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"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" a kl PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, January 20, 1998 - [4 LETTERS Don't blame Eagleson... he's not like us To the Editor: I once had a close business associate who behaved exactly like Alan Eagleson. Many senior executives, including myself, were attracted to his charismatic, visionary, energetic, persuasive, and single-minded focus on success. As it turned out, he was also an embezzler, thief, forger, prevaricator and designer of intricate fraudulent schemes par excellence. These characteristics, the good and the bad ones alike, are precisely the defining symptoms of the clinical psychopath, as delineated in a book which was pointedly lent to me right after I termi- nated my relationship with that business associate. In this book, entitled "Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us," by Dr. Robert D. Hare (Pocket Books 1995), I learned that psychopaths, whose affronts to society range from chronic expense account fraud to the atrocities of Charles Manson, Paul Bernardo and Ted Bundy, all share at least one important trait. Somewhere, in utero or along the route of their upbringing, they lost their consciences. They are amoral, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and devoid of the fundamental moral code that to work up any anger or vindictiveness against my former business associate. I realize that he is a sick puppy, more worthy of pity than scorn. He, like Alan Eagleson, has missed out on the most rewarding emotions of life: genuine compas- sion, caring and love. Oh yes, psychopaths can fake those emotions well when they need to, as did Paul Bernardo during his public trial. When it suits their amoral purposes, they can expertly mimic the facial expressions and body language of emotions they can't feel and have only observed in others. The great psychopaths are also great actors, able to persuade judges, clergy, honorable athletes, close family and even former prime ministers of their rectitude. So, if you're a professional hockey player or a character witness, and you want to come to terms with what Alan Eagleson did to you and to our national dignity, understand that he's really just an emotional and spiritual amputee. And now that you know the symptoms, don't do business with him or anyone like him again. Most importantly, don't let him make you live the rest of your life in anger. He'd see that as a victory. distinguishes most humans from, say, reptiles. Since reading that book, I have never been able Peter A. Langmuir, Port Perry Article brought back fond memories of town To the Editor: (re: article on Pauline Pavlik's retirement Dec. 2(97) I was surprised and delighted to read this article about Pauline, my childhood friend. Reading the article made me want to share some cherished memories of growing up in Port Perry. My family lived in Port in the early 50s on Lilla St., opposite the old arena and just down from the beloved Mrs. McFarlane mentioned by Pauline. My father managed the Silverwood Dairy plant on Water St. I was a classmate of Pauline and her sister Noreen in Mrs. McFarlane's class - how fortunate we were. I, like Pauline, became a teacher who never forgot the example set by that extraordi- nary woman. Port, in those days, held a magic for children, children who felt safe and happy wandering all over town on their own enjoy- ing the pleasures this small town Snowmobiles romped through Icehenge site To the Editor: Saturday night a group of snowmobilers romped carelessly through the double yellow cau- tion banded and staked off area for Icehenge just a hundred meters off the end of Port Perry dock. Not only romped through it once but cut through it in sev- eral places snapping off the wooden stakes. Then like an ugly scab on the pristine lake they left empty beer cases, empty beer bottles, many of them bro- ken, and even a broken part of their snowmobiler's windshield. Next week when we start cut- ting ice out of the lake for Icehenge there will be a small area of open water until it re- freezes, instead of just a scraped off area several hundred meters north of the dock area. This again will be staked off and well marked, with bright yellow cau- tion tape and red reflectors. Bill Lishman, Port Perry provided. I remember vividly walking to school with my teacher; being taken out of school to watch the high school cadets drill (and counting those who fainted); running across the lawn bowling grass to exchange books at the tiny library; exploring the woods behind the pop factory; racing through the gates of Birdseye Centre on my bike yelling out my season's ticket number; going to the show at Gibson's theatre on Friday nights; watching the first TV through the appliance store window; the smell of cigar smoke in the 5 cent - $1 store; that little confectionary booth at the top of the hill on Queen St.; playing with my friend Carol in the old Bigelow house and so much more - knowing everyone and everyone knowing me. It was a childhood that I would gladly wish for all children - in a small town I loved. Marg Foster, (a.k.a. Margie Hewitt Port Perry circa 1950) Burlington by Jeff Mitchell QUESTIONS...BUT NO ANSWERS ANSWER ME THIS: Some lingering questions that tumble through one's mind during the long darkness that is winter... a Why is it so easy to burn your house down, yet so difficult to set fire to kindling early on cold mornings? a What's with the weather? What will hamper our drive in to work tomorrow -- rocks falling from the sky? a Still on the road, why do some motorists insist on keeping their high beams on until they're four feet from you, then switch to low beams as a gesture of goodwill? a Which is better -- aluminum or plastic snow shovels? a Is it ethical for the Buffalo Sabres to continue to play with a man named Satan, even though he's their leading scorer? ao How is Lucien Bouchard going to figure out a way to blame the ice storm on the rest of Canada? a Is it coincidence that these Team Canada trade missions to tropical climes always take place during the dead of winter? Why don't they just take the all-inclusive at Sandals in Jamaica, and quit putting us on? a Ale or lager? Ale or lager? THE TEEN SCENE: A letter a couple of weeks back really touched a nerve with readers. The young writer complained that there's little for teens to do in Port Perry, and the result is that bored young people are resorting to anti-social behavior as a means of venting their frustration. The response was swift and, while there were some valid points made, there was also evident an underlying anger toward some kids, who are seen as a problem, or maybe even a threat. A lot of that is not the fault of the kids. Teenagers will always look for places to congregate, and do so. And unfortunately, there are folks who feel intimidated by groups of teens, even if there's no aggressiveness on 'the part of the kids. This is a two-way street. The kids have to act responsibly and find non-destructive ways of spending their time, sure. But we former teens also have to cut them some slack, and let them be kids. Most often, they're just doing what comes naturally, which is harmless. STOP IT, ALREADY: Words and terms | do not want to hear any more: El Nino, meningitis, cyber-anything, mega-anything, amalgamation, You May Already Be a Winner, time release capsules. FEARLESS SUPER BOWL PREDICTION: The Packers by 17 -- count 'em -- over the Broncos. Cha- ching! s me travelling on