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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-04-17, Page 281 Page 8—Crossroads—Apr. 17, 1985 d Surely Canadians under- stand by now that the Reagan administration takes a pretty simplistic view of the surrounding uni- verse. There are the, guys with white hats and the guys with.. the black- hats, and there is no room for shades of gray. Yet gray is what Mr. Trudeau wore, and in Ronald Reagan's eyes, his hat must have looked pretty near charcoal at times. I think we should ask our- selves precisely what that gray hat actually achieved. Did it make the world a safer place? Did it soften Mr. Rea- gan's attack on the "evil em- pire"? Did 'the Foreign In- vestment. Review Agency give us our country back? Did the National Program ensure self-sufficiency? Did tweaking the Americans' nose firm up our dollar? Did it create Canadian jobs? Did it put Canadian programs on Canadian television? Did it give us a better sense of our national identity? If the gray hat did any of those things, it certainly didn't do them very well. Mr. Mulroney has made it • clear from the beginning that he would burn the gray hat and wear a white one, so that in Washington there would be no mistake about whose side we were on. And there is no hard evidence to date that we're any worse off. because of it. The recent media and op- position panic about the ero- sion of Canadian sovereignty reminds me of decision- making between a man and his wife. As the husband ex- plains it: "I decide all the important things: the Middle East; the economy; who should be Prime Minister. My wife handles the dom- estic stuff: where we are go- ing to live; what'kind of car we buy; where the kids go to school; that sort of thing". In Canada, we have been ' deciding the important things for years. But in terms of most of the issues that affect our daily Lives, the United States have been in charge of the household for some time. This is not something that can be negotiated at a summit meeting. It is simply a fact that we have to live with. Mr. Mulroney's decision to change hats, to be friendly, may be dangerous politically. Traditionally, much of our nationalism has been rooted in a contradic- tory kind of . anti - Americanism, and pooping on Washington. is almost a national pastime. It helps us get over our national infer- iority complex.. I think the time has come to give Mr. Mulroney's ap- proach a chance. Perhaps we can get more things, done to our liking as friends than we could as critics. And if it doesn't work, we'll have nothing to lose by becoming a squeaky wheel again, look- ing for grease•we rarely get. ;BOOR REVIEW C11 L- S I:._ THE- -PER= SONAL MONARCH. By Charles Carlton. Ark Paper- backs, London. (In Canada: Oxford University Press, Toronto. $12.50.) 440 pp. Paper. Reviewed by • " PERCY MADDUX King Charles I died in his 49th year when his head fell from the block on Januray 30, 1649. He had been ,an unhappy but stubborn monarch. The book by Charles Carlton titled "Charles I: The°Persl6nal Monarch" is a history of the reign of King Charles I (1625-1649) as well as his personal story. It is well researched and gives the-reader--the--full-story-in-__ detail, a startling piece of stupendous historical writing. It is quite suitable for general reading, but students will welcome it for its extensive coverage of the reign and the events that are merely sketched in general history books. n h ide �uch You 3 dYs OrtIV • Friday • Saturday • ThUVtayApril 19th April 20th April 183h r uP TO on almost everything' you buy regular or sale priced no surprises...you know exactly how .much you save before you buy! for your added convenience... bring this simple savings chart with you to remind you how much you save while shopping at Robinson's this weekend ROBINSON'S this convenient savings chart tells you exactly how much you save on purchases of regular or sale -priced merchandise in most departments (see exceptions at bottom of this savings chart) you save_ .$3 _on-_.. purchases -totalling- 19:99 or more at any one register you save $6 on purchases totalling $39.99 or more at any one register you save $15 on purchases totalling$99.99 or more at you save$30 onpurchases totalling �Y one register $199.99 or more at any oneregister you save $60 on purchases totalling $399.99 or.pore at any one, register • valid only Thursday, April 18th through Saturday, April 20th • not valid in conjuction with any other offer exceptions. travel, foods, furs, fur services, VCR videos, major appliances, radios, televisions, restaurants, cosmetics, tapes and records, tobacco, special orders,ralterations & repairs, carpets, and a very few items throughout the stores. ROBINSON'S • Downtown Hamilton, 18-24 James St. S. • Centre Mall,Barton St. E. • Lime Ridge Mali, 999 Upper Wentworth • Eastgate Square, I-iwys,. 8 & 20 • Burlington Mall, Guelph Line • Conestoga Mall, Waterloo • King Centre, Kitchener