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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-09-28, Page 44 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, September 28, 2005 zkxna =CNA Editorial Opinion TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing casts. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager il Published by Metroland Printing, ri Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL Keep our courts secular The issue of allowing sharia courts to have status in the Ontario justice system seems a world away from rural Ontario. In this part of the world, racial and religious minorities are rare. We tend to be of two opinions concerning sharia, both remarkably short-sighted. The first is if Moslems want to use sharia courts to arbitrate family matters, they should be allowed the same rights to do so as other reli- gious groups in the province. The second is that the whole issue does not concern us in the slightest because it only applies to Moslems, and only to family law. Premier Dalton McGuinty was correct in his decision to keep all religious arbitration out of Ontario courts. Although there is nothing inherently misogynistic or harsh about Islam, the establishing of religious courts in a good many of the world's Moslem countries has tend- ed to mean a return to barbaric punishments — ampu- tation and stoning. Such courts treat women as second class citizens, in some places keeping them under virtual house arrest. It is no coincidence that the Canadian protest against sharia courts — courts that would arbitrate family mat- ters based on Islamic principles — has been led by Moslem women. These women are horrified at the prospect of women who may not speak English or understand their rights under Ontario law being coerced into seeking arbitration from a religious court. With sharia, that includes a tradition of granting cus- tody of children to their father even in cases of abuse, and denying divorced women any kind of financial sup- port from their former husbands. We can sit back, smug in our belief that only a few immigrant Moslem women would be hurt by the system and confident that Ontario law would always take prece- dence. But we would be advised to fight tooth and nail against allowing sharia courts in Ontario. We have to remember that our legal system has its roots in the tradition of British common law. Any legal decision becomes part of case law and can be referred to in future decisions. We also have to remember that fundamentalist Islamic groups are not the only ones that treat women like second class citizens, denying them education and employment and forcing young girls into arranged marriages. As late as 1928, Canada's Supreme Court determined women were not "persons" as defined by the British North America Act (the decision was overturned in 1929 by the British Privy Council, then the highest court for Canada). A couple of decades ago, a man could beat up his wife with impunity. When a sexual assault case came before the courts, it was the victim who went on trial — the main issue was not the man's guilt, but the woman's virtue. Protecting the rights of our daughters means keeping our justice system secular. The same concepts of fair- ness and equality that apply in business and criminal law must be upheld in family courts. Allowing religious freedom is one of the basics in any open-minded, free society. But open-minded must not be confused with empty-headed. — from the Wingham Advance Times NE DIDN'T WANT Al GIVE UP TiH5W, BUT HECANT AFFORD 111EGAS.,- • For those about to rock... Over the years I have gone to many rock 'n' roll concerts. What can I say, it's my favourite hobby. But over the years I've started to notice a trend of rude and ignorant people. It's understandable that everyone's there to have a good time and deserve to do so. It's rock 'n' roll and crowds being entertained by bands like AC/DC and Metallica deserve some crazy enthusiasm. There is a difference between having fun though and disrespecting others around you. Concerts these days are not cheap. In fact I just recently went to the Robert Plant concert at the John Labatt Centre and paid $90 dollars for my ticket. He only performed for an hour and a half, so I paid a buck a minute to see this legend. Monday night's Rolling Stones concert in Toronto was $115. The Plant concert wasn't so bad, apart from people smoking in the arena and a few complaints of people getting out of their seats and back about a million times. How annoying is that? I understand if you might need a refreshment or possibly a quick bathroom break but constantly coming and going is rude. How NINA VAN LIESHOUT KICK THIS AROUND can you enjoy the show if you are having to move every two seconds? A couple other problems I've noticed over the years is pushing and yelling at each other. If someone is in the way, how about trying "excuse me, can you please move over a bit?" Not swearing, pushing or threatening the per- son like I've seen before. There's no need to get downright rude right away. Some people are respectful and will help you. Concerts are supposed to be fun, a time for everyone there to get together and have a great time. This topic can go the other way too, for all those people going to a concert, sitting in the front sec- tion and expecting everyone else to sit too, remember it's a rock '11' roll concert and we're all pumped. We do not want to sit. We're all there for the same reason. To be enter- tained by some of the best rock 'n' roll legends of all time. Let's do it safely and actually look out for each other and remember as Neil Young said, "rock 'n' roll is here to stay." About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. 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For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 REPORTERS Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Sharlene Young, ext 103 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 MargPertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke