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

6- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 18, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director TERI CASAS Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager Something to talk about Like most of us, Iroquois Ridge High School teachers Chris Breakspear and Michael Gallant are hoping for a quiet day at work today. So, too, are many of their students. Unlike most of us, however, there is a purpose behind their desire for a quiet day at work. The teachers are part of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) -- an alliance of students and teachers -- at Iroquois Ridge High School, that organized today's Day of Silence at the school. The Day of Silence is an international student-led day of action -- a vow of silence -- to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The day is aimed at making a point on several levels. Organizers hope it will make a statement simply by saying nothing at all. They also hope the silence will serve as an expression of sympathy towards any students at the school who remain silent about their own sexuality. According to Breakspear: "We know there are some gay students here at the school, but we don't have any gay students that are out -- it's kind of silenced them, in a sense, they don't feel they can speak out. So with the Day of Silence, other students are being silent with them." With an enrollment of 1,200 students, it's highly unlikely there are no gay students at Iroquois Ridge. Years ago, the students and teachers of Iroquois Ridge High School would not have even been allowed to form a Gay Straight Alliance let alone discuss the subject openly. Yet, it is still not to the point where most gay students feel comfortable about living their lives openly and comfortably. We cannot imagine how difficult it must be for young people in high school struggling with their own sexual identity. Who can they talk to? Where do they turn for support? The fear of rejection, by their friends, classmates, teachers, even their parents is always present. So many remain silent, fearful their secret will be revealed. We applaud the students and teachers of the Iroquois Ridge GSA for organizing this Day of Silence. We hope it expands to other high schools next year. So far, nearly 300 students and teachers at the school are expected to take part in the event and remain silent today. When it's over, they should have plenty to talk about. The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Nothing says spring is here like the return of kids' soccer to the Town's parks. This being a generation that appears to be so concerned about the environment, why can't we get it right with the simple things. After a day of hearing the joyful yells and laughter of children playing in Holton Heights Park, it was sad to see the litter left behind this morning on my daily stroll with my aging dog. He strolls and I pick up garbage. Make Earth Day every day Dozens of plastic juice bottles, designer drinking mugs, coffee cups, snack boxes, two socks, one soccer shoe and a new soccer ball. Much of it within 20 feet of a garbage barrel. The rest blowing across the field. How much effort would it have taken for a coach, or a parent or a kid to glance back before leaving the bleachers and pick it up? It is so simple. Make Earth Day every day. GEORGE KLOET Twin Rinks purchase panned Editor's note: This letter was originally sent to Mayor Rob Burton and a copy was filed with The Oakville Beaver for publication. I would like to add my voice to the crowd who disapproves of the possible takeover by the town of the Twin Rinks Arena. Many months ago residents BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com were asked for feedback on the Town's budget for 2007. I mentioned that more ice surfaces were required and that fact should be considered in any planning and budgeting activity. I am pleased that money has been found, as confirmed by the Town's bid for the rink, but that was not what I had hoped for in terms of spending. Buying Twin Rinks, however, will remove a lively and respected location for hockey skills development and games from our neighbourhood and replace it with a Town facility. This does not increase the number of ice surfaces for my three sons and the other children of Oakville. Please leave the Twin Rinks to the private sector (the eight bidders will deal with it) and use our tax dollars to build another facility at say Trafalgar and Dundas (or wherever). Please listen to the people who go to the rinks here every day of the week for what is best. I have found no one who supports this takeover bid. SHELDON GRAVELLE Pud The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.