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( Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday,,September 3,2003 -5 ) Ü5 m Viewpoint by Alex Shepherd, MP Durham Few of us believe we should physically or mentally impair others in our society based on their sexual orientation. orientation. I believe society has progressed progressed a great deal in the last century and Canadians have shown their resolve to protect minorities. As one studies the court- driven issue of a move toward recognizing same-sex marriages marriages there is but one fundamental fundamental argument. That by changing the definition of the name "marriage," that you will somehow curtail discrimination discrimination against same-sex couples. couples. For me this seems to be social engineering at its worse. A parallel argument would be that if United States Supreme Court wanted to end discrimination against blacks they simply would have redefined redefined the word black to mean white. In many ways this whole debate is sadly lacking in substance. substance. It is not at all clear to me that those who now live in same-sex relationships, in fact, want to get married. If this issue is not an assault on people's moral standards standards it is certainly an assault on the English language. It occurs to me that we use words to define meaning. The fin Rinske Easa, Sales Representative Sutton Group Dynamic 905-697-1700 Direct Line: 905-983-5100 E-mail: rinskeeasa@rogers.com Thinking of Selling or Buying Real Estate? "Call me today; I am only a block away. " 7ni-Cb SHORT-FORM Thursdays 11am start September 11 Instructors: Marci Tordiff & Pat Irwin Lycett Call: 905-983-9475 Fee: $45.00 Location: Dr. Schroeder's Chiropractic and Exercise Clinic, Main Street, Orono more exact the word the better it is for us to communicate with one another. The word marriage which has the classical definition of, "the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others," seems fairly exact. The Oxford Dictionary adds additional clarity, "often for the procreation of children." children." If we are to redefine the word so that it has a broader definition, simply the union of two people, people will begin to use another word which means a heterosexual couple. Why? Because no matter how much you argue your intellectual point of view, in the end there is something quite different between a heterosexual heterosexual union and a samè- sex union. This does not necessary mean that one union is held by society in any higher esteem than the other but simply that they are different. In discussing these matters with the Prime Minister I pointed out that there seems to be an antithesis in our policy structure. Why is it, when we speak of multiculturalism, we- believe we should celebrate our diversity but when it comes to sexual orientation we somehow believe we all have to be assimilated by the same definition. There is a way out of this but it requires the government to be a little more imaginative and do a lot more work than it has shown itself prepared to do on this issue. It would appear to me that a universal civil registry, allowing for both heterosexual and same-sex unions would clarify the issue of equal access to societal benefits, vis- à-vis, pensions and the like, but that the term marriage, as presently defined by the federal federal government, should remain as it is. It may be necessary for the federal government to get some sort of consent from the provinces if it is unclear the feds are encroaching on provincial jurisdiction. Of course the other route is also there which would be simply to legislate and see if the provinces object. This is not only to address the concerns of the deep-seated feelings of those who are strong in their faith and others in our communities who have lived and raised families based on the core definition of marriage, but, it is also to uphold some sensibility about language and the ability to communicate as a society. Before the end of September I will be sending a flyer about the same-sex marriage issue to each and every home in the riding. Please watch for it in your mail boxes. There will be a ballot on the back page of the flyer. I would like you to fill it out and mail it back to me with your name, address and telephone number on it. Only those ballots containing containing that information will be counted. This is an important issue, one in which Ï feel compelled to ask for your guidance. Ill ill \ m i |l . I I liiiiiiil I I I ï I I I I I Uiiiiiil I I üf -- Orono Figure Skating Club REGISTRATION August 26 and September 10,2003 from 7pm to 9pm at the Orono Arena • CANSKATE (2 hrs per week) Tues. & Thurs. • ADULT SKATE (1 1 / 2 hrs per week) Sunday morning • SYNCHRONIZED SKATING *3$ - $40 book of lottery tickets to be added at registration 3* 60% due at registration plus a post-dated cheque for December 1st for balance. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL M. BLAKER 905-987-7297 OR JOAN MOFFAT 905-983-9561 0 Di I Got a sports story? Call The Orono Weekly Times P0NTYP00L MEN'S SUNDAY LOB BALL LEAGUE Playoffs "B" Semi-Final Mudhens over Generals 10:4 MUDHENS LEAD SERIES 1 GAME TO 0 Slime over Pitbulls 22:2 SLIME LEAD SERIES 1 GAME TO 0 "A" Semi-Final Blazers over Blackjacks 21 : 11 BLAZERS LEAD SERIES 1 GAME TO 0 Pita Pit over Blue Circle 15:12 SLIME LEAD SERIES 1 GAME TO 0 Pita Pit vs. Blue Circle - 2:30 pm "Generals vs. Mudhens - 4:00 pm 8 Slime vs. PitBulls - 5:30 pm 8 Blazers vs. Blackjacks - 7:00 pm 8 Composter, Green Bin and Blue Box Sale! Clarington LtatUitg ikt W»y C7 Backyard Composters, $25 Curbside Green Bin, Kitchen Food Waste $12 Container, $3 Blue Box, $5 l Free compost available while supplies last! .Bring your own shovel. Limit of three containers per Bring your cracked or broken Blue Boxes, we will replace them free of charge. bate: Saturday September 13, 2003 Time: 8:30am - 12:00pm Location: Animal Shelter 33 Lake Road, Bowmanville For more information please contact the Region of Durham Works Department at 905-579-5264 or 1-800-667-5671 car. m i i i > t i i i i i i i • • i -, V 4 4* ,t. «,»,'<'* | *. 4 « I t « • • • • ' > t 4 -4 t '* '4 * I 9 4 9 9 1 4 I ■ • 4 * r * * ' 4 4 4 9 4 4 4 9 4 \ 4 4 9 9 9 9 * 4 I I 4 I 9 4 4 4 4 4 I /If 9 9' ,999999919999*9/94 ' i . i... I '*'4 444,9144194941411*4*49», / #4*4 J J 9 9 9 9 9 9 _4 4 t 9 ; V,*, V v ,f • * • 1 V » • » « • * * { ? t v * 'V ' fn ' iJiUl'UYl JDHl I I I » 4 • « 4 • V 4 V« « I V 1 1 41. « *, 4 «. » -, »■ • \ i S4 V. M U 4» Ik « »» A «4 * A . • «• »i *h ï* V4 4, *, #• «U *«*«••• et , - - - I ' •Vf# 4M, • , «• 4999' i km %•«.«** ml U .* m *. »,