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Scugog Citizen (1991), 10 Nov 1992, p. 9

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

Ne Bougog Citizen -- Tuesd. VIEWPOINT BF LETTER TO EDITOR 4 I have confession to make. A couple of weeks ago on October 26, I came within an inch of doing something I have never done before in my life. October 26, you may recall was Referendum Day in Canada and I was having a very tough time deciding whether to vote Yes or No. And I wag also ticked off over the whole process that led to the Referendum. I was so ticked off that as I stood in line waiting to vote, the thought of spoiling my ballot crossed my mind. As it turns out, I didn't spoil my ballot in protest. But I was close to just marking "neither." Since becoming eligible to vote a "few years" ago, | have never missed voting in any election and I have never époiled a ballot. Last Sunday morning as I stood near the Cenotaph in front of the Port Perry Legion for the Remembrance Day Services, the thought of my near "spoiled ballot" popped into my head. I was thinking of the things I now enjoy in Canada because of the sacrifice paid by those who died and those who came home. And certainly, I thought to myself, the right to vote in a free election Ifas to be high on the list of rights we all enjoy today. Perhaps an argument can be made that the right not to vote or the right to "spoil one's ballot" are included. But I wonder. As Jack Lee called out the names of those who did not come home, the thought crossed my mind that "spoiling a ballot" just because I didn't like the Referendum process would have been an affront to those who died and all those who served. Voting in a free election by secret ballot (whether in a national referendum or to elect a local council) is a right enjoyed by a minority of the world's population these days. Standing there on that chilly November morning as the wreaths were placed at the foot of the Cenotaph and the thoughts of that "spoiled ballot" in my head, I felt like kicking myself. I resolved then and there th it I must never take any of my fuuuamental rights for granted, and that includes the right to mark an X on a ballot. THE GREEN AND WHITE: After something of a rough start, Port Perry's Junior C hockey team, the MoJacks, look like they are heading in the right direction. The team put together four straight wins recently before losing Sunday night to their arch-rivals from Little Britain. Last season, of course, the MoJacks advanced to the all-Ontario semi final series and perhaps it is only natural to think they would just pick right up where they left off last April. Not so. This is a "re-building" season for the team with many new players in the line-up and a new coaching staff. They need some time to get un-tracked. But there's no shortage of talent and this is the kind of team that will only get better as the season wears on. Last Thursday night's game against league leading Bowmanville (always a hot rivalry) was an excellent example of Junior C hockey: fast, crisp, some good hitting, just the kind of game the fans like. Except there were a lot of fans in the arena disguised as empty seats. I know it is still early in the season and the MoJacks have had to compete with the World Series and the "new look" Maple Leafs, but so far, fan support for Junior C hockey here has been disappointing. Usually, when Bowmanville and Port Perry hook up, the game is a good draw. On Sunday night when the Little Britain gang was in town, there were a few more fans on hand. The MoJacks have given hockey fans around here plenty to cheer about over the last few years. And I think the players would like to see a few more faces in the stands this season as they continue to improve. IN CLOSING: If you get a chance, drop in to the Kent Farndale Gallery in the Scugog Library. The work of four well established artists is on display until November 27. I think you'll enjoy the art as it is top quality. The artists call themselves the "group of four." The Gallery is open during library hours. Still with the arts, the Borelians production of A Streetcar Named Desire really had theatre audiences buzzing as the acting was superb. For something different at Town Hall 1873, the Choral Society is putting the final touches on "Gipsy Princess" which opens Nov. 19. The quality of the dramatic and musical productions that local groups bring to the stage is top drawer. This community is so fortunate to have the Borelians and the Choral Society which entertain us so royally. Freedom to decide To the Editor: Regarding the Viewpoint column in the November 3 edition of the Scugog Citizen, I must agree that like the writer I have better things to do with $60 than spend it on Madonna's book "Sex." However in a ageiety such as ours where free speech is (almost always) protected, it's good to know that I have the freedom to make that decision. "Viewpoint" suggests that womens groups should protest the publication and that decency groups should picket the bookstores that sell it. I strongly dis- agree. Critics have the right to tell us the book isn't worth the money, if in their opinion, it isn't. People have the right to prevent the book from falling into the hands of children. But nobody has the right to tell others what they can or cannot read or buy. It's that kind of thinking that allows a minority of people to act as "watch-dogs" for their communities and make decisions based on their own religious or moral beliefs that affect a majority of people who don't share those beliefs, but are forced by law to follow them. Thinking like that has led to the banning of such important literature as the "Grapes of Wrath," Huckleberry Finn" and even "Peter Rabbit." As ridiculous as it sounds, a British group argued that it only portrayed middle class rabbits, and for a while it was pulled from the shelves. People must be allowed to spend $60 on "Sex" if that is how they choose to spend their money. It may sound very trivial, but censors must not be allowed to get a toe-hold. If they get their foot in the door, you can never close it. Once they have cut their collective teeth on such books as "Sex," the thought of what theyll turn to next is a frightening one, indeed. ** Sincerely, Jil McIntosh RR 1, Oshawa. Editor's Note: The letter writer makes some excellent points. However, nowhere in the "Viewpoint" was there a suggestion that Madonna's book be banned or censored. And the column posed the question why are womens groups not protesting this book. It did not say they should be protesting it. Ode to the Jays To the Editor; It was the World Series about a week ago, it was three games to two and the crowd was low. It looked like day, but it was really night, because the lights were lit up and the sky was bright. The Terminator Henke came in the pitch, then Nixon came up to the plate to hit. All the Jays needed was one more out and they would win the Series without a doubt. All of a sudden, Nixon hit it out with haste to run his fastest to get to first base. It was covered by Maldonado and thrown to home plate, but Blauser had scored and it was too late. They got one more out and the Jays came to the plate. Alomar was on second, who is White's team-mate. Winfield came to bat and didn't care, he hit the ball into left field and the ump called it fair. Alomar scored and White did too, now the score was 4 to 2. Later on the score was near, Atlanta was cheering and the Canadians were in fear. It was 4-3 to favour of the Jays, but the Braves were only one away. Nixon came up and wanted to pound. But he bunted and flew like finch. Timlin threw it to first and got him out by an inch. Jays won the series and Borders was named the MVP. Whatever happened to the Atlanta Braves? Robert Lines, (age 10) Blackstock, Ont. SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK Nestled in the middle of a wheat field, accessible only by foot, is this unforgotten cemetery - Upton Woods Cemetery, Hendi Court-les- Cagnicourt, France. Buried here are some Canadian WWI soldiers, who never made it home. Our eternal thanks to each villager, who in their great kindness maintain every plot, and to our soldiers resting afar, and near - we shall never forget. P= UnSiLvED MvatEr vIE4 Friends, students, cousins. Possibly one of these children looking into the camera so many years ago, is your very own grandmother, or one of your great uncles. Hoping that someone might know even one of these children is the reason for publishing these forgotten pictures. If you think you recognize one of these youngsters, please call the Scugog Shores Museum at 985-3589.

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