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" OPINION If only we, of all origins throughâ€" out the world, could forget past transgressions, real or simply perâ€" ceived, arid adopt a policy of tolerâ€" ance and understanding, we could live together in peace. You and I were not there so, likeâ€" ly, we will never know the truth. But the truth in this case is unimâ€" portant for no living soul is likely responsible for events that may, or may not, have transpired twenty centuries ago. For among countless other vacuâ€" ous reasons over the ages, many millions of men, women, and chilâ€" dren have been murdered, mutilatâ€" ed, imprisoned, or otherwise vicâ€" timized simply because of their nonâ€"Christian beliefs. Most Jews do not want to take Christ out of Christmas. They don‘t wish to impose their beliefs on othâ€" ers at all and have no objection to a published Easter greeting. They simply don‘t enjoy being conâ€" demned in the process. Policy of tolerance understanding needed for peace Dear Sir: It‘s a frightening world. Racially and religiously motivated hatred, intolerance, and violence are still commonplace. Some Christians still dislike Jews because they believe that Jews were the killers of Jesus. Historically, that ideology has been one of the main foundations for the persecuâ€" tion of Jews by Christians. Hopefully, you and your readers can understand why Jews would become frightened and defensive when a message is published that supports that ideology. Dear Sir: I am writing in response to Mrs. S. Howard‘s letter to the editor, pubâ€" lished in the April 20th edition of the Oakville Beaver. Mrs. Howard expresses her conâ€" cern that the Salvation Army and it‘s noble cause were somehow demeaned in Wilma Blokhuis insightful feature regarding the openâ€" ing of Amity‘s new Speer‘s Road retail store/donation centre. Amity and Salvation Army in same business Perha'ps Mr. Rae‘s visit was a lastâ€"ditch effort to win the million bucks and then decide to call an election and retire, all at the same time. The bad new is that he missed the hole in one and he‘ll be staying on at Queen‘s Park. . The figures are alarming. In the 1990â€"91 fiscal year, the total provincial debt was a tweak above $40â€"billion. This figure has ballooned to a proâ€" jected debt of $78.6â€"billion for the current 1993â€"94 fiscal year, That‘s almost a doubling of Ontario‘s debt in just four years. So this time out, it looks like Mr. Laughren is going to change hats from a fiscal moderate to a deficit expansnomst all in the name of creatlng jobs. As for treasurer Laughren, he‘s in a real bind. He must deal with a burâ€" geoning debt that‘s crippling the government‘s ability to spend money strategically. And at the same time, he believes he has to do something positive to create jobs in Ontario and that‘s going to take lots of money...lots of borrowed money. What it comes down to is the provincial debt and how it‘s affecting every single Ontarian and nothing will get better until it is reversed. The trouble is that it has gained such momentum in the past decade and the past four years in particular, that it‘s almost impossible to stop. We’re more than a little worried about what Ontario Premier Bob Rae has in store for us tomorrow when his Treasurer, Floyd Laughren, brings down his latest budget. Of course any provincial budget is a time of concern but when the Premier came to Oakville, unannounced, to take part in a $1â€"million golf shootâ€"out this past weekâ€"end, we‘re really wondering about the severity of this budget. When ;governménts talk about deficits and debts, the eyes of the public glaze over but we must all try to decipher the truth from the lies and the reality from the fiction. The basic fact is that with each year the province runs a deficit on that year‘s budget, the total accumulated debt rising exponentially and this has been devastating to the Ontario economy. Also of note is the impact of the debt on our gross domestic product (GDP). While the debt represented slightly more than 15 per cent of our GDP in the 1990â€"91 fiscal year, that flgure is expected to expand to 27.5 per cent of the GDP this year. But the treasurer could help create jobs without spending a dime if he cut the annual $50 filing fee small business pays and eliminating the blizâ€" zard of fees and licences. No doubt Laughren won‘t be able to do that citâ€" ing financial hardship. What Laughren has to do is help small business to create the jobs of the future because it‘s this sector that‘s making work, unlike the large corpoâ€" rations which have been on a slashâ€"andâ€"burn mode for the past five years. What‘s good for small business is good for Ontario. _‘ By the same token, what the treasurer cannot afford to do is hit Ontario taxpayers with more taxes. Such a move would serve only to drive conâ€" sumer spending further underground and that‘s something we don‘t need. Our recommendation? Hold onto your wallets. Budget blues David Bazar In reading the article on page 16 please notice the quote: "Coe stressed, Amity has no conflict with nonâ€"profit used clothing stores run by organizaâ€" tions to raise funds for clarity. These include the I.O.D.E. Opportunity shop, May Court Nearly New Shop and the Salvation Army on Kerr Street and in Bronte." At no time was there any attempt to slander the fine work of the Salvation Army. Amity has established a working relationship with the Salvation Army and Mission Services in Hamilton where we coâ€"operate in providing free clothing and furniture to destitute famâ€" ilies or victims of fires. In March, we supplied 150 men‘s and women‘s winâ€" ter coats to the Salvation Army Family Services Bureau. We also donated a truck load of food to the Salvation Army to assist with the conâ€" tinuine food bank crisis. I am confiâ€" Dear Sir: I am a parent of three preâ€"school aged children living in Oakville. It was my decision to stay home with the kids and try to survive as best we could on my husband‘s income. Life is difficult as the cost of living is high, but we seem to manage. The single biggest problem we face as a family is that I am finding people and organizations to be Antiâ€"Family. Everywhere I go there are barriers to cope with. Such a barrier exists in the Town of Oakville. Free parking is curâ€" rently available at 337 Kerr Street which is currently utilized by many mothers and their children attendâ€" ing the Oakville Parent Child Centre. This center is an extremely valuable resource to families. Town not promoting family values dent that Salvation Army Captain James Hagglund can testify to the benefits of our relationship. At no time was the Salvation Army named as an imitator to Amity in Ms. Blokhuis‘ Amity feature. A quick glance at the article clearly illustrates our concern rests solely with forâ€"profit thrift stores, not registered charities who, like Amity and the Salvation Army, are primarily concerned with helping society‘s disadvantaged. The distribution of flyers, promoting bogus charities is a concern for all of us who are legitimate nonâ€"profit Human Services Agencies. Got a gripe? Give us a call. Readers are invited to express their opinion on a topic of their choice by . calling 845â€"5585, box 5250. All callers are allowed 45 seeâ€" onds to express their opinion and must provide their name, address and phone number for verification. A cross section of the responses will be published in next Wednesday‘s Oakville Beaver. Amity is also very proud of our fisâ€" cal position, relying largely on our retail revenue to fund our rehabilitaâ€" tion department. Amity receives a grant from the Ontario Government, plus a series of payment fees for variâ€" ous programs we offer clients who are And most of all, when will the Town of Oakville start to recognize â€"Family Values â€" as a priority. Ellen Lalonde Outraged parent living in Oakville Other important resources at this location are as follows: 1) Canadian Mental Health Association â€" workshops, meals with patients, nonâ€"profit. 2) Halton Counseling Centre 3) Oakvilleâ€" Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Psychiatric Dept. 4) Community Volunteer Bureau. The town now wants to charge the already cash strapped mothers for parking fees. When does it all stop? When will the mothers and children of the‘ world start to get some priority? Guardian, Burlington Post, Coli f 5 The Oaknville Beaver, published every Sunday, Wednesday and Frida d467 Oakville, of blishi ie L 4 Robert Glasbey Advertising Director ingwood 3 dent/ Acton Free Press, KlngslonTHsWeek Lindsay This Week, * Norman Alexander Editor es Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Miton Canadian Champion, Mis 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 354 Geoff Hill Circulation Director News, Newmarketâ€"Aurora Eraâ€"Banner, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Ofi 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Oshawa/Whitby This Week, Peterborough This Week, Richmond Hil/Thomhill Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Tc Manabe!. %?e"r:'esfi%ggmr% Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Any repr Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 Tim Coles Production Manager whole or in part of this material is stritly forbidden without the consent of the publi rtising is accept typographi oeapsd the erronsous ther with nable all f will be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will a?:pplmt:lss rate. %wmgfi"mgu and mfi:mmfi"fl ‘:vm :?vfir:%hcal error, adve orse“m bnge{he wwvwn\g.p)@goods um ::;’fi"f..f‘.ou An:mmm is m:r'uly an offer to sell and may be withdrawn The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 referred to us by the Worker‘s Compensation Board, Vocational Rehabilitation â€" Services and Employment and Immigration Canada. If it were not for Amity‘s job rehabilitation programs, many people in our community would be added to the growing social assistance rolls. Volunteer Services at Amity is another critical component of our serâ€" vice. Volunteers help Amity to achieve many goals. Last year, 95 volâ€" unteers and 111 Community Service placements donated over 20,647 hours of valued service. Cooperation between volunteers . and our Rehabilitation Department has resultâ€" ed in meaningful placements for both clients and volunteers. I have extended my invitation to Mrs. Howard to visit our head office in Hamilton so she may see exactly what the Amity experience is all about. Also at this time, we will try to clarify any misconceptions she may have, regarding Amity and our misâ€" sion. Please extend my appreciation to Focus Editor Wilma Blokhuis for crafting such an insightful feature about Amity and our role in Oakville. Ms. Hart owes an apology to every student that she has insulted with her banal comments. We only hope that others on Sheridan‘s selection commitâ€" tee were not as obsessed with their own arrogance and personal bias. _ Interestingly, the cartoon chosen to be juxtaposed with this article depicts a parent trying to encourage his child to "dare to be different." In contrast Ms. Hart‘s idea of the ideal candidate is one that fits her personal view, of what is "normal", a candidate who wants to be a reporter. We were shocked that the Oakville Beaver would print a commentary written with such arrogance and personal bias. Equally appalling was the fact that Sheridan college would request assistance in choosing candidates for valued spots in the journalism program from someone as narrow mindâ€" ed as Ms. Hart‘s comments as this article suggests, comments labeling potential students "weirdos" and dxsquahfymty candldates based on eyes that looked "well, you know, a little funny." When prospective students candidly offered their career aspirations, Ms. Hart judged their "normality" based on her own prejudice. I hope someone points out to this columnist that because a candidate expresses an interest in writing crime books about serial killers this does not mean she is writing an autobiography. Does Ms. Hart think that behind Agatha Christie‘s facade lurked a maniacal murderer or that Truman Capote‘s books were written based on personal experience rather than a creative mind? Columnist‘s comments were appalling Dear Sir: Re: Diane Hart‘s column "Search for normal students..." â€" April 27th, Oakville Beaver. Directory of Community Relations, Amity Barry Coe Having five children of my own, all who have attended colâ€" leges and universities, my immediate thoughts were ‘Who rated my children for entry?" That an interview for something as major as a college application could be performed by someone as bored and biased as Diane Hart seemed to be â€" (I quote: "Oh yes, I said politely for what seemed to be the 20th time") â€" is disturbing. How will these students feel after attending a "soâ€"called" proâ€" fessional interview, sharing confidential personal aspirations and then reading the paper to see their ambitions being ridiculed? Did the writer consider that the selfâ€"esteem and future confidence of these, and other applicants, may be undermined in interviews for school placements and jobs? An interview for a position of college should not make one a target for ridicule. I‘m sure that the Sheridan personnel who requested assistance in interviewing from Dine Hart were not aware of her personal biases or that she would expose her interview tactics and the personal comments of applicants in the local paper. Dear Sir: Re: Diane Hart‘s comment, April 27th, Oakville Beaver, p. 7. As a former Oakville resident who enjoys reading the Oakville paper on return visits, I was appalled that a columnist for the Oakville Beaver was allowed to expose personal interviews from college applications and ridicule college applicants‘ ambiâ€" tions. A professional, when conducting an interview, should not charâ€" acterize applicants by their hometown "looking like (someone) from Bloomsfield or Minden", their expression "a loopy, secreâ€" tive, smile" or "hand shaking as he handed over some material". If one does form such biased judgments, they certainly should not have the poor taste to print these biases in the local paper. =~ LETTER OF THE DAY Eâ€" Columnist‘s obvious bias is bad news for students Diane Salter Bill Menzo Source: Racyclifia Council of Ontario insert an air stack. _ m Another way to stir up the contents is to move the container over a few feet; then transfer the compost pile to the new spot with a pitchfork. (from untreated wood). ® Aerate pile by stirring or Some composters may become wet and smelly after a winter of adding nothing but food scraps: Mix in dry leaves or sawdust Composter spring tuneâ€"up by Catherine Farley Nancy Cassie Your compost bin is a valuable store of nutrients for your garden. It‘s time to check its condition. Caring for Our Lant Ma