Clinton News-Record, 1977-05-12, Page 4PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS RECORD, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1977
What we think
The great spending orgy
As an example of how big cars are
regaining their former popularity, a
Canadian 'dealer reported that a
customer recently boUght a Rolls
Royce for which he paid $92,000.
Can such a shocking expenditure for
a car be justified? asks the United
Church. Of course the buyer would
probably reply, "It's my money - I can
do what I like with it". But can he? The
answer isn't all that simple.
On a smaller kale, the same
question could be asked of millions of
affluent Canadians now indulging in a
headlong spending spree for luxuries.
If it isn't electric toothbrushes, it's
snowmobiles, $50 dinners, pleasure
trips to Africa, expensive stereo sets or
clothes that aren't really needed but
feature a short-lived fashion..
On the surface, such luxuries seem
quite innocent. And a little splurging is
only human. Yet some serious side
effects can result when large numbers
of people spend like there's no
tomorrow.
What about- its effect on inflation?
How much longer can we drive big cars
that gobble up our limited fuel
resources. Are we justified in carefree
buying when millions all over the world
live in unimaginable poverty?
The handling of one's money is really
a moral issue. We can go on acquiring
more and more material things that
reflect self-indulgence. Or we can
challenge each Impulse to do so.
For our guidance, there is the
Christian concept of stewardship - the
belief that our money shouldn't be
spent just as we wish, but regarded as
a gift we hold in trust. Scripture is full
of clues and themes that add up to a
single message on our management of
physical resources: there are limits ...
enough is enough... learn to say no to
more.
Sugar and Spice/By Bill Sm
ey
Hockey violence
Watching hockey playoffs lately, and
discussing the brutality of the modern
game with other former aficionados, I
began to ponder on that subject which is of
such recent concern to our society —
violence.
It is certainly nothing new. History is a
long and often sickening record of violence.
In the great Greek epics, treachery and
murder .'and war and killings are
celebrated. The Bible is loaded with people
-smiting" each other. The Romans reveled
in cruel and bloody spectacles. The
Crusades of the Middle Ages, under the
blessing of the Church, were sagas of loot
and raping and fire and killing..
Wares and piracy and vicious
colonization occupied Renaissariee„ inan;
under the guise of exploration and
spreading the faith.,Torture and burning at
the stake were the treats in store for
anyone accused of treason or heresy as
State and Church struggled for supremacy
in the western world.
And' speaking of the West, the .:reat
American state to the south, der the
various cloaks of freedom, peace and
spreading of law and order, but spurred by
greed and hunger for land, practised a
ferocious type of genocide on the original
natives.
Then came World War I, when slaughter
and mud and blood became a way of life,
for years, for millions of men, in a
holocaust that made a mockery of the
notion that man was becoming civilized,
and paled, all. previous violence by com-
parison.
Next feature was Son of World War I.
While not as devastating in the score of
human life, it reached new pinnacles of
perversion and horror, culminating in the
urispeakable death camps of Germany, and
the terror bombings of the Allies.
Things haven't improved. Cold war, with
the building of vast stores of deadly and
dreadful weapons. Arabs and Jews. The
Congo. Ireland. Lebanon. You name it and
modern man is capable of it. Hijacking,.
Kidnapping, torture, bombings are com-
monplace.
'What are your favorite movies? At least
the ones that make money? Disaster films,
the bigger the better: Air crashes, ear-
thquakes, towering infernos. Or vicious
portayals of mad killers as in Taxi Driver.
Or seeing two humans punch each other
into bloody riblitms, as in "Rocky." Or
watching' violence, physical and verbal,
carried to the point of parody, as in' "Slap
Shot."
And that brings us neatly, and inevitably,
hack to professional hockey.
And after thinking over a few thousand
- years of violence, it's a Sunday School
picnic, that spectacle on the ice, ifi 'my
mind.
Why should I become exercised over it?
The owners are interested chiefly in either
a big buck or a tax writeoff. Fighting and
high sticking and blood fill the arenas. So
it's a free country and capitalism is the
economic system.
Why should I worry about the managers
and coaches encouraging blood and
brutality? Those people are mere stooges
for the owners. They have to fill rinks and
win games, or it's "Slong, Charlie."
Why should I feel contempt for the
referees when they fail to honor their
hypocritic oath and turn a blind eye on
some guy trying to tear out another guy's
guts with the modern equivalent of a
spear? They don't encourage mayhem, but
they tolerate it by ignoring the rule book. If
they don't turn a blind eye, they're fired.
Sipple. -
Do the media people and the sports
writers attack the viciousness in hockey?
Not on your next year's contact with'
Hockey Night in Canada, buster. They
mention it, chuckling.
Should I feel some sympathy for the
players, forced into fraudulent ferocity by
owners, coaches,, fans? No way I pity them
for the punishment they take, but at the
same time pity them for being patsies for
everybody else; fa being dumb, in other
words. They're well paid. If they want to be
actors, let them act. If they want to be
thespians, let them thesp, through their
missing front teeth. If they want to be
goons, let tAm goon away, as long as they
goon on each other, and not orl. me.
And should I feel contempt for the fans,
who scream for blood, who curse colorfully
the opposition when it is winning, who
blaspheme bitterly their own team when it
is losing? Nope. I feel no more contempt for
them than I do for the Roman mob,
suckered by the Caesars into going to the
Games, instead of asking who is looking
after the store these days.
I guess in the long run we're a violent
people. We don't throw Christians to the
lions. We throw figurative tigers to the
nominal Christians. Those of us who don't
like it should move to Switzerland, where
they don't fight wars, and have lousy
hockey teams.
That 90 pound 60 -year-old lady who
screams at the prefessional wrestler,
"Stomp on him -Killer!" is merely exer-
cising her democratic right, and her hatred
of her big, fat, overbearing husband.
That little pot bellied bald headed middle
aged guy who is staring at the screen
waving his beer and shouting "Hit him,
• Tiger!" is not a sadist. He's a good citizen,
kind father, devoted husband.
He is merely remembering the time he
was a scrawny runt, went over on his
ankles and was always chosen last for a
pickup game of hockey on the outdoor rink.
It's a great country we live in, and we're
all entitled to at least a modicum of
violence, a smattering of blood, and a few
teeth knocked in, as long as they are
somcbody else's.
Member, Ontario Weekly
Newspaper Association
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Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario,
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"Remember when H20 used to mean hydrogen and oxygen —now it's hydrogen and oil."
Odds 'n' ends.- by Elaine Townshend
Kids at heart
•There 'are many quirks of human
nature that I will never understand. One
of them was evident a few weeks ,ago,
when my youngest nephew celebrated
his fifth birthday.
The family gathered around the 'living
room to .watch Brian unwrap his gifts.
He had warned his brother and sister
that the only thing he didn't want was
socks, and fortunately, none of us old
fogies made the mistake of buying a
pair. However, the first two parcels
contained clothes.
For a five-year-old, Brian showed
unusual enthusiasm as he exclaimed,
"Brown pants and a shirt, and blue jeans
and another shirt with things on it!" (the
things were airplanes.)
He held them at 'arm's length and
briefly looked them over, before tossing
them in the direction of his mother.
Then he proceeded with the more
important business. His*tiller gave
him- an alarm clock arid his -mother
sh,uddered. His sister gave him a tiny
transistor radio, and his mother shud-
dered again
He shook another box and announced,
"It's a puzzle," And after tearing away
the paper, he added, "With an old car on
it!"
The next present brought a squeal of,
"Oh boy, a nerf rocket!"
For those of you who are unfamiliar
with children's playthings, nerf toys are
made of foam. The small rocket contains
a weight, Which is completely covered
with foam rubber. To launch the missile,
the child squeezes the plastic launching
pad, and a gush of air propells the rocket
towards a cardboard target. The harder
the squeeze, the farther the projectile
travels. _
The toy is guaranteed not to harm
anything that gets in its way, such as an
unsuspecting aunt.
Although Brian knew how to operate
the rocket, his father and his big brother
and sister ha0 to demonstrate. He finally
lio'frere48,'It's my turn now!" With a
little experimentation, he discovered a
stomp from his foot propelled the rocket
farther than the pressure from the hands
of the other three
The next package revealed a green
and white plastic frog. When wound up,
his legs moved like a real frog, and when
placed in a bathtub full of water, he
swam around. Before the afternoon was
over, everyone had to wind him up and
trek into the bathroom "just to see if the
thing really worked.-
Meanwhfle, Brian found a bag of
marbles among his presents. He left'
them in their pouch, thinking they were
safer there, but his sister dumped out a
few "to check their sizes and colours."
He also discovered a book of Batman
and Robin stamps, which his father cut
out for him.
Finally, prian unwrapped a football
and a soccer ball. In a few minutes, his
father, his grandfather, his brother and
his sister were' passing the football
around the living room, while his mother
protested, "If you want to play with that
thing, g.0 outside."
As I surveyed the scene, I wondered,
"Why do adults act so childish?" Then I
went back to work on the puzzle.
From our early files .
- 10 YEARS AGO
May 11, 1967
Clinton Town Council an-
nounced that homeowners,
whether they be separate or
public school supporters, will pay
taxes for a total of 91 mills. The
increase is two mills above the
1976 taxation. Business and
commercial will see an all-time
high of 102.80.
Councillor Pat Noonan said
that the hike was an all-round
increase. He did add however,
that the initial payment of some
$13,000 on a debenture for
reconstruction of highways 4 and
8 comes into effect this year.
Hon. William G. Davis, Ontario
Minister of Education began his
tour of Huron County this mor-
ning and will be guest speaker at
the official opening of Stephen
Township Central School. He will
he. accompanied by Hon .Charles
S. MacNaOghton, provincial
treasurer. The ministers will be
y kiting a number of schools
throughout the county.
Clinton Retail Merchants .have
organized, a 'special Centennial
week starting May 15-20.
Included in the celebrations will
he shopper bargains, draws, Ifld
sil-Nal events. A fashion show,
displaying yesterday and today's
clothing will he the big attraction'.
25 YEARS AGQ •
May,8, 1%2
Huron Fish and Game Con --
serval ion Association have
dcrided to request an open
hunting season for deer in Huron
County. The season, in the fall,
will he 0 time when farmers will
be the least affected.
It was piiinted out that the deer
)ti lo tion hos reached a point
w here they are 0 menace on the
roods ond couse great losses to
the formers.
. The 200 -member association
plan to present their proposal to
the Count y Council in June.
The News -Record's Hayfield
correspondent reporti‘d 0 freak
wave which come in off Lake
Huron.. The giant wave rolled in
at Goderich iind farther north at
Stokes Bay. Fishermen in
Boyfi(11d reported that the water
came up a foot over the dock and
receded four or five feet at
regular intervals until afternoon.
Mrs. H.H.F. Gairdner,
Hayfield noted that 0 very heavy
dark cloud hung low over the lake
and the sky had ,a peculiar light.
She believes that it was this cloud
that coused the seiche.
Copt. Bert MacDonald of
(ioderich s,aw the seiche current
ing in and as a result SaW two
of his 30 -foot boats washed off
ihcir winter blocks, up,onto the
1.
Seiches are caused by a rapid
change in barometric pressure.
Pressure builds up in one section
of the lake and lessens in another.
As a result' water rushes in from
the low-pressure area.
50 YEARS AGO
May 12, 1927
- The Clinton Knitting Company
opened its doors to the public last
week for "a free inspection. The
staff showed the visitors a
number of different operations
and served refreshments af-
terwards.
W.A. Holmes, inspector for Bell
Telephone Company for Goderich
itnd Clinton has been notified that
he must move from Clinton and
reside' in Goderich. For some
time Seaforth was alsoconnected
with the district rik-1 Clinton was
a central location to live.
Mr. Holmes has been obliging
and has made many friends in the
town of Clinton. They vill all
regret to see him leave.
Clinton's Big Corner Grocery
ore having their May Time
special. Ten pounds of granulated
sugar will cost 75 cents, lobsters
'are selling for 30 and 55 cents and
osparagus is going for. 25 and 50
cents.
75•YEARS AGO
May 9, 1902
A. Brien has sold his harness
shop to employee 'A. McKeown.
Mr. Brien intends to go to Alberta
where he thinks there is more
scope for money making. He is
wished the best of luck and his
great experience in harness
making will be an asset to him.
A five dollar reward has he'en
posted for the capture (4,41 thief
Wh0 stole 0 bunch of tulips and
other flowers from the garden of
W.C. Searle.
Mr. Searle wants to see the
guilty party convicted of their
crime and sold that it was very
strange that 0 person could not
ornament his property to suit
Iii mself without yurie evil eye
destroying its appearance.
100 VI:, ARS ,A60
May 10, 1877
A genuine specimen of the
"Red Man of the Forest '• was in
town on Tuesday.. trying to
dispose of some axe-hondles.
"Lo“ is becoming a stranger, in
these parts. While in town he
manoged to keep clear of "fire
woter.• ond therefore he returned
to his wigwam in quiet.
A few days since 0 Clinton
ymith found the sum of $100 at
Brucefield. ond with that honesty
which should at least, charac
teri/e Clinton boys, proceeded to
hunt up the owner. It was net long
hefore lite loser was discovered
as a well-to-do resident of that
'Nagy. and anyr Ow boy had
handed over his "find" he was
rewarded by the very liberal
donation of ten cents.
"The hens of this neighbouthoed
seem to be actuated by a spirit of
rivalry, judging from accounts of
Bayfield fence
Dear Editor:
Perhaps the following in-
formation will explain the
reasons behind our decision
to close our property to the
public.
This last year we left the
access to the river open for
the fishermen to enjoytheir
sport. Unfortunately this
privilege was badly abused
and we experienced theft' of
personal property, damage to ,
trees, fires being lit from
trees that were cut down fot
that purpose, piles of un-
thinkable garbage, and on
many occasions verbal abuse
and noise at all hours.
By the end of the fishing
season, we realized these
conditions could no longer be
tolerated and after much
thought and advice frogi our
solicitor, we proceeded to
approach oy application to
the required Government
Agencies - Federal and
Provincial • (as well as
pointing out to the local
Council who voted in favour
of our actions) for permission'
to erect an enclosure Of
permanent nature, within the
boundaries set out in Our
survey dated February 1971.
--
The Ontario, Provincial
.Police were notified through
the Crown Attorney's office of
the closing and they are now
protecting our property as
well as the adjacent
properties along our side of
the river, which in entirety
are all private from the road
dowtrto the water.
We understand there have
been people of the Village of
Bayfield who are upset as a
result of this change, however
it has been pointed out to us
by the O.P.P. that if we make
exceptions and allow certain
persons access to the • river
through our property, then we
are defeating the original
purpose of the closure and we
would still he experiencing
the Sa Ole problems which
big eggs that are recorded, and to
add to the list is one left us by
Master John McCuaig, of this
place, which measures 81/1 by 6%
inches, and weighs within a
fraction of four ounces.
forced us to make this
decision.
Signed,
.M. Van Patter,
Bayfield.
Eggs
Dear Editor:
Dr.•A.L.A. Middleton of the
Zoology Dept,, Univ. of
Guelph, has indicated that
researchers from the
1.1niversity will again be
seeking to collect eggs from
'the nests of wild Ruffed
Grouse. The assistance of the
public in locating nests is
desired because of the dif-
ficulty in locating the bird's
well -hidden nests.
Any person knowing the
location Of 0 grouse .nest
within 11'5 miles of Guelph is
requested not to disturb the
nest, hut to contact the
research team. This may be
done by phoning collectto:
during office hours, Mrs.
Betty Campbell, (519) 824-
11.0, F.xt. 2;03: at other
times, Allan Garbutt, (519)
s3(1• 530 : Dr. M id-
dleton, (519) 83G-3303.
Arrangements -will then be
made for University per-
sonnel to pick up the eggs at
the nest site, as soon as
possible. Co-operators will be
paid 1.00 per egg for their
assistance.
The eggs are required to
maintain hybrid vigour in the
captive population at Guelph
and to provide grouse for use
in research funded by the
Ministry of Natural
Resources. Areas of in-
vestigation include the
various effects of en-
vironmental factors- on
Ruffed Grouse reproduction
including nesting success,
and factors influencing chick
survival.
This long-term project has
yielded much valuable in-
formation on a number of
aspects of Ruffed Grouse
biology. All captive birds are
given the best possible care.
What you
think
Help
Dear Editor:
I wish to thank you for the
editorial, "What We Think",
in last week's paper (re: day
care centre).
If the town council makes a
presentatiOn to Tuckersmith
Council for recreation
assistance, they will get the
message loud and clear.
At the present time, no
children from Clinton will be
refuseid admittance to
Tuckersmith Day Care
Centre, because two wrongs tio
will never make ayight.
Frank Falconer
Tuckersmith Councillor
RR5 Clinton
Godspelt
Dear Editor:
I have just come home from 4P
the CHSS Variety Night.
Congratulations are due to all
who were responsible for the
evening. Each student per-
formed well, showing that
CHSS has quite a number of
talented young people.
The musical, "Godspell",
was particularly well done.
Those who directed as well as
those in the cast are to be
complimented. I would like,'
however, to take a closer look
at the "content" of "God -
spell". Stephen Schwartz did.
not simply write "Godspell"
for our enjoyment — it is
rather a philosophic
statement. He had a definite
message on his mind an
each one who participated in,
or viewed the musical came
away affected by it. •
My concern is that too few
"sifted" his message through
the "grid of reason". When
talented soloist, Kathy
Penfound, leaning toward the
audience said, "Do you get
the message?", I was thank-
ful that I was getting the poirg
and was able to choose tZ
accept or reject it.
I feel for those who were •
absorbing unconsciously the
composer's philosophy. When
'reason' is bypassed, man iS
open to manipulation antlaiTat
the mercy of the artist. It is so
important for us to un-
derstand tonsciously what is
being "fed" to us by the
media, and to decide what to
accept and what to reject.
I do not appreciate a friend,
who twists a statement I have
made' by quoting me in a
different context. The author
of, "Godspell". did this to
God's word. He took truth out
of its proper setting, making
it say something different.
His distorted message in very
brief terms is this: have a
little religion (it makes one
feel better), follow the Lor,
but do your own thing. Study
and live to some degree by
the commandments, but be
sure to "live it up" too. In
"blues" or in wealth do not
worry. it will all be right in
the end when you ask God to
forgive you your faults at thefl)
judgment. The message is
appealing but it is not true.
Modern man in general has
despaired of ever discovering •
the real meaning to life. "No
one can know he knows the
truth" is the common saying.
Yet, I challenge each person
to read the scriptures (John's
Gospel is a fine place to
begin) for he is biased who
rejects them without reading
. them.
Thousands have discovered
the Bible's j b so 1 u te and
definite message: that Christ, •
God's Son, died to bring the
infinite God and fallen man
together in a real and exciting
relationship, and that one ,
must have Christ as his own
Saviour if he is ever to reach
heaven. 'He who believes in
the Son has eternal life; but
he who does not obey the Son
shall not see life, but the
wrath of God abides on him."
(John 3:36)
How different is the clear
absolute message of the
Gospel to the uncertain,
relativistic, fluctuating
m'essage of "Godspell".
Sincerely,
Eunice B. Russell,
RR 2, Seaforth.
INews -Record readers are
encouraged to express their
opinions in letters to the
editor, however, such opinions
do not necessarily represent
the opinions of the News -
Record.
Pseudonyms may be used
by letter writers, but no letter
will be published unless it can
be" verified by phone.
•ati