Loading...
Zurich Citizens News, 1981-01-29, Page 4Page 4 Citizens News January 29, 19$1 "Our car's so old, it's already paid for." unumiuuuuminnnunuuunuuuuuunnnn11uun1niiununnnnun1nniumuuumm11uunnnnnuu1mnunnnunnnnmwm1nmm11nnnnunnumiumm_ Viewpoint Z.C.N. uassussmutt uun1nnnu1uniin1nnmuumnnmm11numnmu1nunnmmnnunnnnnuuuiun11nnunnnnnnnnnnnnnnunn1tnnnnnuniuuu1u1uuiu1mnunn1u1uuut: Hostage taking: a way of life Hostage taking is becoming a way of life in North America and around the world. The most recent incident was in Quebec, where a bank robber was holding a bank manager's fami- ly. The manager was being escorted to his bank by another would-be bandit when police intervened. The most dramatic instance of hostage taking was in Iran. It is well-known that the American em- bassy was taken over by Iranian students (a breach of international law) and the Americans inside were held hostage for 444 days before their release. If hostages are taken by a private citizen, the police can surround the building and wait for the captor to tire, then move in. But what about a na- tion that does this? How can they be waited out? They will always find someone who will be willing to give them support. The Iranian people may have just cause for be- ing upset with the Americans. The efforts of the CIA to keep the shah in power may be the biggest factor in the Iranian's action, but does that give them the right to deprive innocent people of their freedom? This incident could set a precedent for future terrorists. Now the big question is whether the States should meet the agreements reached with the Iranians. The hostages are free, the frozen Iranian assets are still in their possession,` so why pay criminals? This is the question. There will be those who say that paying the Iranians is giving in to blackmail. If they don't pay, that may spark an underground movement of Ira- nian militants in the States to start to use terrorist tactics on influential `people. If this happens, then where would the government be; who would be to blame? It may be that in the foreseeable future whole cities may be taken hostage and thousands of people killed for a "just cause." It would not be hard, some well -laid ground -work, a little manpower tend arms that are easily attainable. The choice that Ronald 'Regan and his cabinet makes could affect the policies of the world on hostage taking. Let up hope it is the right one. Only time will tell. All Iranians not to be blamed The world heaved a collective sigh of relief last week when, after 444 days in captivity, the 52 Americans being held hostage in Iran were releas- ed It is to the credit of the U.S. government that the matter was finally resolved by negotiation, although there are few who would have chastised them for using force, especially when the Iranian captors appeared to be madmen capable of carrying out their periodic threats against the hostages. Few people can imagine the extreme physical and mental torment to which the hostages were sub - jetted, although the incident is far from being the lone example of man's inhumanity to man in today's troubled world. Now that the hostages have been set free, there will be those suggesting retribution against iran, but that thinking separates them very little from the perpetrators of the original deed. What must be remembered is that only a small percentage of the populace of Iran can be blamed for the contempt shown for the rules of world diplomacy and humanity. Ironically, it is an excuse that can not be used by citizens of a democracy. Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. M,,nbe r : Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario Weekly Newspapers Asseciatlen News Editors - Mork Hough and Rob Chester Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Subscription Rates: $8.50 per year in advance in Canada $19.50 per year outside Canada Single copies 25e Miscellaneous Rumblings By ' ROM CHESTER Apparently a feud, of sorts, is going on In Hen- sall. After a heavy snow the Hatfields fire up their tractor, and plow all their snow across the road. Most of it gets dumped over McCoy's fence. An irate McCoy hops in his pick-up and not only plows it all back, but gives back some of his own,. The struggle has been going on for more than 12 years. Local legend says both vehicles met in the middle of the road one day and a bitter shoving match ensued. Have you ever noticed the hierarchy of snow removal methods? We start at the bottom of the heap with the poor sucker with a shovel, but we'll come back to him later. Next up, and these first two categorises are usually found in town, is the man with a hand push- ed snow -blower. It's one of those lawn mower type things that allows you to happily blow all the loose snow out of your drive, into the neighbors drive; into the road; onto the fire hydrant; and to fire shrapnel -shaped bits of gravel at stray dogs. I come from Waterloo country, and we live out in the country. Our lane is about 150 feet long. We have a riding lawnmover, a sort of small garden tractor, with a blower attached. It's almost jaunty to go out on the little machine and blast away all the snow. Mother however isn't amused. She knows who gets to rake the lawn, to get up all the 'gravel blown out of the drive ,along with the snow. But one thing the little machine gives us is the freedom (of escape) to get out when we need to. Gone are the years of dependence on tempermental tractor owners, who refuse to return if you ever call anyone else while they're busy. And like the snow -piles the price of snow removal kept going up and up The farmer across the road has a proper trac- tor. with a blade attach. This is the next step up, and is probably the most practical. The blade moves snow as .well as any blower, and also pushes through the heavy wet stuff in which the blowers bog down. As we both reach the ends of our lanes, the farmer and I give each other a friendly wave. It is the comraderie of men and machines, with just a touch of competition. The emphasis however is on the winner of the competion. His blade could push more snow in 5 minutes, than I could blow in a day, and we both know it. His little wave is more of a sweep of the arm to illustrate the machine's prowess; mine is a sheepish acknowledgementof his superiority. I can ignore him, butte has to wave- just to keep me in my place. -The other neighbour is a displaced city -kid like me. He, being used to fast cars and concrete, has a monstrous tractor with a giant blower that could carve through the arctic ice -cap. His wave of 'superiority is directed at the farmer. He's so far above me, I doubt his blower would even choke as it sprinkled me over the highway. And above us all, and no matter what time of day or night you plow, blow or shovel, the Depart- ment of Highways truck will come along and fill it all back in again! The only step we've forgotten is the man with a four wheel drive jeep .with a winch on the front. But we forgot him with good reason. He doesn't plow snow. We are a strange society. We cut down live trees, and put up dead ones. (Telephone poles)Snow falls in a nice even blanket, and we rearrange it into piles. or blow it over the fence to become someone else's problem. Secretly, I think the man with the shovel has it best. Passers-by smile and wave, and maybe stop to chat. He can go in cold and forlorn, to be greeted with chicken soup, or a stiff drink. It's easy to feel sympathetic towards some poor sap with frostbitten toes, who's about to keel over from a heart attack at any second. It's hard to love a tractor.