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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-10-03, Page 49 PAGE 4DUEj C SINAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, $M 3,1984 DAVE SYKES I have a public confession to make. I screwed up. And it is out of deference to my colleague on the lower portion of these grey bits that I feel compelled and otherwise obliged to of- fer meagre explanatory notes. Mea culpa, mea culpa. This week, Signal -Star Publishing features an entirely new format in all its metro -sized publications. For years we have given serious and meticulous consideration to the employment of a narrower web. In short, we were thinking of making the pages narrower. Subscribers have often made their feel- ings known on the size of their favorite weekly. "It's too damn wide," was an apt and oft' used phrase to describe same. Others offered less palatable but more descriptive phraseology, too caustic to publish in this family publication. We tended to agree but were never in a position to effect changes until now. So this week you will notice that the Signal -Star is narrower, Jhree inphes per page to be precise, andhink it's a rather sporty and tidy package. Don't you agree? Three inches' per page translates into a paper six inches narrower than its predecessor. Which means that if you want to read the paper at arm's length, you don't have to call the neighbour in to hold one side. No siree, not anymore. Having lopped a column off each page should make it rather easy for readers, we suspect. But, to the point of the matter. A narrower page dictated that certain changes with respect to headlines and all that other newspaper stuff, had to be attended to. And I would submit that all the details appeared to have been taken care of with consummate professionalism. That was until late Tuesday when I discovered that the editorial page had been neglected. Just eliminate one column of type and you can appreciate the dilemma . I could easily rearrange and shorten my' own column, the editorials or the colunna of my newsroom cohort. But, my columnist colleague on. the bot- tom of the page had already submitted a substantive piece. I was faced with the pro- position of either eliminating a column of type, or perhaps the caricature. At the very least, the dog would have to be eliminated , I reasoned, to accomodate the column. And perhaps even bits of the flag - bearing Elsa would succumb to the utility blade. Is nothing sacred in the world of jour- nalism? But in a fit of logic and desparation, a compromise was reached with the final result being that the flag -toting Elsa and her miniature companion were reduced to suit the space. My caricature remained the same but I sacrificed on words. In any event, I am culpable. Next week, things should be sorted out. THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 Founded in 1848 and published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscriptions payable in advance '20.95, (Senior Citizens '17.95 privilege card number required) in Canada, '55. to U.S.A., '55. to all other countries, Single •copies 50e. Display, National and Classified advertiaing rates available on request. Please ask for Rate Card No. 15 effective October 1, 1984. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising apace occupied by the erroneous item, together with' reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or aervicea may not be Bold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star is not responsible for the lose or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing purposes. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED _, ROBERT G. SHRIER- President and Publisher DON HUBICK - Advertising Manager DAVE SYKES - Editor the • GOdetiCk‘..A S\G P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH, ONT. N7A 4B6 FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...please phone (519) 524-8331 Where are priorities News received last week detailed plans by the Ontario Ministry of Correctional Ser- vices to convert the empty Bluewater Cen- tre into a correctional centre for young of- fenders says the Wingham Advance Times. While there is good news in the fact the centre will once again be used and provide jobs for area residents, the announcement reflects a lamentable sense of priorities at work in the province's corridors of power. Without taking anything away from the need to deal effectively and compassionate- ly with young offenders, it does seem odd that the government apparently had no dif- ficulty finding $10.4 million to refurbish the centre, but was not able to find the funds to continue its operation as a centre for the developmentally handicapped. It is further interesting to note that there is seemingly no difficulty in ficng the money to pay salaries of the more than 150 staff who will supervise and care for the up to 12016 and 17 -year olds who have run afoul of the law, while at the same time funds are being withdrawn from day care centres and other support services for families and the very young. • It is commendable that our government recognizes the need to provide the sort of, rehabilitative programs, employing psychologists, psychiatrists, educators and social workers, that will help a young of- fender come to grips with the problems that brought him or her into conflict with the law. If these programs help to set a young person on the road to a happy and produc- tive life, then we all benefit. Waiting to deal with the problems until htey have brought an individual into open conflict with society is, however, both costlier and less effective than tackling them at an earlier stage. There is an old saying, "A stitch in time saves nine." More support for programs •such as day care and the Huron Centre for Children'and Youth might help to eliminate the need for young offenders' centres, both here and elsewhere. Must examine all facts The recent police shootings and killings in Ontario has many people up in arms says the Huron Expositor. Many people are demanding that capital punishment be reinstated. Others are seeking stricter gun laws. But does the solution lie with either of these suggestions? Before we demand anything be reinstated, we must examine the facts. One Toronto policeman was knifed and the most recent was shot by a fanatic who got his kicks fantasizing about a movie. That fan- tasy turned to reality. Perhaps the problem is that we don't have longer prison terms. And the second is that guns aren't the only weapons used to com- mit murder. What about a kitchen knife or a baseball bat? Bread and water and a hard bunk meant hard time. Today we're catering to the prisoner. Life in prison isn't all that bad, especially with color television and three meals a day. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to release a criminal before their time has been served. A 20 -year sentence could mean a prisoner is out on the street in 10 years or less because of good behaviour. And, as for stricter gun laws, Ontario pro- bably has the strictest laws in North America. A potential gun buyer must have or apply for a Firearms Acquisition Cer- tificate. And before he or she gets a FAC, their background is closely checked by police. Guns are stolen and smuggled across the border. If there's a means, there's a way, if someone is determined to murder. Capital punishment or stricter gun laws may not be the answer. Maybe it's time to look at the justice system in this country. Let's not act on emotion, but examine all the alternatives. (Huron Expositor) Rocky shore by Joanne Buchanan POSTSCRIPT JOANNE BUCHANAN Recently I began noticing a lot of kids around town wearing army fatigues—you know the kind soldiers wear in battle to camouflage themselves. I thought maybe the country had gone to war and I just hadn't heard about it yet. Then someone in- formed me that the fatigues are the latest "in" style for the younger generation. I have never been up on fashion myself. By the time I get used to the new styles and think I might feel comfortable wearing them, they are out of style again. Being short doesn't help matters either. There are a lot of styles a short person can't wear without looking like a bag 'lady. Also, it's hard to imagine what your new outfit is going to look like after you cut a foot off the bottom and hem it up another six inches just to make it the right length. 1 find trying on clothes in a store to be a deal pal. I select something to take into the dressing room. peel off 12 layers of clothing, put my selection on and find out that it's the wrong size or that it looks terrible on me. By the time I put all my own clothes back on again, I'm too lazy and fed up to go find something else and start the whole process over again. I have girlfriends who have literally made careers out of shopping for clothes but I just don't have the stamina for it ( because of the above mentioned trying -on process). When I go io a mall with them, I usually gravitate towards the record and book stores and we meet later for lunch. These same girlfriends have also "had their colors done". That's the latest fad— finding out what colors are best suited to you, according to your eyes, skin tone and hair color. Each person has a season. My trendy friends tell me I'm an autumn which means I should be wearing earth tones, tweeds, peaches, greens, etc. Can I help it if I feel comfortable in basic navy blue? Apparently, in some cities there is now a service that allows you to pay a person to come to your home and re -arrange your closets, telling you what styles and colors in your wardrobe are best for you and what ones you shouldn't be wearing at all. I'd be afraid the person doing my closet would throw out ALL my clothes and tell me to start over again from scratch. A rather ex- pensive prospect. Last weekend I went to Toronto and spent a day in the Eaton's Centre. I was so over- whelmed by both the expense and the varie- ty of clothing to choose from, that I spent most of my time sitting on a bench people - watching. What an eye-opener! The 'new wave' trends were everywhere. I have never seen so much orange spiked hair in my life. I even saw a few pierced noses! I must be getting old or set in my ways, but I decided that wearing a dog col- lar around one's neck is not my idea of at- tractive! Black leather pants seem to be the "in" fashion in Toronto at present. Everybody was wearing them—whether they looked good in them or not. And most did not. I discovered that the color black is big in Toronto right now, along with the color red. These are 'winter' colors. So what's a poor 'autumn' like myself to do? Accessories on the fashion scene in Toron- to include chunky beaded necklaces, hats and silk scarves. The trick is in knowing how to tie one's scarf. There must be at least 127 different ways. Unfortunately, your basic bow is the only one I can master and even that looks lumpy. " Bulky sweaters and argyle vests are everywhere in Toronto too. They cost a for- tune though. So unless you are rich, better dig out your knitting needles. Kilts are back in style also. Wish I had kept mine from high school days. I guess if you kept all your clothes, they'd be back in style sooner or later and yogi could wear them again (the trick is to stay the same size though). Right now there are penny loafers, fish -net stockings and mini- skirts on the fashion market and I remember wearing all of those in elemen- tary and high school, along with such trendy things as tye-dye pants, go-go boots, cameo chokers, beatle caps, bell bottoms and stocking caps. Yuck! It's hard being fashionable. I tried being observant in Toronto but whether I can app- ly anything I learned to myself remains to be seen. I guess you sort of have to 'go with the flow: while also picking out basic styles you are comfortable with from amongst all the trends—something in between orange spiked hair and $500 tailored suits. They say clothes make a statement about a person. I think mine help me to blend into the woodwork.fj sort of like it that way. o Canada is a multi-ethnic country where many languages are spoken. It is also a multi -faith collection of people. Among its diverse multitudes it embraces, equally and in freedom, all faiths as well as all in- dividuals who do not subscribe to any organized devotional group. Canada has no official religion, but is firmly founded on the separation of church and state. Against such a background one could feel a muted sense of unease when witnessing a deviation from our system - the recent na- tional celebration of one religion. As the grand spectacle of the Pope's visit exploded on the national scene, jubilantly underlined by unprecedented and highly emotional media coverage, the event became a public affair. In that sense some reflections from bystanders might be forgiven. Dr. Gunther Plaut said recently in The Globe and Mail - "For the twelve days of the Pope's visit, Canada seemed to be transformed into an overseas appendage of the Holy See. For a while it appeared that all Canada was Roman Catholic. But for the millions of people who are not, there was a strong sense of exclusion when Canada was celebrating one religious faith." Officials and journalists kept repeating that the Pope's visit was of immense spiritual meaning and value to every human being. Perhaps it had to be said partly, because a great deal of public money financ- ed the visit. Certainly the Pope had some kind words for those of other faiths, sometimes as an afterthought, but the promised and ex- pected ecumenical message of true univer- sality never flowered, even at the events where the leaders of other churches were present. The head of the Roman Catholic Church had been invited to Canada by the Catholic bishops, an event beyond any criticism by outsiders. It was never explained on whose authority the visit became a mixture of state occasions and pastoral messages. The Pope was received as a head of state, but when his public messages sounded like interference with our state affairs (native self-government, economics, external rela- tions, etc.) the character of the visit was said to be pastoral. Similar comments would not be tolerated from a head of state. We remember what happened to General de Gaulle's visit. And his single outburst had been quite modest by comparison. The Pope's popular love and peace messages were timely and welcome urgings on the theme very much on everyone's mind. It repeated very effectively what the Canadian Council of Churches has been say- ing. It is a pity that the Roman Catholic Church did not mark the Pope's visit by becoming a full member of the Canadian Council of Churches, in order to further the ecumenical spirit of true universality and equality. The bold words assailing materialism and profits, the ringing emphasis on the respon- sibility of the rich and the passionate calls for the reduction of poverty lost a little bit of lustre when viewed against the backdrop of the splendid spectacle of the visit itself. It was reported that the velvet to line the two popemobiles had been imported from Paris. The barge used for one part of the visit to Ot- tawa was covered with white orchids and yellow and white roses - a suitable setting for a Prince of Church, but a slightly distur- bing symbol for modesty and compassion for the poor. And the Vatican Bank has steadily speculated, invested and profited in international money markets. I do not so much mind the amount of Cana- dian taxpayers' money spent to finance this trip ( over thirty million dollars), but I do feel considerably uneasy about some of the principles involved. You might remember that when our prime minister wanted to ad- dress us last year, there was a lot of ado at the CBC and finally the opposition leaders had to be given airtime before the head of our duly elected government was "allowed" to speak to us. The publicly owned CBC has now happily used two weeks and twelve million dollars to spread the intensely religious message of one faith. By all accounts the Pope is a remarkable man whose presence and charisma touched so many people. As the head of the Roman Catholic Church, his visit must have meant more to members of his faith than I could ever imagine. I have no wish to touch any of these inviolable things. Insofar as the visit was also a national public event of more worldly dimensions and claims, it could be concluded that some comparisons, observations and reactions of bystanders have their legitimate places in our multi -faith society. ELBA HAYDON I 4