Ontario Community Newspapers

Whitby Free Press, 19 Dec 1979, p. 10

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PAGE 10, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1979, WITBY FREE PRESS Beween You Iand Me By RUTH CHAMBERS Whatsoever You do to the least...Quite by chance I carne across a news letter published by Developrnent and Peace, a gmoup sponsored by major religious communities to unite in social action when the need arises. This particular bit of action is a cail to Canadian Gran- drnothers to support the Grandrnothers of Argentina. The following information I gleaned frorn the letter. Clama aged three months, "1disappered"l on November 24/76 and has not been seen since; her whereabouts are completeîy unknown. There was a combined assault on her home and both her mother and father were killed. Neigh- bours told her Grandinother that the baby had been taken by the authorities who said because she was not listed as dead she was not their responsibiity. The grandmother according to this source has exhaustecj jevery legal channel open to her as a citizen. She'has had encounters over this period of tirne with the rnilitar, legal and political bureaucracies to locate her grandchild. We as Canadiain; must flot cast any blamne; this is not our role to play, te interfère with another nation. We just hope te appeal for care in relation to human relations. Each nation in the world bas the right to govern as it sees Where re the e chi'n fit. Not many of us see things in the saine light asnaos go. Each has it's own characteristies ofe oenatiobs celixateand geographical location. If we could have a world federation, a governing body of peoples frorn everY country we mnight have Eutopîa. This of course cannot be. This has been discussed, thought about .and turned every which Way bY thinking men but the con- clusion is always the saine, flot workable. The varients are too great; as there is such a diversity of thoughts and ac- tions in any given country. Just think of the problemns of a world governing body? So each to his own and liopefully in tirne, people as they travel about the world wilI tome to a better understanding of ail nations. However, when the fate of children is at stake that is another rnatter. Maybe the need to help cornes to the fore. There really is very littie we can do abouit starving children ini the world or even less about birth control. We cannot overcorne religlous beliefs of other nations. They have to corne to terrns with their, own problerns; their fate is in their own hands. If rulers and the ones in charge can accept starvation and other tribulations such as unenighterent for their own people we are powerles s to help. Masses of uneducated, h ungry people are easy to manipulate; they are followers in a blind faith of acceptance. With education and knowledge cornes freedomn but not in the case always of political freedom. "Disappeare<j" chilcfren is sornething we can try to do sornething about; give'our combined weight to try and help solve the problemn. A public outcry, a massive effort on the CON'D N P. 1 *LATES. MODEL eIMSELC"0 CRECO S. " LMPA*DDN MCI E * " NDRWOD*EEC.0;CCACU e.R' " MIHCOs. DITTINUNT - -- -.10 Pr -ua. dm& part of Canadians to encourage the grandmothers should be heard vibrating acroas South Ainerica to the point '0f awareness. If we know about this we cannot accept it. If it is not brought to our attention we are ignorant of the facts; unaware and unable to rally to, the cause. A group of grandrnothers gathered in the Plaza de Mayo, across the street from the Presidential Palace hoping to meet the President. In this venture they were unsuccessfui but stayed on to alert passersby of their problems. So every day at 4 p.m., they gathered, hundreds of them, wives, grandmothers and other relatives from ail over the coun- try. Without banners or placards they wanted to, get their message across; a denunciation of the disappearance 0f their children at the hands of armed groups who present thernselves as belonging to the arrned forces and police. They were dubbed by officiais as the "mad wornen of Plaza de Mayo". Their vigil, has been invaded by police armed with sub machine guns and now the Plaza de Mayo is out of bounds to these wornen. One womnan who took this message to the meeting of Latin American Bishops bas now disappeared too. In May of this year Development and Peace received a letter signed, "The Grandinothers to, the Christians of Canada from Buenos Aires!1 - They enclosed another list of basics; another Iist has been received. in Canada in 1978. There is a list this Urne of 31 babies, their parents and grandparents, their narnes and address. This list is a plea of help. They write of their deep appreciation for such a humanitarian response to their last appeal for help from Canadians.> They are often overwhelme<j by this extreme suffering, Day by day theyreceive letters from Canadians who by writing extend their hands in caring and love to, encourage and to, remind these people that we are thinking of thern. Send a card or a note; rather late for Christmas at thisà date but New Years will soon be here. Then cornes Easter 80 even a late card for any occasion is& better than none. This will help reinforce these Grandinothers i their struggle to assure the return of their grandchilcfren. Sealed cards cost 35t, a srnall' price to, pay for a thoughful message. It is also suggested that we write to the President's wife and. her address is also in the news letter. To obtain this newsletter ask at church. They may have sorne but if not cail or write to, Development and Peace, 67 Bond St., Toron- to, M5R 1M(. The women of Wh 'itby could have a great impact if some of us made the effort. To withold a child either. physically or spiritually is sornethng neither mother or grandmother can withstand. The anguish and agony,,would be intolerate. But te, have a chlld tomn from- Jyour ais, by the rnilitary or the police would be beyond belief.« Tomost> parents this boggies the mmnd even reading or thinking about it. MILLION SAVE UP T DOLLAR TOY SALE 0-F - 9 NAMEBRAND TOYS, GAMES

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