Clinton News Record, 2013-11-06, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, November 6, 2013
NewsCl
Record
PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860
53 Albert St.
P.O. Box 39 Clinton ON NOM 1L0
(519) 482-3443
www.clintonnewsrecord.com
SUN MEDIA
A Quebecor Media Company
NEIL CLIFFORD
Publisher
nei I.cl ifford@sunmedia.ca
GERARD CRECES
Editorial
cl inton. reporter@su nmedia.ca
MAX BICKFORD
Advertising Manager
max.bickford@sun media. ca
DAWN JOHNSTON
Sales Representative
clinton.ads@sunmedia.ca
CHRISTY MAIR
Front Office
clinton.classifieds@sunmedia.ca
Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a
typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous
item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not
be charged but that balance of advertisement will be paid for at
the applicable rate. In the event of a typographic error advertising
goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be
sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn
at any time.
The Clinton News -Record is not responsible for the loss or damage
of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for
reproducing purposes.
Publications Mail Agreement
No. 40064683
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES:
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
53 Albert St., Clinton ON NOM 1L0
(519) 482-3443
We acknowledge the financial support of the
Government of Canada through the Canadian
Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.
Canada
.43icna
Member of the Canadian Community
Newspaper Association and the Ontario
Community Newspapers Association
www.clintonnewsrecord.com
editorial
Remember the past, learn about the present
Everyyear about this time the breast of
every jacket becomes spotted with red,
with a little plastic poppy pinned carefully
and proudly on the left side.
Why we do it is simple - to remember.
But, what of us that have no family to give
us any stories to remember? Whose story
do we connect with to keep the message
alive?
And furthermore, what is the message?
Tyranny, in all its forms, must be
opposed. We have learned this through
the terrible examples of Nazi Germany
and Stalinist Russia. Human life is not
something that should be considered dis-
posable for the sake of ruling by fear.
Thankfully, we have among us people
that not only know this to be true, but are
willing to put themselves before their
countrymen and women and challenge
these threats head-on. These same people
decide to fight for the freedom of others,
even as they give up a piece of their own.
It is this we should remember, and this
we should be thankful for.
Sadly, humanity is a complex entity, full
of fears, misunderstandings and bitter-
ness. We have failed many times since
Nov 11, 1918, to honour the sacrifice of
our Veterans and the eradication of a glo-
bal threat. We keep falling in to the trap of
blame, hate and violence.
The poppy gives us a symbol of oppor-
tunity, cooperation and camaraderie, as
well as great struggle and greater sadness.
Without men and women in military
service, this free world we enjoy in North
America would be very different indeed.
Veterans of the Great Wars are dwin-
dling. There are numerous projects under-
way to speak to those still among us and
learn what war did to them on a personal
level.
For years, nobody asked. It was too sen-
sitive a question.
But, the human toll - the personal strug-
gle - of the soldier is something that needs
to be shared. The suffering of people
under tyrants, whether in a fascist or ter-
rorist regime may end with military inter-
vention, but the bringers of that freedom
carry a heavy burden for the rest of their
lives.
Nothing in this world comes easy, but
there are people among us who are willing
to lay down their lives to make ours easier.
We have an entirely new generation of
Veterans who are currently fighting to
bring the type of freedom we enjoy to oth-
ers who are living in fear, living under
tyranny.
While we remember the past for the
magnitude of the sacrifice, we need to get
to know the women and men of the
present for theirs.
War is not an easy thing to understand.
But, it is not an easy thing to take part in
either. This year, when the 11th hour tolls,
remember courage, remember selfless-
ness, and remember to take the time to be
thankful for all we hold free and dear.
Gerard Creces, Clinton News -Record
How valuable is freedom to Canadians?
Even as Remembrance Day
nears, I can't help but think we
have been taking our freedom for
granted.
Rather, I suppose, we have
given up our freedom for conven-
ience, and even as people are lit-
erally dying to emancipate the
oppressed overseas, we do noth-
ing - or at least very little - to
maintain the dignity of the free-
dom we have at home.
In Canada, we have a corrupt,
secretive government - one will-
ing to cut the dead weight and
ignore the cries for fairness that
brought it to power. We have a
Prime Minister that refuses the
press their right - and indeed the
right of every Canadian - to ask
questions and receive honest
answers. We have right now, a
Column
Gerard Creces
leader who ignores the media,
refuses to take his responsibility
to keep all citizens informed seri-
ously, and alienates those who
decide to go against the grain and
ask real questions about very real
problems in our society today.
Ignoring the press, controlling
the message, is how the world's
worst humanitarian abuses
began. Being told from our lead-
ers we have never been more free
while refusing to explain why or
how should be a sign that we have
been failing to hold up our end of
the bargain, and dispose of the
corrupt, the dishonest and the
controlling.
In ignorance, people can hide
from their responsibility to push
for freedom at home, even as our
leaders sell it off one chunk at a
time.
So how do we produce
change?
How do we live up to our
responsibility to keep Canada as
free and as independent as we
like to tell the world we are?
Rallies, protests, petitions...
these are all ways to show our
frustrations and ask for change.
But even these are being ignored.
The saying is - absolute power
corrupts absolutely. It is abso-
lutely true.
We have a government that
promised accountability but
ignores all calls for honesty - a
party that spoke out against parti-
san, omnibus legislation and then
rammed through agenda after
agenda in massive budget bills.
This same government is lash-
ing out at the media, at citizens,
at anyone who tries to convince
them they have failed to enhance
our freedom, and to increase its
value.
If this was happening in
another country, we would call
those people oppressed, and put
them on the radar for some sort
of intervention.
What does that mean, then,
that we put up with it at home?
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The News Record welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and include a daytime phone number for verification purposes. Letters can be sent
care of the Internet at clinton.news@sunmedia.ca, sent via fax at 519-482-7341 or through Canada Post care of The Editor, P.O. Box 39, Clinton, ON NOL 1LO.
CLINTON NEWS RECORD — HOURS OF OPERATION
MONDAY: 9:00 - 5:00 • TUESDAY: - CLOSED • WEDNESDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • THURSDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • FRIDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: - CLOSED
ADVERTISING DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 2:00 • PHONE 519-482-3443 • FAX: 519-482-7341
www.clintonnewsrecord.com