Loading...
The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-09-03, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1986 I do not take kindly to being blamed for murder. A recent editorial made the ac- cusation. It stated firmly that "society is to blame" for the murder of a young girl who was lured from her Toronto home by a telephone call and raped and strangled by a man still at large. By implication, socie- ty is to blame for all such murders; in- deed, for all murders. Who is this society? There is no address for it in any directory and no map shows its contours. Society is an abstract and conve- nient reference to a collection of in- dividuals under certain conditions. Society as such has no shape, mind, memory, will or desire. Society is you and I and our neighbors. And I refuse to accept blame for another person's crimes. To blame society for an individual's deliberate misdeeds and murderous cruelties is very easy and much in vogue at present, but it is also completely mean- ingless. Such blame takes the responsibili- ty from the flesh and blood individual who ELBA ,HAYDON does the raping and killing - and attempts to place it, vaguely and shapelessly, in the middle of the rest of us. To me this is ridiculous as well as ir- responsible. There might be persons look- ing for something to feel guilty about, but count me out. I am busy with the respon- sibility for my own actions:-" It is as unfortunate as it is beside the point to use the tragedy of a girl's murder and her family's ordeal as an excuse for spreading feminist propaganda,complete with demands for universally accessible day care. It appears that no matter where a situation starts, that is where it is directed to land. So far this particular murderer has not been found, but another man accused of a murder of similar background, this time involving a young boy in Quebec, is in costody. I am not prepared to speculate what goes on in such persons' minds when they plan and carry out their horrible " crimes. Feminist style explanations do not really help. The first murder took place so very long ago, committed by the immediate off- spring of Adam and Eve. The practice has continued throughout mankind's history, for a variety of reasons. Girls and women were among the victims when billboards and commercials with "sex kittens slithered into tight fitting jeans" were unheard of and when the hems of highcollared, demure dresses touched the floor with solemn propriety. Many feminist views are surprisingly puritanical and repressive. Censorship is said to be okay as long as the feminist leaders are the ones to select what is good and wholesome for us. Stereotypes appear to be in order when created by "woman - think". Yes, there is such an expression now, I am not making it up. There seems to be a shortage of dramatic examples to convince us of an urgent need for more and stronger restric- tions, so the same old stuff is dusted off - the good old reference to one picture in one obscure magazine neither you nor I have seen. And yes, I certainly hope that the zoo keepers are paid more than the children's keepers in day care centres, not because of values, but because wild animals are con- sidered more dangerous. The editorial concluded that "we need to place women and children first in our society". What does it mean, really? What is it now - equality or special treatment or both? It is no wonder that much of the feminist message fails to touch the mainstream woman. I am not entirely at ease with my somewhat heavy response., because I sense that where the recent feminist message seemed to be carried away, it happened out of passionate sincerity which I have to respect. My impatience is with the wailing per- • tion of nearly all feminist writings and speeches which so often refer to womeJ as not so very bright weaklings who.. are always wronged by everybody, pushed and pulled, forever in need of special attention, help and sensitivity. I dislike seeing women patronizedin this manner, since every one of us can get on with her life according to the design she has chosen and is free to Change, within the human lirnits for both sexes. I do believe in social responsibility, but for me it starts with the personal responsibility of women and men for their actions. Forever blaming others is a waste. Many young feminists who were not born when I was already "liberated and equal" remind me of a beautifully written poem by Rabindranath Tagore. It is about looking for the small stone that brings hap- piness to its owner. In his eagerness, the man in the poem hastily picks up and throws away many pebbles on the beach, without knowing that he had already held the stone for which hewas looking. Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 the Gderic SIGNAL -STAR 0 EBT ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA rc c 4son Class 3500 45001C C h4 Eimer Newspepar Co po5wn 1984 . P.O. BOX 22O HUCKINS BT. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICH, ONT. N7A 4138 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 1840 end published every Wednesday at Ooderloh, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OCNA. Subscriptions payable In advance 922.00, [Senior Citizens 919.00 privilege card number required' in Canada, 680.00 to U.S.A., 680.00 to ell other countries, Single copies BOC. Display, National end Classified advertleing rates available on request. Please ask for Rate Card No. 10 effective October 1, 1986. Advertising le eocopted on the condition that In the event of o typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the ernoneous Item, together with the reeeonabls allowance far signature, will not be oherged for but Chet balenoe of the advertisement will be peld for at the applicable rate. In the avant of e typographical error advertising goads or services et a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising 1s merely en offer to sell, and may be withdrawn et any time. The Signal -Star la not reaponslble for the lose ar damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photon ar other materiels used for reproducing purposes. General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER Editor DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleaee phone [619]624-2814 Second class mail registration number 0716 Member:►CNA CCNA Beer in corner stores will cause more problems When discussing the issue of beer and wine being sold in corner stores, the Addiction Research Foundation is correct to wonder who will benefit from such legislation being in- troduced by David Peterson's Liberal government in the legislature this fall. After researching the proposed legislation, the Addiction Research Foundation says sell- ing beer and wine in corner, stores will have more costs to society and individual store owners than benefits. Making alcohol available in corner stores will mean it is more accessible and statistics have proven that increased accessibility always leads to increased consumption rates along with4more•alcohol-related problems. The foundation also predicts the legislation will place beer and wine on the same status as bread and milk, removing any social discouragement to consume and possibly abuse alcohol. And, the legislation could move Canada closer to the American situation of allowing beer to be sold at gas stations, encouraging drivers to pick up a six pack while filling up the tank thereby adding to the drinking and driving statistics. When the costs to the owner are stacked up against the potential increase in•corner store receipts, the economic gains may 'be minimal, predicts the foundation. The difficulties of dealing with intoxicated customers, checking identification for underage. drinkers and hir- ing staff over 18 as well as the costs of distribution and putting in additional 'refrigeration facilities may make selling beer and wine a ,Ieadache for the store owners. , ,, .. • Add those costs to the cost to the taxpayer of increasing public campaigns educating the public about the dangers of abusing alcohol and the costs continue to mount. It makes no sense economically to spend public money to discourage alcohol abuse by supporting advertising campaigns and the Addiction Research Foundation while at the same time undoing any prevention by making alcohol more accessible to the public. And, it certainly makes no moral sense to create 'a situation where alcohol abuse seems more likely to occur and therefore more alcohol-related deaths seem likely to result. The provincial government has already heard loud opposition to its proposed legislation from both the New Democratic Party and the majority of municipalities attending the re- cent Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference. It seems clear to everyone but the government that the costs outweigh the benefits of beer and wine in corner stores.--S.H. Accidents are alarming " The statistics concerning farming fatalities are -'alarming. Anything that involves the death of a person is alarming, but when the death is the result of an accident, it causes more shock. In the past five years, there have been 210 deaths on Ontario farms. Of the total, 106 (50.5 per cent) have been reported as tractor related while 37 (17.6 per cent) were the result of other machinery. As pointed out by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, farming is not like other industries, the home and work place are intertwined. The equipment is often accessible to children which may acCbunt for the number of deaths involving children on fauns. In this province in 1985, nine chidren under the age of 15 died in farm -related accidents. No one can really be blamed for these accidents as many times the adults were not aware of the children's presence, however, taking a few extra precautionary methods could not hurt. The third highest category in causing fatalities on the farm is being hit by or against ob- jects. From 1981-1985, 19 deaths (9.1 per cent) fell under this category. Sixteen deaths (7.6 per cent) were caused by asphyxiation or suffocation. Next highest is the "other" category, accounting for 12 deaths (5.7 per, cent). The final three categories are animal, causing nine deaths (4.3 per cent); electrocution, seven deaths (3.3 per cent); gases, chemicals or fumes, four deaths (1.9 per cent). ' The old saying "accidents will happen" is definitely true, but perhaps we can take a few extra steps to try and prevent them. - Clinton News Record. We welcome your letters to the editor Summer solace By Dave Sykes Education and understanding are not enough to alleviate fears of Bluewater Dear editor, "Education and Understanding" as .ad- vocated by a local resident of Bluewater Centre is not enough to, "alleviate fears of Bluewater neighbors". Too much has been swept under the pro- verbial "rug". Even Dr. Kahn who spoke out in defence of the centre obviously had not read the local papers or listened to the news or perhaps he was out of town when the other seven inmates escaped, and he Was obviously unaware that five others failed to return to the centre after weekend passes that are handed out so liberally, since in his letter he referred only to one break-out. • Perhaps it is time that some of the crumbs should be swept out into the open. Did you know that in. October, 1985, within a month after the opening of the centre, not only did three inmates escape, but they wrought ter- ror and havoc in the process. Following are some facts you may not have heard about: at 2:30 a.m. the morning of that breakout, a lady sleeping in an isolated annex to the summer home of her sister's was awakened by cars racing through the area south of Bluewater Centre. While she could not identify the vehicles it turned out later that it was the OPP in search of the ctrl rits who had attempted a second break-in just prior to the chase. The first home was that of an elderly couple (the husband is 85 and very hard of hearing), where they had pried open a window, took a purse containing car keys and a con- siderable amount of money, and pushed their car about 50 yards around the perimeter road but failed to start the vehicle. The first evidence this couple had of the break-in was the following morning when the lady came into her living room to find a can of lethal spray sitting in the living room just close to where they had found her purse. Wires on the intercom between their cot- tage' and the annex had been cut (obviously the culprits thought they were cutting the LETTERS phone wires). It was fortunate that the cou- ple were not wakened as they could have been attacked and blinded, or worse, by the spray which obviously had been at the "ready" in the event of discovery. From this home, the trio headed for the next home, pushed the smallest chap through a high porch window, wrecked havoc in this home and, still failing to get a vehicle for escape, they headed to Bayfield where they found a vehicle that they used. for their get -away. The car was later found with a burned -out motor. What was done about this affair? Were the unsuspecting victims given any "understan- ding", regardless of numerous letters to their M.P.P.? The matter was dropped and here we are back to square one. Where is it all going to end, and when? When someone is "accidentally" killed or has a heart at- tack while these so , called "young of- fenders" are still protected and pampered? Actually we in the area really do not need to be "educated about the young men (she calls them) that live there... or "why they are there". All, or most of us, have or have had teenage children sometimes in our lives and love them and sincerely appreciate the need to try to rehabilitate young people who may not have had the background or oppor- tunities ours have had, but this in no way alleviates the danger they pose to society • when they escape the confines of this institution. Today's rule of thumb in regards to crimes against society appears to be "forget the victim, but do take good care of the of- fender". I strongly feel that molleycoddling offenders, not necessarily- only those con- victed of major crirnes but of any crime against society, has reached absolutely ridiculous proportions. At one time, the whole idea of prison was to take away the freedom which a criminal lost by having committed a crime against society and breaking the laws of the land. When I enquired of the centre's ad- ministrator just what, if any, punishment or menial tasks the inmates at Bluewater have to do in the course of the day besides play ball or swim, I was informed that they had little if anyenial chores. Sometimes they mop a floor/ but all they have to do is get up at the same time every day, and for some, this is a hardship as they have never had to do that in their lives before. The do-gooders say, for example, that it is okay for a pervert to commit acts of sexual assault, but it is better to try to rehabilitate him rather than punish him too harshly. Perhaps if some of these offenders had a few bites of the old-fashioned lash and carried a few scars on their backs for life, as the .of- fended girl carries in her psyche they may not be so ready to commit the same crime once they are released (when and if caught). Further to the recent letter, I fail to see how the, so-called "hysterical reactions of people living in the area" can cause devaluation of their property. Actually, I do not find folk "hysterical" in the least, simp- ly alarmed and deeply concerned for the safety of their children and their homes out- side the fence. While some teenagers, especially teenage, boys, may not be afraid to be outside or at the beach, many mothers and youngsters are desperately alarmed and afraid. Unfor- tunately, the Bluewater Centre seems to be a "reality" aspointed out, but I am afraid it is going to take more than "education and understanding" to restore the peace and tranquility we once knew in this area. Most of us, at least, in this area feel that the centre'should be reconverted to one of its Turn to page 5