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6-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, December 9, 1997 + COMMENT--- TH AAIAN C PO N Box 248. 191 Main St. E., Miton, Ont. L9Tr 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Fax: 876-2364 Ciassified: 875-3300 Publisher Asnecieite Psblisher Genereil Manager Eduteer Circulatieon Mainager Office Mainager Proeductmion Mainager The Canadien Champion. publisiteti twice weekly ai 191 Main St. E., Milton, Ont.. SgT 4iN9 (Box 248), is one oi Tie Metroland Printing, Pubuîsliing & Distriitsting Ltil group of suburban compa- nies whic il incluiles. Alan / Pickering News Ativentiser, Allîston Hterald/Courier, Barrie Ativance. Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post: City Patent: Collingwoodt / Wasaga Connection: East York Mîrror. Etobicoke Guardian, Georgetown Independent/ Acton Free Press; Kingston Titis Weeli, Lindsay This Week, Matkhan Economist & Sun; Midianti / Petetanguisitene Mmi.r Mississauga News: Newmanket / Aunîta Ena Banner: Nothumbierland News: Nnrth Yotk Minnot: Qakoîlle Beanen: Otîllia Tnday, Oshtawa 1 Witty 1 Claningtnn / Pntt Perr This Week; Peteritorough Titis Week: Ricihmondi Hiii 1 Titonnitl / Vaughtan Liberai: Scanroogt Minent: Uabritige 1 Strutinilie Tribune: Tnday's Senints. Adveetisitg is accepteti on the condtilon titat. in tht enent ni a typognapitical enter, tilat portion ni the advetsing space nccupied by the etnnneous Rtem, togetiten sith a neasetale aleowarce ior signatune. wiii nt lie changed tnt, but ton balance ni thte aduertisenrent wiii ire paid tot at the applicable rte, Te publisitet innerves tite rigitt te categorize advertisements or decline. A lesson to be leamed from the Aussem case A former Milton Merchant hockey player named David Aussem seemns taken aback by the fact a judge took a dim view of his actions during a junior hockey gaine. Aussein, 22 now, has been sentenced to 20 months probation, ordered to do 100 hours of community service, and fined $500, which he must turn over to a hockey organization for an anti-vio- lence initiative. This is probably the young man's first brush with the iaw and appearance in a courtroomn on a criminai charge, so the fact he is shaken is understandable. Hopefully it wili give him pause. Aussemn must remnember that in the eyes of the law, he is a criminai, a highiy unfortunate state of affairs for somnebody who was involved in hockey violence. This has substantial repercussions. For example, travel to for- eign countries, even the United States, could be difficuit. And some jobs are out of the question. Ail for what? Losing one's temper in a hockey game and giv- ing opponents a couple of dangerous cheap shots. Aussem, like others before him, can't seem to reconcile what has happened to him with the fact that the injuries to others took place during a hockey game. "I have no faith .. I've lost a lot of respect for hockey," he said iast week after sentencing in Brampton, where the assault took place. Those of us familiar with hockey can't help feeling for Aussem to some extent despite the fact his conduct - skating full tilt into somebody and cross-checking them on the back of the neck - was wholly inexcusable. It's just that many of us have become so used to hockey vio- lence we don't really question it, even when it begins to get out of hand. For instance, a fisffight of the type one often sees in hockey woul land combatants in jail for certain if it took place in a park- ing lot and police arrived in time to intervene. There's nothing wrong with hard, physical hockey but in too many instances it has gone beyond that. Often escalation involves cheap shots of one kind or another by those not well-conditioned enough, or tough enough, or sporting enough, to play the game properly. And this sort of escalation can spili over into the crowd. Your agent has seen women go after other women's faces with their nails, men who have had heart attacks pushing and shoving in hailways, teenagers throwing theinselves at opposing parents, fights of ail sorts (mostly the tainest parts), to say nothing of al the bitter insuits that have been hurled around. Other reporters have their own tales to tell, often involving violence aniong minor hockey parents oriented toward one anoth- ler, or even coaches. What happened to, Aussem is a good lesson for many of us. In his shock and even discouragement, it does flot appear@ iost on him either. Rob Kelly Farm boycott disappointing Dear Editor: 1 was really disappointed by the recent York teachers' decision to boycott Chudleigh's Apple Orchard. Let me state first of ail that 1 do not support the current Conservative govemment's education Bill 160 and perhaps it would be bard to find anayone more opposed toi it than 1. That position is no doubt quille the opposite of our sitting member, Conservative MPP Ted Chudleigb. But while we would. have quite the opposite opinion on that issue, I hope we share the same opinion on Chudleigh Apple Orchard. First off, this is not Ted's business. For the record, if this had been Ted's business 1 would still believe it is wrong to boycott it as it would bave no bearing on bis political actions. Pieket bis pohitical office on wbatever issue you disagree witb bimt on. Absolutely, I case understand that. Vote him out of office in the next election if you disagree witb bis actions as an MPP - that is everyone's rigbt. But toi pieket or boycott bis family's business, sorry I can't agree witb that one. Evert tbougb these are not Halton teachers and it us cer- tainly out of my constituency area, 1 will be sending a copy of this letter to the York teacher reportedly apeaking on bebaîf of the boycott. While there are lots, of other places sucb as Cbudleigb' s to take cbildren on farm visits, the reasons this or any teacher would have to consider Chudieigh's are just as valid as they were before Bill 160. To boycott the farmi because of Ted's stance on tbis or any given bill just doesn't make sense to me. Tim Kingsbury Wards 1 and 3 public school trustee 'Best' comment insulting Dear Editor: 1 would hike toi comment on the remarks made by Peter K. Burian. I agree that The Champion's Report Card prob- ably affected the outcome of the election and that Wally Hunter, who has a well-known namre, hait made a name for himself in Milton on bis own. But tol say that Colin Best overestimated the preserit day value of the 'Best' clame as if be ran for mayor because hîs father was once mayor is insulting. Colin was on counicil for 17 years, including three years on regional council. He looked after the seniors' committee, the policing committee and the mayor's youth committee, and belped many residents of Milton witb their problems. 1 neyer knew bis father, but working with Colin for the last few years on the policing committee, I have seen the différence bis hard work can make. Milton is the loser as Colin is no longer on councils or committees. Ail the best toi you and your famiàly, Colin. J. L.onard Miton nse. OUR READERS WRITE on page 7 Pud by Steve Nease Ian Oliver Neil Oliver David Bos Rob Kelly Karen Huisann Teri Casas Tins Coins OUR READERS WRITE