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The Huron Expositor, 1994-07-27, Page 44 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 27, 1994 ExocHuron sitor Your Community New spaper Since 1860 TERRI-LYNN DALE - General Manoger & Advertising Monger MARY MEILOR - Sales PAT ARMES - Office Manager DIANNE McGRATH - Subscriptions TIM CUMMING - Editor DAVID SCOTT - Reporter IiNDA PULLMAN - Typesetter BARB STOREY - Distribution A Burgoyne Community Newspaper SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 28.00 a year, in odvonce, plus 1.96 G.S.T. SENIORS - 25.00 a year, in advance, plus 1.75 G.S.T. Goderich, Stratford addresses: 28.00 a yeor, in odvonce, plus 7.28 postoge, plus 2.47 G.S.T Out-Of-Areo addresses: 28.00 o year, in advance, plus 11.44 postage, plus 2.76 G.S.T USA & Foreign: 28.00 a yeor in odvonce, plus 576.00 posloge, G.S.T. exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Published weekly by Signal -Star Publishing at 100 Moin St., Seoforth. Publication mail registra- tion No. 0696 held at Seaforth, Ontario. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising spoce occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be chorged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the opplicoble rate. In the event of o typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong pnce, goods or services moy not be sold. Advertising is merely on offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of un„,licited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Changes of address, orders for subscriptions and undeliverable copies are to be sent to The Huron Expositor Wednesday, July 27, 1994. Editorial and Business Offices - 100 Main Street, Seaforth Telephone 1519) 527-0240 Fax {519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seoforth, Ontario, NOK 1W0 Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, Ontario Community Newspopers Association and the Ontario Press Council Ed itoiial Have you got message yet? How many children or adults have to be maimed, injured or killed in a farm setting before we get the safety message? Every year Farm Safety Week is observed but many people must wonder if the message is getting through. A document listing the last 15 years of fatalities in Huron is a frightening picture of accidental deaths in agriculture. Huron County has a history of tragic farm deaths and it is time for each farm family to make an action plan to prevent further tragedy. A tractor, combine, horse or silo can be a farmer's enemy. So can fatigue or carelessness. Farm safety issues include more than just dramatic safety hazards. They also include everyday mental health and physical health issues. In a Huron County farm health survey farmers identified many farm health hazards. The number one issue was lack of vacation time. Other issues were exposure to dust and contaminants, physical strain, dangerous chemicals and lack of rest. One needs only consider how many hours a farmer works to recognize the potential for danger. Financial pressures also lead farmers to cut corners with equipment and do more repair work themselves. Common sense and observing safety rules may help farmers avoid some farm dangers. Certainly no livelihood is worth a death which could be avoided. No child should be denied her/his father and no one should be denied a spouse because safety rules weren't followed. On Farm Safety Week please consider those changes you can put into effect to make your farm safer. Ninety per cent of accidents are avoidable. - (TBC). Letters to the Editor) Hibbert book expands Dear Editor: As a representative of the Hibbert History Committee, may I again use your column to update our activities and, again, alert the readers to our appreciation of their responses, as well as a plea for furnishing infor- mation through the kits which have not yet been returned, as well as help with some materials such as Hibbert Federation of Agriculture records which we have been unable to locate. We are extending our covt lige to the north side of Highway 8 within the limits of St. Columban and Dublin, and would ask that those residents and businesses allow their input to appear in our book. We would also welcome informa- tion about the "boat people" who were sponsored by the communities in 1980. It would seem right to include Gowrie P.O. and McTaggart's Cemetery which bor- der Hibbert. Anyone who could enlighten us on the history of these two would improve our appeal to a broader readership. scope After 22 meetings we are begin- ning to consider the book's organiz- ation. Alice Gibb will be our editor. Proofreaders will continue their work on the concessions which are now ready. History is made every day. If you have current happenings to report, feel free to do so. Otherwise we shall miss items of interest to our people. Talented artists, would you enhance our work with suitable small sketches to use in openings or closings of chapters, margins or corners? We would like to use these. You could be the one to submit a title for our volume. Aug. 15, 1994 has been suggested as a deadline for submissions bearing name, address, and plainly marked "Book Title". Thank you for allowing us this valuable space. Sincerely, Margaret Kemp, RR 2 Staffa. Opinion Modern films create moral vacuum A boy kills his girl friend's pimp, steals some cocaine and tries to sell it. His father is brutally murdered and his fiancee kills a cop for no reason. Don't wary, everything comes up roses. This is the plot (I kid you not) of a happy -ending Hollywood movie written by one of the United States' most acclaimed film auteurs. The film is called, appropriate- ly, True Romance. Of course! In the amoral (or immoral) world of the 1990's this is the stuff of romance. It would be unfair to single out this film as an exceptional piece of cinematic violence. This is just one symptom of a North American disease present in our morally -vacant culture. In the immoral world we live in the new hero is the antihero. In The Silence of the Lambs the most charismatic, charming figure of the film is a cannibalis- tic serial killer. Screen actor Harvey Keitel has made an entire career out of playing violent sickos. Not too long ago serial killer Ted Bundy was portrayed on television by sym- pathetic Hollywood hunk Mark Harmon. Violence is not restricted to motion pictures. There is an abundance of violence on the evening television news. Even the daytime talk shows warp our traditional sense of morals, A recent study documents how these shows depict tales of BIT by Tim Cumming people such as .the grandmother who had an affair with the news- paper delivery boy or the mother who steals her daughter's boy- friends. We are exposed so often to subjects once considered taboo that the abnormal becomes the norm. The controversial study sug- gests that if you hear often enough about the man who sleeps with his neighbour's wife the man who doesn't sleep with his neighbour's wife will seem like the exception. The problem is that biblical standards have been discarded but society has not found a moral foundation to replace them with. We are creating a society of consumption that worships consumer goods and instant gratification. Tit concept of individual rights has been stretched to absurd extremes and social responsibility is ignored. This is not to suggest a return to the 'good old days' which weren't so good. It would be counter-productive to return to a statist theocracy which tries to preserve marriage or values by external coercion. The nostalgic nuclear family of the 1950's was only a reality for some...and it was stifling for many women. But, while we have discarded the moral strait -jacket of the past what have we replaced it with? The Sexual Revolution of the '60's was meant to be liberating but was it really? Women today, more than ever, are expected to live up to an unhealthy body image. Men, more than ever, avoid commit- ment and consider relationships expendable. In an age of dispos- able cameras and disposable garbage bags we also have the disposable marriage. Is our carefree modern society, devoid of a moral compass, really happy? I don't think so. I think we are in need of solid values. I think our society has an unhealthy obsession with sex, violence and consumerism when it should be concerned with goodness. Instead, our children are grow- ing up learning their values from television and movies. These mass. media preach glory through violence and happiness through sexual excess. The message of these movies is wrong...but this is what our children are learning. Movies like True Romance just reinforce the moral vacuum we live in. As parents we have a duty to create a moral order which doesn't glorify violence and sexual irresponsibility. If we don't take action now our children will grow up believ- ing that morals are irrelevant and instant gratification is more important than goodness. End of sermon. * You will notice your local newspaper editor is a little bit more aerodynamic these days. If you find him at a local function wearing a baseball hat please don't presume he's being rude...he may just be hiding his lily-white head which is being worn au nature! these days. Thanks (I guess) for all the donations to the hospital which made this new look possible. This was event number 26 of the 52 mini marathon events for the hospital...which means the fundraising marathon is exactly half -way finished. (We are now close to $3,000 in pledges and donations...all gratefully received). It's all meant to be good fun for the sake of raising awareness of the fine hospital we have in the Seaforth area. Fladlael The original Toronto Dominion Bank, on Seaforth's Main Street, was built in May of 1893, and was replaced with a more modem structure in 1960. The new building stands to this day. - Parent urges earlier curfew Dear Editor, In regards to the letter from the kids of Victoria Park. I agree with them that it would be great if they had a place to go to, and to have a monthly dance. I also agree with the letter from the people who live around the park, about . the lan- guage. Both have a valid point. Mine is a different viewpoint. I think it would be great if the par- ents of all the teens have a curfew the kids have to go by and to make sure the curfew is obeyed. I'm trying to bring up a teenager who has a 10 p.m. curfew bat he seems to be the only one,' I itlixt" I think 14- year-olds should b r'iftit rfaittlihat time but some are out 'til 11 or 12. p.m. I try at all times to know where my teenager is but once they are out of the door who can telt where they go or what whey do? If there was a curfew it would be easier on everyone, the kids would be home so the parents know where they are and the kids wouldn't have a long evening to get bored. I'm not telling people how to raise kids but this might help. A. Robson Sergeant visits Egmondville parents FROM THE PAGES OF THE HURON EXPOSITOR, AUGUST 3, 1894 Mr. D.D. Wilson has sold his well known Durham bull, Prime Min - In the Years Agone ister, to Messrs. J. & W. Watt of James Cowan. Capt. Logan, has just 9 McKillop, for Salem. The bull was three years returned from overseas where he old, and was imported by Mr. served with a western battalion, Wilson when a calf. having listed at Regina. * * * Mr. Nelson Hays returned to Chicago on last Friday. He took his sister Aggie with him on his trip. * **. On Friday afternoon last Mr. A. Cardno, Sr., had the misfortune to fall from an apple tree, breaking a bone in his foot. Mr. Cardno prog- ressed favourably. * * * Mr. Brewer, of Parkhill, is visit- ing at Mr. Robert Willis'. AUGUST 1, 1919 Captain Walter Logan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Logan, formerly of Scaforth, was here this week visit- ing at the home of his uncle, Mr. * ** Sergt. James A. Gordon, who has been doing clerical work in connec- tion with the Army Training Camp at Regina for the past year, spent a few days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gordon, Egmondville. He leaves shortly to resume his former position as an accountant in the Bank of Commerce in Sask. * +* Rev. Dean Downey, of Windsor is the guest of his sister, Mrs. W. Devereaux, of Huron Road. * ** Miss Jean Hays, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hays, of Seaforth has been appointed as teacher for school section No. the coming year. * * * Mr. William Rae, barrister, of Edmonton, has been spending a couple of weeks holidays at his old home in McKillop. Mr. Rac is chairman of the Edmonton School Board and one of the prominent younger men of the west. Hc came .cast to attend the great Liberal Convention, at Ottawa. AUGUST 4, 1944 Rev. and Mrs. H. V. Workman returned from Bruce Beach on Friday last and motored to Flint, Michigan, to attend the funeral of the late Ralph Workman on Satur- day. * ** Mrs. William Anderson, Sr. of Parkhill, spent the past week with Mr. and Mrs. William Anderson, in McKillop. Lieut. Stan Dorrance, of Chatham, spent this weekend with his mother, Mrs. Mac Dorrance. Miss Ann McLelland and Billy McLelland, of Toronto, were guests this week of their grandmother, Mrs. R.S. Hays. AUGUST 7, 1969 Twenty neighbours and friends of Mrs. George Wheatly gathered at the home of Mrs. R. S. McKercher on a Wednesday evening for a social dinner party, prior to her taking up residence in Seaforth. During the evening Mrs. McKercher presented her with a dinner ring and earrings. *** Mr. and Mrs. James G. Taman of North Bay spent the weekend at the home of Mrs. E. H. Close. Lynn, Deborah and Darlene returned home after spending the summer here. Society needs more religion, fewer pacifists I have just had my brain put into gear by an article in the London Free Press by Judy Savoy Macdonald, wife of an Anglican minister. She said since the '60's we have little or no religion in schools. Some years ago in my church I was told we could not have Christian religion in schools because there was a possibility of a Jew or Muslim child coming to that school and they would be offended. So to keep one or two children happy 50 or 100 Canadian children were deprived of religious edu- cation. If any Protestant denomination wants religious education in their school they must start their own and pay for it themselves. Except listen to this: The Catholics, they can teach all the religion they like in their schools and the government pays for it. They're the only smart ones in Canada. Thoughts on by Harry Palin The only way our Protestant youth can have a religious edu- cation is if they belong to a church -going family and arc sent to Sunday school, which may be good or not so good. In the Anglican Church they go to Sunday school 'til they reach the age of discretion when they go through a Confirmation and become a full-fledged member of the church. It should be a passing -in ceremony but I think it is more often a passing -out ceremony. I have gone to church ever since I could walk. I was intro- duced to this church in Seaforth in 1924 by Rcv. Thomas Brown, who was one of the nicest men 1 ever met. I met my wife in church and he married us in 1928 and we started farming. Unfortunately in the '30's he retired and the man who fol- lowed him was a dud. There was one year in the '30's when we weren't making any money. We did not like the minister and 1 did not likc going to church without putting money on the plate. And Nell, my wife, could not go because she did not have a pair of stockings without a run in them. Then came Conon Appleyard, who was really a top-notch minister and he talked sense to us so I went downtown, bought Nell a pair of stockings and we went back to Church. Pierre Burton thinks Jesus Christ was a pacifist and the Church should be pacifist too. 1 have lived through two wars and know that pacifism is impossible. Man is a fighting animal and everything we have has to be fought for, even peace has to be fought for. Religion has to be fought for. Was Jesus a pacifist, was he an ethical example of a prophet man or was he Divine? Pacifists are stupid and cow- ardly. There are too many paci- fists running around marching for peace, kindness to animals, not wearing fur coats. Animals arc not more important than people and it is good to be kind to them. Farmers have to be kind to them to make money. Some people worship God, some worship money, some people worship cars and so on, whatever turns you on. Oliver Goldsmith wrote: "111 fares the land to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay." The prophet Amos in the Old Testament had the same idea. The Ten Commandments have gone into limbo to be replaced by the Seven Deadly Sins. I don't know them all except pride is number one followed by lazi- ness and ignorance should -be in there somewhere. I feel sorry for those who arc only happy when they arc miserable and want to make others miserable too. There arc too many of them around. 4 A