The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Thv Canadian Statesman. limvmanvillc. August 26. 1987 Section Two *2 Et) e Canadian Statesman 623-3303 Durham County's Greet Famttv Journal Established 133 years ago in 1854. Also incorporating The BowmenvMe News The Newcastle Independent The Orono News Second class maH registration number 1561 Produced every Wednesday by THE JANES PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED 62-6* King SL W., BowmanvWe, Ontario L1C 3K9 JOHN M. JAMES Editor--Publisher GEO. P. MORRIS Business Mgr. RICHARD A. JAMES Assistant Publisher BRIAN PURDY Advertising Mgr. PETER PARROTT Associate Editor DONALD BISHOP Plant Mgr. All layouts and composition ot advertisements produced by the employees of The Canadien Statesman, The Newcastle Independent and The James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced without permission ot the publishers. $17.00eyear--6 months $9.00 foreign--$55.00 a year strictly in advance Although every precaution will be taken to avoid error, The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising in its columns on the understanding that it will not be liable lor any error in the advertisement published hereunder unless a prool of such advertisement is requested in writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business office duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted in writing thereon, and in that case it any error so noted is not corrected by The Canadian Statesman its liability shall not exceed such a portion ol the entire cost ol such advertisement as the space occupied by the noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such advertisement. Harmonic Convergence Somehow, we've managed to miss out on this one. The day of harmonic convergence came and went on Monday, August 24, without our notice. There are those who claim that the special alignment of planets on that particular day will usher in a new era of peace and harmony. According to Aztec lore, that date on the calendar ends the last of nine prophesied periods of universal hell and chaos. Similar claims are made by the Mayan and Hopi people, not to mention mention numerous other groups. But, as we noted before, we haven't yet noticed the dawning of this new age of enlightenment. So far as we know, the umpteen full- scale wars on various parts of the globe are still raging. The Arabian Gulf continues to be a powderkeg. Airplanes crash. Stores are robbed. The hungry go unfed. Of course, those who believe in the dawning of a new age point out that the changes in the world will not come about overnight. They speak of a more gradual refinement refinement in the human spirit--things which will rid the world of materialism, the nuclear threat and the degradation of the environment. Well, if some conjunction of the planets is ushering in a new and improved improved phase of human existence, we'll gladly take the benefits. We could certainly use the improvements. improvements. Moreover, the individuals who seek the dawning of a new age are undoubtedly undoubtedly gentle and good people whose hope for a brighter tomorrow should be commended. But regardless of the conjunction of the planets it still would appear to us that any improvements to the world will be the result of human striving and not some shadowy "spiritual" force operating independently independently of ourselves and at the behest of planetary configurations. That doesn't mean that we wouldn't like to believe in the possibility of a harmonic convergence or any other set of circumstances which would make the world a better place to live. It's just that the evidence, so far, argues argues against such a possibility. We believe that, to paraphrase Shakespeare, the solution lies not in our stars but in ourselves. Art Goes into Orbit There's a plan afoot to create a giant work of orbital art which will be seen by millions of the earth's inhabitants inhabitants on any clear night. We're referring, of course, to a proposal in which the 100th anniversary anniversary of the construction of the Eiffel Tower would be celebràted by the creation of this item of orbiting art. The particular work mentioned above would consist of inflatable globes arranged in a ring. These would give off light and create the image of a giant doughnut floating through the evening sky. The whole scheme is a perfect example of the fact that mankind's technical capabilities are running far ahead of his common sense. To ornament the evening sky with someone's someone's concept of art is surely a new achievement in bad taste. It's the equivalent of gilding the lily, but on a monumental scale. It's nonsense. Who cares if it's the 100th anniversary anniversary of the Eiffel Tower? That structure structure is itself a bit of a monstrosity. Why commemorate it with a new kind of ugliness? Let's look at it this way: If an object of art hangs in a gallery, it will be observed only by those people interested interested in contemplating that object. object. But to launch a semicircle of glowing glowing domes into orbit and then call that structure art is to force the entire world to view that creation. And we'll have to view it whether we want to or not. One also wonders whether this would set a dangerous precedent. Orbiting Orbiting works of art (which stay aloft for up to three years) may also be joined by other works of art. Or, what's even worse, the sky could eventually become cluttered with advertising advertising beacons. Cokej Pepsi, or any number of large corporations wouldn't mind launching launching some message or corporate logo if they thought such a move would sell a few extra products. And we haven't even mentioned the implications of these orbiting neon signs for professional astronomers. Can you imagine yourself sitting in an observatory about to make an important important discovery when suddenly this giant illuminated doughnut obscures the view? As we think about this subject, we're not really sure what would stop a nation from launching the sort of orbiting beacons we're describing here. There's no law against throwing unsightly trash into space and even if there was such a rule it would be impossible to enforce. And, by the way, it seems that the idea of orbital art is not just a concept invented by the artists of France. There's even a Canadian artist working working on the idea of launching a giant "star of peace" into the sky. A star in the sky. How original! Maybe the three or four billion already already out there aren't sufficient. You really have to wonder where the artists get these inspirations. Never mind. It seems as though the only thing protecting us from the eyesore of orbiting orbiting art is the good, common sense of the general population of the world. We expect that common sense will prevail. But we're keeping our fingers crossed. Promises, Promises Political promises are falling faster than the leaves of autumn. It's election election time, "of course. So promises are necessary. But why? Without singling out any one political political party (because they are all guilty) we'd estimate that the political plums being promised the electorate would bankrupt the Ontario treasury. There are election goodies for farmers and for businesses, There are goodies for women and for minorities. There arc election goodies for people who live in northern northern Ontario. There are election goodies for people who arc old and for those who are young. The problem is that all of the promises promises made in a heat of an election campaign have certain flaws. For one thing, we doubt that they are worked out by experts with the best knowledge and understanding of the facts and figures. More likely, they are developed by the political side of government and the numbers utilized in developing costs may not be realistic. The election goodies have a habit ui aiming lo the government's deficit. And, finally, if they are not implemented, implemented, then the public will take a rather cynical view of government as a whole and will refuse to trust political leaders of any political stripe. In a free country, you cannot really stop politicians from opening up the floodgates and showering the electorate electorate with promises whenever an election election is near. In some respects, the politicians hand out the pre-election incentives because that's what the electorate demands. demands. People have a habit of voting not so much for things which were accomplished accomplished in the past but for favors yet to be received. However one would dearly love to place a moratorium on political promises during a campaign so that parties could limit themselves discussions discussions of previously announced platforms and past achievements. It's some consolation that the public public has learned to take these announcements announcements with a healthy amount of scepticism. That, too, is becoming part of our political tradition. Canada Geese Enjoy Sanctuary of Scenic Hope Township Pond Outlook By Carolyn Hepburn I was watching the Midday news show the other day when an item on the physical wellbeing wellbeing of today's children was discussed. Unfortunately, it would appear as if many young people both entering entering and exiting our education education systems are unfit. Further to the point, the news piece said that physical education classes are among the first to get the axe when it comes time to balance the budget. It's time to stop putting a dollar value on health. I've always been a fan of phys-ed. I took it for five years in high school and at one time was going to go on in school to be a phys-ed teacher. Even when I decided that journalism was more my thing, I still didn't give up my interest interest in being active. Unfortunately I also haven't given up my love for oreo cookie ice cream so the activity is even more important. But, it really bothers me to hear that the younger generation aren't physically fit. I think that a lot of the problem can be laid at the door of the educational educational planners in Canada. Canada. When I was in school, and even when I hear kids talk about schools now, phys-ed classes were always viewed as "bird courses". They had a reputation of being really really easy credits to achieve. Though that wasn't true, nobody seemed to try very hard to change that thinking. It was always the gym classes that could be cancelled for assemblies. assemblies. It was always the gym classes that could be cancelled for just about any reason. In high school the science science departments, and computer labs seemed to have the best equipment. equipment. But just try to get a basketball that would bounce higher than your shoulder. Not trying to be cynical or unfair, some of the best days I spent in high school were in the gyn- masiums, whether helping helping to coach a volleyball team, or playing on a championship basketball basketball team. That is why it's tough to hear that gym classes are being so mis-trealed. It doesn't matter if a child can use a computer if he or she can't enjoy a game of floor hockey (or whatever happens to be a favorite). It doesn't matter if a child can speak several languages if he or she can't climb the steps at school without being worn out. I'm not suggesting that physical education become become the centre of any school curriculum, but it would be nice to see it given the same billing as everything else. It is time for the provincial and federal governments to put some of that money that they can throw around so easily at election election time into the physical physical education programs of our learning institutions. institutions. It may be corny, but a sound mind really is the result of a sound body. One part of the Midday program spoke of a school in Quebec where the students spend one third of their time doing a physical activity of their choice. The kids said themselves themselves that they enjoyed school more and their grades were proven to be better. This school didn't have an elaborate setup, setup, it just encouraged the students to be physically physically active for a certain period of time. It helped to relieve boredom and the stresses that can build up with school- work and it helped them concentrate better when they were in the classrooms. classrooms. Physical education isn't the answer for everyone, I don't believe in forcing people to do things they don't want to do. Still, not wanting to do something doesn't mean that it won't be good for you. Good habits can be started when children are young. There is such a concentrated concentrated (and expensive) expensive) campaign to stop younger children from taking drugs, smoking, and drinking. Why not stop telling them what they can't do and encourage encourage them with what they can do? We all need activity and children are no exception. exception. A little helping hand in our schools would make a healthy difference. TYRONE NEWS There will be church service service at Tyrone United Church on Sunday morning, August 23rd at 10:30 a.m. and on August 30th at 10:30 a.m. On September 6th the regular hour,of11:15 will be resumed. There were over sixteen tables ol" euchre in play at the Old Tyrone Hall on August August 10th with the following results: Clarence English 87, Davie Craig 85, Jack Cook 84, Verna Chamberlain Chamberlain 82, Edna Vivian 81, Eileen Eileen Warder 43. Special prizes were won by Olive Little, Freda Ashton, Ruth Murphy (2). Perhaps it was the hot, humid weather, or was it the televised preelection preelection debate that cut the attendance on Monday, August August 17th, when eleven tables tables of euchre failed to put a high score into the 80s. Edgar Millson and John Mc- Keen tallied 79s, Charlie Nesbitt and Ann Taylor drew in 78s, Hazel Murphy 77 and Betsy Staniland 46. Special prizes were drawn by Edgar Millson, Ruby Malloy and Betsy Staniland. On Friday evening, August August 14, 1987, there were 12 tables and three over, in euchre play at the Community Community Centre. First prize went"to Sharon Watson, followed followed by Charlie Nesbitt, Daisy Bell, Lorna Swain, Russell Wright and Dick Gibbs. Ladies' low Hetty Kuycr, men's low Albert Watts. "5Ô-50 draw Eileen Warder, Len Cain. Special prizes Harold Swain, Art Sheehan, Meta Moffatt. Pigeon Racing On August 8, 1987, the Bowmanville Invitational Racing Pigeon Club .held another set of races. The first race was from North Bay, an air distance of 170 miles with 121 pigeons entered entered from 11 lofts. Travelling at a speed of 50 miles per hour, the first bird belonged to Ted Brown. Ted also got 8th and 9th, a 2nd, and 3rd and 4th Dave Woolner and Sons, 5th J. and P. Skinner, 6th and 11th Hans Verkhuisen, 7th Terry Woolner, 10th, 12th and 15th Chris Barr, 13th and 14th Don McHolm. The second race was from Huntsville, an nir distance of 100 miles, with 114 pigeons pigeons entered from 11 lofts. Keeping the trophies in the family, 1st, 2nd and 6th went to N and J Brown, 3rd, 5th and 7th K and P Woolner Woolner and family, 4th J and P Skinner, 8th, 9th and 10th Ted Brown, 11th, 12th, 13th Dave Woolner and Sons, 14th and 15th Chris Barr. The average speed was 50 miles per hour. Jocelyn Greets Her Fans in Bowmanville En route towards a 700 mile swim which will assure her a place in the record books, Jocelyn Muir stopped during the weekend at Bond Head and Bowmanville. Bowmanville. She spent part of Sunday evening greeting friends and well-wishers at the Port Darlington Marina where a corn roast was held in her honor. And the above photo was taken after Jocelyn had completed her swim and was about to meet the guests at the Marina. The purpose of her swim is not only to shatter some world records but also to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis and to increase the public's awareness of M.S. Do TV Debates Work? It's questionable as to whether anybody anybody really gains much from TV debates debates between the leaders of the major parties. Mind you, the concept behind such encounters is a good one. What better way is there to have large numbers of the general public participate in the election campaign? Still, the debates frequently prove somewhat disappointing, in our opinion. opinion. The problem is that politicians can't really win an election on the strength of their performance in a televised debate. But if they arc not careful, they could quite possibly lose the battle through a slip of the tongue or a poorly-worded remark. As a result, political leaders engaging engaging in a televised debate walk very carefully indeed and their speeches arc seldom beyond the realm of what's safe and predictable. You can sec better exchanges between parliamentary parliamentary leaders in the House of Commons, or the Legislature on a good day. It should also be pointed out that debating skills are only one small part of the total requirements of a good political leader. Winning or losing losing a debate may not necessarily guarantee good government. A victory victory or a loss merely measures the candidate's ability to debate. We wonder, also, if public perceptions perceptions change very much after the voters voters have a chance to view the leaders in the spotlight. We think not. Unless one of the leaders were to do something something incredibly stupid during the debate, debate, nobody would be able to claim victory or defeat. It seems more likely that existing political beliefs arc merely confirmed and strengthened by the leaders' performance on the tube. This leads us to conclude that, TV debates aside, the battle is won or lost in the individual ridings. And that is the way il ought lo be.