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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-30, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986 The news hit with thesuddeness of.a dark summer storm and anyone who listened to radio, watched television or read the daily press over the weekend was horrified at the offerings. An 11 -year-old Toronto- girl was found dead in the Kingsmill Park area of the city, two days after she was lured to Varsity Stadium under the guise of posing for publicity photographs for an upcoming track meet in New Jersey. A 27 -month-old girl was found stuffed in a garbage bin outside a London department store Sunday, after her father claimed she had been kidnapped by a hitchiker he picked up near Windsor. On Monde& the father of the child was charged with second degree murder. Meanwhile, in Parksville, B. C., a distraught great-grandfather posts a $25,000 reward for -information leading to the safe DAVE. SYKES return of his 21/2 -year-old grandaughter who nad been missing for three days after wandering from her parents cabin near the Vancouver Island village. In the cases of the Toronto girl and the B.C. youngster, hundreds of volunteers turned out to join search parties. Their sym- pathetic efforts, however, proved fruitless. The stories did little to allay fears of parents who try desperately to steer children through the process of growing up. The process is dreadfully painful for some parents as evidenced by the news. These tragic stories, no doubt, led parents to re-evaluate their own systems and methods of instructing children or street - proofing. It's an ongoing process, the impor tance of which is magnified after the death or abduction of another child. There is only so much parents can do to protect their children, and once the educa- tional process, or streetproofing, has been initiated parents must rely on the common sense and judgement of the child. It is a dif- ficult thing to do, but children must also be given some freedoms and -they must develop a sense of responsibility. - All parents can do is teach and trust that the child will respond. In the case of 11 -year-old Alison Parrott of Toronto, it shows that despite the best of ef- forts, sometimes there is nothing a parent can do to avoid such an incident. A phone call was made to a parent and the evidence would suggest that young Alison was targeted by the person who offered to take publicity pictures. Children have to be given the responsibili- ty to explore their own little worlds and it has become difficult to educat'$ children on the potential dangers without frightening them to the point where they are scared to go out. The case of Alison only reminds parents that, unfortunately, there are limits to what we can do for our children. It also should lead to some good family discussion about what was done and what Could, or should, have been done in this instance. Parents and children should freely com- municate about scenarios and 'what if' situations to prepare the child. A Toronto Staff Sergeant with youth Services said even casual problem are worthy of discus- sion with children because, the parent might realize from the child's story that something doesn't fit. I have memories of wandering around the neighbourhood, school yards and mains, street of my home town without any fear. People seemed to know and trust each other. We would like to thinkt that kind of friend- ly and trusting situation exists in our small town. However, childrenandparents should always be prepared. Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 the GodericIi SIGNAL -STAR P.O. BOX EEO HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK ©ODERICH, ONT. N7A 4B6 3EST ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA C.,.. 1..+. 4h..%-1'1(7(1 •mall l 1. ^. A 8494, 9uwspppyI C4414444W0 1984 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 1848 end published every Wednesday at Ooderlch, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscriptions payables in advance 982.00, (Senior Citlaena 919.00 privilege pard number required] In Cenede, 880.00 to U.S.A., 980.00 to ell other countries, Single copies 60C. Display, National end Classified advertising rotes eveliabls on request. Please eek for Rete herd No. 98 effective October 1, 1985. Advertising la accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, the advertising apace occupied by the erroneous Item, together with the reasonable allowance for elgneture, will not be charged for but that balance of the edvortleoment will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of'o •.,hloal error advcrticing geode or eervlcee at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, end may be withdrawn at tiny time. The Signal -Sitar Is not responsible for thA lose or damage of unaollcited menuecrlpts, photos or other materials used for reproducing General Manager Editorg Manager Manes er SHIRLEY J, KELLER ' DAVE SYKES DON HUBICK Publisher: Joce n A. Shrier FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL. OFFICES...pleaSe phone [5191524-2614 ' Second class mail registration number 0716 CCNA Prepare your children The- death of an 11 -year-old Toronto girl on the ,weekend, after she was lured from her home on the guise she was to be involved in publicity photographs for an upcoming track meet in New Jersey, lengthens the tragic list of young people who have disappeared from their homes and neighbourhoods before being killed. "I The death also serves to reinforce the necessity of streetproofingochildren; making them aware of their freedoms, responsibilities and the potential dangers. There are many appraoches to the concept, and a Metro Toronto Police community 'via- l/lions officer offered a few tips for parents in the, wake of the weekend tragedy. Teach children their bodies are their own and that their "bathing suit areas" are private and no one can touch them. Teach them to say "no" in situations where they are uncomfortable.- . .. . Know where and with whom your children are and when they are expected home. Tell them never to play in empty buildings or walk. alone. Do not dress your children in clothing that displays their name, thus giving authority to a stranger who calls them by name. Teach your children never to go with a stranger who says, "Your mon (or dad) sent me to get you," or asks for help locating a stray pet. Teach them never t� hitch -hike. • Teach them never to answer the tele hone by giving out information which would let a . stranger...know they are alone. Obtain le name and number of the caller. ' Check the references of new babysitters. The local Block Parent Association, with a network of homes in town, can also provide some practical and beneficial information on the subject. Preparation cannot always prevent a tragedy with children giver) their curiosity, ex- uberance and free -spirited nature. However, some well-planned preparation can also be a lifesaver. • • Alison Parrott was lured to her death by a man posing as a photographer. All news photogrpahers and camermen in radio and television and the print media carry some form of identification. If you wish to verify the identity of a photographer or reporter, do not hesitate to call the Goderich Signal -Star, or any other newspaper published 6y Signal -Star Publishing at 524-2614. D.S. More concerns handled` Benmiller The censors are at The muzzling, suppressing ..cei cors are nipping again. To add a little culture, to a long, hot sum- mer the work of the Bard of Stratford is in the air. Now, one . of William Shakespeare's classics is under the microscope for pro- moting prejudice and bigotry. Could Goldilocks and the Three Bears be next in line? s Shakespeare s "The Merchant of Venice" was, and perhaps still is, an established feature of the Grade 10 English class at GDCI: It has been performed on countless stages for many, many years. It appears the play is now unsuitable for classroom study. The Waterloo Board of Education has decided that the play should be banned from the .intermediate grades of seven through 10. It has also decided that perhaps even senior students shouldn't be contaminated by it. The trustees have voted to suspend•the play in all grades until the Ontario Human Rights Commission or the Ministry of Education makes a "formal decision on the ap- propriateness of the play in ,the curricula of secondary schools." This latest furor has been created by cer- tain groups who claim the play is anti- Semitic. In the person of Shylock, Jews are being ridiculed and held up to shame. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's true Shylock is a Jewish money lender who demands his pound of flesh from the mer- chant, Antonio. But Jews were the money Unrestricted, uninhibited and responsible comment forms a vital part of a free and vibrant society, J. Allyn Taylor, chairman of the Ontario Press Council, says in his foreword to the organization's annual report for 1985. • The foreword paid special attention to the spectacular increase in the number of com- plaints from the public about the opinions that newspapers publish in editorials, personal columns, opinion articles and cartoons. In its first 101/2 years, 1972-1982, the Council received 53 complaints about published opinion arid adjudicated- 11. In the next three years, 1983-84-85, complaints numbered 84 and 20 went to adjudication. In its treatment of eoiiiplaiiits a'bo1it ff-tiblished-opiniom,-the-Council-illustrated its sense cif reverence for the full freedom of public expression which combines the twin freedoms of speech and of the press, said Taylor. It consistently ruled out consideration of complaints based solely on a difference of opinion between a reader and a newspaper, holding that an issue of this kind could be settled by publication of a letter to the editor expressing a view contrary to the newspaper's. • " - The Council has dealt fairly and•objectively with complaints about comment, said Taylor, 14 of 28 adjudications upholding such coniplaints, and 14 dismissing them. The report, 13th for the Council since its inception in 1972, reported two record showings in complaints in -1985. Complaints received numbered 168, an increase of 24 oil over the. old mark of 144 in 1977. Adjudications in the year totalled 36, up 10 from the previous high of 26 in 1984. The report gave notice of Council plans to move its office to Toronto froth Ottawa in 1987. It vacates.the Ottawa Quarters May 31. The move coincides with the retirement of Fraser MacDougall, executive secretary since the Council began. The Goderich Signal -Star is a member of the Ontario Press Council which will consider written complaints about the publication of news, opinions and advertising. If a complaint can't be resolved with the newspaper, it should be sent to the Ontario Press Council, 151 Slater St., Suite 708, Ottawa, Ont. KIP 5H3 . 49 fA a• by Mike Ferguson lenders of Shakespeare's day. Furthermore, Shylock has plenty` of motivation for his vindictive actions. An- tonio spits on him in public, and when Shylock gives him the loan, declares that he is just as likely to spit on him again. His own daughter Jessica lies to him; „Steals his money, and runs off with a Gentile; Besides, into Shylock's mouth Shakespeare has placed one of the most elo- gitent pleas for racial tolerance ever heard. "I am a Jew," he declares. "Hath not a Jew eyes?hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, pas- sions?fed with the same food; hurt with same weapons, subject to .the same diseases, healed by the same means, warm- ed and cooled by the same winter and sum- mer, as a Christian is? In an age when Jews in England were con- sidered to be beyond the pale, these are in - By Dave Sykes it again deed remarkable words. , But Shakespeare is in incredibly good company. Mark 'Twain's "Huckleberry Finn," one of the greatest American novels, has been subjected to similar criticism. Black groups have tried repeatedly to remove the novel from the curricula because of Twain's use of the word "nig= ger," and because of the supposedly unflat- tering picture of Negroes in the antebellum South. Again, like the Merchant, "Huckleberry Finn" is a powerful protest against racial discrimination. In the novel, Twain's portrayal of the whites is far uglier than that of the gentle, runaway Negro slave, Jim. Twain, like Shakespeare, was far ahead of his time in his recognition of human worth, regardless of color or creed. Censorship is wrong if it falls into the wrong hands. In the attempt to stamp out what some consider to be evil, a greater evil is being committed. The censors would im- pose their judgements on others, dictating what we should read or see. To ban great works like "Huckleberry Finn" or "The Merchant of Venice" is to deprive young people of the opportunity to think for themselves. And surely that's what education is all about. As onefollows the current situation in. South Africa, and the black's desperate quest for freedom, .one dreams of the day when the pen is'mightier than the sword. Huron County residents are losers in power struggle between MOH and Hanly Dear editor, (As a former employee of the Huron Coun- ty Health Unit, I am compelled to write in support of Dr. Harry Cieslar who has resign- ed from his position as Medical Officer of Health. My brief experience in an administrative position allowed me the opportunity to witness proceedings of the monthly meetings of the "Board of Health. It was quite obvious that members very often valued Huron County administrator Bill Hanly's opinions much more than the expert knowledge of the Medical Officer of Health. Time is long overdue that politicians who LETTERS comprise the Board of Health, become aware of their .roles and responsibilities as County once again will be seeking a new,of- legislated by the province, and make some effort -to remedy the current situation. Health promotion and prevention of il- lness is a current trend in health care and an MOH who is keen to support this is nothing more than an asset. Unfortunately, Huron ficer who will require time and experience to reach Dr. Cieslar's level of competence. These qualities include a favorable working rapport with physicians of the county and an awareness of health issues specific to the county. Without support of the Board of Health, history will inevitably be repeated as tax dollars are spent orientating a new MOH. The losers will be the residents of Huron County. whosepublic health will be at stake while each new MOH breaks ground. A costly and unnecessary power struggle indeed! Sincerely, Cathie Rutter Crown attornies will merit salary increase after refresher course in Peterson law Dear editor; The present Ontario government has had conflict with the medical' profession and the crown attornies over salpry. At the present time, they are concentrating on Bill 7, to amend certain statutes to conform to Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The amended bill is ex- acted to have its third and final reading in p July. It would seem that the passage of this bill would hts of school's restrict hets ane d self-governing oms and profes- .1) sions to the extent that they would function as employers. Few of those concerned have been consulted. There was also an amendment to insert sex- ual exual orientation. I believe that this bill, which will affect a high percentage of our popula- tion, should not be passed until the general public has been given an opportunity to ex- press their opinion to the government concer- ning it. Most Canadian citizens are involved with schools and churdhe'a,-and shouldbe able to express an opinion on a matter that afteets the population of Ontario so widely. Since April 23, the provincial government has introduced 43 Bills. I have read a list of these Bills in the paper. Why should Bill 7 be exceptional? Why have they chosen the sum- mer vacation months of the Legislature to pass this particular bill? The crown attornies are requesting a raise from the Ontario government. If they have to have a refresher course on Peterson law, they certainly will merit a raise in salary, Sincerely, N.J. Minaker