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PAGE 4. WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby ( Voice of the County Town Michael Ian Burgess, Publisher - Managing Editor Ihe only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby resideuts for Whitby residents. National anthem's wording shouldnot be changed Last week, a bill was tabled in the House of Commons that would make O Canada our officiai national anthem. This bill would effectively reduce God Save the Queen (our officiai anthem until the government's bill receives Royal Assent) to a ceremonial piece for the Governor-General and the Queen in much the same manner as Hall to the Chief is for the President of the United States. We have no objection to making O Canada the official national anthem. We do, however, object to changing the words. In the new version, ail references to "God" "our native land", "sons" is deleted, for purely stupid reasons. Reference to God is omitted because of the opinion that some people in this country do not belleve in the Diety. It is held here that most people do have some type of faith in the Diety and to omit reference to Him is an insuit to every Canadian citizen. "Our native land" has been deleted because it is held that a lot of people are not native to this coun- try and reference to "our native land" might offend them. The government should be reminded to this country, not by the immigrants. When an im- migrant comes to Canada, he or she should generally speaking accept the Canadian lifestyle and adhere to Canadian customs. In fact, they should adopt Canada as their native land. This is the native land for all Canadians, natural born and immigrant. The most ridiculous of all is the change in the reference to "sons". The government did this in order not to offend womens'liberation groups. 'Sons" can and does refer to both sexes of Canadians. It can be used much in the way as 'mankind', it has a neutral gender, it compasses all Canadians. To our knowledge, no women's rights activists have attacked the national anthem as being chauvanist. O Canada's present wording has served this country well for the Iast 100 years, we see no need to change it now. A national anthem is supposed to invoke pride in one's country, O Canada in Its changed form will not do this well. Another thing worthy of note is that the French version has not been altered. If one is to be changed, then both should be changed. It appears that the government does not care whether it offends the dignity of the English Canadian, so long as it does not offend the French Canadian. O Canada should become our national anthem. but that honor should be bestowed on the traditional version, not the version that the gover- nment plans to legalize. Published every Wednesday *by M.B.M. Publishing and Photography Inc. Phone 668-61Il The Free Press Building, 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. Communty Editorr Mi. Knoell Production Manager .MilSurgeaS Advertiaing Manager Mailriq Pet'IN(t 460? Better B3usiness Bureau ot Toronto WNIby Chamlber ol t-mnmyiecêr WhitbyJaycees urge that J. O. R uddy Hospital's role remain unchanged Dear Sir, This brief is presen- ted by the Whitby Jaycees in support of the Joseph O'Ruddy Hospital's proposal to convert their inactive beds to chronic care. The Whitby Jaycees is a community orien- ted organization which has been actively in- volved in many aspects of life in and around Whitby. It has recently come to our attention that the Durham Regional District Health Council has commissioned Peat, Marwick and Partners to conduct a role study for the various com- ponents of the health care system in this area. Upon learning of the recommendations pro- posed by the con- sultant firm relative to the possible re- direction of the hospital's function, we the Whitby Jaycees, are extremely concer- ned with the im- plications of this proposal. First, it is incon- ceivable that a com- munity of this size can function without a hospital to provide emergency and acute care services. Although limited in scope, the emergency department provides life support services which are vital in stabilizing patients before transfer to a larger and more sophisticataed health unit. In addition, all minor emergency care is provided promptly and efficiently to the people of this area without needless travel to neighbouring hospitals. Secondly, the Joseph O'Ruddy Hospital provides em- ployment to more than 150 persons of this town. Although many of them may be relocated, many more, we suspect, will not be as fortunate. In view of the large recent layoffs by industries of this town, this will undoub- tedly have severe economic reper- cussions in this com- munity. The hospital's proposal to convert Its inactive beds to chronic care in conjun- ction with its current services appears to be most logical. There is an unquestioned need for chronic care facilities in this area. The management and technical skills necessary to support such activities curren- tly exist within the Joseph O'Ruddy Hospital and should be utilized through an ex- panded services role. The provision of chronic care within an acute care facility is a most viable alternative and follows a trend used throughout On- tario. We in Durham Region should support such a system within Whitby, not the reverse. The -Whitby Jaycees therefore suggest that the Council reject the recommendations of the consultant both for the short term and the long term benefit of Whitby and accept the proposal of the Joseph O'Ruddy Hospital. Sincerely E. Laycock J. Arbuthnott R. Richardson E 1Bj ODY 7 JýVFUViME LG'.V/