be the toque -toting beer drinkers with
a predilection for ending each sentence with
eh, as Bob and Doug have portrayed.
But then, how do others see us and more
importantly, how do we see ourselves? In
essence, it is difficult to describe a
Canadian.
We playa th ee i:t bread of hockey, make
excellent hockey pucks and sticks and our
version of beer and spirits is :most ac-
ceptable
sceptable by global standards. Our country is
a melting pot of the nations of the world but
it is not scientifically proven that heritage
has a bearing on whether 'or not people wear
long underwear during the harsh winters.
Our cultural roots are diverse and that has
not lent itself to a distinct identity. An
American historian claims that Canadians
can make it as a nation if they accept the
fact th t Canada's national identity lies in
not having one.
The historian claims we should feel
superior about not having an identity. If
`others have visions of Canadians growing up
playing hockey on feozen ponds, then I feel
cheated. I can't recall doing anything on a
frozen pond, there simply weren't any
e.ghho u.:l:ne.-"
Q.?S UllA6N our aaGaE,aeaeesets aeenvGi.
h> e,;pi eitly vr. gae E i in :, tideU .
historian insists that ambiguity is a major
part of our character. Governments are
ambiguous at the best of times, but mostly
foolish and there is nothing ambiguous
about a Gordie Howe elbow in the mouth.
That ambiguity, apparently, arises out of
a feeling of superiority, at "times, while we
also have a penchant for putting outselves
V
down and putting everyone else down.
If we are to remain superior, this
American observes, we must take delight in
being unpredictable, be joyful in our am-
biguity and duality and be satisfied with no
national identity. Accordingly, being
Canadian doesn't mean anything definitive.
The term is all encompassing and must
embrace our regional, cultural and
language divisions. Diversity is our
strength.
We are a diverse people out of necessity
Bad while we may not have a distinct
identity we ate i,et a c►arthern version of the
United States. And it is not a tag that we
would welcome.
& took a bit of pain and daring to create
this country but our independence was not
necessarily achieved by violent means. In
many respects, that sets the country apart.
Our skirmishes are less violent in nature,
but they do exist. We are having trouble
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Goaetic,U
deciding if we want to stick it out together
and separatism is a word that has identified
Canada in recent years.
It may be true that Canada just sort of
evolved and we've never experienced the
nationalistic fight for God and country. That
too is part of our growth and identity.
One study suggests that Canadians, and
perhaps rightly so, view their country to be
superior to the United States in terms of less
crime, cleaner cities, better highways and
generally cleaner and better everything.
Perhaps we are more conscious of the
aeslhetie nualities.
I'm not sure that it really matters if the
term Canadian lacks definition but an
Americna professor thinks it bothers us. It's
tough to put a handle on us but why do we
need one anyway. It's too taxing to think
about.
Let's just have another beer, eh.
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Salute' to scouting
It was 75 years ago that Lord Baden Powell founded the
scouting movement in Canada and that organization is
still flourishing in communities across the country.
Powell started an experimental camp for 21 boys in
England in. 1907 and that has since grown into a worldwide
- organization with 16 million members.
Powell's concept caught on and while heinitially offered
scouting for boys between 12 and 18, it has since grown to
include cubs, rovers and beavers. That growth reflects
well on Powell and the scouting movement.
It seems that scouting is a tradition that has been a part
of every boy's life, at least ever since there was an elderly
lady to be escorted across a busy street. Scouting has built
character and espouses ideals arid .virtues that are often
lacking in youth.
Take a scout law, for example, which states that a scout
is helpful, trustworthy, kind and cheerful, considerate and
clean, and wise in the use of his resources. Those are the
kinds of guidelines Powell wanted young men to live by
and he told scouts that they should play not to win ap-
plause or rewards for themselves, but in 'order to help
their side win.
It is commendable that the scouting organization has
survived and flourished since its simple beginnings as an
experimental boy's camp in 1907. Much of the credit for
that survival must be given to the parents and leaders, the
people who give much of their time and energies to
scouting.
It is their efforts that will maintain scouting as a way of
life for thousands of Canadian boys. D.S. •
Well you see officer
The truth is stranger than fiction and life really is a
funny business. In the newspaper business we get a lot of
funny things happening in the course of getting news
stories and photographs, but it's a sure bet no occupation
gets more funny reactions than the very tough and serious
occupation of being a police officer.
Many of us, as Stratford Beacon Herald coluznnist
Helen Barker reported last week, are such honest types
and so flustered when stopped by police that we end up
actually thanking the officer for getting a speeding ticket,
or a parking ticket. It's like thanking the custom's official
for thoroughly messing up a carefully packed suitcase.
Helen Barker's confession of utter confusion recalled to
mind a recently published piece about the kinds of sum-
maries insurance companies and police officers get
concerning traffic accidents. What makes these
statements, taken from police reports, so amusing is the
fact that most of us can see ourselves making similar
confused statements under similar circumstances. Try
these on for size:
— An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my
vehicle and vanished.
— I had been driving my car for forty years when I fell
asleep at the wheel and had the accident!
— I saw her look at me twice, she appeared to be
making slow progress then we met on impact.
— Coming home, I drove into the wrong '''house and
collided with a tree I don't have.
— No one was to blame for the accident but it never
would have happened if the other driver had been alert.
— The guy was all over the road, I had to swerve a
number of times before I hit him.
— A truck backed through my windshield into my wife's
face.
— I thought. my window was down, but found it was up
when I put my hand through it.
— I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my
mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.
- The gentleman behind the struck me on the backside.
He then went to rest in the bush with just his rear end
showing.
— I told the police I was not injured, but on removing
my hat, I found that I had fractured my skull.
— The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go so I
ran over him.
— The telephone pole was, approaching fast. I was at-
tempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front
end.
— The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in
a small car with a big mouth.
I was on my way to the doctors with rear end trouble
when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an
accident.
— I saw the slow moving sad faced, old gentleman as he
bounced off the hoodof my car.
The beginnings of war
Wars, over the centuries, have been fought for a limited
number of reasons. Probably th earliest conflicts sprang
from realistic needs -more living space, better hunting
grounds or more productive food lands. As the ages
progressed, humans developed a sense of nationalism,
conceit which held that one's neighbours were inferior
stock, only fit to be subjugated and made subservient,
When national pride was the underlying cause the great
conflicts usually exploded from trivial incidents, such as
the assassination of an Austrian princeling in 1914.
There is another essential component required for a
major war. A new generation must arise, one which has
no personal experience with the horror of war. Only the
young and eager can persuaded that there is anything
glorious about killing.
The nasty episode in the Falkland Islands makes one
wonder whether we are witnessing the first scenes of a
fatal drama. Isolated though those islands may be, the
sparks from the South Atlantic might well start fires of
international consequence.
The only people living today who have any personal
experience with world war are now over sixty years old. If
all younger men and women could catch even a glimpse of
the sick fear which swept a previous generation in the
beautiful May days of 1940 they would view any possibility
of war from a different perspective. We who suvived those
awful years tan recall the horrid prospect of the Hitler
legions rolling across northern France, unopposed except
for a scattering of British and French troops in stubborn
retreat.
Without having it spelled out. we knew that unless that
tide could be stemmed, the Atlantic Ocean would prove a
delay rather than a safeguard and that Canadians,
especially the women and children, would be doomed to
degredation. That is why young Canadians were suddenly
prepared to die on the fields and in the skies of Europe.
We hope that the Falklands are only the teapot tempest
they appeared to be a few weeks ago. But, now the fighting
has escalated and negotiations appear to have ended.
I et's hope the horrors of war are avoided.
Blossom time
By Dave Sykes
5 i `- • t.:t1A. • '.r
DAR READERS
SHIRLEY KELLER
Frank Miller is a man who lives dangerously.
Maybe you remember Frank Miller when he
was Ontario Minister of Health and going about
the province closing = or attempting to close
hospitals and hospital beds.
Thepeople of this area will remember him
best for his staunch efforts to close Clinton
Public Hospital because he said, the services
offered there were too costly in relation to the
overview he had of adequate medical care in this
province.
There were other hospitals on Miller's hit list,
but as I recall, many of those institutions ear-
marked for closing are still open. The public rose
to its feet in indignation, insisting these small
hospitals were vital to the fabric of the com-
munities into. which they were woven.
But how Frank Miller sweated over that whole
thing. How he fought to tell the people of this
province that medical costs were getting out of
hand, and that ways and means would need to be
found to diminish these costs - or the people
would need to suffer dramatic tax increases to
pay for them.
And I 'recall at that time how this writer got
drawn into the whole argument. I took Miller's
side -as I remember, saying that the health
minister was dead right. Medical costs were too
high in the province. The expectations of in-
dividuals were too great in this province, in
relation to their willingness to pay.
I remember taking the view that streamlining
hospital services and phasing out some of the
smaller hospitals, was a sensible way to ap-
proach the problem.
And I remember too, how thiswriter was
chastised for that view,right along with Frank
Miller. The Clinton Public Hospital was saved,
along with the Durham Community Hospital ...
and others. The whole issue died down, things
resumed to what was considered normal and
acceptable by the citizens - and medical costs
were permitted to go unchecked. The people had
spoken:
Now, Miller has changed portfolios. He's no
longer Minister of Health, he's the provincial
treasurer. And the chickens of disaster he saw
being hatched several years ago in the provincial
medical scheme, have come home to roost in the
Ontario treasury over which he presides.
Once again, poor Frank Miller is in hot water
up to his neck.
After a minor skirmish with the doctors who
walked out of their offices in protest against the
fact that they hadn't had a pay hike for several
months and were falling financially behind many
other segments of society, Miller did what he had
to do. He got the doctors back to work; he
preserved the best in medical care for the people
of Ontario; and he raised the OHIP premiums
when he brought down the recent provincial
budget.
The lament of the people in Ontario is audible.
It's hurting in the pocketbook that is already
ravaged by inflation, high interest rates and
shortages of job. opportunities.
Now the people say that Frank Miller didn't
look at any of the alternatives that might have
been available to him.
What alternatives? Oh simple things like
controlling health spending and restructuring
hospital services. Like refusing to give in to the
doctors who the people say already make too
much money for the kind of hours they work and•
services they provide.
Thngs like cancelling the order for the Davis
jet, selling+the interests in Suncor, relinquishing
the hunting lodge in Northern Ontario. All in the.
petty cash league to be sure, but an act of good
faith at least, say the people of Ontario.
On Monday, I happened to tune in to President
Ronald Reagan's mini news conference of the
week. He was trying to explain to the people of
the United States how important it is for him, as
head of state, to be able to go to the upcoming
summit conference and tell the other nations of
the world that this country is committed to
reducing the national debt and bringing the
interest rate down:
It was clear following the questioning that one
of Reagan's targets for spending cuts will be the
provision of health services. While he claimed
that no American on social security will ever
haveto go without adequate health care, he did
indicate there was an absolute need to change
the methods by which health care is delivered to
the people.
He wasn't more specific. He didn't define
adequate health care. He did say there were
many things that could be looked at. He could
have been talking about the same types of things
that Frank Miller tried to sell to the people of
Ontario just a few years ago.
And now the question, dear readers. How
much is adequate health care worth to you?
To those who want a full service hospital in
every community, fully staffed and ready and
waiting to serve 24 hours a day every day - no
waiting, no delays - what is that worth to you?
To the people who want to be able to go to see
their doctors any time of the day or night, and
receive professional attention and skilled service
at a moment's notice without ever dipping into
your own purse to pay the !bill, what is that worth
to you?
To citizens who never have to worry about
hospital costs when you are sick, or going
without medical services because you are unable
to pay, what is that worth to you?
Frank Miller when he was minister of health,
tried to put the lid on health spending. The people
said, "No. Give us the best in health care."
Frank Miller as treasurer of Ontario insured
the people of Ontario would get the best in the
health care. He admits it means increased OHIP
premiums. The people are saying, "No. We Want
the best in health care, but get the money
somewhere else."
What is the best in health care worth to you?
Just what sacrifices are you willing to make, if
any? Or do" the people of Ontario really believe
there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to
which the provincial government 'haS-'ready
access?
Plan weakens agricultural community
Dear Editor,
OPEN LE'1'I'ER TO EAST
WAWANOSH COUNCIL:
The Township Council of
East Wawanosh, members
of which have been present
at all so-called "kitchen
meetings" where the initial
discussions regarding the
secondary plan for the
township were held, must
have been a bit surprised at
the actual proposal as
printed.
At least I was, as a
ratepayer and participant in
these and subsequent
general meetings.
While all concerns ex-
pressed at these meetings
are dealt with, it seems that
the planners didn't think this
was enough and so they have
Agegweaviesiimmoses
LETTER
thrown in a number of extra
goodies. It is these goodies
which are unacceptable.
Let us keep in mind the
statement in the
preliminaries to . the plan,
which states.. "the primary
goal is to stengthen and
preserve the agricultural
community."
However, the extras men-
tioned above would . weaken
instead of strenghen.
The plan provides for pro-
tection for the urban areas
surrounding and within the
township, but no protection
for the food producer from
these urban areas. Still, the
preamble states that
agriculture in the township
is dominant and should re-
main so.
That is doubletalk. In the
preliminary meetings it
came out clear that fanners
are eager to restrict
themselves in the use of
severances and will accept a
potential loss of income from
such a source in the interest
of protecting the future.
The plans for the urban
areas within the township
and the secondary plans for
the adjacent towns must also
have provisions limiting use
to industrial zoned land,
thereby precluding com-
plaints against normal farm -
mg practices.
The township must not ac-
cept one-sided restrictions.
The resident of -an urban
area who wishes to' live near
the boundary line must be
willing to accept the smells
and noises inherent in such
location. To force farmers to
protect that resident is
unreasonable. Until such is
included in the urban plans
East Wawanosh should not
accept the above restriction.
In all proposed secondary
plans and in the county
primary plan, the
Agricultural Code of Prac-
tice is incorporated. This is
definitely wrong and our
township must not allow it.
The 'Code of Practice' is
meant to be a guideline only.
That infers it to be flexible.
When incorporated in any of-
ficial plan or by-law, it loses
its status as guideline and
becomes an inflexible law.
The Code of Practice has
done little or no to pro-
tect farmers, a it was in-
tended to do, b t has only
placed more restrictions on
them. Let's toss it out of the
Turn to page 5 •