The Citizen, 1995-10-18, Page 4Reflections of fall
C The North Huron
itizen
P.0.13ox 429, P.O. Box 15Z Publisher, Keith Roulston
BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont, Editor, Bonnie Gropp NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0
Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Advertising Manager,
FAX 523.9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil
The Citizen is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing
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BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
1995
Search out the good ones
It's the time of year again when the community newspapers across
Ontario are seeking nominations for outstanding young people for the
Junior Citizen of the Year awards, a time to reward the good deeds
done by young people.
So many negative things are
said about the younger
generation but often the acts of
generosity and bravery are
overlooked. Each year for 20
years the community newspapers have conducted a search for those
young people who set a good example for their peers, and for cynical
adults. The awards ceremony held each March, at which the Lieutenant
Governor presents the young people with their awards, is one of the
most inspiring events one can imagine, turning crotchety old newspaper
editors into wet-eyed admirers.
Only once has a local youngster been represented on the podium.
We're sure there are more good young people out there who deserve to
be recognized. They don't have to be those who have shown physical
bravery like Jordin Rutledge, the Auburn youngster who won the award
last year after he helped save his mother's life when she had been shot
in a hold-up while visiting the U.S. Other winners include young
people who have worked to overcome illness or handicaps, showing
courage by the example of just living normal lives. Other winners have
done things to make their community better. There have even been
groups who have won the award for their actions to improve the
community.
We have people who deserve to be recognized. Get an application
form from either office of The Citizen and nominate them.—KR
When bad is good
E ditorial
PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1995.
How times have changed when it comes to right and wrong. Take
the current box-office-topping movie Seven as an example.
The movie is about an ingenious serial killer who has vowed to kill
one person to represent each of the seven deadly sins. He Must be a
very literate person because few people know today what the seven
deadly sins are (were). In fact, if you look at those sins, most would be
regarded as virtues today.
Pride: Everybody is supposed to have pride today. We're supposed to
have pride in our work. Sports teams live on pride. People are supposed
to be too proud to go on welfare,
Covetousness: Where would the economy be today if people didn't
covet what others had. Wanting what we see in those fancy houses in
movies and on television makes people want to go out and shop which
helps create jobs. In fact if there's a worry, it is that the baby-boom
generation is getting older and less covetous.
Communism was at least in part destroyed because communications
let people in communist countries see the lives westerners lived and
wanted those luxuries badly enough to face the wrath of soldiers.
Lust: Sex is everywhere. Few movies are complete without at least one
couple taking a tumble in bed. Seldom are these people rorried. Sex is
used to sell virtually anything in TV commercials.
Anger: While we profess that anger is bad, most political campaigns
are based on anger these days. Separatists in Qudbec play on pent-up
anger with the rest of the country for real or perceived injustices. The
Harris government won election partly because of anger over rising
taxes and growing government interference. People are angry with
immigrants, blacks are angry with whites, natives are angry at white
society and vice-versa. Everybody is angry and in politics this is a
feeling to be played to.
Gluttony: In a consumer society everyone is expected to consume,
consume, consume. Whether its food or creature comforts for our
home, we are urged to use more and more. Of course the result of
gluttony in the literal sense of eating too much, is frowned on. While
ads for food are everywhere on our TV screens, people who have a few
too many pounds are ridiculed and urged to consume diet products.
Envy: Pretty much covered under Covetousness.
Sloth: Now here, in the 1990s is a real sin. All hose on welfare and
unemployment, all those who are poor, are blamed for their own
misfortune because they are too lazy.
So only one of the seven sins is really sinful in the 1990s. The
others, our society signals, should be practised more often.—KR
Letters
THE EDITOR,
Some goodbyes end when they
are spoken; other goodbyes seem
never quite to be finished.
My Blyth goodbye this past June
continues as I write you this note.
How things end up in memory to
be pondered later is a mystery to
me, but it happens, and inside of
me now are many wonderful
thoughts of Blyth and Huron
County.
How memories are evoked can
be equally mysterious, but that
happens too, and this autumn as I
walk under the pre-referendum
Quebec sky the smell of leaves has
shot me back to raking in the
backyard on King Street, then
across to the great tree as it blows
under the pressure of the wind, and
thoughts tumble around inside of
me in random order and of varying
length.
My son Daniel was born in the
Clinton hospital under the great
care of the staff there, and Matthew
has a great foundation for his
education because of Blyth Public
School and the teachers he had the
fortune to meet and know.
Stopping at Don's Store, or
Wayne's Garage or the
incomparable Mini we always felt a
part of the Community.
Travelling the county to purchase
Mennonite Maple Syrup, catching
the waves of Lake Huron at Port
Albert, Sunset, and St.
Christopher's, shovelling out the
snow after a three day blow in
January (or watching, coffee in
hand, as Dave Lee did it with his
tractor).
Watching rain dance on the
pavement, picking up the mail at
the home of NOM 1H0 from the
outstanding women who work
there, sliding down the hill by the
Catholic Church with other locals
from two feet to six, 20 pounds to
200 (depending on the weight of
the snowsuit), watching dirt turn
green, then to tall green stalks that
were then taken down under
October and November skies.
Sunday skates at the arena,
walking the ex-railroad tracks,
talking to Wayne, Deb, Janice or
Jeff, getting a lid change at Lloyd's
or Judy's, hanging about 20 tons of
laundry on the line (because the
backyard was that big), the
Community Play in the Rutabaga
Factory and watching while the
man in the audience, who spoke the
words when reeve years before,
Photo by Janice Becker
"It's easy to get along with people
you agree with, the hard part is
getting along with those you don't",
while his nephew spoke those
words in the play. And among the
listening were 40 to 50 children
from the community, realizing that
the finest exchange of culture was
occurring, from a 90-year-old,
through a 50-year-old to a group of
10-year-olds to be then carried
beyond the Rutabagas doors to the
county and world beyond.
Cutting down a Christmas tree
and carrying it on the roof of the
car, holding it down with my hand
(because I'd forgotten rope) to an
experience that happened one
morning at the arena. Having gone
through a few Monday to Sunday
weeks, Laurel away, me, holding
down the fort (but not myself too
well), leaving the arena, Matt in
front of me and suddenly
screaming "Where is the Baby!
Where is the Baby!" All action
stopped, save my pounding heart,
then quietly, from Matt came, "He
is in your arms", and me looking
six inches from my nose to a
startled Daniel, then laughing until
I thought my head would come off.
(Something I did quite a lot in
Blyth).
Blyth was a place I loved to live,
raise a family, and with this note I
send thanks to all the good people,
Continued on page 6