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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-03-19, Page 6P.AG.g 6 —GODERICH SIGNAL,STAR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 0. 1986 Feature E quality of sexes is fir BY SUSAN HUNDERTMARK The world cannot attain peace until women achieve equality and the global psyche develops the feminine characteristics of cooperation and concern about relationships. David Bowie, a member of the B'hai Na- tional Council on Peace, told about 30 peo- ple at a meeting last week in Goderich Township that a statement delivered by the council to all heads of state around the world says that equality of the sexes -is the first prerequisite for global peace. "Because of the male obsession with weapons, we stand capable of destroying the planet and that's a frightening thought. That's the legacy of several thousand years of male dominance and we men can- not duck that no matter how we squirm. Our obsession with these toys has to stop," he said. Bowie said the inferiority of women has no- logical or scientific basis and is instead' based on fallacy. But, ironically, because women are oppressed, his words pro- moting equality are often given more weight than those of a woman. "I can say things that a woman can't get away with because she's considered to be just complaining. Isn't that terrible'" he • asked. Historically, he said that there are two stories of creation but that one is ignored. The story that God created Adam first and then created a woman frum his side as a companion is usually favored over the story that God created men and women jointly and gave all things on Earth to them both. Though it's often thought that feminists of the 1960s and 70s began the women's movement for equality, the, struggle for equality has been going on for centuries, he said. In 1840, the majority of delegates to the first anti -slavery' convention held in Lon- don, England were women. And, after the women were barred from speaking at the convention, those women vowed they would never be so humiliated again. They held the first women's rights convention'in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. Though there have been matriarchal societies through tune,inost of them were destroyed by colonialism and patriarchy came to the forefront Patriarchy. st prerequisite to global peace characterized by aggression and com- petitiveness dominated matriarchy which was characterized by cooperation and con- cern for relationships, he said. "It is so critical that we achieve the qualities of a matriarchal society in all our political structures. We have to bring into our psyches the feminine qualities," he said. While it's important to elect more women to parliament, it's more important to elect people with feminine qualities since "up to now, the only way a woman could progress was to suppress her femininity," he said. "And, we don't need more masculine qualities housed in feminine bodies in our governments." On h personal level,, both men and women need to develop the characteristics of the opposite sex, he said. "'True equality is the balancing of human nature. The woman inside the man really needs to be emancipated because a man who's not afraid to cry doesn't feel the need to dominate." "And, until women feel comfortable with their masculine side and can be firm and assertive, we will have a distorted, un- balanced society," he said. • The obvious biological differences between men and women simply shows a division of. function, not inferiority or superiority." Both a bull and a cow are necessary for food production; neither one is more im- portant than the other," he said. The attitudes of superiority are learned and only a lack of will stops men from discarding those attitudes. Changing at- titudes and consequently, their relation- ships with women, men can work towards peace. "I'll bet you somewhere right now in Goderich, there's a woman being raped or beaten and it's not a woman doing it to her. Crimes of violence can ,be stopped. Whoever's doing it can stop. But, the man who's beating a woman may have signed a petition to ban the bomb and doesn't see any relationship between the two," he said. Bowie asked why men are so unwilling to listen to feminists and their demands for equality. "Why are we so,upset when women voice our rin�gs '�T�sQe l�'�'ngd Sipe lst and2nd X12• Additional Sipe $2°° nw�• SOinU aless of how Regar sites' - many $ 0 ng 4 Claws etiPP1' 0 0 $24. ash addition claw 3?o soldering •.. your e as�ltra- n�cally cleaned: GI-�An� �,s l or rrit ess. their concerns. We've been beating them, raping them and brutalizing them for years. They've put up with us; surely, we - can listen to what they want," he said. But, around the world, Bowie said many men have still not discovered that women are human. "In Iran, Islamic law.says it's not right to send a virgin into heaven. So, any woman who is put to death is raped first," he said. Reading through feminist writings, Bowie. said he found enough to make anyone weep. "Men have to start reaching out and start caring. It doesn't matter why ine- quality exists—it just has to stop now." Social services budget is set BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE Just over $1 million is expected to be spent this year in social services. The social services 1986 budget received tentative approval at the Mar. 6 session of Huron County council. The largest portion of this budget, $819,600 is handed out in the form of general welfare assistance, down from last year's budget amount of $839,900. Administering the program will cost about $5,000 more this year. A total of $190,216 has been set aside for employee salaries and other office expenses. This is up from $185,936 budgeted for last year. Other items in the budget include $20,000 for supplementary aid, $13,500 for homemakers and nurses services and $16,000 for special assistance. The province picks up the largest portion. of the social services tab. It will pay $777,805, while the county will pay $281,611, an actual decrease of .9 per cent from last year's budget. The social services department actually had a $60,000 savings last year, mostly because the number of welfare recipients is down. All budgets are subject to final approval • by Huron County Council at its Mar. 27 session. Architect chosen to �G ' \V- Q�G�' �G <G,�OJ + er O+ OGP �OoG tOe 0. *0. Ot> CREDIT UNION PERSONAL LOANS If you have a good reason to borrow, talk to your friends here at the Credit Union. We are the "People Helping People" with simple interest, open personal loans. We are the people with your best rate* *ALL NEW LOANS 39 ST. DAVID STREET, GODERICH PHONE 5248366 . "Member Ontario Share and Deposit Insurance Corporation" TM GODERICICMMUNITY CREDIT -UNION • *Up to ,17,500 available *Completely Open for pre -payment *Simple Interest *Life Insured OFFICrHOURS: . Mon. to Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.' Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 6:00p.m. Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon IP design museum The architect who assisted with the feasibility study on the Huron County Pioneer Museum will get to design the new building. Christopher Borgal of Blyth was chosen at the March 6 session as the architect to prepare sketches for the county museum in Goderich. The local firm was chosen over five other architectural compdnie5. It was in 1984 when Borgal and the now project director of the museum, Claus Breede, did a feasibility study on the museum. Last year county council agreed to set up a reserve fund for the project. At the end of 1985, the museum building reserve fund had a balance of $238,865. The county is tentatively=planning to put $300,000 in the museum. reserve fund this year. However, that amount is subject to final review when county council considers its final budget at the end of this month. Borgal estimates it will cost $190,000 for his company to design the building at an estimated cost of $2.8 million. Borgal designed the addition to the Blyth Summer Festival. Spring runoff • from page 1 Taylor. The authority is concerned however, about the high water level in Lake Huron which could create widespread erosion along the lakeshore if we get high winds this summer. We've had higher than . normal on average rainfall since 1968 creating higher water levels in the lake. "It takes a long time for that rain to flow through the (Great Lakes) system," explains Taylor. • nae' Clinton Retirement Home "Home Away From Home" •Large Private Rooms *Home Cooked Meals •Reasonable Rates Call Us Today for Viewing Isabel Brezinski 482-5208 Georgina Durnin 526-7554 Bluewater Kennel Club 'DOG SHOW HANDLING, CLASSES start Monday April 7 from 7:30 - 9:30 pm AT THE ZURICH PUBLIC SCHOOL GYM ligistrotlon f•• 30.00 �o r•pistir call Janet Lobb 48243/2 All dogs must have up-to-date vaccinations.