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a a SE "VIEWPOINTS _ Marlene Russell I don't know how you'feel, but I'm getting more than a bit ticked off with those who label Canadians lazy and un-productive in their work when compared to the Japanese or the Germans. If you believe everything you read or hear on tfiis subject, Canadians are over-paid slobs who do as little as possible while on the job, watch the clock all day and can't wait for Fridays when they book off sick to get a -start on the weekend. Again, if you believe everything you read and hear, the Japanese worker is a most industrious chap, 'married' to the com- pany for life, never gets sick, is at the desk or work station at the crack of dawn and doesn't leave until well after the sun has set. And they are so happy doing this, one hears nary a whimper of discontent as they churn out Sony TVs and Toyous that last a lifetime. Likewise with the Germans. For yoass, we have been fed stories in the media about the 'economic miracle' that is West Germany. You knew, reduced to rubble in 1945, back on its feet by 1955, out-produc- ing everybody else in Europe by 1965, an economic 'super power' by the 1980's. And for the German worker, well, he's strike? Never. For more than a couple of decades, we in North America have been fed a steady diet of this stuff to the point where many actually began to believe that we can't hold a candle to the Germans and Japanese, our factories-rusting derelicts with wm-of-the-century equipment, our labour relations a disaster, our work ethic non-existent, and the products we tum out prone to break down before out of the packing crate. It all lo some kind of a major inferiority on this side of the Atlantic, and quite frankly, I have had more than my fill of it. 1 was intrigued to read a recent article by Berlin comespondent Anne McElvoy, who writes for the Times of London. According 10 thigarucle. which is well researched, the German commitment to effi- ciency has taken a nose dive in recent years, and especially since the re-unification of the two Germanies which has put a huge strain on what used to be the West. Germans these days, she writes, are more concerned about sick time, vacations, pay hikes and leisure hours. Germany has the shortest work week in Europe (maybe that's due to efficiency) six weeks of annual paid vaca- tion are the norm, there are another 15 paid public holidays ech year, and an incredible 52 per cent of adults under retirement age are in full time employment. Workers take an average 148 hours off each year (Canadians by the way, take just 55 hours off the job), leading the article writer 10 1 (away sick) has become a national disease. There is even a publication which details how to avoid work by faking illness, com- ing up with symptoms, making excuses and so on. Studénts often spend as much as 12 years getfing post-secondary education thanks to govémment loans and family gen- erosity. Why work when the classroom beckons? In short, the article concludes that the ethic for work that is steeped in Germanic tradition and lore is almost kaput'. I felt much better after reading this-article. Not that | wish Germany any ill will, but finally somebody is said what I suspected all along; namely that the average German worker is not "super-human." As for the Japanese, well, there's trouble in that 'par- adise', as well. For the first time ever, Japanese workers are starting to seriously question Japan, Inc. There are serious requests for more time off, better pay, better housing and so on. Hey, maybe it's not so hot being 'married' for life to Mitsubishi. As for Canadians, I can only speak from personal experience, but I know how many hours per week 1 spend on the job. I know many people who are holding down two jobs, both parents working full time and so on. I know a lot of people who work for giant companies and are proud of the work they do, proud of the quality in the products they make, and like me, just thoroughly ticked off at the constant stream of negative comparisons with Germany or Japan. Remember a few years ago when that ad campaign told 30-year old Canadians they are all in poorer physical condition than 60- year old Swedes. Made us think of a whole generation of elderly Swedes, out for a 20 miles on the cross country skis, then into the sauna before another 20 miles on the skis before supper and early to bed.] spent time in Sweden and saw plenty of 60-year olds with cigarettes in their mouths, pot bel- lies and so on. But that's another issue. Getting back to the 'inferiority complex,' 1 don't feel 'inferior' to anybody and I'm tired of being told that others work harder, the Japanese build better cars, and if some- thing is "German engineered," it's auomat- ically the best money can buy. Like that infamous 60-year old Swede, it's time some of these myths got popped. Last week's column, about 'the other woman', was followed this week, with an opportunity to spend a moming with a dif- ferent kind of 'other woman'. Unlike last week's woman, this one was a destroyer... wait a minute, there IS a paral- lel. This woman also gieals men away from their families but I don't think she gives the pleasure the other 'other woman' lays claim to. If my nephew, Leading Seaman Jeff Corrick, is any indication, I'd say his other 'woman, exciting though she may be, cannot replace his wife and two young sons. He appeared anxious to return to home base in Nova Scotia. The name of Jeff's other woman? The H.M.C.S. Ottawa. Jeff has served in the Canadian Navy for 5 1/2 years and was on a Great Lake's tour, a last for the Ottawa, soon to be de-commissioned. His mother (my sister Jackie) and | visited him aboard ship while docked (sorry, that's 'alpng- side') in Toronto. The first thing I learned was, like any specialty, they have their own language. For instance, they do not dock, they come alongside, and they, don't snooze in bunks, they sleep in 'racks'. We weren't allowed to sec them in their racks. We did however, catch sight of a few men in tow- els. We climbed aboard at 6:45 a.m. to feel adrenalin pump the salt water that mixes Mahl it the rush from the hurried scene of before the 8 o'clock tour with families? Unul 11:30 am, Lake Ontario became our adventure. We sailed out to 'sea' (lake) and were shown what the ship, her men and her women, can do. We watched a sea rescue procedure. Luckily they threw a stuffed dummy overboard for the demo and not the real-life dummy who stuffed her face with the world famous sticky buns served with coffee. 1 was anxious to wash up. Not that anxious. Actually my sticky fingers allowed me to not lose my grip while the turning from side to side maneuvers were per- formed. A last odd tum of events while aboard. Jeff recognized a woman, when he asked how they knew each other they discovered she had counselled him in grade eight after he took an unscheduled afternoon off school. We laughed to discover she 100 was playing hookey in order 19 be there. They reminisced about other family members Loe may have met. "Surely," Jeff queried, with a port © starboard grin, "you remember my brother Jim..." But that's another hair rais- ing column...or two...or three. Cay will return next week.) Cute little fellahs, aren't they? Bet you didn't realize the Scugog Shores Museum had so many old pho- tographs of unidenti- fied, cute children. And it's hard to believe they ever grew up to be some- body's grandfathers. If you can identify this pair, call the muse- um at 985-3589. By the way, the museum is still looking for gen- tlemen to sign up for the Canada 125 beagd growing con- test. Call this week! Say hello to Madeleine Caitlin McQuade, McCabe is used a squeaky clean to rave reviews. 5-month-old bun- ' die of oy. al pink This Scugog and pretty after Citizen has been her bath. It's too receiving them for bad you coum a number of years colour, because now. With her atin reall is husband, John, ie Pink's for she owns and girs, right? operates the : it you have a " 'Chicken Coop' in Greenbank. like to share, send to the Originally using Scugog Citizen, her mother's J Witt Bt, : bread recipes, LoL 142. a Madeleine has could win developed 30 kinds of bread. The garlic and 'Snapshot of the cheese is apparently to die for! Drop in on these Jour aan 8 friendly folks anytime you're in Greenbank! .