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4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, October 14, 1985 Editorial Comments Our Blessings We had an interesting conversation with-a Township resident last Friday afternoon. The conversation started innocently enough about the upcom- ing Thanksgiving weekend and shifted to the cost of fresh turkey on the grocer's shelf Too high, we both agreed The cost of turkey has gone through the roof. But we also agreed that wouldn't stop us from buying one for Thanksgiving and adding all the trimmings that go with the traditional meal at this special time of year More significantly, we both agreed on two things: we should be very thankful that there was turkey on the grocer's shelf this Thanksgiving, and that we were able to walk into the supermarket and pay for one Its a fair assumption in this country that many people have come to take the small blessings for granted: like being able to buy Thanksgiving turkey, and have family and friends sit down around the table to enjoy it. In so many parts of the this world, what we as Canadians take for granted 1s beyond the reach, beyond the dreams of countless milhons. While this Thanksgiving, many probably worried about whether to have that second slice of pumpkin pie, milhons of people scratch- ed away just to ease for a moment the pangs of chronic hunger. And while we enjoyed the company of family and close friends, how many people in the world are denied even this basic and fun- damental freedom? We Canadians are often chastised for what some see in us as a negative, carping attitude. And let's face it, there is a degree of truth in this cnticism. We are not by nature chest-thumpers, braggards or vehement flag wavers. We tend to be introspective, prone to internal bickering among ourselves, and somewhat in awe of our giant neighbour to the south. So be it. Our national character may change. But there is one thing that won't change. And that's the belief that all of us have in tha greatness of this country. We have our problems, to be sure. But they are tiny compared to the problems facing others on this planet. Tiny, indeed. Our major problems may simply be taking our good fortune for granted. It's sure not the price of turkey on the grocer's shelf. Sign of the Times We're not sure what to say about a guy in Washington State who was facing divorce action from his wife. She wanted the family home (worth about $85,000) with all the antiques, too. The guy had other ideas and rather than face a long court bat- tle, he simply took his bull-dozer and flattened the house with all the furniture and antiques still inside. Local police officers say there is nothing they can do. The guy had the presence of mind to get a demolition permit before cranking up the dozer His action may be a sign of the times we live in, but one thing's for sure We'll bet his wife will be going after that dozer in the settle- ment proceedings 5 i NT 4 = CARL. P-ATTEW Pes OO - -« (eo Cna St LoS AR LARA ND NY atime' oO) Se Cn LG ALN ARES LY we fe | TERR AIRS" B} NS J PETER HVIDSTEN Member of the Publisher Canadian Community Newspaper Assocrahon : and Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc ator Advertising Manager Pubtrated every Tues tay ty the Port Perry Star td Port Perry Ontyr JB McCLELLAND Editor Author zed IS SE J ass MI by the P» Qt Ottice Department Ottawa and tor cast CATHY ROBB ame bostage ash News & Features Second Class Ma Reg stration Number J.265 Subscription Rate In Canada $15 00 per year Elsewhere $45 00 per year Single Copy 35° COPYRIGHT -- All layout and compostion of advertisements produced by the adver tising department of the Port Perry Star Company Limited are protected under copyright and may not! be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher Chatterbox by John B. McClelland Finally, the United States is fighting fire with fire. Last week, in a dramatic fashion, U.S. fighter planes from an aircraft carrier intercepted the Egyptian plane carrying those cruise ship hi- jackers and forced the plane to land at a NATO base in Sicily. The Americans say the hi-jackers who murdered a U.S. citizen confined to a wheelchair, will be given due process of law. It's about time. In recent months, terrorist ac- tivity aimed at the U.S. has been devastating. It has given the U.S. the appearance of being an old toothless tiger. Terrorists seem to be able to murder innocents at will and get away scott-free Well, maybe that's about to change. The U.S has just served notice that it's going to start play- ing hard-ball with these murderous thugs. The Rambo syndrome is very much in fashion these days and even the guy sitting in the White House has caught the fever. If these terrorists are extradited to the United States and put on trial, it's likely to turn into a three-ring circus, a built-in platform for these peo- ple to spout their half-baked ideas. So be it. The main thing is that they are brought to trial to face the charges of murder and piracy They should be tried in a state that has the death penalty and if found guilty they will get the punishment they deserve A lot of people have been wondering just how long 1t would take the US. to lash back at ter- rorism The latest actions just the beginning. And it's about time BODY CHECKS I understand that the Port Perry Minor Hockey Association has decided to reintroduce body checking at the Pee Wee and Bantam House League levels The reason for this, I'm told, 1s to give poten: tial rep team plavers a chance to learn how to play in a game where hitting 1s allowed I'm also told that the Minor Hockey executive was far from unanimous on whether the body checking should be re-introduced in Pee Wee and Bantam House league The Association is going to monitor the action very closely for the first httle while, and rightly so Frankly. | have some misgivings about the idea In the first place. House League hockey should be recreation and fun Players should not have to worry about getting rammed into the boards At this level, the vast majority of house league players are not going to ever play com- petitive hockey on rep teams, so why expose them to an aspect of the game (body checking) that can lead to injuries. Also, especially at the Bantam age, there can be a great variance in the size of players, from 200 pounders to guys who don't weigh much more than 100 pounds soaking wet. And as I see it, there is always the danger that a "mediocre" player may decide that his ticket to the all-star team is his ability to knock down everyone in sight in the house league. Don't get me wrong. I'm not against body checking in the sport of hockey. It is an integral part of the game at the competitive level, but I really wonder if the potential for serious problems in the house leagues is not far greater than any possible benefits. If a house league player in Pee Wee or Ban- tam has the near potential to be a rep team per- former, chances are that when he does make the competitive team he'll have the skills to handle the hitting. I hope Minor Hockey takes a second look at this in the very near future. Still with hockey at the minor levels, the CAHA deserves a pat on the back for its decision to really crack down on stick infractions this season. Referees at all levels have been told in no uncertain terms to enforce the sticking rules right down to the letter of the law, finally. It may mean a lot of players in the penalty box for awhile, but the message will get through. There is no way the game of hockey should be played with the sticks above the waist. There 1s no way young players should be allowed to get away with putting the lumber to another guy's head It may take a year, two years or longer for the message to get through. But once it does. the game will be better for everyone There 1s no quicker way to ruin a game of hockey than to have two teams racing around the ice like lumber-jacks. hacking. chopping and slashing at every part of the anatomy of the op- position players I sometimes get the feeling that hockey in this country lacks integrity, it lacks a fundamental commitment to make the game safer and more enjoyable Hockey players can get away with stuff on the ice that would mean automatic suspension in just about any other spoit. Some fundamental changes in attitudes to the game are long overdue in this country Maybe the crack-down on stick work is a start. Let's hope the CAHA and all the provincial organizations and local associations are truly serious about what they say