The Brussels Post, 1977-02-16, Page 2.Brusseis Post
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 :TAR:: 1977
Serving Brussels and the surrounding community.
Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario
by McLean Bros. Publishers, Limited.
Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Dave. Robb - Advertising
Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and
Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association 0 CNA HUh )
Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $8.00 a year. ,Others
$14.00 a year, Single Copies 20 cents each.
Snow fence
Amen
by Karl Schuessier
My overalls
• Curing otgotry
Comedian Will Rogers, loved by all, used to say he
never met a man he didn't like.
This may be the key to curing racial bigotry .among
teenagers in Canada.
A racial report financed by the Secretary of State
found bigotry in 64 percent of 255 students surveyed
in seven Ontario centres, including students in eight
schools in Toronto, where everyone of East Indian, or
South Asian color is called a "Paki". They are
targets of "Paki-bashing", a new sport in our high
schools.
The study showed that the most overt bigotry was
directed towards ' East Indians, and to a lesser
degree, Arabs.
The study on teenagers' attitudes, written by
Janet Rosenstock and Dennis Adair, both free-lance
writers specializing in education, said East Indians
particularly are the target of "the most overt racism
found in Canada today."
Ram Singh, a member of the research staff of the
Presbyterian Church in Canada, says. the immigrant
child suffers in the school system because of the
ignorance of other pupils, and in some cases, the
teachers.
Walter Pitman, president of Ryerson Polytechnical
Institute has been appointed as a one-man task force
to investigate racial attitudes in Toronto.
Mr. Pitman may find a clue in the teenagers'
attitudes reported by Rosenstock and Adair.
In every school surveyed, except one, Atabs were
as much the object of racial bigotry as Pakistanis: In
that school, where the bigotry toward them was
almost non-existent, there was an Arab on staff.
Will Rogers, in saying he never met a man he
didn't like, was following in the footsteps of Jesus
Christ who suggested that loving God and loving our
neighbour are the two great commandments. When
Jesus was asked to identify the neighbour, He told a
story about a Samaritan, to whom prejudice was
shown. Jesus thus changed "Samaritan" to m can
one who shows concern and care.
By following such an example we can help change
racial attitudes. Let us all tell stories about the
"good" Pakistanis and other non-whites. Jesus
changed a national reputation in his day, why can't
we?
(Contributed)
90 years young Miss Ethel .diftalita Of the Heithatt'
Nursin .Hortie'„ Idetneely, Of Ethel.;
Celebrated her 90th birthday -Feiday, .February1t.
Why is it? When I pull on a pair of bib
overalls, snap up the buckles and give my
straps a jerky snap, you smile. You don't
take me seriously. You don't think I'm all
set to work, even though I'm into the
workingest work clothes ever.
You think I'm only putting on a costume.
Playing Mr. Dressup or going off to some
masquerade party.
But honest. I'm all set to work -- in my
blue denims. Now, of course, I'm not going
out to the barn and do the chores.
Everyone knows I don't own a barn, much
less a goat or a cow to put in it. But I do
work in my denims. It's almost a CBC
reporter's uniform.
Can't y ou see these faded blues? Faded
blue means they've been in the wash. And
you don't put things in the wash unless
they're dirty. And you don't get things
dirty unless you work? Ehh??
Aww, come on, I didn't go out and buy a
pair of scrubbies. You know the' kind.
Washed and faded out when you buy them.
If I want to buy wahed-out clothes, I'll go
down to Sally Ann and pick me out
something there. Buy used clothes at used
clothes prices. But can you imagine? Going
into a clothing store that sells new clothes
and pay more money for a worn out look
than a brand new one?
Forget it. Faded denim may have its
appeal, but I'll antique it myself. I can
appreciate the worn look. As an old.
furniture buff, I knoW all about patina and
the gentle art of wear and tear and aging. I
can appreciate the faded denim mellow
look. With the blue turned white in just the
right places. With the wrinkles creased in
white across the front and with the wallet
mark or cigarette pack framed in white on
the back pocket.
I know the look they're after.. That sexy
look, so I'm told. When the clothes press
the, flesh and show off every curve. It's a
rugged look — a real frontier western look.
It's an ad man's dream look. Have you
seen that ad? Some male all rugged arid
encircled by an add of cattle. Puffing up
and telling you to come to clean, fresh,
open country. But as evangelist Bob
Harrington says, that man must be
kidding. Yeah, things must really be fresh
with all the cigarette smoke and thousands
of stomping cattle beasts.
Denims bring high prices today. Old Levi.
Strauss wouldn't recognize his original
work pants. Over 100 years ago he went out
West as a gold, prospeCtor. He didn't make
it in gold, but he made it in pants. He
supplied good cheap work pants to the
prospectors. he made them of indigo blue
denim re-enforced with copper rivets at
crucial points.
Old Levi wouldn't dream of ever razzle
dazzling his work clothes with rhinestones
and embroidery. But that's what we do
today. Take the most basic of cloth and
gussy it up with hearts and flowers and
hours and hours of hand stitchery. Or turn
it into dress suits that sell for over two
thousand dollars. About the only thing. Levi
Strauss would recognize' on his pants is his
first name, Levis.
Isn't it nice to know you farmers have
been in style all these years. Tramping
around in the barnyard in your bibs, you
never dreamed you were a walking fashion
plate. And now the whole world is copying
your style and turning it into high fashion.
Even President Jimmy Carter is helping
the cause. He says he'll still wear his
denims around the White House,
So what if denim has gone to the dogs? I
mean the top dogs. I like the idea of a
working president -- in work clothes.
Arid long after the fashion's gone, I'll .
wear my denims. They're good, honest
work Clothes. They put, me in the working
mood. You know the old saw-- about
clothes make the man. Well, I'll go a stitch
farther: Work chitties make the Man 'work.
Stop all your smirks. Did you hear that
Snap? I just Choked in my buckle. Snapped
My shoulder straps. rin going outside to
Work. There's a big snow job otttside. Arid
me arid my denims are gOirig to' tackle it'.