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2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville. September 9, 1987 Section Two El je Canabian Statesman 623-3303 Durtiem County's Greet Famttv Journal Established 133 years aoo In 1654. Aleo incorpuredng The BowmenvWe Mews The Newrsetls Independent The Orono News Second dees meH registration number 1561 Produced every Wednesday by THE JAMES PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED 62-66 King SL W., BowmenvWe, Ontario L1C 3X9 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. 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Now It's Up to Electors On Thursday, September 10, Ontario Ontario voters have some important work to do. They have to decide which of the people running for office will represent represent them at the provincial government government level. It's an important decision before the Ontario voters and a decision decision in which the fullest possible participation participation of the electorate is needed. In a democracy, there are very few demands on the citizen. We do not see government as an end in itself but only as a framework in which free people can more or less do as they please within the boundaries boundaries of the law. And so, government requires little from us. We are not asked to perform military service or to give up our free time towards government projects. Nor must we take part in any form of organized politics unless we want to. For the most part, Canadians don't choose to become heavily involved in the political process. But that doesn't mean they do not harbor political views and certain hopes and dreams for the community in which they live. That is why it is important for Ontario Ontario voters to make the effort to visit their polling station tomorrow. The September 10 election will place a government of some sort at Queen's Park. And unless every qualified qualified citizen casts a ballot, there's no guarantee that the government will be one which truly represents the public. Of course, 100 per cent voter turnout turnout is an impossibility. In the last provincial provincial trek to the polling stations, the turn-out was not much more than 60 per cent. But we can work to improve improve previous trends. Whatever you do on Thursday, don't forget to cast your ballot for the candidate candidate of your choice. It's the least you can do. Fall F airs Change with Times Around the time that there's a nip in the air and the kids are heading back to school and the harvest is under way, many folks' thoughts turn to the fairs. The fall and spring fairs are an important important part of our tradition as an agricultural agricultural nation. And while today there are fewer of us who are directly farming the land, we have a close enough affinity to our agricultural heritage to enjoy livestock, livestock, the tractors, the 4-H exhibitions, the fruit and vegetable shows, and all the other rural aspects of the fairs. Moreover, the fall fair, as an institution, institution, has managed to keep up with the times. And although it may be rooted -in our agricultural traditions, the fair of today also represents first-class contemporary entertainment. The Orono Fair is a perfect example example of an annual event which changes with the times and yet remains true to the spirit of the past and provides good old-fashioned fun for all ages. Space does not permit us to list all of the events here. But we should point out that the fair includes parades, musical entertainers, stunt- drivers, commercial exhibits, livestock livestock shows, horticultural shows, beauty pageants, and the ever-popu- lar midway. . Keep in mind, also, that the event is operated almost entirely by the volunteers volunteers of the Durham Central Agricultural Agricultural Society who are to be commended commended for their hard work. But you can't really describe the Orono Fair on paper. You have to go out and experience it yourself. You have to take in all the sights, smells, and sounds in person. And you'll be in the company of thousands of others who have also discovered the joys of this fall tradition. It all begins tomorrow evening (Thursday, September 10) and concludes concludes on Sunday, September 13. See you at the fair. Fringe Parties Add Color In most elections, it's the fringe parties who make campaigns a little more interesting. You can't always look to the larger, more-established parties for controversy controversy and passionate devotion to a cause. During the electoral process, the big parties are usually so busy trying trying to conserve their share of the vote that they won't make definitive statements statements against anything. The fringe parties, on the other hand, are all too willingto letthe public public know not only what they stand for but especially those things they are against. Frequently„the parties of the political political fringes deal with one or two major issues on which they display an almost religious intensity. If nothing else, they add some badly-needed color to a frequently colorless contest. Some of the fringe parties are set up as a deliberate "spoof' of the big-name political machines. But others have very sincere sincere intentions and a commendable commitment to their cause. In the provincial elections of 1987, two relatively new non-establishment non-establishment parties come readily to mind. However, there's a total of eight political political parties registered in the election so there must be several others. The Green Party is one organization organization which is active. It has a heavy emphasis on environmental issues and is opposed to nuclear power, among many other things which are seen as dangerous to the environment, environment, Another organization, the Family Coalition Party, places heavy emphasis emphasis on the continuation of the family family in Canadian society and is opposed, opposed, for example, to certain aspects of sex education in the schools; homosexuality, abortion, and various other "threats" to the family unit. In some respects, the existence of fringe parties represents a healthy trend because they are evidence of the.fact that our democracy docs indeed indeed attract a wide variety of different different (and often opposing) points of view. The non-traditional parties arc living examples of the fact that if you don't like the status quo you can try to change it, The parties are also, however, evidence evidence of certain shortcomings in the existing political parties. People only join new political movements when they have reached the point where they feel the old-line parties do not meet their needs. There will always be a few people whose views are not represented by any of the major political institutions in this country. But a large number of fringe parties would surely be cause for concern among the major political groups since their existence would prove that the established parties parties are doing something wrong. While no one would deny the public the right to form independent political political parties and collect the 10,000 names required to launch sucji movements, movements, we should also note that government government by dozens of conflicting political groups would be a bit of a legislative nightmare. Imagine a legislature in which dozens dozens of parties representing interests of, for example, right-to-life groups; environmentalists; feminists; entrepreneurs; entrepreneurs; Marxists, and all the other elements of the political spectrum were fighting for recognition. There are some nations in the world where there are several dozen political parties parties having their say in government. These are not always the most stable regimes. One of the advantages to the Canadian Canadian and American political system is the fact that the various special interest interest groups usually congregate under one of two or three political parties. And it's at the party level that the various policies are worked out. A democracy cannot operate without a consensus of broad opinion and that kind of consensus is provided by the very large, nationally-based parties having views on all the issues. A certain amount of activity by fringe parties is simply a sign of a healthy democracy. But if the numbers numbers of fringe parties increases, we' could he facing a dangerous trend to- wa rds fragmcn ta tion. It will be interesting to sec the number number of votes received by groups such as the Green Party or the Family Coalition Coalition Party on September 10. Geese Lose Fear o f Humans in Protected Sanctuary at Whitby Bowmanville Girl Has Shoes Ready for Torch Run Ten-year-old Melissa Harty will have an extra special Christmas this year. On December 21, Melissa will run a kilometre in the torch relay to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Though she hasn't started any major training, Melissa says that she'll probably lace on her running shoes for a few laps around the track. Melissa will also have a lasting memory of the day because her father plans to video tape her run. Who Wants a A Toronto-based clinic created a certain amount of controversy last week when it launched a service providing providing prospective parents with the capability of choosing their child's sex. No doubt the gender of the child cannot be decided with 100 per cent accuracy. But the choice can be made in most cases. We have the technology. technology. It's another one of those instances in which a new medical discovery opens up a whole "Pandora's Box" of ethical considerations. In a few cases, there may be good reasons for wanting a child of a particular particular gender. For example, some diseases afflict chiefly males or females and parents who carry a predisposition predisposition towards a certain disease might not want to have a child who would stand a chance of contracting that disease himself or herself. But this new development also allows allows parents to choose their child's sex for more trivial reasons. For example, they might want a male child because there arc no boys in the clan to carry on the family name. Or they might prefer a female child Sure Thing? because they already have all the dolls and dresses left over from raising raising an older daughter. To us, these are not good enough reasons for choosing gender. First of all, if we allow parents to choose their child's sex, it will be easier (in later years and with improved improved technology) to let them choose such things as eye color, height, hair color, and perhaps even levels of intelligence intelligence or particular talents. We tend to believe that the forces of God and nature which have been at work in developing the human race over the past millenia arc more qualified than some parent in the late 20th century century egotistical enough to order up a custom-made kid. Secondly, the ratio of males to females could be drastically altered if parents had the freedom to choose their baby's sex. The social implications of a radical shift in the numbers of men and women are staggering to say the least. Aside from cases in which choosing a baby's sex may he a medical necessity, necessity, this particular technological breakthrough should be put on hold until we can better understand its ramifications. by Carolyn Hepburn Monday, December 21, 1987, will be a very busy day for Melissa Harty. That is the day that ten- year-old Melissa will be making her place in the history history books as she participates participates in the Olympic Torch Run to the 1988 Calgary Winter Games. For the Bowmanville resident, resident, the event will be a family affair. Melissa is hoping that, both sets of her grandparents grandparents will be able to travel from Renfrew, Ontario for the day, and her father will also be shooting her run on a movie camera. Melissa's mom has already arranged for the day off work, and her seven-year-old sister, Julie, may run with her for company. company. While Melissa would like to run her kilometre through Bowmanville, she is just happy to have the "once in a lifetime chance". The grade five Lord Elgin Public School student is no stranger to being physically active, as she counts slow- pitch, running in track and field events and ball hockey among her favorite pastimes. pastimes. She also finds time to read and watch television, and claims "Growing Pains" as one of her preferred shows. Alter filling out approximately approximately 200 applications (sister Julie had half that amount) for the computer selection, Melissa was notified that she was a potential potential winner. Like all the other runners, Melissa answered a skill-testing question correctly and was recently notified that she was indeed going to take part in the 18,000 kilometre run. All torch-bearers will receive receive a track suit for their efforts and will be escorted by police as they take to the streets. Undoubtably, Melissa will represent both Bowmanville Bowmanville and Canada in a proud manner as she helps to complete yet another historical historical Olympic run. While admitting that she may run a few laps of the track to prepare and will practise carrying a makeshift makeshift torch, Melissa is confident confident that her moment in the spotlight will be one she won't ever forget. Outlook By Carolyn Hepburn V The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things; of signs and slogans and election promises, of all the excitement excitement an election can bring. It really is all over but the voting as election candidates sit back to chew down their fingernails fingernails and wait for the final results in the 34th provincial election this week. I don't believe in rah- rah hype over voting time. People are going to do what they want to do regardless of what any columnists say about the importance of voting. So, I won't be one of those people to give a high school cheer and try to rouse support for the polling stations that will dot the riding for this election. After all, aren't you sick and tirçd of hearing about how great all the candidates will be if and when they hit the provincial provincial political scene? If we could combine all the good stuff from each party, we might just have a party worth governing this province. And aren't you sick and tired of reading newspaper articles promising everything from GO-trains to more computers in the schools? To be honest, I'm really really tired of the election. But, not because I don't enjoy my right to put pen to ballot, or like the idea of having a say in my province's future. No, it is really for quite a different reason that I am tired of the election. In the days before I came to the Statesman and my journalism career, I was free to babble babble on about any candidate candidate in my home riding. I could comment on everything everything from their views to their handshake. handshake. I can still do that, except except in my job I can't do it too loudly. Many people have asked me what I think of each candidate's candidate's campaign, dr who I think will win the election. Unfortunately, I have no crystal ball, and I casually shrug and smile and compliment each candidate for their obvious obvious strengths. I was really taken aback at the recent allcandidates' allcandidates' meeting held at Courtice High School. I went into the meeting expecting a scrap or two on such issues as automobile automobile insurance, and free trade. Instead I and everyone else in attendance attendance witnessed the best behaved exchange between between the three candidates candidates I think was possible. possible. They all unanimously unanimously agreed that the other was very qualified for the position of provincial provincial representative. If they all agreed that the other one was just as good for the job, then maybe they could all join together and run. Still, election day comes down to a paper and pen choice. It is as simple as that. Each eligible Ontarian has a chance to cast a vote for a preferred politician. A vote that really really is a vote for the future future (this is the rah-rah part I said I wouldn't do but can't resist). Since the election was called in the summer there has been a decidedly decidedly laid-back and rather apathetic approach approach to the whole situation. situation. Are people so wrapped up in their cottages, cottages, holidays, jobs and backyard pools that they don't care what the candidates candidates have to say about nuclear power, day care and education funding? From my position behind behind a camera and at meetings, apathy would seem to be the case. Yet, elections aren't like Christmas and New Year's, they don't come every year at scheduled times. They come when the people in power see fit to call one. That means that voters should respond to the call and pay attention to the issues and what the candidates say about them. Regardless of where I put my X on the ballot this week, and regardless regardless of the fact that I have to remain objective throughout the entire process, at least I can rest easy that I had a say in whole tiresome, yet interesting interesting event. 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