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Editorial Comment "~ChatterBox The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton has been the recipient of some rather unfavourable publicity recent- ly in its search for a qualified theatrical director. After seeking applications from across Canada, - the theatre eventually chose an Englishman, and now the union that represents Canadian actors and theatre types is trying to block his appointment on the grounds that the job should go to a Canadian. They have even gone so far as to have the Department of Immigration look into the matter. This kind of cultural nationalism was popular a few years ago and resulted in all kinds of writers, film makers and theatrical groups springing up every- where, helped along the way of course, with all kinds of money from the Canadian taxpayers. The result was a lot of mediocre, hum-drum work which a lot of people thought was just tremendous because it was '"Made in- Canada'. Well, this kind of narrow-minded, parochial atti- ~ "tude towards the arts just won't wash anymore. The* Canadian public has a right to the best in entertain- ment, be it film, theatre, literature or art. And if the best happens to be foreign made these days, then that's what we should get. : Legislating culture and attempting to impose arbitrary decisions on who is allowed to do what in the Canadian entertainment industry simply fosters medi- ocrity. There's nothing like some good old-fashioned competition to sharpen the skills, no matter what one is doing. I contend that if Canadian talent wants to develop to the stage where it can effectively compete for the entertainment dollar in this country it should work harder, be more creative and offer a better product. Relying on government legislation and union pressure to insure that Canadians get jobs' in the entertainment business is asinine and a good indication of the "pine tree' mentality that pervades our national' culture. : EMPEROR BOKASSA 1 Most rational, thinking people in the wealthy industrialized world (which includes Canada) agree that the numerous states of the so-called Third World have much justification when they 'call for a new economic order to provide their citizens with a bigger share of benefits from the world's resources. The Third World states, almost all of which gained by John McClelland their independence in the period since the Second World War, were the object of ruthless exploitation by the giant colonial powers of the last three centuries. And when independence finally did come, it was in many cases an almost overnight transition, with the colonial powers simply taking what they could carry wr (caving the local population to cope as best they could. This colonial heritage has left a horrendous legacy for the average citizen in most of these states. And while the rhetoric of some of the present leaders and spokesmen may be a little ridiculous at times, there is much genuine sympathy in the industrialized world which has resulted in considerable aid and assistance in various forms. : But every once in a while the cause of the Third World states is dealt a kick in the teeth by the idiotic - behaviour of one of their members. This past week the world was witness to the crowning of Emperor Bokassa I. who is absolute dictator in a tiny state called the Central African Republic. He ordered elaborate jewels, robes and carriages from France, and catered to an extravagant feast for thousands. The teremony itself, in which he declared himself ruler of the empire, was modelled after one designed by Napoleon. Estimates of the cost of this fantasy range as high as $34 million. The Central African Republic, a new nation with a * population of about three million is one of the poorest in the world. With a per capita income of less than $100 annually, the vast majority of its citizens live in poverty and squalor. And now they.are witness to a tin-pot named Jean-Bedel Bkassa, who has admitted cutting off the ears of his political enemies, spending literally millions to enshrine himself as supreme ruler - of the land. : How many tractors would that $34 million buy? How many schools, or hospitals, or irrigation systems? How.. much medicine to relieve the suffering of . children, or food for the hungry? - It is a sad fact of life for the industrialized world, but if true progress is to be made in making this world a better place for all mankind, we will have to put up with the antics of men like Bokassa, and hope that somewhere in the Central African Republic a leader of sounder mind will come along and de-throne him, taking off the head in the process. off the head in the process. Snowmobiles The snowmobile season was hardly two hours old Monday evening when a fatality occurred on a street within the town of Port Perry. A machine collided with a car, killing the young driver and sending a passenger to hospital. i Every year about this time, the public is bombard- .ed with messages that begin to sound like a broken record: a snowmobile is no match for a car or truck, stay off the roads and highways, and be extra cautious on snowmobiles when driving at night or in snow- storms when visibility is poor. But despite the repeated messages, accidents and fatalities on snowmobiles continue to occur. Most municipalities, including this one, have laws and regulations that govern the use of snowmobiles on certain roads. Staying alive while operating a snowmobile is not dependent on laws and regulations, or whether they are strictly enforced. It is a matter of common sense. All the messages and all the warnings about snowmobile safety and common sense will not bring back the life that was lost Monday night. And they will be of no consequence to the family and friends. We can only hope that others will take heed so that this kind of needless and senseless tragedy will not be repeated. It is going to be a long winter. The Political Game The RCMP Affair has been brewing for almost a month now with new charges and allegations being made daily. What is disturbing, aside from the fact _ that the Mounties may have broken a few laws, is the way the Liberal government is handling the affair. Instead of stonewalling, stalling and attempting to sweep things under the carpet, how refreshing it would be to see a little humility on the part of Prime Minister Trudeau and Solicitor General Francis Fox. Trudeau, Fox, et al are engaging in that quaint maneuver which most politicians become very adept at: covering your political backside at all costs. The Canadian people are beginning to see through this sham, and will soon demand that the politicians make a full and honest disclosure, and never mind who might get their fingers burned in the process. Christmas Is For Kids Watching the Santa Claus parade in Port Perry this past weekend, one could not help but notice that by far and away, the most interested spectators were the children. Standing in the cold wind, along Queen Street, the youngsters watched and waited for the first float, and of course, of Santa himself. They watched with interest as the floats and bands paraded by. But this interest turned to sheer delight when Santa arrived. Wide-eyed and open-mouthed, they looked up to him, and some were so enthralled they forgot to return his cheerful wave and smile. And when it came time for the kids to meet Santa in person, and spend a minute or-two sitting on his knee, there was a long line of youngsters who could hardly wait for the experience. These days it is easy to become cynical about Christmas; to argue that it has lost its true meaning, and that the spirit of giving and sharing has somehow disappeared in the helter-skelter of shoddy mater- ialism. But look at the joy in the eyes of a child at the mention of the words Santa Claus or Christmas. Look at the smile on a young face, and remember that Christmas is for giving. It is a time for the children. And maybe that's the way it should be. PORT PERRY STAR Company Limited ~ Phone 985 7383 (ecin Serving Port Perry, Reach, Scugog and Cartwright Townships J. PETER HVIDSTEN, : Publisher 3 Advertising Manager JOHN B. McCLELLAND EDITOR Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc +: and Ontario Weekly Newspaper Associat or Published every Wednesday by the Port Perry Star Co Ltd. Port Periy, Ontario Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, OMawa, and for paymensof postage in cash Second Class Mail Registration Number 0248 Subscription Rate: In Canada $4.00 per year : Elsewhere $10.00 per year. Single copy 20¢