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8.- Orono Weekly TImnes, Wednesday, September 25, 1996 Big Brothers BBQ at ArchibaldOrchards Cindy the Puppet and Sonshine the Clown delighted the crowds that turned up to the Big Brothers BBQ and Talent Show out at Archibald Orchards on Saturday. Apart fronm the BBQ and Talent Show, guests could enjoy a wagon ride, live bands, fresh food made out of apples, sample some freshly pressed apple cider, or play in the carnival like games at the orchard. All pro- ceeds from the day went to the Big Brothers of Clarington. Next weekend, prepare yourself for "Be A Farmer Day" at Archibald Orchards. Re: ORONO TIMES - Julv 31, 1996 - FROM PARLIA- MENT HILL Once again the undiplo- matic anti-American senti- ment of Mr. Alex Shepherd emerges. He quotes Mr. Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt's expression "speak softly and carry a big stick". The only major dispute with CANADA during his administration was over the Alaskan bound- ary after gold was discovered in the Klondike in 1896. He could have used U. S. troops to claim the, boundary but instead agreed to arbitration. Three British & three Americanjudges ruled in favour of the U.S. Mr. Roosevelt's own son sacrificed his life in WWI as a pilot over Germany fighting to keep the Western nations free from tyranny. Mr. Shepherd cites the Helms-Burton law as justifi- cation for saying "fow is this policy good for me (the U.S.) and everybody else be damned". In the first instance, he does not inform the reader that on July 16, President Clinton set aside the law for a minimum of 6 months for this very reason: He DID consider the reactions of other countries towards the law. This points out the supe- riority of the U S. legislative process to our British system. If the CANADIAN government (House of Commons) passes legislation, it automatically becomes law. The Senate has very little if any power. In con- trast, in the U. S., a bill must pass the House of Representatives as well as the Senate (each independent of the other) and thirdly it must meet with the approval of the President. There are three safeguards. Then, the law can still be nullified by the Supreme Court. Mr. Shepherd obviously does not know the reason why CUBA has been such a thorn in the side of the U.S. The U.S. has been more than tolerant with CASTRO. It fool- ishly called off the promised air support to the CUBAN freedom fighters in the 60's (Bay of Pigs) when they tried to rid their homeland of this atheistic tyrant. Castro's own sister (a born again Christian) had to escape to the U.S. for fear of losing her life because she had spoken out against her brother's corrupt regime. Mr. Shepherd blames the U.S. for the "demise of the CUBAN economy" and says the U.S. feels that CUBA should be part of their "sphere of influence". For the last 50 years there have been two spheres of influence; Communism or Democracy. Castro chose the former and now his nation is suffering the consequences. I wonder which sphere of influence Mr. Shepherd wishes to live under when he is so critical of the greatest nation on earth and the best ally Canada has ever had. He is so naive. He found that "Cubans are relatively content with their govern- ment". Does he not realize that the people he has spo- ken to were Castro's "plants" who are paid well to build up Cuba's image in the tourist's eyes. Why does Mr. Shepherd not interview a few of the hundreds of thousands of Cuban refügees living in Southern Flòrida who long for the day that they can return to their hornieland once it is freed from this tyrannical dic- tator; or he @ould interview a few of the 1,()00 "dissidents" in Castro's prisons because they have à differing view point politically from Castro. Canadianl Corporations, using facilities and equipment confiscated from the U.S., pay the average worker $500/year but they are required to pay $9,500/year to the Cuban Govermment, All this does is "prop up" the Cuban Government and prolong the suffering of the Cuban peo- ple. Canada placed sanctions on South Africa to ensure the people's right to vote. Why does Canada continue to "prop up" such a corrupt regime in Cuba when it denies its citizens the right to vote and express their opinions openly. Glenn Tarnblyn Letter to Editor Re: Anonymous "Gun Shop" Letter I normally consider it beneath my dignity to respond to a letter written by someone too cowardly to sign their name, but in this par- ticular instance, the letter written by A Worried Resident of Orono was too much to let go by. My Webster's defines "hopylophobe" as "possessing an irrational fear of firearms". We don't usually find too many of them in Orono, as they consider little country towns unclean places (all those big, smelly cows and unwashed farmers, you know). But every once in a while one of them escapes from Toronto. They know all about firearms because they saw every Starsky and Hutch episode ever produced (Kojak too!). They know all about wildlife because they watched Bambi thirty-one times. Do they ever get a surprise when they arrive here and discover animals don't talk. And if they locate a store in Orono's downtown core, they are sur- prised to learn that a busi- ness can open up without their permission. Wow, this is freedom! Using Worried Resident's convoluted logic we should not have grocery stores and banks in Orono. Since these establishments have already been robbed, we have proof positive that the criminal ele- ment is attracted to them. Get rid of 'em. The bank has bars, vaults and alarm systems too! This is because criminals are pounding at the doors trying to get in. There is no possibil- ity that the items contained are valuable and that the pre- cautions described are pre- ventative. Such silliness! Firearms retailers go to such extraordinary lengths i order to assure safety. After all, at $800.00 for an average firearm, inventories may be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because of these measures, gun shop rob- beries are extremely rare. 1 can, on one hand, count the gun shop robberies in the Province of Ontario. Contrast that to banking establish- ments, which number two a day in Toronto alone! Or worse, convenience stores. Worried Resident's com- ment regarding local teens obtaining firearms from the gun shop shows a distinct lack of knowledge of the pro- cedures required to acquire a firearm. A firearm may not be purchased in Canada without a Firearms Acquisition Certificate, which cannot be obtained without an exten- sive, expensive training course. No one in Canada can just walk in to a gun shop and buy a gun! I'm afraid I must also take exception to being labeled as "those type of people". What exactly is meant by this? Am I to assume that I am some- how presumed inferior because of my legal owner- ship of firearms? And if Worried Resident fled the big city because of firearms own- ers I'm afraid the next piece of news will cause real distress. Orono is the center of the shooting sports in Durham Region. Within a ten mile radius you will find The Orono Fish and Hunt Club, The Union Rod and Gun Club, The Marksman's Club, Port Perry Rod and Gun Club, The Oshawa Skeet Club and numerous designated hunt- ing areas such as Kendal and the Ganaraska Forest. These clubs have a combined mem- bership (paid) of over one thousand people. Just the Orono Fish and Hunt Club have a membership of over three hundred. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, computer wizards and politi- cians all participate in the shooting sports and other community based activities. I assume these are the people Worried Resident does not want in the community. I only wish that Worried Resident had the conviction to sign a name so when these dregs of society invade the Village of Orono to purchase that new fifteen hundred dollar shot- gun, they could be advised which businesses want their patronage. Sincerely, Tony Bernardo Chairman, Sports Alliance MORRIS FUNERAL CHAPEL SERVING DURHAM REGION SINCE 1841 FUNERAL SERVICES PRE-ARRANGED & PREPAID 'Were'Professiona[Etiquette is Important" Funeral Directors Paul R. Morris Robert E. Williams Gary M. Conway Doug R. Rutherford ANSWERING YOUR CALL 24 HOURS 623-5480 4 DIVISION ST. 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If absolute relaxation, unsurpassed pampering and service, an incredible number of activities, historic ports of call, adventure, romance, family fun, an. opportunity to make friends, and the best value for your dollar. If this sounds appealing to you then now is the time pay a visit to your travel agent and book your winter cruise.