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PAGE 6THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, FEBRUARY 13,2002 Ü Editorial&Opinions FOR 14 6 YEARS, OUR FIRST CONCERN HAS BEEN OUR COM MUNI 7' Y Publisher - Tim Whittaker Editor-in-Chief-Joanne Burgliardt Managing Editor - Chris Bovic Regional Editor - Judi Bobbitt Advertising Manager - Fred Eismont Composing Manager - Barb Harrison Office Manager - Lillian Hook ®i)E CaitaWn Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W.R. Climic 1854-1878 M.A. James 1878-1935 • Norman S.B. James 1919-1929 G. Elena James, 1929-1947 • Dr. George W. James 1919-1957 John M. James, 1957-1999 Produced by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Also Publishers of CLARINGTON THIS WEEK P.O. Box 481, 865 Farewell St., Oshawa, Ontario LIII 7L5 TEL: 905-579-4400 FAX: 905-579-2238 E-mail: newsroom@durhamregion.com Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 DROP OFFICE: James Publishing, 66 King St. W„ Bowmanville, 8:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays EDITORIAL v-nuiil letters to newsroom® (lurlumireiiion.com Mid-winter break an Olympic joy Let's cheer on our Canadian athletes The Winter Olympics have always been Canada's games. Not that we finish at the top of the podium in every event. Of course Canadians arc strong in some disciplines: figure skating, long- and short-track speed skating, curling, hockey and occasionally freestyle and downhill skiing. Our interest will be focused squarely on these events and we'll have fainter hopes in such events as bobsled, luge, snowboarding, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and ski-jumping to name just a few. What makes the Winter Games resonate with us is the compact format, the fewer events, the scaled-down hype. It's as though all that snow and ice actually cools countries off a little and allows the fun to shine through. That's as it should be, typical of the understated Canadian way. Here in Durham, we have special reasons to cheer a little little louder. On the most celebrated team competition at the Olympics, Whitby can boast two of the 23 players on the men's hockey squad. Joe Nieuwendyk and Adam Foote, both of whom played on our 1998 fourth-place finishing Olympic team, will be going for gold once the men's medal-round games begin Friday. The Whitby pair, two of the most respected players in the National Hockey League, are used to winning the big games. They each have two Stanley Cup rings. Here's hoping the experience of dominating dominating in the pressure cooker of the Stanley Cup playoffs helps translate into gold in Salt Lake City. Also on hand from Durham is ski-jump commentator Ron Richards of Oshawa. Mr. Richards competed in several several Olympics for Canada and now offers his expertise for television viewers. As well, figure skating legend Barbara Underhill of Oshawa, longtime pairs partner of fellow commentator Paul Martini, is offering insight into the al- ways-popular figure skating broadcasts. No matter where the competitor is from across this great nation, Canadians are happy to see our young athletes put everything they've got into excelling on a world stage. It's been well-documented that - the million-dollar NHL stars of the men's hockey team are a notable exception - our athletes athletes sacrifice heavily and live in near poverty to go for greatness at the Olympics. It's always exciting to see one of 'our own' beat the odds and mount the podium as one of the best three in the world. But no matter where they finish, finish, just competing at an Olympics is a tremendous accomplishment, accomplishment, one worthy of our praise. With more than two weeks to go, we can rest assured no matter how many medals Canada racks up, we'll laugh, we'll cry and we'll cheer as we sit back and watch it all unfold. unfold. The Winter Olympics are worth the time and effort. Question: How do you feel about Clarington council's decision decision to defer its nine per cent raise (three per cent over three years) until the next term of council beginning Dec. 2003? Mike Lang "They're already in for this term so why change it now? Deferring it makes sense." Ben Nicuvvenhuis 'The more delay they do, the belter of course. We're all taxpayers. Yes it is (fair) if they give themselves a raise and wait until after three years. That is best. Every government should do the same thing, give a raise but wait until the next term." Richard Patry "If they're going to wait for a raise for three years I suppose suppose everyone is entitled to a raise as long as they're not taking loo much." Rick Clark "That's the best way to do it. They should have to be in a full term before they get it." teUAR. e-mail letters to newsivom@ilmlumireaum.com Businesses must make better choices To the editor: Re: 'Business loves biker bucks too,' Eric Dowd column of Jan. 23, 2001. I am appalled by the complete complete and utter lack of concern the business community has for the type of people with which it does business. They display a total absence of integrity, both personally and corporately, by openly welcoming known Hells Angels gang members into their establishments. They are truly willing to sell their souls for a mess of porridge. They can't see past the tip of their cash receipts or they would see the destruction and demons they are inviting to wreak havoc on their communities: communities: demons of drugs, prostitution, prostitution, control, rape, hatred, murder, murder, pornography and gambling. It's time to turn from our love of money and build 'character' rather than 'kingdoms.' Our leaders, good or bad, are visible role models for our children. They should be making better and less selfish choices based on morals, integrity and character. These are essential to healthy growth and development in our homes, our cities and our nation. Rev. Harold Lowe Oshawa Judges should put in more time To the editor: I have often wondered why our court system gets so back- logged some cases are dismissed because justice was not served on a timely basis. Lately I have had the misfortune of being a potential potential witness in a criminal trial and now have first-hand knowledge knowledge of how our system works. As I see it, the problem falls squarely on the work habits of the judges. Several times now I have attended court to witness three different judges occupying the bench for four-and-a-quarter hours or less a day. This translates translates into just less than half their workday spent in recesses. In all honesty, how could you consider this could be called receiving due process. In my case, what was originally originally scheduled as a one-day trial gets spread over six months and three court appearances to date. I should add that, with all these court'appearances and with additional ones already scheduled, scheduled, only one witness has so far taken the stand. Building more courthouses at great expense to the taxpayer is definitely not the solution for this. Replacing all these part- timers with full-time judges would be taking a giant step towards towards restoring some sanity to our court system. Bob Higgs Brooklin Is Ernie Eves too old to lead ? When is a premier too old? Ernie Eves, the front-runner in the race to succeed Premier Mike Harris, has been accused of not being up to the job at the ripe old age of 55. Health Minister Tony Clement, 40, keeps insisting the Progressive Conservative party needs to make a "generational change" and pick a much younger premier than Mr. Harris, who just turned 57. Mr. Clement argues the Tories have a history of installing much younger premiers and this has been a major factor in keeping them in power for most of the past half-century. He also has reminded the only time they failed to change to youth, in 1985 when they chose 57-year-old Frank Miller to succeed succeed William Davis, they quickly lost government. Mr. Clement has now taken the issue further and described Mr. Eves as 'Old Man Ontario.' There are some truths in what the younger candidate says. The Tories changed from older to much younger premiers several times and this helped them look refreshed and even rejuvenated. John Robarts became premier at 44 and left at 54 and Mr. Davis took over at 41 and departed at 55 (the only two premiers in recent recent decades, apart from Mi; Harris, to leave under their own steam.) Mr. Miller lost more because he was right-wing, a decade before before it became fashionable under Mr. Harris, and too rural. He also looked afraid when refusing to debate opponents on TV. But his age also may have hurt him, because even his chief 'lory rival, Larry Grossman, emphasized emphasized it in their leadership campaign by urging the Tories not to pick someone so old. Eric Dowd At Oueen s Park There has been a trend in recent recent decades to pick younger leaders who look more vigorous, prompted particularly by President President John F. Kennedy who became became the youngest-ever elected president at 43. The non-Tories who became premier in the past half-century, Liberal David Peterson Peterson and New Democrat Bob Rae, also took the top post in their early 40s. A concern some Tories will have about Mr. Evcs's age is not just that lie is 55 now, but that he would be starting a career as premier premier at 55 and they will hope for a leader who can win not merely the next election, but at least another another after that. The next election will be in about 2003 and the one after that about 2007 and a premier who won that would be expected to stay at least another two years and by then Mr. Eves will be 62. One argument against Mr. Clement, however, is that some politicians in their sixties and older have shown they still can run governments and have electoral electoral successes at much later ages. The most notable example is Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who won his last election election when lie was 66 and is talking talking of running again, when lie will be over 70, but owes his longevity in power as much to feeble opponents as his own strengths. Winston Churchill was prime minister until lie was 81, Ronald Reagan was president at 78, and Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, died in office office at 76. The last time an Ontario politician accused another of being too old was in 1998, when the riding of Liberal MPP Anna- marie Castrilli, then 48, was merged with that of a neighbouring neighbouring Liberal, Monte Kwinter, 66, and she suggested he should step down and leave the new riding to a younger, more vigorous colleague. colleague. Mr. Kwinter refused and not only beat his younger rival for the nomination but won the riding riding in the 1999 election, while she switched to run for the Tories and has not been heard from since. Mr. Clement also did not help his case when lie dubbed Mr. Eves 'Old Man Ontario' because this was the nickname given Toiy premier Leslie Frost, who was 66 when he stepped down in 1961, but still the consummate politician politician with the province totally in the palm of his hand. If you wanted to choose today's most useful MPP, it would be difficult not to pick Liberal Gerry Phillips, who exposes exposes government financial blunders, blunders, police failings and privatized privatized highway ripolfs more than anyone else. The 61-year-old is in his legislature office to talk about them every day except Christmas Day. There also is Economics Minister Minister Bob Runciman, 59, a rebel uncovering skeletons as far back as when Mr. Davis governed. He led the move to persuade Mr. Eves to change his mind and run for premier. Without Mr. Runci- man's powers of persuasion, (here probably would not even be an Eves candidacy. There is life in some old dogs yet. Judi Bobbitt Regional Editor jbobbiltfti durliamre^ion. com Olympic lessons A lot of life's lessons have been illustrated illustrated this week against the backdrop of the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Success isn't always defined as being "the best," amply demonstrated by Canadian Jennifer Ilcil in the women's moguls event on the weekend. Just 18, Heil put down a truly amazing run and finished just a fraction of a second second away from a bronze medal. Her fourth-place standing is a triumph in a fledgling career, and judging by the big smile on her face, she rightly considers herself a winner because she did her best. There's also every reason for Heil to grin when she considers how far her talent and hard work can take her in the future. Whoever said "almost" doesn't count? Snowboarder Trevor Andrew, Canada's Canada's only entry in the half-pipe, turned in another great performance. I watched his run with particular interest because he's a native of Falmouth; N.S., just a stone's throw from my own birthplace and who'd have dreamed someone from "home" would make the Olympics? That's a big achievement in itself and his ninth-place finish was very respectable. respectable. When he touched a hand down on the side of the half-pipe and brought his mil to an abrupt liait, he shrugged it off with a loud "whatever" and won even more points with me for realizing his score isn't the only measure measure of his accomplishment. Whoever said "winning" is everything? As in life, even hard work, skill and preparation won't guarantee results. Bad luck sometimes comes into play, as gold-medal hopeful Jeremy Wotlier- spoon found out Monday. The Canadian speed skater was literally tripped up at the starting gun, falling flat on the ice after just a few strides. The possibility of ending up on the podium was gone in a flash, his fall a mean trick of fate. Wotherspoon was visibly frustrated, but kept his composure remarkably well as he picked himself up off the ice. But the greatest display of class so far in these Olympic contests was demonstrated by world pairs figure skating skating champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, who many believe were robbed of a gold medal. Turning in a flawless, emotional and mesmerizing skate, the duo was nevertheless ranked second to Russia's Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, even though the latter made a technical error landing a jump. Life is often unfair. (If anything can be criticized about the Sale-Pelletier skate, it would have to be those dowdy grey outfits the pair chose to illustrate their 'Love Story' number.) But even though they were let down by the judges, Sale and Pelletier offered up a nugget of wisdom for the viewers: They had skated their best, they had skated without error and they couldn't have asked any more of themselves. No gold medals, but these elite athletes athletes offer plenty of golden attitudes worthy of emulation. THE CANADIAN STATESMAN is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. 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