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Ej \ 4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, May 25,1994 Section Two -J â - . . y'" " vx*»^ X ' V : Letters to the Editor Reader Supports M.P.P.'s Vote If you have ever wondered just how it felt to be on a political hot- seat, you should have exchanged places with me down at the Ontario Legislature last week! You would have got to know just how uncomfortable uncomfortable it can be when opposing the introduction of government legislation. legislation. There was considerable arm- twisting, tense telephone discussions the previous night, all ending with terse exchanges between cabinet ministers ministers and myself right up until the time of the vote. Of course I'm talking talking about the introduction last Thursday Thursday afternoon of. The Equity Rights Statute Law Amendment Act. This Bill will redefine what a spouse is under under more than 50 Ontario statutes to ensure gay and lesbian couplés are treated the same way as married and common-law heterosexual ; couples. All of my experiences as an MPP pale in comparison with those of last week. Hopefully, they will not be repeated repeated once this legislation comes forward for Second Reading, as all concerned understand my position and know I intend to remain firm on it. Believe me, politics really is blood sport! To those constituents who wrote to me and to those who have called the office to thank me for having the courage to stand up for what the majority majority believe to be the right decision, I want to thank you for your support during a most difficult period. To those who have called and written to express their anger over the position I have taken, I can only say it is of course impossible to please everyone over such an issue. All I can take solace solace in, is that in my conscience I believe believe I have made the right choice. If at the end of the day I can live with my conscience, I truly think I have done the majority of those I represent a service. I can live with my conscience. conscience. I believe (I have carried out the will of those I represent. • The final arrangements have been completed for "D" Day celebrations in Toronto on Sunday, June 5th. Funding from corporate donors has come forward to make this event truly truly one to remember. These donors will be publicly acknowledged for their generous contributions prior to June 5th. The events will commence with a Cenotaph Service of Remembrance Remembrance at Nathan Philips Square. The two thousand or so veterans on parade parade will march to Union Station where His Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Henry Jackman will take the salute along with Premier Premier Bob Rae. From the position, free TTC transport will take everyone there down to Ontario Place where another parade will take place in front of HMCS Haida, honouring those who served on that ship during the Normandy landings. Following that ceremony, the famous famous Spitfire Band will perform at the Forum, playing all the war time music and encouraging a sing-a-long. This segment of the celebration will be followed by a concert of military music. I have provided the local Royal Royal Canadian Legion branches in Bowmanville, Bowmanville, Port Perry and Brooklin with the time table of events. If any ex-serviceman or women wishes to march in the parade they can. An area has been set aside near the Cenotaph to form up in order to join the parade. Those wishing to take part should be there no later than 12 noon. There aren't fees to pay for anything connected with this parade and entertainment to follow. Please plan to come down to Toronto on June 5th. We will never again get this chance to honour those who took part in the historic "D" Day landings which paved the way for the subsequent subsequent victory over Nazi Germany and ensured freedom for everyone. On June 6th, I have been given the honour to speak in the Legislature on behalf of the government in respect to "D" Day. Veterans from across Ontario will be present in the House, 'this will be followed by a reception given in their honour by the Speaker, the Honourable David Warner. His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario will also be at the reception, along with the Premier of Ontario. Given the type of entertainment provided at Ontario Place. Given that entrance is free. Given the pleasant enjoyment available to all Ontarians and visitors from other lands throughout throughout the Summer at Ontario Place, I thought it particularly mean of Toronto Toronto Sun columnist Linda Barnard to say in her Friday column: "how much fun anyone could possibly have at a Bob Rae-run theme park is beyond beyond me." How the Toronto Sun and their writers must hate the NDP to say such a thing. I find such comments comments to be sickening and a disservice disservice to the province. If you live in the Port Perry area I want to advise you that concerns over a proposed gaming enterprise on Scugog Island are being addressed. I have arranged for a meeting of all the key players to take place next week, whereby the situation will be assessed assessed in a sensible, calm, rational manner. It does nothing to arrange public meetings whereby people "steam" over issues that they do not have full explanations for. Following that meeting I will release a statement statement to the local media explaining all the facts free of bias and easy to understand. understand. I am sure this will do much to relieve the present tension being felt in some quarters. The topic of considerable discussion discussion these days centres around the Young Offenders Act and Youth Crime. People mostly say we need to toughen sentences as it seems crime committed by youth has reached epidemic epidemic proportions. I have had. the opportunity opportunity to read a document produced produced by the John Howard Society of Ontario regarding young offenders and the Young Offenders Act. Strangely enough, I found that the proportion of all persons charged who are youths has remained virtually virtually unchanged over the last seven years. The study also challenges the widely-held notion that youth crime is primarily serious and becoming increasingly increasingly serious. Although 15 per cent of young offenders were charged with a violent offence in 1992, almost almost one-half (48%) were for assaults assaults which involve no weapon and no serious injury. Until next week - everything is funny as long as it isn't happening to you. Mistaken Impression of China Beijing, China - I've traveled throughout the world - South America, America, North Africa, Europe and Latin America - and never have' I had a more mistaken impression of a country country than the People's Republic of China (PRC). Upon landing at the airport the surrounding countryside wasn't filled with a high density population like I Outlook From Page 3 and throughout the Metro area knows that our MPP, Gord Mills, voted against the bill. As did 51 other MPPs. We also know that 20 others chose not to be in the house when the bill was read. Over the last few weeks, since my column on this issue, many people have written both for and against the issue. Community newspapers are a forum forum for the expression of different opinions even if you don't agree with someone (like me for instance). Isn't it great to live in a country where you can express yourself? Isn't it great that this forum (The Canadian Statesman) enables people to express themselves? expected. It was all farmland with treed hedgerows reminding me of rural rural Scugog, Clarington and Uxbridge Township. The drive into Beijing, (pop. 10 million) completely ended my old impressions. It's no different than a drive into Toronto on the 401. All high-rise buildings, the cars are all modem and the highway .is dotted with big green signs, like ours, only written in English and Cantonese. Surprisingly, Beijing is a green city with about 20 per cent of it tree covered. The streets and residential areas are meticulously kept. There are no obvious signs of the seedier side of life like prostitution, drugs or alcohol abuse. The people are well groomed, casually casually dressed and there are no outward outward signs of poverty. Yet, the per capita income of the average bread winner is $1,000 U.S. The people seem happy although I believe there is a desire for more freedom. I found one incident disturbing. disturbing. I was in Tiananmen Square one evening when the Chinese premier decided to make an appearance. The square is roughly the size of two football football fields. This evening there were hundreds of people in it. The ariny simply forced everyone out of the square and on to side streets, a half-mile away from where the Chinese premier was. Imagine Chretien visiting any park in one of our communities to shake hands and clearing the people out of the area. He, or any other politician politician for that matter, wouldn't dare. But the Chinese are honest and I've found them not to be the type to take advantage of your lack of knowledge about their currency. There is not an over preponderance preponderance of police or the military and those you see are unarmed. I suspect they have little crime. The main point of my mission here is to promote small and medium-sized medium-sized business and to make contacts contacts with people who work in markets markets that are attractive for Durham's products. I have met with a number of Chinese Chinese government officials and will be meeting with agricultural officials before before I return to Canada. The Chinese are a nation of 1 billion billion people marching resolutely into the 21st century. They are open for business and' they want Canada's business. Why shouldn't it be businessmen businessmen and women from Durham who gain access to these markets? Dear Editor: From reading the Outlook column by Laura J. Richards, in the "Canadian "Canadian Statesman" May 4, 1994,1 gather it is the intention of our M.P.P. Mr. Mills, to vote against "same-sex" benefits legislation. We would like to congratulate Mr. Mills for taking a stand for decency. It is certainly the duty of elected legislators to have at heart the best for their constituents. Especially when it concerns making a decision about a matter that is promoted by a misinformed minority. It would be highly deplorable when legislators of this or any society vote for subsidizing subsidizing behaviour that is known to imperil imperil public health. It is commendable that smokers are discouraged from smoking, which is another health hazard. However, there is a difference in that smokers only hurt themselves. It is no secret that safe sex is not safe, but that others others are infected with HIV by safe sex and same sex. The Good Book teaches that they "who do such things, receive in their body the reward for the error which is their due" (Rom. 1:27). There is a Standard given by the Creator to which we must adhere. Any society neglecting the standard "Thou shall not commit adultery" is looking for trouble and often the guilty and innocent innocent will suffer alike. History teaches that civilizations have perished because of promiscuous promiscuous living. It is one of the tragedies of history that its lessons are seldom taken to heart. One holocaust has past and another is created, even more gruesome in that the number killed by abortion far exceeds those murdered during W.W. H. Added to this the thousands who have died from AIDS, and the multitudes who will yet die from that terrible disease, unless the source is checked. This society could well be called the death generation. There is no truer word spoken that reflects jthe direction direction in which society ;is traveling Letter Writer Comments on Three Issues Dear Editor: Two quite different items in last week's paper underscored my belief , that those who are against something are much more likely to voice their opinions than those who are for it, unless the latter stand to benefit directly, directly, especially if spending tax dollars dollars is involved. Perhaps you could get a broader perspective of an issue by doing a street comer poll of as many people as possible rather than depending on people to care enough to send/bring ' in a ballot/write a letter. The first issue is beautifying the Recreation Complex area. I put my "yes" ballot in my purse but didn't quite get around to delivering it in time. I wonder how many others support support the proposed plan yet not strongly strongly enough to do anything about it? One of my Mum's mottos was, "Silence "Silence Means Consent". Even 98 against is hardly massive opposition. The other issue to same-sex benefits. benefits. Not being gay, I wouldn't gain from the proposed law changes and I don't feel strongly enough to campaign campaign for them. Yet I support the legislation legislation and know several people who do...but unlike the "anti" brigade, they say nothing publicly. And yes, Ms. Mostert, same sex couples do raise children together. I know lesbian lesbian couples who have children because because initially the women tried marriage, marriage, denying their natural instincts towards their own sex, but eventually realized it would never work. A final point on a different matter... matter... couldn't you adapt the Memorial Memorial Day quiz or leave it out? As a Canadian Canadian I object to references to "our country" as "we honor" regarding an American holiday. Yours sincerely, Linda Taberner than what is found in Proverbs 8:36, "All they that hate Me love death." From this place we would like to thank our M.P.P., Mr. Mills for the stand he has taken" concerning the matter of same sex. It is highly .appreciated .appreciated by the great majority of people people in Durham Region. Sincerely, Gilbert Zekveld. Newcastle, Ontario Price of Paper Dear Editor: The issue of same-sex spousal benefits at Queen's Park will be contentious contentious and heated during 2nd and 3rd reading. In recent times the politicians politicians in Denver Colorado passed legislation legislation to put up a barrier to homosexual homosexual rights. Their contention was gay people have rights and entitlements, entitlements, but only to a point. This position I believe is a valid one as Ontarians are reasonable, yet firmly, in favour of the traditional family concept. I'm glad the legislation legislation passed 1st reading so the Bill may be debated in full. The sad part is it side tracks the comical assertions of Gordon Mills everytime you strike a nerve with him and N.D.P. policies. Your comments and his counter replies replies are worth the price of the paper itself. Steve Ryan Bowmanville. More Responses to Gay Benefits Issue Dear Sir : I am writing in response to Mr. Mark Jackman's letter in the May 18, 1994 "Canadian Statesman". It seems Mr. Jackman is under the impression that those who responded to the May 4th column of Ms. Richards were speaking from an "ill-informed and • highly emotional state." I cannot speak for the others who replied to Ms. Richards, but t can say that my response was neither ill-informed nor highly emotional. If anyone's writing was charged with mis-information and emotion, it was Ms. Richards. It was her misinformation misinformation that Mr. ' Gord Mills responded responded to in his letter. It was her emotionally charged language and brand of morality which I addressed. I did not use emotionally charged language such as smelling "a queer ten miles away." Ms. Richards did. To be sure I accused Ms. Richards of mounting a "journalistic pulpit" in order order to pronounce her "in your face" brand of. immorality. But the issue here is a moral and ethical one. Ms. Richards has used her newspaper newspaper column as her platform to instruct instruct the community in what she believes believes to be legitimate moral behaviour. My criticism of this was, and is, that such an action lacks journalistic journalistic integrity. Ms. Richards is free to hold her views and speak up concerning concerning them as much as anyone else, but to use her position at the local paper for this is questionable ethics. As for Mr. Jackman's concern to fight bigotry in our society, I concur. We need to end the sort of bigotry in our society which reasons that everyone everyone is entitled to voice his own opinion opinion on morality, except for those who dare to found their convictions on the absolutes of the Word of God. The sad fact is, that while few will challenge challenge a newspaper columnist's ethics in using her position to condemn the "bigotry" of those holding such absolutes; absolutes; others welcome the opportunity opportunity to silence the voice of legitimate pulpits, or else to stifle that voice in the broader community with charges of "bigotry." Sincerely, Reverend Claude D. DePrine Pastor of the Orthodox Christian Reformed Church Editor's Note: You seem to be confusing opinion with news. We hope it has been clear that the Outlook Outlook column represents opinion only. That's why it appears with the letters to the editor, editorials, and the other opinion pieces in this paper. A journalist journalist has the same right to express on opinion as any other citizen.