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8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, February 27, 1990 Letters to the editor -------- Letter writer says"facts correct" (From page 7) journalist since 1945, some 45 years, and as police reporter for radio station CKEY the Number 1 station in Toronto at the time, I checked my facts thoroughly. I was a correspondent for the Toronto Telegram, a "stringer" reporter for Toronto Star, a CBC- TV camerman and reporter for CBC National News. In the 1960's I founded and was Publisher of the Oshawa News, a 25,000 cir- culation weekly. In the 1970's and 80's I wrote for the largest circulation paper in North America. I wrote numerous guest editorials for Oshawa This Week, largest circulation in Durham Region. I worked at the National pro- gram oifice of the CBC for a number of years with John Fisher "Mr Canada" our Centennial Commissioner & Peter Jennings father (NBC anchor), from whom I have received written references. For 3 years I was with CKLB radio station in Oshawa. When Peter Hvidsten took over the. Star from his father, I was asked to do a weekly column "Kelly's Corner." I also did a weekly column for a wide circula- tion Oshawa paper. I appeared coast-to-coast on CTV with historian Pierre Berton, in "The Dean Kelly Story." I only mention these facts because the writer to support his weak accusations added B.A. to his name, a practice normally us- ed by lawyers. I may not have in- itials behind my name, but I have a few titles like President, Founder, Chairman, Director, and yes even publisher, Emeritus. Dean J. Kelly, Port Perry TAKES TWO TO TANGO Lately a big controversy among many people, is the ehogior of players and fans at recent hockey games. Why? use the fans tend to become very outspoken when it comes to de- fending their teams abilities. Call it pride, call it human nature. Just don't place the blame on one side alone. Whether it be a magnificent play, a great glove-save by the goalie, a fight, or a good scor- ing chance, every spectator is behind their home team. On February 18, the stands at the MoJack game erupted when Port won against Uxbridge 8-2. The players began fighting, and getting out of hand, and the spectators follo suit. But before we go any further let's understand it wasn't only Port Perry, and it wasn't only Ux- bridge out of control, it was a combination of the two. : What all spectators must understand is Port Perry, and Uxbridge have a long-standing rival- ry. It dates back as far as my memory goes, and | know it was there before | was brought on the scene. | remember, my parents bundling me up, and taking me to the arena to watch my two older brothers play hockey. They like all other local hockey players were involved in Uxbridge/Port fueds. No matter what age-group they were playing at the time, whether it be Junior C, Midget, Bantam, Pee Wee, the action was always intense, and the fighting was non-stop. And believe it or not the irate fan is not a new breed for the 90's. They were just as blatant, and outspoken all those years ago. Whatever the reason is for the rivalry, wheth- er it be because of the close distance, or size of the towns these two towns have been brought together in all sports more often than any oth- ers. | listened the other night to Uxbridge fans state that Port Perry is the worst team to play, there are always fights. Of course there are more when playing Port, it is the same for Port, because of this long rivalry. It isn't like this for either team when playing another. | was there Sunday night, | saw the fights, | saw the penalty minutes rack up. | saw the dis- pa of real showmanship by the first player icked out from shite. Port Perry can't be blamed for that can they | Back Talk by Kelly Storry I only have to say, this is hockey, it has like this since the inning, it will be like this until the end, as far as Uxbridge and Port are concerned anyway. The fans get carried away, and the players got carried away in the heat of the moment. veryone feels his/her son, grandchild, neph- ew, or hometown player is in the right, it is the other team that is causing the problems. The only thing that is going to stop the ar- guing, is for everyone to take off their blinders. Both teams were in the penalty box, both sets of fans were yelling. No MoJack was fight- ing by himself, and no fan was arguing with himself, it takes two to hold a disagreement. | would be the last person to say that Port Perry turns out the cleanest hockey players in the world. | have seen them in action, I've seen the extra slash, elbow, shove, and yes even a spear performed by a Port Perry player. Th are far from perfect. But let's face it we have all seen the same actions by Svery ojher team that has ever been in competition. Butt-enders, and obnoxious fans are not born and bred in down- town Port Perry alone. Every team is as dirty or as aggressive as the other, it just happens that people tun a blind eye to the actions of their own players, but pick up on any slight movement of the other team. The thrill of competition sets tempers aflare. on both sides. No one is to blame. Port did not start it, Uxbridge did not start it That is where pride for the home town comes shining through, even if it is a little tainted. Human nature tells you not to let others put down what you so strongly agree with. Everything about this hockey game has been going on forever, it is not going to be stopped. hese players have watched hockey since they were young, they saw the fights, the competi tion, because of this it is deemed to be a part of the game. Good or bad they have learned everything they know from watching others. The fights will continue, heated competition calls for it. The only thing that will ease the strain is to admit there is never a one-sided fight or argument, the only thing that is one- sided is the spectators views of the incidents. It is tit-for-tat in competition, rarely being a right side. It is time to see the light, and realize it always takes two for anything to warrent this much attention. For Better or For Worse® by Lynn Johnston Budget was a failure To the Editor: The latest budget of Prime Minister Mulroney's government, _ like its five preceding budgets, is a failure. We should not feel relief that the latest budget didn't increase taxes. Mr. Mulroney's govern- ment has increased taxes 33 time in the past five years! It's high time the line was held on taxes. In fact, taxes have probably been increased indirectly by foisting part of the tax burden on- to the provinces. We're the peo- ple who get taxed in the end, whether the hand in our pocket comes from the federal or provin- cial governments. Mr. Mulroney's government should have led by example by en- ding the unlimited indexing of pensions for MPs and federal civil servants. It should have stopped wasting billions of our tax dollars on foreign governments and thousands of special interest groups. The temporary, illusory or one- time cuts that are in the budget will not affect the structure of government overspending. Privatizing Petro-Can was a welcome move but the govern- ment should have gone even fur- ther and sold off other Crown Cor- porations like the CBC and Canada Post. Finally, the budget did not res- pond to the overwhelming opposi- tion to the Goods and Services Tax. Instead of imposing this tax on Canadians, the government should hold a national referen- dum on the issue. Mr. Mulroney's government had yet another opportunity in this budget to set our country on a healthy course. Tragically, the prime minister lacked either the vision or the eourage to do so. We are all the losers for it. ' Yours truly, David Somerville President, National Citizens Coalition, Toronto. Our birds are threatened To the Editor: In recent years, I have watch- ed drastic declines in the numbers of our favourite birds. Bluebirds, robins, thrushes, thrashers, and meadowlarks are among the birds that are dying because of a common agricultural practice. Continuous growing of corn results in a buildup of rootworms in the soil. Insecticides are need- ed if the farmer is to have a pro- fitable crop on such fields. However, the insecticides that eventually kill the worms also poison the food of the birds - those very same worms. If farmers rotate their crops, it is not necessary to use chemicals to kill rootworms. Then the birds can be healthy, and keep the in- sects in balance. This is the type of action that we need if we are to save our environment. Our organization, Farmers' Fine Feathered Friends, is ap- pealing to everyone to support and encourage changes in agriculture. Sustainable, more profitable agriculture will result from using fewer chemicals, and taking better advantage of techni- ques such as rotation. (Turn to page 9) Editorial Comment (from page 6) : high. But what has really driven up the price is the cost of equipment, travel (tournaments, out-of-town games) and in the case of figure skating, individual lessons. In this community, anyway, the cost of ice time is a huge bargain. Ina perfect world, we'd like to see it stay that way. But slowly, the Arena, and all other community facilities, be they for sport, culture or recreation, are simply going to have to move towards the "user pay" concept. The budget presented last week recognizes that, and we agree with councillor Yvonne Christie, who chairs the council's finance committee, that it is a "reasonable budget." Also in the budget is an item called "revenue raising fund," and the Arena Board projects raising $8,000 this year, compared with $3100 last year. That means that the Board is going to be more aggressive in looking for sources of revenue other than rentals, the snack bar and the tax-supported grant. We would suggest that all community groups and organiza- tions should start doing the same. As governments at all levels in this country are finding out, the well from which they scoop tax dollars has gone dry. At the municipal level, we are not suggesting that the users ay the full shot for things like arenas, swimming pools, base- bal diamonds, tennis courts, community halls, etc. But as costs continue to go-up, they will have to shoulder more of the burden. ETE EE EEE EE ES EE EE A 'seen ".- WHO SAYS TELEVISION KILLS TH E IMAONATON EMMERSON INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED 193 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY, ONT. LIL 1B9 (416) 985-7306 ALL LINES OF GENERAL INSURANCE * HOMEOWNERS - FARM - AUTO COMMERCIAL * % te pl AI LM 5 a aa Wi