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6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, October 16, 2002 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6 K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 337-5610 Circulation: 845-9742 EDITORIALS MD LETTERS THE OAKVILLE BEAM IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher TERI CASAS Office Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief MARK DILLS Production Manager KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director STEVE CROZIER Circulation Director ROD JERRED Managing Editor THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: T H f «K f T F R F t Y Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd., includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser. Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Barry's Bay This Week, Bolton Enterprise. Brampton Guardian. 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Richmond Hill/Thomhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scartwrough Mirror, StouftvilleAJxbndge Tribune, Forever Ybung, City of York Guardian Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association a YMCA JMuna JAm ard TV AUCTION United Way of Oakville D E O N T E WELCOME^jt y^AGON im J/nge Be//fund P C * . 0 HUSSESSftrHtMd'i 'S K ^ jj r - S r fteiav For Lite ' j 'A Canadian Community Newspapers Association 5 j oakville galleries j ® <7J* © Oaki'iUe ©Anxtrih f o r Business E xce llence The Oakville, Milton and District SK Suburban Newspapers of America CKM FmJ MO C h ild re n '* C h o ir mm REAL E S TA TE BOARD Giving all students a chance It is certainly heartening to hear Education Minister Elizabeth Witmer say she will consider an alternative diploma for some Ontario high school students. A coalition of school boards, including the Halton District School Board and four of its high schools -- General Brock, E.C. Drury, White Oaks and Georgetown District -- are press ing the Ontario government to develop a system to help those with little chance of passing the province's literacy test. Many of those students are tak ing basic programs in vocational schools and, in some cases, are several years behind their peers in academic achievement. Some have lower IQs and learning disabilities. Yet, under a government edict, they will not receive a secondary school diploma because they can't pass the literacy test. The experi ence of writing the test can reduce a student's already low self-esteem and takes away hope for the future. Some will simply give up and leave school. And that would be a shame considering many vocation al students, in previous years who could not have passed this test, have gone on to very successful careers. "We knew full well that many of the kids would not pass it (the lit eracy test) but our kids want to feel a part of it (the mainstream). We've got kids who can read a technical auto body manual but they don't play the game of test writing really well," said Mary-Jo Dick-Westerby, principal of General Brock, a vocational school in Burlington. And we should keep in mind that it is equally important to read a technical auto body manual as it is to be able to write prescriptions. The alternative diploma would provide a checklist of skills, a co op education record and a literacy "portfolio" for employers. Canada needs skilled labourers just as much as it needs lawyers, engi neers and doctors. Dick-Westerby said she likes the portfolio concept but in the context of it applying to a regular high school diploma, not an alternative one that might be regarded by stu dents as a "consolation prize." There's no reason students head ed immediately to work after sec ondary school should be denied a diploma that shows they are pre pared for that task, even if they will never write a novel. Let's ensure everyone has an equal opportunity for success, no matter their career choice, once they get past the secondary school level. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Good to read MP's remarks in context' I want to thank you for printing the entire text from H ansard of Bonnie Brown's speech in Parliament last week and for your balanced editorial coverage. It was good to be able to see all of Bonnie's remarks so that they may be understood in context. Bonnie's office advises that the majority of the responses that she has received, including many let ters and e-mails from Americans, have been supportive of the position which she articulated. It is important to note that the international community is coalescing around a policy that does not support a pre-emptive strike against Iraq by the United States, while providing that the work of United Nations weapons inspec tors can be conducted. This is not America-bashing, but advocacy of a balanced approach so as not to ignite a tinderbox in the volatile Middle East. Bonnie's strong speech reflects the growing international consensus and I believe that she should be commended for stating that position. Again, many thanks for providing full information so that your readers can con sider this issue and the position taken thoughtfully. Queen's visit should open debate on monarchy When Mr. Manley was asked by reporters to comment on the relevance of the monarchy to Canada, he made it clear, while being painstakingly polite to the Queen, that he wanted an end to the monarchy in Canada once her reign ended. Your editorial (Ill-timed remarks, The Beaver, Oct. 9) takes him to task for this. Why, when all citizens are weary of the evasions, half-truths, and downright lies of politicians, would you object to this rare shining instance of a Liberal minister speaking honestly? Your objection seems to be based on a misunderstand ing of how a healthy democratic society works. It is not bad manners to be critical of arfy of our institutions -- the House of Commons, the Senate, the Supreme Court, or the Monarchy. To suggest that it is somehow terribly bad form to discuss our constitution because the Queen is here is simply a not-so-subtle way of shutting off debate, After all, Elizabeth is either a foreign visitor to this country, or she is the Queen of Canada. She can't be both. If she is a for eigner, then a case can be made for muting our criticism out of courtesy to a fairly harmless, enormously wealthy Englishwoman who happens to be spending a few days in our country. But if she is our Queen, within our constitu tion, then she and the role she plays are no more immune to public discussion and criticism than any other of our democratic institutions. While the Queen is here, it seems impossible to escape an avalanche of the usual fawning, slightly absurd press coverage. You know the kind of thing: "The Queen's radi ant smile lit up the overcast day, etc etc." It's all a wonder ful publicity bonanza for the monarchists. But republicans, you say, should have the good taste to wait until the Queen has left the country (and the topic, inevitably, has gone stale) before they raise their voices. This is scarcely an evenhanded approach. Republicans are entitled to put for ward their views now, when public interest is at its height. This isn't a question of manners or etiquette; it's a question of how we wish to govern ourselves in the future. U.S. giving Iraq chance to avoid war Thank you for publishing Bonnie Brown's speech in its entirety. After reading it, I came to the conclusion that Bonnie is indeed wasted as a local MP. With her knowledge and clair voyance about the current "winds of war," she surely has missed her vocation and should be right there advising not only Mr. Chretien but also President Bush. The Americans received a terrible blow, given without warning. The Americans, in turn, are giving Iraq a chance to avoid war by advising it of their intention. Maybe Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 but Saddam is paranoid and that it would not take much time for him to attack America now a precedent has been set. As for the last war, I was there and old enough to take a keen interest in the proceedings before, during and after. British Prime Minister Chamberlain thought he was doing the right thing by appeasing Hitler. He was an English gentleman and really could not visualize the wickedness of Hitler so he signed a document "No war in our time". We were all very much relieved, but the next year I found myself being evacuated from London and remember hearing Hitler ranting and raving which was enough to make the blood run cold. Bonnie has the effrontery to set herself up by saying, "Is George Bush known as such a world expert on history, geog raphy, and moral theology or any other academic discipline for that matter, that would suggest he has the right to identify good from evil?" What is she talking about? Methinks she has been taking too many hot air courses and her brain has turned into social ist mush. She mentions Rwanda. America had little to do with this. The United Nations had everything to do with it and that body insisted the peacekeepers do nothing. And, because of the atrocities there, a Canadian general had a nervous breakdown. As a soldier he would rather fight than run. I think most vet erans would back George Bush whatever Bonnie says. My husband was a veteran and so would his brother have been if he hadn't been killed in 1942 at the age of 18. Yet, Terry supports George Bush. I find it hard to stomach that she would insult President Bush by accusing him of having personal, ulterior motives for his stand on Iraq. In this instance, in her arrogance she got car ried away as she did when she called the Alliance members simpletons. Finally, whatever she says about Pearl Harbor it will always be considered an atrocity as will 9/11. And for her to say that "Certainly, Osama bin Laden offended us terribly" is the understatement of the century. At least she has some claim for fame. Personally, I still have visions of those poor innocent peo ple in flames jumping from 100 storeys. No wonder America doesn't want a repeat performance. JARVIS SHERIDAN PRESIDENT, OAKVILLE FEDERAL LIBERAL RIDING ASSOCIATION Reader takes offence to remarks Ed. Note: The following is a letter sent to Oakville MP Bonnie Brown and forwarded to the Oakville Beaver for publication. As an elected official supposedly voicing the opinions o f your constituents, I personally take offence to your rant in Parliament on Oct. 1. Your views reek of Anti-Americanism. If you, for one minute, don't believe that Iraq is a rogue nation with a fanatic regime leading that nation, you are sadly misinformed. You stated in your tirade that President Bush has failed to produce any evidence of an Iraqi link with A1 Qaeda. Why in God's name would you or the Canadian government be privy to such information after the manner in which our elected government has distanced itself from our neighbours, by snubbing them as they attempt to do the right thing. I would also like to know where you get your information that Iraq doesn't have weapons of mass destruction? The fact remains that Iraq has imped ed the U.N. in its attempts to carry out the many resolutions that were passed relat ing to weapons inspections and produc tion sites for the manufacture of chemical and biological agents. Should the world sit back and allow Iraq to continue this behaviour? Rather than condemn the U.S., I believe you should be showing your sup port of the American position, after all, what the Liberal party has done to our Canadian military forces through budget cutbacks and spending restraints, you should be thankful that they are our friends and neighbours. We clearly can not defend ourselves should the need arise. You have served long enough to receive your indexed pension, it's time for a change of opinion from Oakville. GEORGE PATRICK We welcome your letters The Oakville B eaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considera tions and grammar. In order to be published, letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville, On., L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish any letter. STEVEN HICKS Pud By STEVE NEASE BETTY A. HANSFORD PIPYA N1 EWAVIN62/ Time to ban pesticides is now, says reader Do you want effective action to protect the health of your family? Oakville town council will consider the use of pesti cides on public and private property at meetings on Oct. 29 and Nov. 4. We need to eliminate the use of these toxic chem icals now. Do adults have a responsibility to care for infants and children? Do our mayor and councillors have a responsibili ty to act on behalf of the health and welfare of all residents? You can make a difference by speaking up as an individ ual, or you can join Gardens Off Drugs by phoning 905-2576756 and working with others to ban pesticides. BRIAN HOPKINS