The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-08-03, Page 4a•
A.
' k"
at
2
k. A
\
Maybe it's
-Just
just that life is peening cope by is
ane owl.f
such rapid fashion. On the other hand, I may
have to concede to the fact that I'm simply
boring.wQ before I'm offered commute .con
ruination on the preceeding statement, let
me at least plead my case.
Any writer worth his weight, including
this skinny, scurrilous scribe, goes on
vacation knowing full well that the respite
will spawn numerous stories and anecdotes
suitable for public consumption. It's the only
reason writers go on vacation in the first
place.
No doubt, any columnist, after a mere one
week holiday has his head filled with mirth,
merriment And jocularity. Stories cony
cerning the humorous antics of the children,
the holiday mishaps, amusing little asides
and other related adventures on recent
And even if the columnist is a relatively
boring dwap who gets a chuckle oat of Joe
(Clark speeches, he would 4 least have the
ability to exaggerate ,and' contrive a good
story or two. They neednat Solicit laughter
of the gun -wrenching hing variety, or even
provoke repeated knee -slapping -but at the
outside, such stories would force regular
readers to forma hint of a smile -
I feel incapable of performing such feats
today.
However, in a continued effort to fill the
required space, I will offer the following
scenarios, collected while attending the
Canadian Open Golf Tournament on opening
day.
I have no doubt that everyone of the
thousands in attendance that day, and every
other day, has dreamed of being a
professional golfer. Their life obviously
epitomizes the glamour andtlntt=may be miseng _
Mattendrhg ore than aH f rom ourtournaments grew cries l yhave
in U.
participating at their own level of
com-
petent*, and therefore can easily lanae into
the dream of being as accurate and
siistent.
The pros make it look so easy. It's just toe
easy to leave the golf tournament believing
that you can make the same shots in the
sumer effortless manner. Bit, of course, in
reality it justdoesn't work out that way.
While many casual golfers may have
entertained Walter Mitty visions of playing
on> the professional tour, it is easy for the
observer to lose sight of the many hours
cot on the practice tee long after the round
hed. All the courses start to look the
, all the holes start to look the same, all
the ities and motel rooms become a blur
wheeze
Mile many people elevate MC bo
celebrity status, they are also looking for
something for nothing. As many golfers left
the Heal green, they were swarmed by
autograph and
Ise Trevino his gat ball
irdo the gallery at the conclusion of one
round only to have another spectator ask
him for his putter. Trevino suggested he
might need it for a while.
I watched as other golfers were ap-
proached,
by both chittilen and adults, who
asked for balls; gloves, the
professional was willing to part with. Pile
naturally assume these golfers are oozing
with dollars and are quite obliging about
dispensing with their personal equipment
I sows.etimes can't fathom the audacity of
people at public function I wonder if
Trevino would give m a has driver.
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Another waterway is killed
The Spanish River may appear to be a long way off the
beaten path for area residents, but no doubt several have
had occasion to drown a few worms in that waterway
through the years and will join those who have been shock-
ed by the news that a 30 -mile stretch has been killed by a
chemical spill from the E.B. Eddy Company plant near
Espanola, Ontario.
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
OFAII ► have conducted counts on the river since the spill
and estimates that 50,000 to 100,000 fish have been com-
pletely wiped out.
Cause of the spill has not been detailed as yet, but the
situation will cause some major concern and headaches
for Ontario's newly appointed environment minister, An-
dy Brandt.
Shortly after assuming his new role, Brandt made the
remark that there must be a trade -oft between en-
vironmental concerns and jobs. He obviously wasn't talk-
ing about such a major calamity, but it does indicate some
concern over the manner in which he may handle the
situation.
The OFAH, the lai-gest provincial conservation
organization, insists that charges be laid under the
Fisheries Act of Canada and any other appropriate
legislation; that the company pay all costs of completely
rehabilitating the river as quickly as humanly and
technologically possible; and that measures be under-
taken at and near the plant so that future spills are not
possible.
The latter, unfortunately, cannot be made retroactive
and a large stretch of yet another Ontario waterway has
been added to the growing list which have been killed or
seriously threatened by careless or thoughtless acts, the
effects of which, in many cases, can never be reversed.
(Exeter -Times Advocate)
Has PM been king for too long?
There is considerable speculation that there will be
changes in the liberal party before long. A meeting of top-
level party brass last week, which was also attended by
Senator Keith Davey, the Liberals' chief planner, has led
to the rumor that Mr. Trudeau may be planning his own
departure from office. One responsible journalist predicts
that he will be gone by Christmas.
There are several reasons for such speculation. Number
one is the results of recent popularity polls, in which the
Progressive Conservatives have been rated considerably
higher than the Liberals. A second thought is that Trudeau
"might have contemplated another term of office had Joe
Clark continued as his prime opponent. With the election
of Brian Mulroney to the PC leadership the prime
minister faces a situation which could be disastrous and at
best is chancey, as tar as winning an election is concern-
ed.
All governments in power during tough economic times
become the whipping boys for the complainers. Govern-
ments are blamed in large measure for whatever ills
befall the nation, whether or not they are in fact responsi-
ble. The Liberals were unseated by Conservative R.B.
Bennett in 1930 as the first effects of the Great Depression
were felt. Even the great Winston Churchill was defeated
at the polls after the second World War because wartime
restraints could not be lifted quickly enough.
There may well be some truth to the rumor of Mr.
Trudeau's stepping down. It is difficult to imagine how he
--would bear up under the strain if he found himself leader
of the Opposition. He has been king too long.
Grading system is most advanced
Three years ago the Ontario tourism industry introduc-
ed what is believed to be one of the world's most advanced
accommodation grading systems. Participation in the
program was not mandatory, but since that „time 'more
than 650 hotels, motels, resorts and fishing and hunting
camps all over the province have voluntarily enrolled.
These tourist accommodations, which must meet and
maintain high standards of property, services and
cleanliness are permitted to display blue and gold
"Tourism Ontario Recommended" signs which thus
guarantee the guests high grade accommodations.
International, national and regional travel has increas-
ed dramatically in recent years. Business, group and in-
dividual travellers are more sophisticated and better
educated than ever before. They demand consistent,
reliable and comparable accommodation standards.
The travellers' dollars are extremely important to the
economy of the province as a whole. Ontario has some of
the most attractive holiday areas in the world. Easily ac-
cessible to American visitors travelling on excellent
highways, the natural beauty of the province attracts a
much-needed source of international exchange. For most
of its history the tourist industry was plagued by the
reputation a small minority of slipshod operators created.
Endless chase.
By Dave Sykes
DEAR READERS
SHIRLEY KELLER
It really is true. Behind every good man
there's a woman. Or maybe that should read ... a
wife.
With the recent visit of Prince Charles and
Princess Diana to Canada it was evident that
Bonnie Prince Charlie has reached a new level of
public acceptance. It was also evident the reason
is Princess Diana.
It really is amazing how Lady Diana has
changed so completely to a princess truly
deserving of the title. British subjects eagerly
await the day when Diana will be Queen ....
which of course means that Charles will be King,
Monarch of the Realm.
The lovely Diana held Canadians spell -bound
wherever she went on her tour here. One smile
and she had people in her power, loving her ...
and her Prince too.
But Diana's charm is more than just a pretty
smile, fashionable hats and dresses and a classy
appearance. It's a kind of aura she has about her
which draws adoring fans like bees to honey. It's
an innate intelligence which enables her to
move, think and behave as though she was born
and trained for a life of Royal service.
As a result, Prince Charles basks in Diana's
radiance. His profile is raised, his own charm
accented, his wit and ability is heightened. The
Prince that alone might be overlooked is in the
spotlight because of his Princess.
Some writs have compared Diana to
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. There are
some observers who say that Jackie made
J.F.Kennedy look like a great president ... that
Kennedy would have been just an ordinary man
without the striking beauty and inordinate
perception of Jackie.
While it is true that Jackie got as much at-
tention as J.F.K. in her own right, it is difficult
for me to believe that J.F.K.'s presidential
prowess would have been less dynamic without
her.
But it cannot be argued that with Jackie at his
side, J.F.K. was an unbeatable candidate, a man
who appeared in command of everything that
was good and beautiful.
There are other stories about women who
helped their husbands to high achievements.
Eleanor Roosevelt was one such lady ... and
according to a television series not long ago,
Eleanor put up with a whole lot from her
president husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt. In
fact, the stories about the Roosevelts have only
surfaced in recent years, giving credence to the
fact that Eleanor suffered in silence for the sake
of her man.
In the sporting world last week, I heard a story
about George Kell who was inducted into the
Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New
York on Saturday.
Seems that Kell's early baseball career was in
doubt when his coaches and managers told him
he'd never make it in the big leagues. But Kell's
wife had more faith in him that that, and she
encouraged her husband at every turn to stick
with the game he loved. He did, and became one
of baseball's all-time greats.
It can work the other way too, of course. Most
notably in Canada is the relationship between
Pierre Trudeau and the high-spirited Margaret
that has ended in separation.
For a while, it appeared that Margaret would
be another Jackie Kennedy ... vivacious,
charming, well-dressed, clever. For a while,
everywhere the Prime Minister went with
Margaret, he was an instant hit ... and most of
the credit went to his wife who photographed
well and surrounded Pierre with a new beauty
and believablility.
When the children came along and the
"family" took to the hustings during one election
campaign, Trudeaumania (which incidentally
began with the charisma of Trudeau himself)
was alive and pumping again
But things went sour as we all remember and
Margaret began to embarrass not only her
husband but the whole nation with her antics.
It wasn't long before Trudeau's image fell to
new lows from which he has never fully
recovered.
It's a little disconcerting I guess, for men to
think a woman can make or break a fellow ... and
I don't think women are any more crazy over
that idea either. It's a terrible responsibility for
women to accept.
But one cannot deny that when a man chooses
a wife, he chooses as God said, a help -mate ...
someone who will be by his side to assist at every
turn in the road.
1 always get a kick out of reading Proverbs in
the Bible where the model wife is described. She
certainly doesn't sound anything like me ... and
to be truthful, she sounds too good to be real.
As a preamble to that portion we read: "Who
can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far
above rubies. The heart of her husband does
safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need
of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the
days of her life."
(If you are interested in reading more about
this special woman and her lucky man, it is
found in Proverbs 31: 10-31 ... a revelation to be
sure.)
If you don't quite believe what you read there,
dear readers, think about Prince Charles who
many saw as a bit of a wimp until his marriage to
Diana ... and about the gay blade bachelor
Trudeau who had it made until Mischievious
Maggie came into his life and his bed, and turned
him into the butt of everyone's jokes.
It makes too much sense to call it nonsense.
There is an exaggerated and unfortunate
trend to turn over every stone on every path,
in order to look under it for racists.
Somehow it ties in with a fairly recent
developed, officially widespread and self -
distrusting Canadian public tendency and
strange urge to claim rather desperately
how "bad" so many attitudes and realities
are in Canada and how excellent and ad-
vanced the persons are who drag it all over
the place. The almost sensuous "mea
culpa" syndrome. This loud, endlessly
studied, oversimplified and often one-sided
version of racism is only part of the whole
situation. Perhaps we shall look at it one
day.
While 1 have not much interest in the
spurts of symbolic public self-accusation in
the name of racism, 1 have always been a
solid believer in simple and natural
tolerance and fairness in our every day
lives. And if I meet racism on my way, I
have no intention to step aside.
I find this elementary fairness and
tolerance missing in the letter published in
this and other papers last week, under the
local headline "Writer concerned with po-
verty line".
But first an observation I cannot resist. It
makes no sense one way or another to be
drawn into discussing or disputing any of
the specific social items in that letter; I do
not think the author desires understanding.
However, the inevitable thought arises - the
editor of Pravda has to do nothing more
than to quote directly from such a letter, to
show the Soviet populations and all other
readers anywhere the terrmte tate in Canada
- from Winnipeg (why Winnipeg?) children
in soup lines to "old age pensioners having
to purchase dog food to exist". So much for a
picture of Canadian life!
Now back to business on hand. The
newspaper letter contains a sentence which
I cannot leave hanging unchallenged in its
ugliness, without a serious objection. The
writer refers to "southeast Asian im-
migrants" in the same breath as he talks
about drunks, prostitutes, drug addicts and
pregnant girls (a remarkable grouping in
itself) as clients for "some social service or
other". This bit of racism and other
nastiness arrived in my living room when I
read the letter in the paper.
True - we live in a free country where
every bitter and ignorant person can speak
and write freely. That is fine with me. l still
do not wish to restrict the letter writer's
freedom by any laws, regulations and com-
missions. I also do not have to take every
obscure and ignorant comment seriously.
Only there is a point where silence could
be interpreted as approval. For me the
sentence to which I referred is such a limit.
It has no place in civilized acceptance and I
want to make it quite clear where I stand,
simply so that the immigrants from Asia or
elsewhere could more easily remember that
it takes all kinds and we have all kinds in
this country, tan.
The above mentioned letter writer has a
deeply rooted problem. Let us all hope that
there is "some social service or other"
where his ailment can be diagnosed for him.
with remedies for improvement provided.
ELSA HAYDON