Zurich Citizens News, 1980-07-10, Page 4•
c
i
The better half of the Bean Team
Should we soften the penalty?
A great number of people drink alcohol.
Government coffers right across the country and in
many other countries in the world are bulging at the
seams with money made on the sale of liquor to
their various populations.
Enjoying a drink or two is not a crime. People
can relax in their own homes, visit friends, go to
house parties and dances and consume varying
amounts of their favorite beverage.
A great number of people smoke marijuana.
Government coffers right across the country and in
many other countries in the world are not bulging at
the seams with money made on the sale of mari-
juana to their various populations.
Enjoying a "joint" or two is a crime. People
cannot relax in their own homes, visit friends, go to
house parties and dances and openly enjoy hashish
or marijuana.
Back in the mid 60s many people thought we
were on the threshold of legalizing marijuana. In
Canada the LeDain Commission was involved in an
in-depth study of the possible legalization of the
clrug. Today, more than 10 years later, possession of
marijuana is still listed as an offence under the
-riminal code. People are branded every week in
this newspaper's court report column, for their in-
volvement with marijuana, and more seriously
saddled for life with the criminal record that goes
along with being nailed for the offence.
Should simple possession of marijuana be
decriminalized, and prosecuted under one of the
lesser statutes of the law, such as the Food and
Drug Act? One of the reasons why this was not done
long ago is that there is no simple answer to the
question: "Is marijuana harmful?" This question
can only be answered on an individual basis. Yes,
there are people who will move from marijuana to
harder drugs, but there are also people who will
continue to smoke marijuana moderately for ten,
twenty or thirty years.
Mis-use of marijuana can rightly be compared
to mis-use of alcohol. Like alcohol it is not
something the very young should be involved in, and
like alcohol it's not something that should be used in
excess.
Perhaps it's time that people in power took
another hard look at the inclusion of simple posses-
sion of marijuana as a criminal code offence.
Should the penalty be lessened?
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Bulletin.
A different kind of hero
"Rock 'em, stack 'em up, bust them in two.
Holy Father, we're for you." As Pope John Paul II
motored around the perimeter of New York City's
Madison Square Garden in his Popemobile last fall,
the crowd of more than 19,000 went wild. Young
voices yelled, screamed and cheered. As the 59 -
year -old father of the Roman Catholic \church
mounted the podium, 9 solid minutes of wild cheer -
ng and applause preceeded his first words. Such
!xuberant, spontaneous pandemonium is customary
lomage to the Stones, Supertramp and other rock
;uperstars. But the lingua franca of love, respect
Ind admiration was understood, received and
returned by the Pontiff.
The reputation of youth has been spray -bombed
with the innuendo of promiscuous sex and irrespon-
sible, illicit booze and drugs. Yet their response to a
person who lives by and symbolizes discipline,
rigor, intellectual, moral and spiritual toughness is
a major stumbling block to those seeking to write
off the young to self-indulgence, materialism and
chronic poutiness. It is sobering to reflect upon
what it is about the second John Paul that attracts
youth smothered with possessions. Much of Karol
Wojtyla's world-wide popularity with youth stems
from his unpretentiousness. In a world accustomed
to media hype, instant and manufactured
superstars, false fronts and chilly skepticism,
direct and honest authenticity can be endearing and
compelling. When warmth is neither artificial nor
suffocating it is a.refreshment in the desert of im-
age.
Authenticity means being what you are, no
more and no less; it means having the courage to be
unpopular. North Americans are accustomed to
hearing only what is politic from those in power.
The Pope's stand on birth control, abortion,
homosexuality, women priests, and other
theological and moral concerns was far from politic
in a country accustomed to affluence and used to be-
ing able to soft -peddle hard choices. While many
young people - and others - disagreed with the
Pope's position it is interesting that the tough line
did not alienate. Instead, commitment, discipline,
challenge and leadership was perceived. Authen-
ticity, warmth, discipline, challenge - relationships
so characterized are alive and vital whether
between youth, adult and youth or between adults.
Pursuance of such qualities may not yield a T-shirt
and a pair of blue jeans - as was presented to the
.Pope - but they are good for people and the world.
• ,,
1N O N
Ml1lseUaueoR*
itsusabillfigs
By
TOM CREECH
Considering the time of year the following letter
from Brian Lynch, medical officer of health for Huron
County is quite appropriate.
"Late spring and early summer are times of the
year associated with increased human contact with
wild, animals.This includes species which, as many of
your readers will know, carry rabies. In Huron County
the major carriers of rabies are fox and skunk. They
may easily transmit this disease to cattle, horses, dogs
and cats.
While there is no dramatic increase in rabies in this
area, many people have caught wild animals, par-
ticularly young foxes. Some of these have later turned
out to be rabid and have placed people at great risk of
getting rabies. I would caution farmers to be very
wary of a fox or a skunk which is easy to capture. Such
animal behavior is unusual and should be a warning.
Also sensible would be a warning to children not to
play with wild animals of any kind. It is unusual for
squirrels or mice or other rodents to be rabid, but they
sometimes are. If a child is bitten by a squirrel, and
the squirrel cannot be examined for rabies, there is lit-
tle choice but to administer rabies vaccine to that
child for his protection.
Any person having a concernregardingrabies, should
contact his family doctor, the Huron County Health
Unit, or the provincial government Health of Animals
(Seaforth. Ontario..)"
* * * *
Just a reminder about the Zurich Fun -Day which is
scheduled for tommorrow night.
The evening looks like it will be fine time with a pork
barbeque kicking off the event at 5:30 followed at 8
p.m. with a softball game between the CFPL Radio
Super Stars and the Zurich Bean team.
Judging by the talent on the bean team, the contest
should prove to be a highly competitive affair as the
radio guys and gals have promised to play their hearts.
After the game you can dance to the sound stylings
of Tom Destry, by far the best entertainment at last
year's bean festival:
Don't forget that the proceeds from the day go
towards community recreation so by helping yourself
to some, having a few laughs and then dancing those
pounds off you'll be doing yourself a favor.
Providing the weather co-operates, the evening
should be a great time for old and young alike.
Still on the reminder kick,the Zurich men's rec fast -
ball league will be holding their annual fastball
tourney on the- weekend of July 26.
The tournament which features rec teams from
across the south western Ontario gives a good indica-
tion of the quality fastball which is played the
recreational level in the area.
Talking about ball, don't forget the Stanley Steamers
slo-pitch tournament in Varna this weekend. If young
enjoy this form of softball here's a good chance to see
lots of teams in action in one location.
N
The Zurich bean festival is about six weeks away as
many of the bean festival volunteers could tell you.
Changes to the festival kitchen are just about com-
plete including the new facade and the new cooler at
the rear.
It will be August before we know it!
The suggestion by Hay township council that the
township and the village split grass cutting chores at
Please turn to page 13
Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd.
Member:
Canadian Weekly Newspapers Afsociation
Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association
News Editor - Tom Creech
Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385
Subscription Rotes: $8.50 per year in advance in Canada
S19.50 per year outside Canada Single copies 254t