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Times-Advocate, 1985-07-10, Page 25'age 24 Times Advocate July 10, 1985 Readers respond to group home controversy )ear Editor- Re: the article "Northern residents abject to group home", July 3. As you know, on April 17, 1985, the 2anadian Charter of Rights Section 15(11 came into effect. This section guarantees that the citizens of Canada will not be discriminated against - 1511) "Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination based on race, na- tional or ethnic origin, colour. religion, sex, age or mental or -physical disability". The Charter also guarantees citizens further rights: 7 "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of theperson and the right not to be deprived there of except in accordance with the principles of fun- damental Justice" and 12 "Everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment". After reading the front page article on the proposed group home, I can on- ly conclude that there are some Ex- eter residents who are unaware of the substance of the Canadian Charter of Rights. These citizens of Exeter feel - that they can openly discriminate against other citizens, that they have, a right to dictate where people can or cannot live. Some have even public- ly subjected a fellow citizen to cruel and unusual treattnent to the point of slandering a group of citizens and having it reported on the front page of a newspaper. Surely as Canadian citizens, we cannot believe that some of us are more equal, have a right to be cruel, have a right to discriminate against our - neighbours? The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms were established to protect certain basic rights and freedoms essential to maintaining our free, democratic society. If we strongly believe in a free and democratic society, we can- not allow such acts of discrimination to go unnoticed. If we insist on protec- • * * ting our rights, we must insist on pro- tecting all citizens' rights. Perhaps it is easier to see injustices - in other countries, such as apartheid in South Africa or religious persecu- tion in Iran, than to see injustice when it is in our own backyard. Mary Moore RR 2 Zurich, Ont. pen who would be to blame for this. somewhere and The Restaurant and the waitress. wrong. There has to be a line drawn No family is immune to the hear- prejudiced people. I would hope that be from one of these spills especially I don't feel they were tache, of having a child or grandchild my daughter would grow to ap- on a child, I know off hand it is pain - that is less than perfect, can cause. preciate and accept the differences ful. If this was so unfortunate to hap - It's hard to watch your child struggle from man to man. for every small accomplishment that I strongly suggest to those who op - other children pick up without formal teaching and its doubly heart warm- ing when they succeed in caring for themselves and contributing to the community as the James Street residents have done. I see with envy the young men and women of James Street residence struggle with the everyday tasks of living in our society and succeed. I see them cope with banking where I bank, shop for groceries where I shop and clothes in the same shops I use. They are gainfully employed and proud of it where so many are not. They take pride in where they live and dutifully do those things that need doing to keep it neat and clean. They enjoy the same kinds of recreation that others enjoy, in short they are people getting on with living the same as you or. I. I don't know that my son will be is able to accomplish that much but I applaud their guts in facing their lives as well as the prejudices of people who have forgotten the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have done to you. It is also devastating, when people want to keep them down and on the back burner of life because they are less than perfect. They, perhaps more than the rest of us, deserve to live in a nice neighbourhood and enjoy the extras we all come to expect from life, who work for it. I realize that those who's opinions are changed against their will are of the same opinions still, but I would ask those people who will be neighbours of the new residence to be fair. Visit James Street before the move, find out if your fears are real or imagined. They will welcome you I know. Wendy King pose this plan, that they investigate the current statistics of child molesta- tion and abuse. They will soon discover the mentally handicapped are more often the victims of such behaviour, than the perpetrators. Isn't it a shame that in the beautiful town of Exeter there is such a controversy over a matter that shouldn't be controversial at all. It does not paint a very pretty picture of its people. Bill Branderhorst Stratford, Ontario Dear Sir: This letter is in regards to the arti- cle in the June 26 edition about the Burkley Restaurant. As an employee there, I found that, the letter was very unfair. They were not stressing the point that children were not allowed e there at lunch hour, after all when school is in we have alot of students in daily. They were merely saying that you don't have to sit,there hour after hour especially during the busy part of the day. They have a business to protect and most people would be very of- fended if a waitress was to come out with a broom and dustpan in hand and started sweeping up a mess of crackers and empty cream con- tainers during the busy lunch hour. If this is not done people think it is a dirty place and probably next time go somewhere else. They also don't realize especially at lunch hour that by cluttering up the aisles with strollers and high chairs it makes it difficult to squeeze through with hot soup or coffee. Maybe some don't realize just how bad a burn can Mary Monteith WINS TRIP -- Andrea Pearce was the winner of the trip to Las Vegan in the recent Lions Homecoming draw sponsored jointly by Ellison Travel. Doug and Mary Ellison make the presentation. At the right Lion Jon Dinney. The Editor Times -Advocate I am writing to publicly voice my opinion on the Group Home con- troversy reported in the July 3 issue of the Times -Advocate. It's a shame, but I guess no place is safe from the ugly face of prejudice. While working in Toronto, I took * * great pride in telling my colleagues how rural south-western Ontario.._ Dear Editor: xesidenls--treated=tfiei`f e11o11 ni na atlitir . -iteees"article on the group home relocation I felt I had to write. 1 thought people Were more enlightened now, d was wrong, old prejudices die hard. Every parent has hopes and dreams for their children or child. I am no exception. -My hopes for one of my children is that he will one day be able to live in such a group home if he progresses that far. I hope he will live safe and secure in this communi- ty we share, closeby as we all hope our children will be when they leave home. with respect and dignity, which is often lacking in the larger centers. It was this neighbourly attitude that I looked forward to when I accepted a position with a firm in Exeter. After reading this article, I feel I have misl- ed my former colleagues. It appears that Toronto and Exeter are not that different. I am appalled by the home -owners concern that their property values might decrease. I would sooner raise my daughter next to a group home than I would in a neighbourhood fill- ed with insensitive, misinformed and Farmers march todety enough rhetoric, we lieed action," Pelissero said. Farmers from all over Ontario wilt be invited to attend the rally, schedul- ed for 11:30 on July 10. County federa- tions of agriculture are busy talking to farmers, and have been encourag- ed to invite people whose businesses depend on agriculture to attend as well, Pelissero said. "This will be their opportunity to show support and solidarity for agriculture." Three separate events will occur simultaneously on the 10th. Farmers will be visiting the federal govern- ment offices, constituency offices and MPPs at the same time. Then they will all meet at Queen's Park at 11:30. The Ontario Federation of crossroads, and farmers don't like the Agriculture (OFA ) will be holding a direction we're headed." rally at Queen's Park on Wednesday, July 10, OFA president, Harry Pelissero, said the rally, which will in- clude visits to federal government of- fices, constituency offices of federal - cabinet ministers and the offices of. members of the provincial parlia- ment 1MPPs), has been called to show politicians that farmers are "fed up." "For the last few years, politicians and farm leaders have been saying that agriculture is at a crossroads. That statement is no longer true," Pelissero said. "We've passed the "Agriculture - is a joint federal - provincial responsibility. The federal government wrote agriculture off in its budget. We're going to encourage the new provincial government not to make the same mistake." He said politicians must recognize that failure to invest in farmers and farming -has a negative impact on job creation. "The agri-food sector affects nearly three million jobs in Canada. That in- cludes everyone from steel workers to grocery store clerks. These figures can't be ingored and neither can the primary producers. We've had ou Could Save Hundreds Now At Dinneys Thousands of Dollars Worth of Furniture Clearing at 1/2 price savings Compare Our Savings Anywhere These are only a few examples of how you can save!! DINNER PARTY WINNERS — Dave and Karen Roger were winners in the Exeter firemen draw held in conjunction with the recent Homecoming breakfast. The prize was dinner for two at Robindole's. Making the presentation on behalf of the firemen and Robindple's is fireman Bob Forrest. T -A photo Local horse club planning for rodeo The members of the Exeter 4-11 Horse Club are planning a 'rodeo' for Saturday. July 20 at the horse ring at the rec centre in Exeter. This rodeo is designed to entertain the residents of the various group homes and ARC employees and their families. Activities will include such events as apple -bobbing races. sack races. musical chairs and relay races. There Kirkton 4-H club meeting A meeting of the Kirkton 4-11 beef club was held at Scott Stevens' home on June 12. Members judged hay and Holstein cows The group went into the host's house and had a Quiz on how to raise a market steer. They also discussed a baseball tour- nament and other important subjects. REGULAR ADVERTISING MEANS REGULAR SALES will be an area where spectators can pet and even ride some quiet horses. We hope to have Ontario's Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell present th open the rodeo. There will be a food concession booth on the grounds by the Knights of Columbus. All proceeds will go to help the South Huron Association'for the Men- tally. Handicapped. Everyone is in- vited to attend the Event which will begin at 19:10 a.m. On location or Studio Bart DeVrie PHOTOGRAPHY (OMMIR(IAT . 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