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2 Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, August 1, 1995 -- 9 = VIEWPOINT by John B. McClelland LETTERS TO EDITOR COLD THOUGHTS ON A HOT DAY Well, if nothing else, you have to give Ontario Premier Mike Harris his dues for speed. Less than a month after being sworn to govern this province for the next five years, Harris took a howitzer to spending and blasted $1.9 billion from the budget with promises of more to come in the fall. Welfare, public housing, Toronto subways, the opera house, education, health---the cuts were wide ranging, and the critics reacted as if the cuts will put Ontario on the road to total ruin--little more than a third world country with two kinds of people--the very rich and the very poor. Baloney. Ontario will get through this quite nicely, thank you. Sure there will be some hardship to some. Hardship? Hey, you want hardship, just take a look at the world around us. Which is what I did one muggy afternoon last week and came to the conclusion that the world is, to put it mildly, in a mess. Why, for example, is France pushing ahead with nuclear weapons testing in the south Pacific? Has the news not yet reached Paris that the Cold War is over, the evil Soviet Empire kaput? Are the French expecting to be invaded by Luxembourg? Testing nuclear arms in 1995 makes no sense, unless of course one is thinking of selling a few to the highest bidder. In this world, that's a scary thought. Can you imagine the Bosnian Serbs with a few nuke tipped missiles? China is stirring an old pot as well by testing missiles very close to Taiwan. Is this some kind of a ? Instead of lobbing missiles toward Taiwan, China should be doing something to clean up its horrendous record on human rights. Business men (and women) everywhere get weak at the knees and salivate over their spread sheets at the thought of selling anything to China's billions. Yet China's human 'violent places ruled by feudal lords, rights record is among the worst in the world-- torture, capital punishment, long prison terms on trumped up charges --this is how China handles any-kind of political pposition. Still, the ber of trade missions to Beijing grows larger by the wegk. Human rights? The Chinese masses want walkmans, home videos, soft drinks, cars and trucks, blue jeans and disposable diapers. And there is no shortage of capitalists just dying to provide them. After all, business is, business these days. In South Africa, the world cheered when apartheid was tossed out finally, yet the world stood by and watched as upwards of half a million people were slaughtered in Rwanda. Most African countries remain military strongmen or tribal chiefs. With just a few exceptions, democracy has failed to gain even a toe-hcld on that continent. Here's a sobering thought. There are believed to be some 25,000 nuclear weapons still kicking around what used to be the Soviet Union. Law and order broke has broken down. Who is minding the store over there? Can you * imagine if the Russian mafia got its paws on some of those weapons. They could end up anywhere, or pointed at New York for international blackmail. So you think Ontario is a scary place these days with Mike Harris on the loose? Wake up, take a look around. IN CLOSING: I was saddened to learn that Roy Walker Smith passed away last week. Roy devofed a lot of time to numerous organizations in this community. In this day and age, volunteers are not easy to come by. I will remember Roy for several things: his opinions, which he didn't mind voicing; his sense of humour; his volunteer work and his zest for living. Even in his late 70's he stayed active in his community. I am going to miss Roy and so will a lot of others. Pat on back for Mayor To the Editor; I am writing this letter to extend my sincere appreciation to our Mayor, Howard Hall, for his assistance on Sunday evening. It's not often you would find someone who would drop everything (probably his Sunday dinner as well) to help a person in need. Thank-you, Howard! Lezlie Appleton, Port Perry Young gentieman To the Editor: What is wrong with generation? Nothing. Does the older generation teach the younger generation? Well, a lesson learned. Last Saturday (July 29) my husband wag in the Canadian Tire store in Port Perry While waiting in the car I decided to get some fresh air. 1 got out of the car and noticed two young people talking. A lady came out of Canadian Tire through 'l say to hell To the Editor: It seems that I don't know my own rights, unless I anti-up to one of*a horde of waiting 'experts'. Then what I get is: "ands, buts and maybe" with a probable extended palm: If I choose to risk more of the same. Special Interest Groups seem to know mine, and theirs: to my frantically retreating sanity. In W.W. 2 under Natzi occupied Belgium, one knew they had no rights: which gives me pause to wonder - I say to hell with rights and especially yours. Legislate everybody to strictly enforced personal responsibility, so who would need lop-sided rights: barring the lop- sided? So, why endure blockheads" Ask me to put the teeth in responsibility-law because Injustice Rock, wouldn't know responsibility. ' What a hullaballoo over female 'failure' in politics. Where's the surprise: when the following lady elite are but two of too many of them: setting aside those filching and exploiting government grants intended (some of them) to advance the Female Race to the status quo of sensitive men: albeit present efforts seem bent on conflict. An ex-prime minister flaunts her use of an illegal drug and her personal and varied expertise on birth. control. A would-be premier spends $45,000.00 plus, sharing her downtown apartment with two daughters the younger the exit door, and very quickly the young man opened the door for this lady who looked to be in her mid-40's. There was no "thank you," or "how nice of you." This lady did not utter a word. And so, I give that young man pa 10. I am in my 50's, apd my husband still holds the car door for de or otherwise. I am so glad there at least a few young gentlemen to take ovér for the senior or older generation.' Sylvia Johes, Scugog Island. with rights' (or was that Vice versa?); almost 20,000.00 for over 30 trips to shuttle family from the home town to 'handy' Queen's Park: no doubt paid for out of tax payer's gratitude for Lyn. Her spurious campaign, of flip flops and promised vows, personified calculated farce to buy votes. This is not female failure in politics; it is integrity-void and copy cat male policy: and prone female fixation on the fallacy of 'equality'. Think that one through and it translates to Unisex and next will follow apples, in fact, equal oranges. If you want to ifsult women; I'll play leader: as long as we restrict it to females of no class. I would rather focus on female integrity. Perhaps that would relate to male integrity, and devil take the hindmost of all those without. We might then ponder something like this: (Burma's) selfless Nobel Peace Prize winner, Suu Kyi sharing-this century's honors for the greatest in human excellence: with (India's) selfless Mahatma Gandi, who left us this wisdom: "A coward is incapable of exhibiting love: it is the prerogative of the brave". I project he was talking selfless love: the only kind he knew. History would validate Suu Kyi's too. Philomena Mariman Janetville Adverse impact if 'parkland' in Blackstock sold To the Editor: In a recent letter to the Editor concerning the "Welcome to Blackstock Park", the headlines clearly, indicate that Fred Ford does not speak for the majority of the resid of Blackstock on up against our property line. Now, I am as comtunity minded as the next person, having an interest in the impr t of the r ional facilities for all of Blackstock. H , I do not think that the this issue. The inference is that Ron Martyn does... This is certainly news to me and other residents that are not directly involved in ramming through the sale of the Park. Nor are they concerned about the impact on the residents living near the Park. Let me give you an example: My family moved from the Marigimes two years ago, never having heard of a place called Blackstock. When we looked at our new "home to be", completely flanked by "parkland", the decision to move to Blackstock was made. Without a doubt, my family will be the most affected by the planned changes, i.e. parkland to residential. There will be an immediate impact not only of our enjoyment of privacy and openness, but consider also the strong effect on property value, drainage and three septic beds proposed plan is realistic or desirable.The issue is not so much the development of the fairgrounds, as it is the loss of the Park. Perhaps Ron Martyn would reconsider his position if it were suddenly announced that there would be the rear ends of three houses complete with septic systems aligned down the side of his property. . The meeting that Fred Ford called was open to the total community in order to discuss the issue. Every household received a written invitation. The consensus of those attending was not to sell the Park. If the opposing groups chose not to attend, that was indeed unfortunate, as they missed an opportunity to see the other side of the issue and its affect on us. At another meeting Fred Ford called to discuss the issue with all the community user groups, the Baseball, Association chose not to attend. Again this was unfortunate because I did not hear an unwillingness from the other user groups to consider an alternative proposal. Does Blackstock really need all these extras? Perhaps we will be able to boast that we have the nicest landscaping, the best parking lot, ball field and cattle ties anywhere on which we can have a tractor pull, rural fair and demolition derby. As one long time resident mentioned to me at that particular meeting: "Do you think the cows really care?" The real driving force behind the fairgrounds issue has been the baseball association. The major costs of the fairground development involves improvement to the existing ball dimsend, including lighting. Please don't tell me this is for the kids. Blackstock probably has more ball diamonds than any other community of its size in Ontario. If more practice space is needed for the kids,then use the "Welcome to Blackstock Park". The idea that one sport. lasting eight or ten weeks during the summer is going to determine what type of community we have is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong: the Minor Ball Association does great work in the community and both of my sons have thoroughly enjoyed playing on teams this summer. We should strive to provide the best facilities possible but lets keep it in perspective. Obviously, we have a situation where it is a fantastic idea to "spend some $350,000.00 and get the best because there are only a few people living near that Park...It won't affect us. And heck, the government will kick in a matching amount. Well, the reality is that the value of the Park is far below the original estimate of $180,000.00. The reality is that the government no longer gives away money for these types of projects, and the costs for bringing water to the lots, testing septics, culverts, landscape architect fees and potential law suits add up to more than the value of the lots. There are many more objections to the selling of the Park from many more residents, whether they be environmental, legal, financial or developmental. It is inaccurate to assume that only a couple of troublemakers are trying to block the sale of the Park. Perhaps if those pushing the sale of the Park had been more open to at least talking to those opposed, a scaled down version with 100% support from the community would already be in place. The loss of government contribution and decreased value of the Park due to development costs brings us back to a much reduced plan. In whatever way the issue is resolved, it is indeed unfortunate my family has been put in this situation. It is not necessary to push ahead at all costs without being concerned with the impact there will be on your neighbour. Perhaps we need to consider the entire community to make the best decisions. Yours truly Paul McKenna Blackstock