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PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 15, 1988 -- 7 Quick now, what country in the world is in debt to the tune of $320 billion? Brazil? Mexico? Nope. It's good ol' Canada. Ac- cording to a report from the C.D. Howe Institute, by the end of this year, our federal government will owe its foreign and domestic creditors $320 Billion. Obviously, we will never pay this off. The inter- est charges a lone each year gobble up 25 per cent of the federal budget. Talk about mortgaging the future of generations to follow. We are in the final days of a federal election campaign, a campaign that has been dominated by one issue: free trade. It's an important issue, to be sure. But hardly a word has been said about the scan- dalous size of our debt. What all three parties have said they will do is increase spending over the next four years, if elected to govern. $320 Billion. It's not so much if you say it fast. What if all those creditors suddenly decided they want the cash. This country would be thrown into fi- nancial and economic chaos. Where will the debt level be in four years? Does anybody care? Apparently not. What a shame. OLD RE-RUNS | wonder how long it will be before re-runs of "HeeHaw" start popping up on one of the American TV networks. Seems that corny old program is the favourite of president-elect George Bush. And his favourite reading material? No, it's not Viewpoint by John B. McClelland the ponderous New York Times or some scholarly journal on foreign policy. George Bush likes to curl up in his favourite chair with a copy of Bassmaster, a magazine about fishing. For the last eight years, the guy living in the White House was addicted to jelly beans. For the next four years, at least, the White House will be rockin' to the beat of "HeeHaw" and the Pres. will be waiting anxiously for the postman to deliver the latest issue of a fishing magazine. A FINE SHOW If you can find yourself a ticket to the Scugog Choral Society's production of "Oliver," | would . highly recommend that you do so. | may be a little biased in saying this since my fon year old son Matthew has a small role in this pro- uction. | attended two shows last week, the final dress rehearsal and opening night, and to put it mildly, boy, was | impressed. The singing, dancing, acting, the costumes, the sets are first rate. The amount of work that goes into a production like this is boggling to my mind. But the final result is classy stuff, and it's playing right here in Port Perry at Town Hall, 1873. | went to the final dress rehearsal last week to take some photos for the Star, and quite frankly, at times | found myself so absorbed in what was hap- pening on stage, that | neglected to click the shut- ter. Very un-professional of me. One of the first les- sons in journalism is never get emotionally involved in the story you are supposed to be covering. But what the heck. | was thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. | understand there are not too many tickets left un-sold for upcoming shows. If you can get one, by all means, grab it. My son Matthew has a small role, he's one of the work-house gang. And this is his first experience with theatre. The late-night rehearsals have been quite a grind. On more than one morning, getting him out of bed for school has been a real chore. But he's loved every minute of it, and | don't mind saying that as a parent, | felt pretty proud and pleased that he is having this fine experience. My hat goes off to everyone connected with this production of Oliver: the director, producer, muscial directors, those in the lead roles (just great) and those with minor roles. Now | know why those rehearsals went on to nearly midnight for the last six weeks or so. IT'S OVER, AT LAST So, the municipal election in Scugog Township is over, at last. This column was written before the results were known. This has been the most interesting election in Scugog in quite some time, partly because of the number of candidates chasing the voters. But main- ly because the council that is now getting ready to be sworn into office early in December, has some momentous decisions to make over the next three years; decisions that will touch all of us in this com- munity. We offer our congratulations to all those who let their names stand, and to the winners, the commu- nity will be watching you very carefully. Yesterday's Memories 70 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 14, 1918 For really unrestrained happiness, Port Perry outdid itself on Monday, November 11, 1918. That day will be history. Half a mile of torchlit autos took part in the procession at night. Deck- ed for a festival of joy, it moved up Borelia Hill and out to Man- chester. Everyone was happy but there was a touch of soberness about it all, for the thoughts of the people were, 'In Flanders Fields, where poppies blow." Prancing here and there among the autos were the irrepressibles on horseback. At the head of the procession was our worthy chief on horseback. Following the band came the returning soldiers in autos, occupying their rightful place of honour. After that came everybody who could be in the procession. About nine o'clock the procession return- ed to Port Perry, bringing the "Kaiser" with them. He was taken to the rear of the Post Office where a warm reception in a place of prominence awaited him. An immense bonfire had been built and the whole pile was enveloped in flames which lighted a sea of faces. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 11, 1943 High School students had a couple of very exciting hours on Tuesday morning. When the first bus load of students arrived they found the rooms filled with smoke which was coming from the locked furnace room which was on fire. Due to the good work of teachers and students, they were able to keep the fire under control. It was reported that if the fire had fifteen minutes more before it was discovered, the school could not have been saved. The event of the week was the Victory Show put on by the young people of Port Perry. The moving spirits were Robert Ar- cher, Rody Havden and Ken Jackson. They did a fine piece of work, and are to be congratulated on this, their first effort. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 12, 1953 In the Scout Hall last night, Veterans of Canadian Legion, local branch gathered with friends to commemorate Remem- brance Day in memory of their fallen commrades in two World Wars and the Korean Campaign. Guest speaker was Dr. M.B. Dymond who spoke on, "On Guard for Canada." 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 13, 1958 The first session of the Port Perry Figure Skating Club on Tuesday, November 11 was a hugh success. Approximately 100 skaters were on the ice. A wolf was shot at Chalk Lake on Sunday after it had been seen around the home of Mr. Reuben Huxtable. It was shot by a neighbour, Mr. Amos. Cd Letters Lord's Prayer essential in school To The Editor: Each week I look forward to reading the Port Perry Star. I was appalled when I came across a letter (Nov. 8 issue) written to you by Margaret Rowland who I might add is one of the minority. It stated and 1 quote "Christmas should refrain from being self-righteous." Removing the Lord's Prayer from our public schools is robbing the children of special quality time devoted to Our Lord in prayer. What is next?? I think John McClelland summed it up in The ugly sound of gunfire To The Editor: It's dawn, and for the ump- teenth time my husband and I have been wakened by the ugly sound of gunfire. Were we to go through residen- tial areas firing guns, I'm sure we would, quite rightly, be charged with disturbing the peace. If these intrepid hunters must blast birds out of the air, shouldn't they at least have to do it in uninhabitated areas? What with the above, and the mess of litter left on the causeway by fishermen, I, for one, am definitely off "sportsmen". Yours truly, J. Holman, (Mrs. William), Scugog Township. his article recently. As far as I am concerned at this point, the world cannot get any worse. Prayer is essential and did you know it takes less than one minute to recite the Lord's Prayer? It does not matter what religion a person is and I feel I am with the majority on this very important issue. I am sure if we had a vote Thanks for To The Editor: A short note of congratulations to the Port Perry Star for sponsor- ing last week's "All Candidates' meeting. I should also like to commend John Wolters, mayoralty can- didate, for suggesting that Coun- cil meetings be changed to a date that will allow the Port Perry Star to more fully report the business affairs of Scugog Township. Mrs. Yvonne Christie, Regional Coun- cillor candidate, appeared to sup- (which we should) it would be unanimous in favor of the Lord's Prayer to remain in all public schools. If the minorities ever ruled on every issue can you imagine what state the world would be in?? Sincerely, Joanne Leach, Scugog Township the calls port the idea. I would also like to thank the people who, after atten- ding your meeting, called me in support of my position on affor- dable housing and the building by- law problems across the country as they apply in particular to seniors housing. I will have a fur- ther report to you on the National Advisory Council on Aging shortly. Joel W. Aldred, R.R. 3, Port Perry to the editor. 2 amide Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. . .