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Nightmare Most people are aware of the nightmare Enc Nagler has endured over the last several months. : Nagler, a high profile and talented entertainer (Enc's World) was charged by police with a cme society considers heinous: sexu al assault against a child; in this case a 12 year old gurl The charge was released to the media, Nagler's name made pub hic. And because of who he 1s, the story received prominent play in national media, A charge of child sexual assault against a man who makes his hy ing entertaining children was almost like a death sentence in so far as his career is concerned But before the case ever got to count, the Crown prosecutor with drew the charge Just why it was withdrawn and the circumstances as to why it was ever laid in the first place may never be known Nagler has been forbidden by the count from talking publicly about this This enure case is extremely disturbing and points to some glanng Maws in the system that must be addressed. Nagler 1s quite jusufied in being bitter, especially over the fact the onginal charge was laid without any discussion with hum by the Orangeville C. "drens Aid Society or the Police Not once was he interviewed by the authonues 1 get his version of the circumstances surrounding the charge They accepted the story of a 12 year old child completely. arrested Nagler, charged him and when the charges were public put hum through humihation that not only had a devastating atfect on him as an nd idual, but threat ened 10 kill his professional life as well Everyone agrees that society must take a tough stand against child sexual abuse. as tough as possible But as the Nagler case illustrates there are some woeful shortcomings Nagler's humiliation could be cxpenenced by anyone, but especially those who work with children like weachers or coaches Even though the charge against Nagler is withdrawn, damage has been done and he has been ordered not 10 make public any of the detauls that led w the charge. Just as socicly owes it W the children 0 vigorously protect them from the evil of sexual abuse, our legal sys tem owes individuals protection from false accusations Surely, we can expect the authonues (childrens aid socicues, social workers and the police) w be more cergapf the evidence before a charge 1s lad and made public As Nagler 1s now finding out, un-doing the damage to his name and reputaton after the fact 1s difficult, if not impossible Pushy and rude Prime Minister Brian Mulroney trooped into the Newcallle Community Centre last Friday evening in what was billed as an informal, non-partisan, mix and mingle get-together with the com- mon folk; higJast stop on a swing through southern Onno The hall was hot and senously overcrowded. With the PM run- ning about half an hour late, his advance men were jumpy and ag- tated. Perhaps that's why one of them, a short man with sweat on his brow, snapped at several members of local media whiung near the podium where the Pnime Minister was slated 10 speak "You guys press?" he asked. When the answer was yes, he snapped "move it, get out of here, back there," he pointed to a bank of TV cameras set up near the back of the hall . The local media reps proiessed that they could not get decent pic- tures with small cameras from such a distance "1 don't care. I'm senous. Move ut or I'll get Gilles 10 move you," he hissed with venom on his breath More protests by the media reps and he finally relented. saying "OK, get a couple of pictures and then move iL" There was a nasty tone in his voice and fire in his eyes It was a display of rude pushiness tally un-called for. One should not blame the Prime Minister for the behaviog of his staff, but that flunky needs a lesson in something Mulroney loves wo talk about the bad press he gets Indeed, he wok a few shots at the media in his speech Friday night It's way too late 10 mend fences but a bit of tact and civility never hurt anyone, even a Prime Minister's advance man COME SOON I'LL KILL HIM T6 NIZ1A1D 2000S * I TELL YOU DOREEN, IF SPRING DOESNT [n Rob Craddock is a Scugog cartoonist and graphic artist. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A potential tragedy that can be avoided To the editor My very gentle, very pregnant wife had a very fnghicning cxpen ence Sunday evening while walking in the downtown arca. She was passing through the laneway between Beckers and the post office when she nouced a medium sized dog coming at her rather quickly Luckily she managed 0 get her purse in front of her as the ammal lunged The dog grabbed her purse and after a few seconds, let go of iw, moving into the street Shaken, my wife asked a young man exiung the Beckers store if the dog was his. The reply bothers me He did not say yes or no, he dud not ask why she wanted to know, but rather asked night away of the aumal had bien my wife Why did he assume this had hap- pened? Has it happened before? 1s this a dangerous dog" This 1s not the first time | have heard of, or scen, dogs running loose in the downtown area, but i certainly 1s the first ume either my wife or mysell have been attacked While | am certain there are other people who have the same story 0 well, | must admut © beng shocked by the whole business Suppose the dog had bitlen my wife? Suppose the animal had been able 0 knock her [Jj and senously hurt her? Suppose it was a child the dog had attacked instead of an adult? A child 1s far less likely 10 be able 10 ward off an attacking dog than an adult. It was a potentially dangerous situation that has left me very apgry and my wife fnghtened Dog owners must understand that they are responsible for the acuons of thew pets | have always believed that dan gerous dogs should be put down for the safety of all around Yet there 1s nothing as heart breaking to a family as the loss of a famuly pet It 1s a tragx event | per- sonally would hate 10 have 10 insist that someone's pet be destroyed because it attacked for no reason Yet, while | would dislike having 0 do this, | cenainly WOULD insist the aumal be put down before sen- ous damage was done Think hard, dog owners, aside from the possible guilt over injunes caused by your carclessness, there could be scnous legal implicabons, not to mention the loss of your beloved dog you a great deal ¢ haps prevent a senols injury innocent passerby. Most dogs are not at all vicious, but they need 0 be watched just the same, particular - ly in a downtown area. Waich your dogs. folks, or you may be faced with a painful loss and situation A dog that bites for no reason 1s a danger 10 all around it Keep an eye on your dogs, it's your obliga- von to protect them as well What a tragedy for a family 0 lose their dog because thew owner was a carclds$ fool John H. Foote, Port Perry. Look beyond zero-increases To the Editor: For the last two years, | have been advocating zero tax increases, 0 it 15 encouraging to sce all levels of government taking up this cause Some have even paved the way by capping salanes It 1s now time 10 look beyond zero-increases in public sector salancs. It is only fair, the tax-pay- ing public has taken salary decreas- es for years. In order for all levels of government 10 control costs, lay- offs or decreases in wages will have 10 be considered Unions will not like the idea, but wage reductions may be beuer than staff reductions. Layoffs effect those with the least senionty and will cause resentment of the union that abandoned them when full employment returns The ume has come to take a serious look at government employment in all arcas--local, school, regional, provincial, federal. We cannot go on supporting a burcaucracy that 1s paid more the average industnal wage. must be a compromise between salary and the benefits of the job for life government type employment. Remember, a government employee salary increase represents Uwough taxes, a salary decrease 0 most taxpayers. Colin I. Kemp, Nestleton.