The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

6 -The Ganadian champ«o, Tuesday, March 6, 2001 Co1ÎÎLV Old blacksmith shop I1C. a local historie gem If there was ever afl example of a grand project to preserve local herîtage, its Waldle's Blacksmith Shop. As reported elsewhere in this newspaper, the shop, whîch opened in town in 1867, wîll be restored thanks to a project spear-headed by the Milton Historical Society. We couldn't agree more with Mandy Sedgwick, chair of the restoration commîttee, that preserving Milton's heritage is important. And what a perteet opportunity the blacksmith shop presents to do just that. fl Some of the nails in the planks of wood are from 1821 and many of the tools kept over the years would normally be found in a museum setting. It's a prime representation of days gone by that should be pre- served for others to enjoy and learn from. So let's ail get behind the projeet either by making a donation, volunteering to help out or supporting fundraising events. O UR READERS WRITE Let's ail hope and pray justice, common Latimer's actions fundamentally humane OUIIOv WDiE cv fIV il EU lit c;II ~IIIIL Dear Editor: Congraulations to Russ Hingston for bis letter in 'Me Champion uf January 23 cuncemning Robent Latimer, wbo tooi bis daugbter's lufe because be couldn't bear lu sec ber continufouu suffening. Be was sentenced bu lifte wilh a miùni- mum of 10 yeans. lIil costn a few hunt- dncd dollars bu kecp a person in jail for une day, il would cos( a vas! sum to keep a persun in jail foîr 10 yeans on 3,650 days. WIuy Seaste money trctm uvcnburdened taxpayers keeping Robent Latimer in juil uthen be's no tbreat to tbe cummuniby. non to anyone else? If it's felt that be sbould be punished," lie could be contined lu bis farmn unden bouse arrest. This punisbmcnt would enabte bim to upenate bis tanm anmd, in su doing, make bis contribution bu the cconomny as welt as support bis wife anmd cbildnen and btm- self. Lct us hope anmd pray thal justice and commun sense null prevait. Marlorle Hadley Powys Mill Street #THE CAVAMPUV CHAM'PION Box 248,1 11 Main Si. E. Thé Canadiot Chiampion, pubisShed eut y luesday and Friday al 9 Main St F . Milton. Ont ,L9T 4N9 (Box 248). is une ot The Mettuland Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9) Ftstitng. Fublishtnq & Otstributing Lfd, group 0t subaîfuin companies wfttoh includes Aîao/ickering Nens Aduenfîser, A.lhston Herald/Couriei, Barrie QP7 s~ 41 Adeance Ba"tys 8ay This Week. Bollen Enterpoise Brampton Suinta, (905)8 8 2 4 B3U > uufn Post, Bunhingtun Shuopping News, City Parent. City of or Guardian. Collingwuud/Wasaga Connection. East York Mintio. Fou Fdioral ax 87849 3 Advocate/Country Routes, Eoubscue Guatdian Flamrnough Fusa, Fureet Aderiin Fx(86-34 Honoa Busness TmesKigston This Week, Lindsay This Week, Matkham Adverisin Fax:876-3 Ecoo of & Son. Midland/Penetanduishene Miriot Milun Shopping News, Ms saga Business Times. Mississauga News, Napanee Guide. Classitied: 875-3300 Nua'ssagaaeva News, NenueatketAuooa ErBannec Nothunnberland News. Narti Yurk Miceot> Oahuotîe Beauter Sakvtile Shuopig News. Oldfînnets Ian Oliver Publisher Hokey News, SOlîa Today, Osftawa/Whitbytçarntnot Periy This uteeA. Owen Sound Tibîune, Feterborough fuis utene, Ficfon Cournty Guide, Neil Oliver Auu an'Pilulfe Richmond Hdf/thonnhiIlNuuhan Lîhenit Scanbonuugh Motio, SiuuffviulffdJbridge Tribune Wendy McNah Ada trnuaiti.' Museau Oas Aderttssn es accepfed onl the condtioun ntain he eet o f a fypo- graiucîteruu Ifliat puflun ut tue idueuîssn unie uccupitd by tnn tnnu- Kairen Sniith Fb ious itouý togetter wifli aueaoaihy allainau lor signature nul nul Se Sie% e <'nazier <na sa'n'fstîC "'9 .uat ot bufft the 0 b alaceo the advetiose, nt i le paud tor i the applit cable ura uue cublushet 2aseroeu thes rigl lu caledutiot aduertiseuients or Tern ('&as (Offs ua V , Odine Dear Editor: Jothn F. Bedeli has provided us with a great example onf thc kind of' erranneous thinking thlal has nmade Roblert Latimer a criminal. His rnethuds aîîd arguments are wnih exaîmntig. Typacal ut bis side. Mr. Bedeil chaise tunt to address the factsof Tracy Latîmer's condition. lnstead he appealed lu emoiun wiîh a onne- sided descriptioun aol thaise whn dis agree wt lis view. He used the cheap straiegy ofI 'appeal faoar- afy' saying, -peuples lîves are tu lie praîtecied under the law." as ilf the law were sumeîbing bigher than a produci of human judgîîîent. Then in another foim ouf appeal tu authaîr- ity hc conducied an imuginary pull. His 'pull' caînctuded that, "Maost people woutd ansucer 'Nu"' if asked emutionatly tuaded, agaîn one-sided, questions cuncerning the handicapped. Mn. Bedelî's greatesi and must manîpulative enror is a very cum- main une: by nul addressing the facis, he draops the cuntext that nîakes Rubert Latimer's actions tundamentatty huniane. In caim- plete dîsregard laor realiiy, he pres- ents Tracy Latimer as having ben just like any nftber handicapped per- sain. She ucas naît' Stue had a brain, but dîdn't have the tucutty to grasp even ber mtuas basic îîeeds. She caîutd snîite but cutdn tell uchat things gave ber happiness, even wben îbey aiccurred trequeitty. lit shotrt, she dîdn't ktîafw site was aîve air wlîn she was. Ste exisîed, but cudn'î lave. She bud alisnlutely no patiential att reacbing any under- standing ut sncb thtngs. Att ait the tatnguing may be enaîugh tan pennanently institution- atize ber air even tai enthanize her. But her coîndition was wurse than that. She was in connstant. unîreal- ale (under taw) pain. Mr. Bedeti reveuls the flan tn bis argumnent nben bis imaginary poiîl asks, "For peopte witb a develop- nmental disability, is tbeir lite wait living?" His answer: "Matst peuple wanutd caîîîîtuîîcaîe, 'Yes. "' Exactly! Most wuuld caomunicate "Yes"- but tbere reatty are sotile wbnn wud cnîmnunicate "Noi." 0t conurse, in bis haste tnt droîp tlic tacts, Mn. Bedet's fatatsy gives eveti tbe mtna sevenely tntally baîtdicappcd peoîple the ratniaty ait a wetl-educated abstract inttellit gence. Bain dure Mn. Bedett and tfei attbens presuine tan speuk faîr ber so sett'rigbtciusly. Tracy Latimer nus extramrdinarily îuueîtally nandi- capped, aîîd iliie so cnoatld speak f'or ber bave mnare îeassn tai argue that she natuld caîmmutuicate. 'Not" hl she cud understand lier plîglît. The brave maxi wbnt's tuer laitier understatd the nature ait Tracy's existence and acted pnatperty. Robent Latlimer and bis famity are ba'tten equipped tnt speak tain Tracy tban anyaîne. Tbey nere a tait maire bunuane tan Tracy iban nene tbaase wbu naîutd add tai bis, and bis tamt- ily's, suttering liy mîinîng luis fle. Richard Bramwel RR3, Mil/ton Pud by Steve Nease Tim ('ole% rionitiana.eer 7he M*on Canaduén Champffl a a ROCYCtabie Ploduct oz