HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-05-10, Page 44
Exeter Times–Advocate
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
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Editorial Opinion
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TIMES ADVOCATE
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Jim Beckett – Publisher
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Scott Nixon – Editor
tirt
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EDITORIAL
Community gets
involved
' e the public is often blamed for
being apathetic and nonchalant over
political issues, two local groups are
proving that generalization to be incorrect.
As is widely known by now, residents of Crediton and
Centralia are upset over potential costs of a proposed
$5.8 million sewer project. With the municipality being
denied a two-thirds grant from the Canada -Ontario
Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) for the
second time, residents would bear the cost of the pro-
ject at an average of about $20,000 per property. What
also upsets people is the municipality's wish to not
apply for a COMRIF grant for the sewer project for a
third time, but to instead apply for a grant for the
upcoming Lake Huron water pipeline to Exeter. The
municipality feels, having been denied a COMRIF grant
for the sewer price twice, there is no sense applying a
third time only to get rejected when the approximately
$11 million Lake Huron pipeline project could get a
COMRIF grant.
That sounds logical on the surface but it doesn't help
the residents of Crediton and Centralia, who face bills
of $20,000 if the sewer project goes ahead without a
grant. Many can't afford it and they will no doubt
leave.
So far the residents have taken the correct step —
they were numerous and vocal at last week's South
Huron council meeting, they followed it up with anoth-
er meeting last Wednesday and will meet again tonight
to plan their course of action.
Council needs to listen to their concerns. $20,000,
even debentured over 20 years, is a price many people
can't pay.
Another group with a fight on its hands is in North
Middlesex, where community members are fighting to
keep McGillivray Central School open. Placed on a clo-
sure list by the Thames Valley District School Board,
McGillivray is a big part of its community. A 'Save Our
School' petition already has 700 signatures on it sup-
porting the school and committee members have met
with MPPs and local politicians to do whatever they
can to keep their school open and prevent their chil-
dren from being moved to other schools.
Only time will tell whether both groups are success-
ful. But they're doing something and for that they need
to be given credit.
About the Times -Advocate
CANADIAN
TA%PAYERS,
I PRESuMg?
2006 Distributed by Canadian Artists Syndicate Inc_
Could we do the same?
It has no stars and no special effects. There are no
over -muscled actors tossing off one liners as they mow
down the bad guys. And there is no happy ending. But
despite that, and because of it, "United 93" might be
the best action movie ever made as it describes what
happened that morning almost five years
ago both on the ground and inside the
plane.
"United 93" is two movies in one, with
people on the ground overwhelmed by what
is happening around them as they try to
understand and gain control over what is
going on. For the passengers and crew on
the plane, it is the opposite as they sit in the
eye of the storm, unaware of what is about
to happen to them as the terrorists wait to
make their move.
From the moment the movie begins, the
tension builds as everyday events occur for
the last time, unaware to most of those
aboard. As the hatch is slammed and locked and the
plane's wheels lift off from the ground for the last time,
the fate of those aboard is sealed.
On the ground, the morning starts with a short radio
transmission as the first indication something is wrong
and people can do nothing but watch as planes smash
into buildings one after another.
But in the air aboard flight 93, as the hijackers make
their move, cell phones spring to life and the news
from the ground reaches the plane.
As the reality of their situation sinks in, the passen-
gers react as any of us would as some are
frozen while others turn to prayer or make final
calls. But a few, as in any situation whether
faced with a burning building, a wrecked car or
any of the situations we could find ourselves
faced with at any moment of any day, find the
courage to act.
As the plane nears its target, the passengers
arm themselves not with Rambo -sized weapons
but pots of boiling water and a serving cart to
make their stand.
Charging their captors, they yell not heroic slo-
gans or casual one liners, but sounds of despera-
tion and fear There is no
Schwarzenegger/Stallone/Seagal or Van Damme
to lead the charge with his shirt ripped open just the
right way. The last moments aren't slow motion care-
fully choreographed scenes, just a chaotic struggle as
the passengers battle for control with the terrorists.
And in the end, blackness with no one left for the
sequel.
PAT BO
BACK 40
VIEW
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