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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-06-05, Page 4l na THE'DVAflCE Ti IflEJ A page o Helping your neighbor It came, literally, like a bolt from the blue, the storm which swept across central Ontario last week taking a tragic toll of life and property. We in this part of the continent, after all, are poorly equipped to cope with such things. This area is not normally prone to tornados so that when they come they strike with all the unexpectedness of an earthquake or an exploding volcano. We in Wingham were fortunate to escape the killer storms which ripped through Arthur, Grand Valley, Orange- ville and Barrie, leaving flattened homes and broken bodies In their wake. In the midst of the tragedy, however, one bright ray shines through: when the chips are down, people d� care about each other. Both provincial and federal repre- sentatives quickly toured the disaster zone and pledged to do what'they could to ail the victims. But long before they arrived on the scene, the people in those communities themselves were organizing to meet the Immediate needs of food and shelter. It was re- ported that Barrie rescue centres were flooded with offers from people willing to take a homeless family into their homes until the victims could begin to piece their lives back'together again: There is nothing like a crisis to '''"``bring out the best — or worst — in people. All too often we expect the latter, but happily it is more frequently the former which rises to the, surface. Soldiers were .sent to Barrie to patrol the stricken neighborhoods, but there were no reports to looting. What was reported were thousands of acts of kindness. In what frequently seems an impersonal, dog-eat-dog world, It is easy to grow cynical about the endless reports of violence, cruelty and neg- lect. It is boundlessly refreshing to be reassured from time to time that we humans have just as great a capacity for goodness and compassion as for evil. It is regrettable that too often it seems to take a catastrophe such as last week's tornadoes or the famine in Africa to bring out our better sides. If only we could learn to care as much for our neighbors in the petty irritations of everyday life. Savages turned loose Most of us, from early childhood,.., have been hearing about "British sportsmanship". For the rest of the world those words have a hollow ring this week. You have heard about the event. The Liverpool soccer team was about to meet the team from Turin, Italy, when the British fans went on a drunken rampage which left 40 people dead and about 300 injured, many of them seriously. The outbreak was not touched off by anger at a referee's call or by unfair play on the field, for the.. game had not even started. Television pictures of the scene in Brussels, Bel- gium were totally sickening. As a consequence the British cab- inet was called into emergency session and it was decided that the British gov- ernment will contribute more than $400,000 in aid and will forbid British soccer teams from competing in Europe in future. The obvious comment is that the first offenders were drunk and neither the players themselves nor the British„, people should be held responsible. ,But there is no way the innocent supporters of the game can escape the shame which has resulted from this outbreak of savagery. This, of course, is not the first time that violence has emerged at soccer matches. There have been some very savage battles among soccer fans in France and other countries. Only a few weeks ago many people were burned to death when wooden bleachers at a soc- cer field in England caught fire, pos- sibly caused by the carelessness of fans. Why soccer should be dogged by such idiocy is hard to comprehend. It is not a game such as hockey, where heavy body contact is permitted, but nonethelessit seems to arouse a par- ticularly violent reaction in some of its fans. Unfortunately it will be a long time before the shame of the Brussels mas- sacre- will be wiped from the British sportsmen's slates. Do it with finesse What appears to be a sincere move to reduce drinking and driving has been initiated in some centres. Any group of, people which wants to do a bit of partying in a public drinking spot may designate one of their number as the non-drinker (at least forthat oc- casion) who will refrain from imbibing while the others have their fun. This one self-sacrificing individual will be provided with a card which will testify to his abstinence and the fact that he will be totally sober at the wheel of the car which takes the rest of the party to their homes. In addition he will be provided, without charge, with all the soft drinks he can hold for the eve- ning. The free sodas will be paid for by the Hiram Walker distillery and groups adopting this sane and sensible ap- proach to alcohol and the motor car will be known as, (don't miss this) "Canadian Clubs". It is entirely coincidental that Can- adian Club happens to be the name of one of that distillery's well-known brands of whiskey. Water safety week Drdwning is the second leading cause of death in Canada for people aged five 'to 44 years. Last -year 224 people drowned in Ontario, of which 25 were children under 12. Many of those tragic deaths could have been avoided if the people involved had understood basic water safety and safe boating practices and had been ready -for an emergency. Red Cross offers the following ad- vice for summer safety: • —Alcohol, and water activities don't mix. ,If you're drinking alcohol leave your boat on shore and don't go swimming. —For boaters and board sailors, one simple rule could save your life: always wear your life jacket or per- sonal flotation device (PFD). —Don't swim alone. Do it with a friend. It's more fun and it's safer. —Be alert! Death strikes quickly. Tragic fatalities can happen if an adult watching children play around the dock or pool (or even in the bathtub) is momentarily distracted. Precautions are important, but it's also important to be ready if the acci- dent happens. The best way to be ready for these emergencies is to learn rescue breathing and the safety tech- niques which are a part of the (earn -to - swim program offered by the Red Cross. The Red Cross also offers a four- hour Small, Craft Safety Survival course for' adults and children. Quali- fied instructors teach survival and rescue techniques and the course is for both swimmers and non -swimmers. Shameful comparison The toll of a typhoon -born tidal wave in eastern Bangladesh a few days ago is almost beyond human compre- hension. Anywhere from 10 to 40 thou- sand lives destroyed, every- home and building washed away — a scene of devastation which will probably be fol- lowed by -an outbreak of disease in a country which does not have the re- sources to even feed the starving or bring medical aid to the sick and in- jured. All this, of course, added to the human tragedy in Ethiopia and other African countries makes any problems we may have in this country trivial by comparison. In stark contrast is. the renewed fighting in Lebanon, where two factions of the same Islamic culture shoot and bomb one another •into oblivion. The refugee camps, filled with old people, women and helpless children are the favorite killing grounds for those fan- atics. It does seem apparent that the devastation brought about by natural causes is enough without the misery and• suffering willingly inflicted by human beings upon one another. editorial opinion June 5, 1985 i ya FOUR -HORSE TEAMS—Dan Martin (standing) and John Laidlaw (seated) took a break from their spring plowing to have this photo- graph taken many years ago. Mr. Martin was driving a team with a riding plow while Mr. ,Laidlaw's team was pulling a spike harrow with a home-made wheeled seat to permit the operator to ride instead of walk. Mr. Laidlaw had fallen as a boy and broken his leg, which had never properly set, hence the need for'the wheeled seat. The farm shown is on the east side of the Wawanosh Division Line, two and a qual'ter<miles south of Whitechurch facing west toward the Division Line. The photograph, believed to have been taken in 1918; is from one of the glass plates from the old Zurbrigg photo studio. The plates were discovered recently and donated by John Lee to the Wingham and District Museum. The accompanying information was researched by Ernest Eaton of Heritage Wingham. Items from Our Old Files JUNE 1938 The organizational meeting of the new Wingham ,;,Lions Club was held at Miss Fralick's Tea Rooms. Ronald Rae was elected president of the new group, with vice presidents Gordon Kidd and Jack Hanna. W. T. Booth is treasurer and J. R. M. Spittal is Lion Tamer. The contract for building the grandstand at Teeswater Agricultural Park has been let to R. J. Hueston of Gorrie. Frank J. Hill has moved his tailor business into the Meyer Block, next to J. W. Bushfield's office. The new location has been redecorat- ed and made up-to-date. Miss Jessie Finlayson, who has been teacher at SS No. 11, East Wawanosh, for the past seven years, has resigned her position,. R. S. Hetherington has Editorial was disservice to the .educational system Dear Editor, An editorial is an ex- pression of an • individpal''s personal . view of some particular situation. Editori- als are written from three perspectives: an expert, with first-hand knowledge of the subject; popular opinion, usually reflected through polls or a lay opinion, an interpretation proposed by one who is not an expert. Your editorial of May 22 does not rely on first-hand knowledge, consideration of possible error, nor the latest factual opinion in the field. It. ,therefore cannot have been) written from the perspective of an expert. It contaTts no indication of any polling of the public, so it -cannot have been a popular opinion perspective. This brings me to the conclusion that this editorial, "Looking out for No. 1", is an expression of your personal beliefs. There are 19 common fallacies which tend to trap inexperienced writers. There is evidence of only 14 of these fallacies in your editorial. Space will permit me to deal with only a few of ,thein. The first and perhaps most dangerous example is "load- ed language". Expressions such as "almost beyond be- lief", "more incredible"; "vastly above", "to rub it in still further", "scrupu- lously fair" and "gouged out" are but a few examples of language which creates an emotional appeal without any basis in fact. Secondly there is the "everybody does it" fallacy used to relate secondry teachers to other employee groups. If your logic is sound, then if all other groups were to transgress in some way it would auto- matically follow that the sec- ondary teachers would do the same thing. Thirdly there is the "thin - entering wedge" fallacy. In your penultimate paragraph you, state: "If there is a strike it would likely be a long and bitter one which would poison relations between teachers and the public for many years to come." On what evidence is this statement based? Finally there is the "equivocation" fallacy, the holding of two differing views at the same time. I refer you to your "un- derworked and overpaid" almost immediately follow- ed by "teachers hold a posi- tion of special trust". Which of these should we believe? Throughout the editorial there are a number of references to facts and figures. Whose facts? Whose figures? I think Lang said it best: "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts — for support rather than illumination." It behooves all of us to seek the facts on which to base our state- ments; when these state- ments are being published as "truth" it becomes even more important. Evidence, efficiently gathered and carefully evaluated, is the basis for logical thinking. As Quillen said, "Prejudice is a device that enables you to form opinions without, getting the facts." Editoria s like "Looking out for No. 1" do a disservice to the entire educational\ system and to the' com- munity which constitutes your readership. ShirleY M. Weary Federation Officer District 45, OSSTF Trying to locate Frazier children Dear Editor, I am trying to locate any children of Earl and Margaret Frazier, The three eldest children were named Donald, David and Cath- erine. As I do not have names for the remaining children, i would appreciate hearing from any adoptees or fostered children born between 1947 and 1959. I also welcome letters from other people who are searching . ( birth parents, etc.). Perhaps we can help each other. They can contact me at 'Box 655, Markdale, Ontario NOC 11-10, (519) 986- 2494. Mrs. Marne Robertson Markdale EDITOR'S NOTE: It ap- pears ourreditorial struck a nerve. We are disappointed,,. however, by the response. In her disparaging assessment of our writing abilities, Mrs. Weary commits the basic fallacy of trying to kill the messenger because she does not like the message. In the process she throws up a smokescreen which almost — but not quite — obscures the fact that she does not respond to a single one of the points raised in the editorial. The points are these: How does the OSSTF justify its demand for a 7.5 per cent raise at a time when other groups in the economy ,are getting an average of 2.5 per cent? How does the OSSTF justify other demands which, would raise the total cost to taxpayers by. 12 percent at a time when inflation is under four per cent? What is the morality of highly -paid, professionals demanding large .raises which would have to be paid out of the pockets of persons ; who , already make, on average, far less money than they? If Mrs. Weary wants to know where these facts and figures come from, they can be found in the fact -finder's report released last fall, in a recent inefnorandurii"from the board of education and in data from the 1981 census. It would seem, however, since she does not make any at- tempt to contradict the numbers — or even mention them — that her concern is not so much where the numbers come from as that they have been made public. Instead of cute quotations mocking the use of statistics, it would be , helpful if Mrs. Weary turned her attention to commenting on the facts of the case. Only in this way can there be meaningful and productive dialogue. If Mrs. Weary wishes to debate points of logic or" whose point of view better reflects that of the general public, we will be happy to oblige. What is atissue here, however, is not writing style but the prolonged impasse between the OSSTF and the school board, resulting in the possibility that high school students in Huron County may once again have their education interrupted by a teachers' strike, purchased a lot on the corner of Frances Street and Diagonal Road from W. H. Fraser and contemplates building a house on this lot in the near future.. When two county con- stables walked into the American Hotel, Brussels, Sunday afternoon, they found beer drinking parties in two rooms. The 21 -year- old son of the proprietor was fined $150. and costs for selling in prohibited hours. JUNE 1951 Royal Canadian Navy officers from H.M.C.S. Prevost, London, have chosen Wingham as a test site to start the first roving naval recruiting team in Western Ontario since World War Two. Recruits are being interviewed this week in the Hotel Brunswick. An impressive service was held at the Wingham Baptist Church when an oil painting above the baptistry was unveiled and dedicated. The artist was Mrs. T. E. Moszkowska of Wingham and she presented the pic- ture to her first Canadian friend, Mrs. Walter Pocock, who in turn presented it to the church in memory of her father-in-law and mother-in- law, Mr. and Mrs. George Pocock. Ernie Miller, whose resignation as recreational director for the Town of Wingham, took effect at the end of May, has gone to Listowel where he will represent an insurance company. Tabling of the report of the Massey Commission in the House of Commons appears to indicate that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation will continue its control of radio activity of all kinds in this country. Owners of private stations in Canada~ have fought for many years to gain some measure of freedom from the CBC's control but it seems their -struggle has been in vain. Rae Lagancere, who has been the butter maker at the Bluevale Creamery for over a year, has accepted a similar position at Alliston and leaves'. Monday to assume his new duties. The congregations of the Molesworth and Gorrie Presbyterian Churches have extended a call to Rev. R. J. Boggs of County Down, Ireland. JUNE 1961 A disastrous fire sent eight persons to hospital, one of them in critical condition, and completely gutted two stores and the apartments above them. In critical condition is Andrew Casemore, elderly resident of one of the apartments, and also in hospital are Mrs. Casemore, three Hunter children and three Maxwell children. Totally lost were the buildings housing Bondi's Foodland Store and the Dominion Store and apartments on the second floors of both buildings. Dr. R. Jow will arrive in Wingham at the weekend to commence duties as an associate with Dr E. F. Shaunessy in his dental practice. Monday was a special day at the local Canadian Bank of Commerce. A merger throtighout Canada with the former Imperial Bank of Canada was affected some time ago and the bank will now be known as the Canadian I`mperial Bank of Commerce. The manager of the local branch is H. H. Hotson. Rev. J. E. Clarke of Gorrie has accepted a calf to__ .Trethewey Park United Church, Toronto, and will commence his pastoral duties on September 1. Miss K. McGregor, who has taught here for 28 years, was honored at a graduates' dinner. Miss . McGregor is retiring at the end of this term after 35 years in the teaching profession. The Wingham Credit Union will open its new office in the basement of the Speedi-Laundry this week. Donald Raper is president of the Union, Jack Gorbutt Jr, is vice president, Arnold Taylor treasurer and Sally Slosser secretary. JUNE 1971 The Ontario Housing project on Bristol Terrace is completed except for some landscaping work. It is expected tenants will move in by June 30, Plans are afoot to either seed or sod an area near the river at the rear of the buildings to provide a "sitting out'; park, Congratulations from the community to Miss Alma Conn. who has received word that she has passed her first year in the veterinary course at Guelph. Mr. ;and Mrs. Albert Bieman and Evelyn of Belgrave attended the graduation of their son, Douglas J., at University of Guelph. Douglas received his Master of Science degree specializing in chemistry. He received his Bachelor of Science degree two years ago. PRESS COUNCIL The Advance -Times is a member of the Ontario Press Council which will • consider written com- plaints about the publica- tion of news, opinions and advertising. If a com- plaint can't be resolved with the newspaper, it should be sent to the On- tario Press Council, 151 Slater St., Suite 708, Ot- tawa, Ont K1 P 5H3.