HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-01-26, Page 4PAM 4 N.'° AYr?WART2B .
Day 2 - Today I welcome the thought of
eatingan old sneaker. Better still, 'light it
and I'll smoke it thank ,you.
To be quite frank, day 22 is no different
than the previous 21. At Some point in the
day, when I least expect it, I am hit with a
sneaky and uncontrollable urge to smoke.
This week, dear friends, has been labelled
as National Ikon.Smoking Week. A week set
asideby some zealous and abject abstainers
to focus attention on smoking and its bad
effects on your health.
Poor puffers. They really take a pounding
during non-smoking week and having been a
smoker for several years, I know the
humiliation and guilt that non-smokers
inflict upon smokers.
But now, I am in a precarious position.
' — Having only kicked the habit for three weeks
e ��� (this ik week number four) I do not feel
compelled to offer allegiance to either side.
While I would like to offer constructive
supportto the stnokeraurtd casually dug&est
that a life without cigarettes would be
healthier,'1 stilt have bador eles of non-
smokers who imPoSed their p...us and
sanctimonious view on the weak people who
smoke. '
I don't want to get involved in the
argument.
Rather, I prefer to go it my own way and
not make a big deal of this thing. It's a
personal matter and I don't think one group.
snould lord it over the, other.
So this. year, Weedless Wednesday takes
on a new 'connotation for this non -puffer but
to be honest, I never did really believe that
the one -day blitz attracted any converts to
the non-smoking legions°
Sometimes it's even difficult for this
correspondent to :figure out why I gave up
smoking. I.alwaays. intended to•quit, having
smoked for several years, but found it most
difficult to reach that stage when I was
ready to throw the pack away.•
It may have simply gena badba ,it, butI...
convinced • myself that I really enjoyed
smoking and on occasion, that waatrue. But
suddenly, I was ready to give :up the habit
and decidedto'do so Sunday, January3°'
The next few days•following that decision
were ageonizing both pbysleally and Men-
tally. Onthe first day mymind waassofoggy
Ias almost walking into walls around the
office:1 couldn't function properly•
The fog beganto slotxly.lpate butt still
had problems focusing'attentlon on work
related matters I was nervous, edgy and
irritable and muchofmy time was spent
wandering around thinking about smoking,
Several times each day, little villains
would.prodod ancdpoke at brain, urging me
to try at least,one, just to take the edge off.
Just one, is always the one ,that leads to
more.
PWIllethe first week:y llpower�wa
e d
naticably and, by day three ,was hh�ng
weird,conve ations -with mYse1C' Te tone
and pattens, of those ►ersatlouat lint
.something likethts - ,<
"Why did I quit smoking§ I *erno d ngi
Smoking hail pad for me, because'cpirldtl't
feel any worse 'then f do at thiamornent.
Why don't I just go out and buy a Pak or
maybe borrow,one from one oldie guys.One
won tburt,. -..
Fortunately I had the c"onvIctiOti net tp
smoke but I still don't understand` why;
Basically, I thought of myself,.as a weak
person,a person who could never quit
smoking.
But one day .has rolled into another and
the days .have turned into weeks Almoet
four to be exact
Anddoes it still bother me. Of course nolo.
he says, while idly munching on the. corner
of the desk.
•
€NA
BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
1979
Second class
mail registration
number -0716
SINCE 1848
THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT
founded In ISMS and published awry Wednesday at Ooderld'. Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OWNA. Adver-
tising rotes on request. Subscriptions payable In advance .11.941 In Canada. °S1.00 to U.S.A.. °Wee to ell other count -
,tries. single copies SSc. Display advertising rotes evollable on request. Pietist ask for Rote Card No.13 effective Oc-
tober 1. 1312. Second class mall Registration Number . Advertising taccepted
enthe
condition that
the
event of typogrepMgl error. the advertising space
�Py�oneItem fwith reasonable
allowance for dgnawre. w111 not be d,erged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid fora tthe 'ap-
pliable rate. In the event of a typographies' error advertising goods or services et • wrong prim goods
mey not be sold. Advertising Is merely en offer to sell. and may be withdrawn at shy time. The Slgnal•Star 1s not
responsible for the low or damage of unsolicited manuscripts. photos or other materials used for reproducingpur-
poses• `
PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED
ROBERT G..SHRIER-President and Publisher
DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager
DAVID SYKES-Editor
P.O. BOX 220,
HUCKINS ST.
INDUSTRIAL PARK
GODERICH N7A 406
FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (519) 524-8331
Keep centre :open
Save Bluewater Centre Week is history, but the fight
will continue.
That was the distinct message deliveredto'those who
participated in the torchlight parade. Saturday evening.
marking the end of Save Bluewater Centre Week.
Employees of the centre, parents of residents and
members of the public made a symbolic march around
The Square just after dusk, united in their determination
to oppose the provincial government's move to close six
regional centres for the developmentally handicapped.
Save Bluewater Centre Week accomplished many
things. It was designed to, and did in fact accomplish its
goal of focusing attention on the closure of the centre. But
more important, it served to unite many groups, people,
thoughts and opinions.
Of course, all efforts are being made to pursuade
Community and Social Services Minister Frank Drea to
abandon his five year plan which calls for the closure of
six centres for the developmentally handicapped and
reduction of beds in a seventh. Drea has repeatedly of-
fered assurances that' while the government will save in
excess of $23 million through the closures, that his
ministry will pump $33 million back into community
support services.
The minister has also offered assurance that not one
residents would be moved until the proper community
support services are in place.
But the people of this area have found that while Drea
giveth, Drea also taketh away.
The minister has refused to meet with anshine until this
past week when he so kindly agreed to meet with a few
parents. He has ignored all other invitations to explain his
actions and his absence was most notable at the general
public meeting in Saltford Thursday evening.
He may not be giving of his time but he does giveth.
In May 1981, Drea was just a month into his new job as
minister of Community and Social Services. A rookie, one
might say.
He spoke to employees of Bluewater Centre and then
offered glowing remarks about the centre, its staff and
residents. -
"I only wish the public would become more aware of the
singular contribution you are making. No-one here wants
a Medal but we do need public support. Sure, we need the
money, -but the rear investment is in the quality of life,"
the minister told the audience.
•
The minitter'said that it was his -role to providethe
professionals with the resources to do their jobs. Speaking
to dedicated parents involved as volunteers he said that
whatever successes they had achieved would seem tiny
compared with what would happen in the future.
The minister was effusive in praise of the staff and
volunteers who have, over the years, worked diligently to
provide the residents with a pool, wheelchair lift, outings
and other special amenities and outings.
But the minister also taketh away.
That's all history now. Anda, glowing remarks have
been defused with the bitter relation that the centre is
to be closed. Residents will be shipped to larger in-
stitutions, some may achieve a hint of normalcy in a
community setting, others will not be able to cope. Staff
will lose jobs. Some may be accommodated in other
ministry departments, others may simply lose their jobs.
.Drea has admitted that the closure of the Bluewater
;({entre was a tough decision, an unfortunate victim of the
government's five-year plan. He was also quoted as
telling parents and volunteers to proceed with the annual
antique show and auction, implying that the centre could
remain open or that the minister would delay his decision.
That has been the only evident departure from the five-
year plan the public has been exposed to since the plan
was conveniently leaked to the press in October. While it
may not represent a massive crack in the minister's
armour, it does offer more hope than anything else to
date.
The fact that Drea has met with and admitted to
parents that Bluewater is a fine facility, may at least
serve to indicate the minister is reconsidering. Has he
realized the paramount ramifications and shortcomings
of his decision?
Of course, he would never admit to it just as he will
never come to Goderich to explain the decision in the first
place.
The efforts of the union, parents, volunteers and con-
cerned citizens are commendable and the suggestion by
Huron -Middlesex Liberal MPP Jack Riddell for a
moratorium on the issue should be investigated.
Drea hasn't heard the last of this issue but if he has
second thoughts, surely there's enough Man in him to
admit it.
Canadians like to gripe
It , must be simple human nature to gripe about
something. Governments at any level seem to be the
readiest targets, but, running a close second is the
weather. And when it comes to grumbling, winter, with its
tricky driving conditions and bitter winds, usually gets
most of the criticism. The weather, after all, is a pretty
safe subject, since it has no way of giving us any
argument.
But this winter has been different. From mid-November
to mid-December we went around happy as larlcause,
up to that point, we had scarcely needed the good old
galoshes, much less getting stuck inany snowdrifts. As
Christmas approached we weren't quite so sure that we
were really in favor of mild and green weather. Rain over
the holiday capped the climax. It didn't seem like
Christmas at all.
And then came January. No snow but every "second
friend or neighbour was feeling lousy. Colds, stiff joints
and a rotten brand of flu were knocking the starch right
out of us. In fact, the flu bug became so prevalent that
hospitals were asking would-be visitors to stay away from
the patients.
All that is over. The snow has finally arrived. Not
enough to create any dangerous driving conditions, but at
least sufficient to make us feel more like living, grum-
bling Canadians. And who knows? Maybe that horrendous
blizzard we have been secretly expecting is just waiting
for a good weekend on which to strike.—Mount Forest
Confederate.
its
READERS
Have you ordered First Choice for your home
yet? Come on how. Be honest. What potential pay
television subscriber hasn't become intrigued by
First Choice? The recent controversy has really
done a job hasn't it?
It's no surprise to anyone that First Choice is
walking, away with the honors in the race for pay
television dollars. After all, advertising does pay
... and the free promotion that First Choice has
enjoyed as a result of the public outcry has been
worthat least;# million dollars to that company.
Thank goodnessfor protest groups eh?
Frankly, I am surprised by the fuss .... and a
little puzzled;;too. As- I understand things, it's
about the alleged soft pornography of the
Playboy films which make up something like.
five percent of the total programming on First
Choice.
Now, I haven't seen any of the Playboy stuff
but obviously the members of the protest groups
are quite familiar with it. They say it exploits
women and is too distasteful for an uncontrolled
medium like pay television. Some of them
mention moral corruption of the young people
_ . who will be exposed to it ... and a few talk about
big business profiting from such ugly perversion.
• I guess I'm surprised because the protest is
aimed directly at First Choice for endeavouring
to give the public exactly what it deserves - and
not at the cheap communicators of our time for
creating the insatiable appetite for sexual
perversion in the first place.
And I'm puzzled because the protestersooI've
observed seem to be saying, "Soft pornography
is just lovely hi its place ... but pay televibion.
isn't the place." Or, "Soft pornography should
not be a lucrative business. M
Why .protest against First Choice and not the
suggestive programming that fills the airways:
and finally has become too tame forthe average
television viewer? •
Why protest against Playboy filming and not
the erotic movies we see in our movie theatres
every day of the week, Sundays included, and
which, though rated in an attempt to keep out
those who are too young, are regularly oogled by
mother's and fathers who tell their young
families by their attendance that erotica' and
filth is quite acceptable after you've reached the
magical age of 18? -r
And why zero in on pay television when the
smut which leads to the grown-up enjoyment of
such perverted filth is , marketed openly and
unrestricted on billboards, in magazines and
books, on the sides of trucks and buses, on T-
shirts, in our fashion houses .... you,name it?
The way I look at it, the First Choice selection
is a symptom of a sick society. By altering the
content on First Choice, we are applying a
bandaid to an ailment that is far from cured. The
sore will errupt again somewhere else :.- likely
with a far better chane of survival because it
has been allowed t.e met itself securely .-. unless
the source of the iutedtieUis located and treated.
In this case, the cause as so deep-seated it will
require radial surgery. And slueiety which Ls the
patient. isn't hiker to siigst the cement form for
the operation. T t wodd•sigeat ttte death knell
SHIRLEY K
to hundreds of thousands of similar Money-
. Making operations that have become;a way of
life for millions of satisfied customers
I sympathize with.tbose who are noW
-"Enough is enough."Sut I fear it 18 askingrtoo
little too late. ..
I have talked to people who are not taottce>
for themselves .... but for theirchildrenandt
grandchildren. They ask,"What kind of'a word
will it be when they are my age?" •
But it isn't all doom and .gloom Fair 4004
There isa built in device which couldlhelp to liitve
society from itself. That is the family;€ and4tbe
natural , bond of genuine love that vanity
presents itself when a man and a woman become
parents.
Mothers and fathers who .rant to pretest, their
children from the ravages of filth tendo a Whole
lot by setting a suitable example. Kids raised it"tas
home where the parents consistently :On:
strate how to live a happy, productivetlife
without the stimulus of'por.nograph�r .In any of'tito
forms, will have a more proper att-itudetoward
healthy sex and some insulation from the the
•
intrusion of sexual perversion.
Thank God children are born to us free Of die
notion that life needs to be lived in the gutteil0
be enjoyed. And though modern parenting is is
much of a challenge as it has ever been, there's •
never been a time when it has been any more
worthwhile to take that role seriously,, a ill
responsibly, especially when it pertains, ;tiob
Morals and values in everyday living. +. `
Writers says actions of Dr. Morgantaler to
abortion clinics are truly disturbing �.
•
establish
Dear Editor,
The actions of Dr. Henry
Morgantaler and his plans
to
establish,. abortion clinics in
spite of persecution, are tru-
ly disturbing. One would
hope that he is struck with
the knowledge of his wrong-
doing, as was Dr. Bernard
Nathanson - a very strong
Pro -Life advocate who
became one, after perform-
ing over 6,000indent
himself, but, it is not p
to , sit and wait for such a
miracle.
Many people, Young and
old, worldwide - do not.
understand the methods of
preventing pregnancY, nor
do they accept the respon-
sibility - of course they have
to be educated from an early
age. If our young people Jost
knew more about COU Poi '
and what happens f
romat
moment on - they
LETTE
_-- teadtothat "cncr+. &aegptT"* •.
rtt}t tai hr a stn./rig
and `lt th r collittry.
Fleas %lived, the Pr Pro-
usseceaweers Learn and
thio ceca;re our
Itnowtedise t o a soca, a
knlpoeainostwt ledg
abe
t eau, eeqo� prpedatsxzviewc*hb �ac L seAcel i
s
(41141b111;(41141b111; net*legr er niece
But that indeed is the tuiswt r 40 t* c+ea 01"911 Q
- education and armlet - 01#0;' wll*
NOT ABORTION, This ie i+f e 4/° 4444• *4n tl4e'
course seen by many 4f3;
a ab'aya 4 N ltt. ft> to
slower and less e retx�r* X09 w 1veoIt
way of attacki b the s cal k"t' � t't* E 1444" ms`s'
and population �elife �dt�C�k'4i#R iti :.. e'' tltt 'Eu
world over. tui if tlrei u w tt>It�t a �e r 'li
anti eneergy naw etiit s�tty ' ¢tn w
towards abortion f itful+ 4ee> t+ r eiih
were put to proper use lt. �wwt, t
would relivetvf the 5eR'► ' aii�lil 4144. p
nrt
dreadful die; yyc rid sat i to, ate and rSrctltiB * p
ide
overalaortiu a life ltl utnieal attitudes in
Oraeimam also ..tve,to,too ourselves and our
wed that i1 abortiOu no 'flats Can 0flb
Help to equip our youth With
the information they must
have in order to make
responsible decisions
tout life.
Heather Lyons
.,