The Times Advocate, 2006-06-14, Page 44
Exeter Times—Advocate
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
=CNA
Editorial Opinion
TIMES ADVOCATE
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tirt
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EDITORIAL
Impressive
fundraisers
The community should be congratulated
for coming together last weekend for two
important fundraisers.
Fundraisers in Exeter for the Canadian
Cancer Society and the Huron County Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
combined raised over $100,000. Those num-
bers are impressive by any measure and show
residents are willing to not only support a good
cause in spirit, but put their money where their
mouths are.
South Huron District High School's Relay for
Life Friday night was another success this year,
raising more than $50,000 for cancer research.
Not only does the event raise much needed
cash, it brings the community together and cel-
ebrates the lives of those who have lost their
battle with cancer, those who conquered the
disease and those who are still fighting it.
Everyone who participated should be congratu-
lated, as should the organizers.
The SPCA dinner, also held Friday night,
raised $55,000 to help animals, exceeding the
organization's goal of $47,000.
After last week's news that the Exeter Fall
Fair had been cancelled because of a lack of
volunteers, the community spirit shown in
Exeter over the weekend is welcome news and
something that will hopefully continue.
Huron shines
Another event which was evidence of a
vibrant community was the Community Matters
conference in Vanastra last Wednesday and
Thursday which put the spotlight on successful
Huron County businesses and services and
looked to develop a new, unique vision for
Huron to move the county forward.
One needed only to listen to talks from busi-
nesses such as iceculture and RTM North and
county services such as Second Stage Housing,
Willing Workers and Huron County Housing to
realize the county offers a lot to its citizens.
The Community Matters program, examining
the needs of Huron County residents and devis-
ing a way to meet them and look to the future,
is a positive step.
Going through the 'in box'
As a journalist, all kinds of information gets sent to
me everyday via e-mail and fax.
In addition to the variety of press releases and pro-
paganda from the upper levels of government and
their respective supporters and detractors, reporters
at the Times -Advocate have information sent to them
from around the world everyday. As we're strictly a
local paper, most of these items end up in the trash,
while others, if we can put a local spin on them, are
considered for stories.
We also receive a variety of "crazy" e-mails
that are best ignored and forgotten.
But something crossed my desk Friday
morning which caught my eye — it seems
something called the `Global Country of World
Peace', with a Canadian office in Ottawa, has
figured out a way to defend Canada from ter-
rorism — by yogic flying.
Yes, that's right. In a press release, Dr. Neil
Paterson, a representative for the group
states, "I have the scientific knowledge to cre-
ate invincible defence for Canada that can
prevent all terrorism in the country. All that is
required is to train 600 Canadians in this sci-
ence of invincible defence and employ them on a per-
manent basis."
The "invincible defence" in question is the practice of
transcendental meditation and yogic flying.
For those not in the know, yogic flying involves a per-
son sitting cross-legged in the lotus position bouncing
up and down, eventually achieving, according to
research I've done, "bubbling bliss." You may remem-
ber the late magician Doug Henning starring in
Natural Law Party commercials back in the 1990s,
claiming the party would eliminate Canada's debt by
yogic flying. As far as I know, it hasn't worked.
Henning, unfortunately, is now doing his yogic flying
on that great meditation mattress in the sky.
According to the website permanentpeace.org, yogic
flying "is the most effective single program for gener-
ating a society -wide influence of peace."
And, states the press release I received Friday,
"Modern theories of quantum physics explain that
groups of yogic flyers enliven the Unified Field .. .
thereby creating a quantum mechanical effect
in the field of consciousness. This harmonious
influence reaches the collective consciousness
of society, directly eliminating violent tenden-
cies in the whole population thus preventing
terrorist acts and all criminal behaviour."
Now I'm a fairly open-minded person, and
I'm all for peace and stopping terrorism, but I
have to admit I'm skeptical. Hey, even The
Beatles thought this was goofy stuff after
spending time with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
back in the 1960s.
But I'll give the yogic flyers credit — they
seem to be having a good time and their hearts
are in the right place. And you have to admire anybody
who can achieve "bubbling bliss" by bouncing around
on a mattress.
In the meantime, the Global Country of World Peace
wants 600 of Canada's youths to join them. I say go for
it. A summer job? Nah, defend this great nation of ours
from the evil terrorists by bouncing around on a mat-
tress. That should work.
SCOTT
NIXON
AND ANOTHER
THING
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