The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-02, Page 6GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR; WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987 --PAGE 5
WFFTfTAcK
DAVE SYKES
Everyone across the country given
space in respected periodicals to scrib-
ble semi -coherent sentences, has of-
fered thoughts on the plight of the Cana-
dian version of football.
I'm growing weary of the debate.
But to be totally honest, while I may
not be able to differentiate between the
non -import rule and a slotback, I feel
it's my patriotic duty as a Canadian to
offer my own misguided and narrow-
minded views.
Afterall, I hate to be left out on these
critical, cultural -threatening issues. It's
bigger than free -trade folks.
People who get paid good money to
watch CFL for a living suggest this
distinctively Canadian game should ex-
pand to the American market, or
reduce its numbers to six teams,
change the rules to conform to the
American product, pay players less and
other things that would tend to
Americanize the game.
Reallly, all we need is to Canadianize
the game.
I think we should leave the game the
way it is but involve the fans more by
eliminating the barriers between the
stands and the playing field; thereby
extending an open invitation to fans to
come down to field level, talk to the
players, do a little coaching and even
wander on the field if they take the
notion.
This kind of fan involvement would
help develop healthy rivalries between
cities and fans. Players would be re-
quired to play the game around the fans
and beer vendors who would, ultimate-
ly, have to practice their craft on the
field, where the fans were.
It would also tend to change the play
selection of the teams and make for
some creative football as players dodge
beer -toting fans.
It would be the ultimate in total fan
involvement. Ticket bearers would be
free to wander up to the quarterback,
as he's poised for the snap of the ball
behind the centre, and offer a play
selection based on the fan's observation
of the defence to that point in the game.
It's only a theory but Doug Mitchell,
the CFL Commissioner gets paid
$275,000 and I could offer more great
game -saving techniques for... say
$150,000. It's the least a country could
do to save one of its major sports
leagues.
The Grey Cup game provided one of
the more thrilling conclusions to a foot-
ball season anywhere and there was
hardly a dry fan...er eye, in that big
place in Vancouver with the roof on it
when the game was done. People are
suggesting the game has saved the
league.
But there are fundamental dif-
ferences in the two games and those dif-
ferences speak volumes about the at-
titudes and cultures of Canadians and
Americans.
Our football field, for example, is not
unlike our country. It's wide, it's expan-
sive and any self-respecting American
entrepreneur could use our end zones
for apartment complexes and parking.
That's free enterprise at work.
Americans erect domed stadiums so
their patrons won't have to drink beer
in drizzle and snow. Canadians have
proven they will travel hundreds of
miles to drink beer in blizzards and
rainstorms under the guise of a sporting
event.
And we've proven we can drink under
any environmental circumstances. So
give us a Western conference final in a
snowstorm; a Grey Cup game in com-
plete fog where grown men with pads
had to grope around to tackle each
other. Don't put covers over our
stadiums and don't change our game.
I think we can survive making first
downs of ten yards on only three plays.
The Americans need four.
So you tell me Who needs the
overahaul.
Trade agreement
"The proposed Canada United States
trade agreement could be the most profound
force for change the agriculture industry
has felt for decades" claimed Brigid Pyke,
President of the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture. She questioned "is free trade
and tax reform the Federal government's
one-two knock -out combination for farmers
staggering in the face of low commodity
prices and high debts?"
Expressing disappointment that too little
time and information had been provided to
allow meaningful discussion of the proposed"'
deal, Pyke also took critical aim at those
who ..."characterize food producers as
timid; backward and lacking in confidence
if they raise questions about the wisdom of
this deal. Canadian farmers wrestled with
world markets and took their licks long
before other industries looked beyond the
border."
"Security of market access was the agri-
food sector's main objective in the bilateral
discussion" Pyke emphasized. But the OFA
"...is not optimistic the dispute settlement
mechanism will diminish the enthusiasm of
U.S. business for using trade remedy law to
harass Canadian exporters."
Another way to enhance security for
Canadians in the U.S. market would be
bet-
ter rules 00
what's a coutora
il
subsidy
and what's not.
Poppy camp
Dear Editor:
The 1987 Legion Branch 109 poppy cam-
paign is now behind us and has been an
outstanding success due to the unfailing
co-operation and support of the combined
assistance of Branch and Auxiliary
members.
A successful campaign requires several
weeks of preparation, planning and many
pairs .of hands, something that cannot be
done by the Branch Poppy chairman and
Public Relations chairman alone. Help is
needed in many areas and each job is
important.
The success of the campaign came from
all those who willingly volunteered their
service. In lieu of naming names and hav-
ing someone overlooked, the Branch 109
poppy chairman wishes to thank everyone
who assisted in a wide variety of areas.
Without you,, our goal would not have been
reached.
We wish to thank all members° of the
community who were most generous this
year with their donation to the poppy fund.
A special thanks to Ladies Auxiliary for
aign success
LFTTERS
preparing and serving a delicious hot
meal, following the Remembrance Day
service.
Poppy Campaign Financial Report of
Branch 109: REVENUE — Wreath Sales,
$1154.00; Donations, 2188.50; Long Stem
Poppies, 135.70; Lapel Poppies, 5062.69;
Car Poppies, 6.00; Total, $8546.89.
DISBURSEMENTS — Promotional
Materials, 83.91; Wreaths and Poppies,
2504.00; Coin Boxes, 75.00; Video Tapes for
schools, 38.00; Total, $2700.91. Plus
outstanding wreath accounts of $140 for a
total of $8686.89. Leaving a poppy cam-
paign balance of $5985.98.
All acounts have been paid and each
donation has been acknowledged with an
official receipt and note of appreciation.
Howard Carroll,, Poppy Chairman Branch
Christmas, think of less fortunate
Dear Editor:
As the Christmas season approaches, we
mope fortunate Canadians should spend a
few moments thinking of those people in the
world who live in less favorable conditions.
So much of Christmas is a feast — not only
for our palates, but also for our eyes. We see
the sparkling colored lights, the brightly
decorated store windows, and the look of
wonder in a child's eyes. But have your
readers ever thought what it would be like to
be blind and to be deprived of such sight?
According to the World Health Organiza-
tion, there are over 40 -million blind people
in the world — mostly in developing coun-
tries. It is a fact that we live in "careless"
times, and although many of us say we
"care", how do we go about alleviating the
suffering of our fellow human beings? One
comment I heard this year was "I don't
know how to care — or where to begin."
Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough
to be part of an OEU volunteer team that
toured India. Across that vast sub-
continent, I saw for myself how effectively
OEU uses its funds, spending only 10 per-
cent- of the monies raised on promotion and
PRE -CHRISTMAS
FRANKENMUTH, MICH.
Day Trip
Sat., Dec. 12
LIVING CHRISTMAS
TREE
Peoples Church
Sun., Dec. 13
KITCHENER FARMERS
MARKET SHOPPING
Sat., Dec. 19
Robin Hood Tours Inc.
Agent No. 2551773
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GODERICH WINDSURFING
47 Church St. 524-9603
administration. The remaining 90 percent
goes to finance blindness prevention and
sight -restoration projects, where not just
sight is restored, but also human dignity.
From the squalid slums of Bombay to the
impressive captial city of New Delhi, I
witnessed the selfless dedication of the In-
dian doctors, nurses and administrators.
With the help of OEU, they are creating new
beginnings and changing lives for as little as
$25 per patient. Each $25 raised in Canada
goes to finance cataract surgery, medica-
tion, hospitalization, food, cataract glasses
and follow-up- care for a patient.
Donations may be sent to Operation
Eyesight Universal, P.O. Box 123, Station
"M", Calgary, Alberta T2P 2H6. Donors will
receive not only a receipt for income tax
purposes, but also a patient identification
card, indicating which patient in the
Developing World received this extra
special gift.
Maureen McManus,
5 Westwood Terrace S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T3C 3T7
Losing touch with Canadians
Open letter to:
Right Honourable Brian Mulroney:
Is it really possible that you have lost
touch with the voting public? Is it really
possible that you have lost touch with your
friends from Manicouagan? Is it really
possible that you have lost touch with your
own backbenchers? Is it really possible that
you have lost touch with the needs of Rural
Canada?
When the mail was transported by train, it
took four days for a letter to reach Yan-.,
couver from Halifax. In urban areas we had
two mail deliveries a day and one on Satur-
day. Christmas cards were being sent for
two cents. All employees were proud to be
part of the Canada Post Office Department:
most rural postmasters worked on
weekends without pay, "the mail must go
thru". Rural post -offices have always been
the heart olfa community where people met
to pick-up news and exchange news. Those
were the days.
Then came the boxes identifying a
deadline for mailings in order to enjoy the
best of service; then, the boxes sorting the
"in town" and "out of town" mailings in
order to enjoy the best of service; and now,
you have the "superboxes" in order to enjoy
the best of service. The result, two days
local within a city, three days between ma-
MEET BETTY HELIESIC°
minammismommul
Betty writes The Goderich Signal -Star's newest column "Peo-
ple Around Town", a weekly offering of interesting items about
the folks in and around Goderich who make things happen here.
YOU MAY CALL BETTY AT 524-9265
TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR NEWS TO BE INCLUDED •
'Share F1a1the,
e
LEADING T RE wAY
SERVICES
N BANK SE
/international
interna i nal rn
°
ns ttransfers
ars
/mon
/travellerschegU
Visa & Diner Club account
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ill pm nts
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and
jor centres in the province and four days
between major centres from province to
province. Have you already forgotten the
rural service?
Now, the greatest invention is serving the
needs of Canada Post Corporation: publici-
ty. You are: spending millions of dollars with
the media, telling the Canadian voters how
good of a service you are committed to pro-
vide. In the meantime, jobs are lost all
adross Canada: the most devastating
results:are felt in rural ..eom nunities where
a local voter must provide the postal service
at a loss in order to maintain postal service
in their community. Going back 40 years.
Why would Canada Post cause such a tur-
moil and lose credibility? All Canadians are
asking for is: service — service — service.
Provide the postal service from east to west
and west to east, and, from north to south
and south to north and I will pay the going
rate, be it by government subsidy or by in-
creased postal rate, I object paying 36 cents
just to increase the ivory tower executives:
I will gladly pay 50 cents for real service by
post office employees, who could still be pro-
ud of their job.
J.G. Gelinas (a rural Canadian)
Box 373
Alfred, Ontario
KOB 1A0
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