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6-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday May 6,1997 SCOMMENT Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 8S78-2341 Fax: 876-2364 Classified: 875-3300 Publisher Ass.iaiaie Pîiblmn9ier Edîitr Cit-nte Cîtîtaî Maneaiger Offt e Maaagei Iaî.ttulli.îttt Manîatger Adaert.îîîîgMiiiiiigeiî 1he Canadien Champion, Published tice aaeekly ai 191 Main St E ,Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (Box 248), is one af The Metroland Peiting, Publishing & Distributtng Lt. nînan ni subarban carnea- alies wSîch iacludes: Ajan / Pircirng News Adaeriiser: Alitin Hernaid/Cnurier -Barien Adnance: Bramptnn Guarian: Buriintn Pasi. City Parnt. Calingwnad / Wasaga Cannein ' nat York Mirîot, Einbtcakn anaratan: Genrgeinwn Independent/ Acinn Free Prenss. Kingston This Week, Lindsay This Wnek, Mnrkitam Ecanamisi & Sun; Midtand / Penetarnaisinne Mîrrar. Mississausa News: Newmarkei / 9arora CEa Bannnr; Norihumberland Nana, Nornh Yort Mirrai, Sakatie Beavant Stîttîni Tnday; Oshawa i Wtiitby / Ciaringian / Pari Pnrry This Week; Peterborough OTs Wnek; Richimond Hill / Thaînhil / Vaughan LiSerai, Scarbarnanti Menrrr Searidgn / Siaafille Tribane, Toay's Senis. Adanrtising is accepind an the candition that in the nanai ni a typanraphicat errai, mhai partaon ai the aaanrmtsing sace accapîrd by ihn nraneaus rinai taQninnr nulh a reasanable atianance fai signature, wlt ntan charged fai, eut the balance ai tnn aitanritinaeni wi be hala toi ai the applicable rtin The pabtîshar resatans tin riqhi mn caiegarize adaensemnents ar e c1ine Rationalizations won't wiash On the front page of today's paper is a story about a group of people who essentially shame violators into shying away from parking in handicapped spaces. That is, they n-y and shamne them. Obviously some people just don't care. They are likely the minority of drivers who indulge in this odious practice. Nothing much will sway them except a stiff fine, if that. But we suspect the far larger group of drivers who are prone to temp- tation when it cornes to using handicapped parking do so with a convenient rationalization. These otherwise generally responsible people tell themselves that they are only going into a nearby store or business for a minute, and that during the brief tirne they are away from their vehicle chances are nobody will want to use the disabled parking space. The problemr with this is that it is a rationalization, plain and simple, for doing something that one really should avoid. While it is true that the laws of probability operate in favour of the driver who abuses disabled parking, the fact is, if everybody thought that way, and everybody did it, there really would be no disabled parking in rnany busy areas. There would just be a con- sistent flow of vehicles pulling into the convenient spots closest toi the door for two, three, five or 10 minute stints. Rationalizing taking the disabled parking spot is like rational- izing any other petty offence. Take speeding, or double parking, or Just slowing instead of coming to a full hait at a stop sign. While it is not particularly disruptive for any one person or small group to, do it, if everybody did so the driving situation would become dan- gerously unstable, and quickly. Just think of how genuinely inconvenient life becornes for the disabled if they can't use their designated parking spaces. Think of the hassle of negotiating curbs in wheelchairs. Think about struggling across a lot and between parked cars with a walker . If nothing else, those who would take advantage of the situation rnay want toi stop and ponder how others, who would not do such a thing, view them. Leave the disabled parking for those who gen- uinely need it. Always. Period, end of story. Any other approach is just selfish.-RoKel Thinking of Manitoba People interested in donating to help relieve the suffering caused by flooding in Manitoba can do so at Milton MaIl, as per t he information with the photo appearing on page 2 of today's issue. No doubt the contributions from Milton will be substantial, a s they set often are for worthy causes. Many people in this area have prairie roots, or lived there for a period of time. Even those who have only visited often rernark on two things with regard to prairie dwellers - their open friendlî- ness and their resourceful strength of character. No doubt these attributes will serve our western neighbours in very good stead over the days, weeks and rnonths to corne. But we can help thern along a littie bit by letting thern know we thought of themn and did something about that. Doniations, no mat- ter how modest, will undoubtedly bc decply appreciated. -R Pages of the Past O ne YearAgo From the May 8, 1996 issue In an attempt 10 balance their 1996 operating budget, the Halton Roman Catholie Sehool Board handed out pink slips to 47 board employees and eut the boums of 12 others. The board also announced it would flot be filling the 16 elementary nchool positions it otherwise would have to accommodate growth. The staff reductions were expected to save the board $1 .3 million. The budget vote was not unanimous, however, an three truatees voted againat it. -The Taxpayers Coalition Burlington, a 300-member watchdog organization, waa threatening 10 go to court to prove that some Halton public achool trustees had a con- flict of intereat when they voted on the board'a new bud- get. They claimed that fOve board trustees had some formi of relationship with a person employed by the Halton board or a neighbouring board. In their eyes this constitut- ed a conflict of intereat. "We have nothing againat these people peraonally," aaid Frank Gue, spokeaman for the coalition. "We want to see the individuala do the right thing and resign.' 20 Years Ago From the May 11, 1977 issue -Liberal leader Stuart Smith look a ride with Halton- Burlington candidate Julian Reed aboard the Oakville GO train. On their campaigning ride, the two Liberals talked to commutera about the atate of GO Trannit and the federal govemmentas cutback of funds they promiaed to une 10 extend the line to Milton. -William A. Johnson, the NDP candidate for Halton- Burlington, wan fearing he might have t0 Write 'unem- ployed" an hia occupation deacription when he tilled oui hin nomination papern for the provincial election. An tl tumed out, Mr. Johnnon worked at the Canada Centre for tnland Waters in Burlington and an a civil servant wan not permitted 10 participate in provincial politica. "I arn on very thin ice," commented the NDP candidate. 50 Yea rs Ago From the May 8, 1947 issue *Mr. B. R. McKerr of Milton waa elected toi fil the role of preaident of the Lomne Scots Band for the coming year. 'Me Lomne Scots had had a veiy auccesaful year of perfor- mances with more than 30 engagementa and a first place prize at the Waterloo Band Festival. - The fishing seanon waa atarting again an Game Warden Dudley Hitchox waa buay atocking Halton's atreams wiih 3,600 trout. Membera of the newly formed Halton Anglers and Huntera Association were inatrumental in aiding Mr. Hitchox with the finh stocking. * The John Milton Chapter IODE received first prize for the acrapbook it aubmitted to a provincial competition. Mm. E. B. Clementa was t0 be credited with the honour. It was her clippingn and artistic embellishment that gamered the prize. Pud by Steve Nease Ian Oliver Neil Oliver Rob Kelly Karen Huisman Teri Casas Timn Coles Ted Lindsay