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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, May 24,, 1995 - 7 L -TTERS from our readers Getting sick of Rae Da y bashing To the Editor: I am getting heartily sick of hearing people whine about the social contract, otherwise known as Rae Days. We all agree that government expenses must be reduced, and we all agree that this includes staff salaries and benefits. Bob Rae's NDP government has at- tempted to come up with a solu- tion in which the burden of this reduction is shared equally among all employees, except those at the very bottom of the pay scale. He has even given peo- ple time off in lieu of pay. This impresses me as a well thought-out and fair solution. However, members of two of the affected groups in particular feel that they should not have had to help bear the burden of living Equity bill wil soon hit the private sector From Page 6 and Freedoms, but getting him to explain himself has been an exercise in futility. Perhaps the fact that most of our influential politicians are French and they work in the French language is caus- ing part of the problem. When their statements are put into English, perhaps errors are being made in the translation. I am sure the Employment Equity rules will eventually apply to workers of the private sector. If that is the case, the governments will decide who works, not the company, not the union, and not the ordi- nary person. And to think a lot of union people still vote Liberal and NDP! Dean J. Kelly, Port Perry within our means. Not surpris- ingly, both groups make excellent money. I would like to know what bet- ter alternative they could come up with. Ralph Klein in Alberta cut jobs and pay without giving time off. Jean Chretien in Ottawa Just fired a quarter of the civil ser- vice. No doubt the people who kept their jobs feel this was a fair solu- tion. The others will have to be caught in the provincial social safety nets. However, that is not the federal government's prob- lem. These are tough times we live in and I can't help thinking that if we had more community spirit and more concern for others and a little less whining and less pure greed, we would all be a lot better of, any group in this country thinks it's going to get off scot free, they are dreaming. They are also asking for unfair special privilege when everyone else is having to cut back. Any party that tells us we will be able to get the same services, cut the deficit and decrease taxes, must think we're all alot stupider than Ithink we are. Someone has to pay for the changes that must be made. The NDP government has tried to be fair and to spread the burden equally. This is a far-sighted and innovative solution to a very diffi- cult problem. I think they should be commended for it. Michelle Bull, Port Perry Politicians are anti-family To the Editor: A large segment of the voters of this province are disgusted with the court ruling last week that al- lows homosexuals to adopt chil- dren. However, not one of the leaders of the three main-line parties has the integrity or the courage to promise, if elected, they will do everything in their power as premier to overturn this ruling. Anti-family Rae was trying to lose this case. That's why the N.D.P. government admitted in court that the Ontario law that says couples must be of opposite sex to adopt children was illegal under the Canadian Constitu- tion. Cop-out McLeod says she would be more than happy to ex- tend to homosexual couples all the benefits that married couples now receive. Pass the buck Harris has indi- cated that social workers, not pol- iticians should decide who gets to raise a child. What a wimpy state- ment from someone who wants to be premier of Ontario. Protecting and enhancing the values and morals that made our nation great certainly is the re- sponsibility of the party that forms the next government of On- tario. The leaders of the three main- line parties have proven to Ontar- ians on this very important, divi- sive, moral issue, that they can- not be trusted to protect true family values and they certainly don't deserve our confidence or our vote. Sincerely, Dave Switzer, Frankford More letters on page 8 by Jeff Mitchell THE LONG WAIT IS OVER HAD ENOUGH YET? ...The people are finally being made privy to the ghastly details of Regina vs. Paul Bernardo, a proceeding from which we have for the last two years been excluded because of the various publication bans that have been imposed. Thursday we finally got a look at the Crown's case... and many of us, who have waited so long for the inside story, had to look away. So wretched is this tale, so steeped in cruelty, depravity and horror, that the few among us who have not had access to reports have recoiled in shock. Word from the courthouse in Toronto Friday morning -- the day after the crown revealed details of its case against the accused -- indicated that the rush for limited seating in the courtroom inside which the trial is being held had tailed off, and half an hour before testimony began for the day was to begin, seats had still not been spoken for. Doubtless by 9:30 they were all taken, but the slow-down in demand for the previously-coveted courtroom passes serves to prove something important: That what we sought all along to know was far worse than we could ever have imagined. Being in the news racket, I've had access to some items perhaps others haven't. The sensational Washington Post article on the trial of Karla Homolka, Bernardo's wife, buzzed across the fax soon after her conviction, and gave anyone who read it an indication of what the Crown alleges occurred. It was after my exposure to that piece that | knew | could wait until Hell froze over for all the gory details. Sure, I'll read them as they appear, and listen to the updates from the courthouse on the car radio. But what had been a spectacle has become, for me at least, a sad and revolting story, a ferocious reminder of what we are capable of, and our fascination with the macabre. That said, here's three Atta Boys for Justice Patrick LeSage, the judge in the case, who has sped the case along with efficiency and authority. After two years of delays and procedural wrangling, this case could easily have come to resemble the O.J. debacle south of the border. Justice should be prompt, and unwavering. The Judge seems intent on seeing that occurs. CHEERS AND MORE CHEERS to the community of Scugog, which has come through once again with compassion and grace in the face of crisis. The response to the theft of the activity fund at Community Nursing Home in Port Perry has been nothing short of heart- warming, and will no doubt go a long way to help the folks there get over the profound hurt they felt when the money for which they had worked so hard was so heartlessly ripped off. The people who've led the way know who they are, and if you've even glanced at a local paper in the last couple of weeks, you should, too. Our congratulations to all of you. Random Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten / returns in short order. BREAKING THE ELUSIVE 100 BARRIER y It's always difficult, after a few 4 days off, to get back into the swing of things at the office, especially when all the swinging I've been doing over the long weekend is with a golf club. It's amazing just how quickly the familiarity of a computer keyboard becomes awkward, but like rid- ing a bicycle or playing a piano, thankfully the skill to unwind from the pressures of everyday life, breathe in fresh, clean air, bask in brilliant sun- shine, get some exercise and share a few hours of camaraderie with friends. But this same game, which is supposed to pro- vide relaxation and enjoyment, can also cause con- siderable stress and be a very humbling experi- ence. Especially for those of us who don't frequent the course on a regular basis. "Forel" After a long-weekend of golf with a couple of bud- dies, | learned that golfing a few times a year does nothing to improve my ability to master this "sometimes" frustrating game. Playing golf is supposed to be enjoyable. Atime So after venturing on the wide open fairways of a golf course only three times all last year, it's no wonder breaking the elusive 100 still haunts me. But this year I'm determined to dip into double digits, so I'll be out there trying to rid myself of slic- es and hooks, balls in the water, flubbed shots, missed putts and all the other problems that get in my way of my perfect game. WELCOME TO THE TABLE It's election day in Scugog Township today (Tues- day), and by the time this column reaches you the voters will have spoken, and a new councillor will be in place for Ward 2. The position of a councillor shoud not be taken lightly, and we can only hope the successful can- didate realizes the responsibility and tremendous amount of work the position carries, if the job is to be carried out properly. : With that said, | believe it would be wise for all new candidates vieing for a position on council to be brought together once they've been nominated, for a briefing. A meeting could be held to explain in detail the responsibilities and duties of the position. Number and times of meetings, committees to be headed, local social and business functions and responsibil- ities, the budget process, etc. could all be explain- ed so prospective coucillors all understood the magnitude of the job. This process might weed out anyone who didn't realize being a member of council is more than meeting once a week around a large table. Whoever the winner is, we wish them success for the duration of the term and hope their reasons for entering the political forum are a benefit to all resi- dents of this community. III I ------m"me I a RI A I A AT ----