Loading...
Clinton News-Record, 1985-08-21, Page 4Fj, (TifF $IXTUTANDARD J. HOWARD AITKEN -.Publisher SHELLEY MW NEE - Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager MARY ANN HOLLENBECK - Office Manager AHEM®ER Display advertising rates available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 15 effective October 1, 1984. Tampering with the dreams of youth. Gy Little old e- "the Igen ,, fin -hearted, Mia1 ar whose diaries leave become the touchstone of Canadian Uter�ature, Mahe archetype of survival in the Canadian wilderness She wrote'the title Of this eeek She was about. as Canadian as m greet- great-great-grandfather, reatgreat*Feat-grandfather, Who was digging peat and potatoes aboutthe time she com- posed ornposed her literary masterpieces. And about as Canadian as Frederick Philip Grove, a Finn, Swede, German — take your pick -- who wrote interminable stories about snow, after he moved — or escaped — to Canada. Everyone, except me, begins his/her CanLit course with those two. They're dull, after a taste or two. But poor little old Susie's scenario would have crumpled into wept -over ashes if she'd gone along with me on a recent "roughing it" weekend. True, there was bush. True, there were some weird characters about. True, the flies and skeeters were hostile. But roughing it? She'd have torn up her manuscripts and got on with making bread or maple syrup or dig- ging a new backhouse, or whatever turned her crank. The roughest part of the trip was fighting the holiday traffic. The second roughest part was listening to non-stop stories about deer that were shot at 600 yards, bear that were 12 feet tall, and giant fish that required three men and a block and tackle to get them aboard. Yes, I went on a fishing weekend, as I threatened in an earlier column. Boys oh boys, it was rough. • Drove 60• miles. Flew 20 minutes. Camp had a fridge with ice cubes, hot and cold run- ning water, a propane cook stove, and — you won't believe this — a carpet sweeper. The It should come as no surprise that most teenage girls don rose-colored glasses when viewing their futures. That they do is the finding of a recent report by the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women which concluded that: •about three-quarters of the girls expect to go to university despite academic evidence to the contrary for many; .56 per cent expect to have professional or managerial jobs by age 30, with flexible hours; .that most see themselves moving easily from the work force to raising a family and back again, completewith romantic fireside evenings with their doctor/lawyer husbands while the kiddies nestle snug in their beds. The study, which looked at the aspirations of 122 girls and 28 boys aged 15 to 19, admitted that must of this optimism was the result of the sub- jects' inexperience. But it also blamed society as a whole for not adequately preparing these young people for realities such as unemployment, poverty acid divorce, not to mention wet diapers and walkup garrets. It seems churlish to be critical of these hopes. Who among us did not cherish similar dreams as we explored the cocoon of high school and home, when the years ahead seemed to stretch endlessly, just waiting for us to shape them to our own. ends. Too, imagine the outcry if our children had not hopes, if their only thoughts were of an unfruitful future which must be endured. That they can dream is a tribute to our society, even if that fantasy is as mundane as winning tottery - and from the success of various lotteries, it's ob- vious not only young people succumb to this ambition, But as the report points out, there is a darker side tothis romanticized view of life, and that is the unrealistic expectations many young people hold. • Small business owners, who hire most of their workers right out of high school, say too many young people lack a strong work ethic, too many need better workplace attitudes. In short, they could use a healthy dose of reality if they are to adapt successfully in a world where, for most of us, there is no free lunch. Amen to that. But consider the hurdles young people face. No other generation has been bombarded so thoroughly with images of "The Good Life". The symbols are everywhere, from the "overnight sensations" of the enter- tainment world to the stratospheric wages of often mediocre athletes. The reality, that o>hly a miniscule portion of humanity ever attains those materialistic heights, does not make the dreams any less compell- ing. What is younge ess people important f we know that delicate balance between fact aneach of us, as the report points out, is to d withthe fic- tion. c - tion. It's a tough row to hoe, encouraging someone to reach for the stars while at the same time preparing him or her to fall short. But if the report tells us anything, it is that this kind of husbandry. is essential to all our futures. -by Tony Carlson Behind The Scenes' o run" ssiop to the p t Ye dears john, irnd even a tad exotic: a wild L. le growing 'between tie two seats, Night before 1 left, oue of"tbebo s" phon- ed and told me 'to bring sQznc heavy line, because the Muskies were 'Moving in ,and gobbling Up those five -pound bass. I might as well have • en a piece of cotton thread from a sewing machine. Now, I'm .rent knocking it. I had a fine weekend. But it's a bit much when youhave to keep moving your feet because someone wants too clean the carpet under them. And it's entirely too much when you see guys washing their armpits, at a hunting camp, in hot water. Last time I was at a hunt camp, the only thing we ever washed were our hands, and sometimes our feet, when we fell in the lake. I was expecting to rough it, and con- templated that the food would be camp food mostly canned stew and stuff. Expected to eat some fish. Know what we had for dinner, first night? Young, tender leg of lamb, and not that frozen stuff. With mint sauce naturally. Fresh young carrots and potatoes. Dessert. Wine with dinner. Second night was pretty ordinary. Just two pork chops each with ap- ple sauce, and again, fresh vegetables. And wine. And it wasn't just thrown on the table. The cooks served you at your place. All you had to do was push your wine glass or coffee cup past a big, hairy arm, and it was filled im- mediately. Roughing it! Lunches were pretty rudimentary, though, and by the second dair I was getting so that I had to make my own. There was nothing but sardines, tuna, cold lamb, ham, and eight pounds of salad, plus Campbell's soup du jour and fruit ga1ad, with a bit of old reaa; were spade,'however. A mere four Cups of coffee, three eggs, half a pound of bacon, and a big portion of fried spuds, plus toast and the best homemade inar- malade in•North Arnerica, Nobody was able to fish until mid-day, by which time the bass had also eaten and were sulking in the dep- ths. Certainly; didn't, get sick of eating fish. Seven of us caught two smallish bass, just before the plane arrived to fly us out. I know it sounds like a weekend at a big, rich resort. But it wasn't. The moment I ar- rived, I began to feel uneasy. And my feel- ing gs ew. These other guys weren't there to fish. They were there to work getting the camp ready for the fall hunting season. To the great dismay of myself and another guest, the regulars pulled out paint brushes, lawn mowers and other such horrors of civilization, and went to work. They painted and piled wood and slashed underbrush, and generally did so much manual labor they'd have all been on strike if asked to do so at home. The other old fighter pilot and I retreated into the kitchen and did the dishes. My hands are still all shriveled up from doing dishes. Aside from that, I came home in pretty good shape. I though I'd gained at least eight pounds, but the deer flies and skeeters took care of that. I lost two. My arthritic foot is destroyed for the summer. I've lost the hearing in my right ear from trying to clout a mosquito with my left hand, while holding a five -gallon can of gas in it, and my fishing tackle in my right hand. But that was nothing, compared to the evening poker games, in which everything is wild except the joker. By Keith Roulston Profit -not a dirty °word "Profit is not a dirty word." During the . idealistic '60's and '70,'s it was almost a plea on the part of businessmen who felt bruised and abused by government and the general public. Today it sounds more like a war cry. Profit is not a dirty word. Profit is, in many cases, the wage of the self-employed businessman. Just as workers have a right to expect a decent living Wage, the businessman has a right to a decent profit. ' While we have legislation to protect the working man, we have no guarantee to the farmers, the shop -keeper, the restaurant owner, that they will have a decent living so they can make a living. Farmers, in par- ticular, are squeezed by falling prices and, rising costs until many can't make a living, even if•they also work off the farm. On the other hand when does a "fair .pro- fit" become greed. Greed is a word that isn't used much these days. It was over- worked in charges made against business particularly during the rebellious '60's when One was almost embarrassed td say they worked in business. Greed isn't limited to businessmen of course. Greed was just as strong on the part of organized labour unions for a period when workers demanded that they should continue to get wage in- creases greater than the cost of living in- crease even when the businesses they work- ed for were in trouble. But the changing attitude of the 1980's sees business, particularly big business, in a more secure position than ever. They are not just halting the wage spiral in many cases, they are demanding workers take iess, even while profits in some cases are reaching record highs. In some quarters invoking the word "profit" excuses any behaviour. Listening to a televised debate on the violent American film Rambo recently I was struck by the simple explanation used by a spokesman for the film makers. While some of the participants worried about what these films, which • showed a muscle-bound American single-handedly defeating the, Russian and Vietnamese armies, was s doing to' the American psyche, the film makers representative swepf the arguments aside saying that the film makers after all were just out to make a profit. The irony is that while much of the new - right movement, particularly in the U.S., is very "born again" religious, there seems to be a feeling on the part of some businessmen, that morality has nitt place in business. In fact when the Catholic bishops in Canada ex- pressed their feelings on business last year they were told by Canadian buain ss to mind their own business; relig' n and business didn't mix. Yet if profit justifies nything isn't the maker of pornographic films, just as legitimate a businessman as the Hollywood film maker? Isn't the Mafia dealer in pro- stitution just as praiseworthy as the printer of Bibles. , Some of the most prominent families in Britain and the United States today owe their family fortunes to the opium trade of the last centu,r�yy. Western businessmen in- troduced opiThn to China, got the local population dependent on the drug, then made fortunes supplying the demand. They eventually led to hatred of Westerners by the Chinese and the Communist Revolution. Profit is not a dirty word but profit without morality is a ticking timebomb which will eventually explode in the faces of all involved. Cooling down By Anne Narejko One species becomes extinct each year Dear Editor: . The item in this week's paper (Aug. 3) in regard to the Community Wildlife Involve- ment Program will be received with pleasure by so many who are concerned with wildlife...flora and fauna...ft also. was encouraging to read earlier of the forming of a Nature Study group in the Goderich area. To quote from The Robert Bateman Naturalist's Diary "At the present time it is estimated that one species of plant or animal is becoming extinct each week. And the rate of their disappearance is increas- ing. At the current increasing pace, by 1990 we will be losing one species a day." Well known for his beautiful wildlife pain- tings, Mr. Bateman is a well known naturalist also and has been travelling the world gaining infoymation. At the Metro Toronto Zoo thousands are flocking to view the. fascinating Pandas now on loan from China. There are very few of these wonder- ful animals left. If even a small percentage of these thousands would send a few dollars to the World Wildlife Fund of Canada 60 St. Clair Ave., East, Toronto, it would be used to good advantage in hundreds of projects... Sincerely, Audrey Graham Your pennies really do help Dear Editor, Fall is fast approaching, and the auxiliary to the Clinton Public Hospital is again planning their annual penny sale. The generosity of the business and professional people in the area has helped to make this event very successful in the past. We hope your continued support will help us make this year the best yet. The hospital is anticipating approval of a new obstetrical wing shortly, and we will be supporting this endeavour. A successful penny sale will help us to supply this support. A canvasser will call on you in early September. Donations will be displayed at the Anglican Church Parish Hall, Rattenbury Street from September 20 to - draw date and acknowledged in the Clinton - News Record. Draw date will be September 28, Thank you for your continued generosity and support. Sincerely, Karen Steyr Publicity Convenor Help celebrate 50 years of theatre chener, on Sept. 12 and 13, and an open house at KWLT headquarters on 9 Princess St., Waterloo, on Sept. 14 featuring a fashion show of costumes from past performances. As an alumni, the KWLT would ap- preciate hearing from you. Do you have any memorabilia—old pictures, programs, or stories you'd like to share with the little Dear editor, Fifty years of community theatre—that's what Kitchener -Waterloo Little Theatre is celebrating this season and it wants to locate all of its alumni so they can join in the festivities. A number of events have been planned to mark the occasion, including a dinner theatre at the Walper Terrace Hotel, Kit - theatre? If you do, or if you just want to help celebrate the occasion, please contact Ber- nie Roehl, 50th anniversary cortunittee chairperson, at 886-0660 (519), or write. KWLT, Box 502, Waterloo, Ont. N2J 4A9, Sincerely,. Bernie Roehl