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PAGE 4, WEDN1ESDAY. AUGUST G6b 1986, WHITBY FREE PRESS Publîihed cvery Wednesday whitbyBILL MCOUAT ~' by M.B.m. Publishing Communlty EdItor and Photography lace. F m mPhioite bh8-61l VALERIE COWEN 'I IThc Free Press Building, Adv rtlsng Manager 1:1 Brock Street North, Second Class Mail Volce of the County Town> Michael Ian-Burgess, Publishe Managlng Editor P.O. Box 206, Whitby. Ont. Regisiralion No. 5351 The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operatcd by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. t Shadow cabinet worth tryin9 No matter what else they may think about the way municipal government is conducted in Whitby, observers of the lotal political scene can neyer complain that it is a duil business. The latest development on the bull came to the atten- tion of the Free Press this week courtesy of Whitby's always busy gossip mill and several p hone cails later it was confirmed - a group of local citizens are starting a shadow cabinet to monitor Whitby Council. Unfortunately, the story which appears on this week's front page uses an unnamed source but ,that source assures the Free Press that the group is very serious and plans to be fully organized and ready to tackle thejob when coun- only began to take shape last week and organizers have yet to cail a full meeting of the membership, they are reluctant to corne forward just yet to speak for the group as a whole. However, once the group, currently comprised of some 12 members, has had a chance to meet and flesb eut its aims and objectives, our source said tbey plIan to give a full accounting of themselves and their objectives to the media and the people of Whitby. *While he considered it premature to identify Letters to the Editor To The Editor: I would like te publicly acknowledge the very fine camp of- fered te the children of Whitby by the local fire department. My two children, Austin and Deirdre have recently finlshed two weeks of training as "Junior Fire Fighters". During this timue they learnt (and taught the rest of the family) a number of fire preven- tien precautions, such as net overloading elec- trical circuits, and the proper storage of flamu- mable materials. Aise the correct way te turn in a report of an emergency and hew te evacuate in the case of a fire. As part of the learnihg process they were asked te draw floor plans of our house, and using the knowledge gained at the firehaîl, they planned emergency exits fromn To The Editor: One of the strengths in the letter of Mr. C. Dud- drldge dated July 16 is the respect he has pald te the tery of the Geod Samaritan. He observes that there was neoamen- tien in the parable of building a cheap house In ina backyard for the vlctim. Since I waa the one who lntroduced tins parable inte the debate ever affordable housing in Blueurass Meadows, each room. We then practised using these exista in simulated fire conditions. Not ail of the time was spent at the books, as they also jwnped off ex- tended ladders into safety nets, and used the hoses in a waterball contest. At the end of the camp they were presented with T-shirts, cer- tificates and badges proclaiming them to be Junior Fire Fighters. More importantly, they have also gained an insight into fire preven- tion, first aid and CPR. Ail this while having fun to o. How much did this camp cost? Nothingi1!1 Thanks, Town of Whiltby, I hope many more children are able to benefit from this ex- cellent pregram. Sincerely, Jane Brown Whitby. I would like te respend te Mr. Duddridge's con- cerna. No one parable, of course, should be read in Isolation from the other sayings of the Great Leader, but let us focus for the moment on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Tis parable as it stands leaa remarkably bold declaration by Jesus in anawer te a lawyer's question, "Who la my the group's members, the spokesman did say that they represent a cross-section of the com- munity and are not aligned with any specific area ratepayers group or political organization. Rather, he said, the group is made up of people who are concerned about the direction council has taken in the past year and the fact that the town's elected officials have not always been open in their dealings with the public trust. Until we know more about this group, it's make-up and it's motives, it would be rash to corne to any conclusions about whether or not it wiil be able to make a constructive contribution to the political life of the community as a whole. However, as has been suggested by Regional Councillor Tom Edwards and Mayor Bob Atter- sley, public participation in the political process neighbour? " Jesus broke wlth ail the con- venional moralities of ina day ln depicting an enemy as a hero. The moral majerities in both the Jewlsh and Samaritan nations had decreed hate as the reaponaible action teward the other. But in this story, even though the victini was an enemy, tins Samaritan gave genereusly of the fruits of ina labeurs te ensure the recevery of the victim. It *la academic te apeculate on whether the Samaritan would feilow tins up with an offer of a home in ia wn backyard. I auggest that the character pertrayed in the story would do just that if it was needed. His big task weuid be te everceme the bigetry of is own feilew countrymen, the Semaritans, towards such action. Tis parable of the Good Samaritan ia, of course, enly one of many teld by Jesus te stress the responsibility ef those who are better is always a welcome prospect provided the par- ticipants are flot in it for their own political or personal gain. Whitby Council has displayed at times a ten- dency to deal rather close to the vest when making its decisions - decisions that affect ail of us. If this group can succeed in opening up the process to greater public scrutiny they will have accomplished something in this alone. If they are further prepared to do their homework, and there's a lot of it, and to attend regularly ail meetings of committees and council - without receiving a dime's remuneration for their trouble - they should be doubley commended. Hopefully the group wil live up to its advance billing. Whîtby can only benefit from increased public participation at Town Hall. off toward thost who have become victima of peverty. Note the parable of the householder (Matthew 20), the rich man and Lazarua (Luke 16:19-31) and the rlch young ruler (Matthew 19:16-30). Thèse parables do net deny Mr. Duddridge the right to enjoy the fruit of has labeur, but they do shed light on what it means te, enjoy such fruit. The Leader shows a genereulty that gea beyend ail those nagging doubta we may have that seme who are aubsldized may be abusing the syatem. Go wlth me te the feod net- works of Durham SEE PAGE 14 THE GURU Drink is a curse. It makes you quarrel with your neighbour and shoot at your kndlord..and misa! Subsidized housing