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6 - The Canadian Champion, Frday May 3, 2002 SCOMMENT *THE CANADIAN CHAMPION Box 248, 191 Main St .. Mitton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editoial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver AsooîîuaPiîhlisi/iir- Jini Davis Eulîtean it-Cliiel« Karen Smith Etlitie Wendy MeNab Ade'rtisbng Mapnager Steve Crozier C~iil utiiiiiManagi Teri Casans fiiie Manageri' Tim Coles PmdutiiuiiManagî~er r FO GOP'S SA[KE , ED, , tIEAYOU BOOING TH4ER NATIONAL ANNEM!0 The Canatilan Champion. ublistied eeiy Tiesday a4 nd riai isi19 Main Si h Milion Oni EhL914M9 (Box 248), s one oi The Meioland Pintiiig Piiiisiinq & Disiiiuiing Luiagroin i suinrinan conipanies wiiîci «nIiides AjaxPickeienîn News Adeiisen Aissini ieadCouier Barrie Adance, Barry s Bay This Week. Boien Eneriiise Baninn Suardiani Birliiigit iPost, BurliigtonlShopping News, Ciy Paient. Ciy nifYork uaîdian Coliingwood/Wasaga Lnnecion PEas York Mîrnr I(un sAvocate/ountry Rouies, ioicake Suaiiiarii Paiiiiorough Post (ieuni Young Genrgetnwn liîdepedenilhctoni Fee Pess Halon Business limies Hîjînnia Business Times, Kigson iis Weeii LnOdsay This Week Maîkiaiii Ecnnnmisi & Sun, MidaniiiPeniariuisierne Miron Minoul Shoppinig Nws, Mississauga Business icoes, Mississauga News, Napanec Guide, Nassagausnya News, NewnariieiAunnia Ea-Bnneî, Nonthumbîerand News North York Mrîni lakoîlie Beauni hakuilir Shnpping News hidiimens Huockey News Orlîia lndayI iawaiWhiihsiCiaringtinOPnn Penny ihis Wnek, Peterbornugh lhis Week Pctil i Lniny Guide, Richmnnd Hii ThorinhiiiuVaulian Lierai, Scarhnrnugh in MîîînSouullieidniinidge Tiibuine Advetisinig s accepied cnn e cnnditionn han n te neni ni a typn- graphitai eneni Cthai pniînî ni inn aduenising space nccupied On tihe erre nenus ieni ingetinen wiih a iasuciane aiiiiuance nir signatre, wii nni e c hargedfinbut hue baane onithe adaenîiseiniuwil e pain nir ni ihe apli- r ahle aiee Inpuiihiei reseives the iutIiic caieoiie adongîiseienis ni deci ne Te Mlten Canadian Campion in a Renpeiabie Predut W* Halton needs 10 look __«/ after its own youths j* O UR READERS W RITE As you drive along our îree-lined streets or pass our numerous busi- nesses, it's hard to believe that in Halton we have nothing available to help our young people in crisis. The homeless youth offHalton-- and, yes. they exisi are in need of the community's assistance. There are no beds here for teenagners who have been kicked out of the house by parents or roommates, or evicted from their apariments. Where are they supposed to go'? There are no emergency shelters in Halton that are capable of accommodating them while they try 10 get back on their feet. There's a prograrn, however, îhat's doing ils besi 10 find temporary housing for the displaced youth. It makes much more sense to tind homes where the teens live instead of shipping them off to Hamilton or Mississauga for care. We need to look after our own. Bridging the Gap, which has received short-terni funding from the federal govemrment and the United Way, is appealing to the communm- ty to assisi our homeless teens. What can we do'? Easy, says program co-ordinator Catherine Dove-Smith. The biggest obstacle is finding beds. So if you are in a position 10 hosi a teen for four to six weeks, then Ms Dov&ýSinith wants 10 hear from you. If you'd like more information. Bridging the Gap hosis an orientation meeting at 7 p.m. Monday ai the Halton Regional Building in Oakville. Reader hopes school board won'-t be intimidated by opposition to its Holocaust teaching methods I wanitt thaink The Chanipion for ils cdiiortil iegarding the Holocausi that appeared iun its Tucsday. Apr. I1f issue. 1 agree wîth you entîrely and hope the few letiers received won't intîmidate the Hialton Catholie District School Board. It can't be easy for Frank Junger in share bis painful experiences nf the Holocausi. but what could be better than a first-hand accoure. I cominend bim for his courage and l'm sure tbe students leamced froin a history boock. \Ve teed io heat the înîîh. Dl course. ix an emoflEntiaCl issue. 1 cati remennober as a young teenag- er seeiîng the pictures in the news- papers as the Allies freed the death camps. ht was a painful subject for ycars. indeed. but its history. As for bating the Germans. we werc ail responsible for what hap- pcned. We tumied a blind eyc to wbat was happening to the Jews in Europe. and Canada even refuscd to acccpi the children of the retugee This attitude gave the Nazis per- mission in a sense to carry on witb their ethnie cleansing. But, i's flot about blame. It's about joinimng witb Prime Minister Jean Chretien as he declared when visitiîng Auschwitz, -Neyer again!" Lets hope students in 2002 will grow up to bc more compassionate than their forefathers in 1935 to 1945, not only to Jcws but also to al races. Mary Cummings Campbellville I have to admit, these guys had me close to tears I must confcss. I haci a bard tinne kecpiîng tny teurs in check whetn I spoke to twn of the tour Milton District High Schonl studenis moments before tbey shaved tîeir hcads in support ni their triend whun was diagnosed with leukemnia several months ugo. It wasn't that they were ail teary eyed and eînotinnally distruught- jusi the opposite. in fact. Wlnen I spokc with Fraser McGaffiin and Seaun Magee jusi prior to ihe shaving, both spoke matter-of-facily of why they wantcd to shave off their locks to support their frietnd. 17 yeur- nId Croig Mitchell. And ion Clristink and Cnltn Mont- who said hes been besi friends witil Craig ail bis lite -showcd nn regrets post shuviîng. In jusi a few days. the boys mianagcd to rise $3,513.04. which will goi iiward leuketonia research, at ihe reqtiesi uni Craigs ianily. Wben the bocys sat dovn 0and said goodbye to tîeir haîr (Sean îold me il took hini an entire year to grow bis dread Inekin the way he wanted ihent to be). they did so wiîhout the slighiest bit of hesitatinin. After al, as tbe guys put tl. its juit hair. But il was more than jusi hatr. It was thai somewhat subtle compassion hidden tînder- neath thc more obvînus cause that really siruck a sentimental note. When speaking to Craîg's nother Mary, who made sure to comne oui to the head sbaving event thai Friday afiennoon with ber son. it was obvinus from ber tone of voice and the look in bier eyes she had the utmnst respect for the four boys who hielped raise mioney in support nf ~Random thoughts Craig. And ber son also knew be lbad a prety gciod glroup of friends. ln fact. the only thing that surprised Craig about the head shaving wasn't the fact his four friends said they would do iî: it was the faci he heard several girls were also going to be in on it, but later backcd out. Although Craig mlas beeto oui ot' sehool sinice ianuary (he's currenily home schooled) and bas barely becîn out of the hotîse silice begiînning chemotherapy treaimeint. being able on wiiness the shavings that day was a real treat- and somethiing be wanted to be pari of. As hie put it. if the shoe was on the other foot. hie would bave donc the saine thing. Il wasn'i the amloui raised or bow long it tnunk to raise the moncy that mattered. Il was the f'act thesc guys wanted to do whaîeveî tbey could to hielp orut theit buddy. and ibis was the unnc way they thoughi they could hclp. It's fot everyday wc hear such siories about inidividuals gning than extra mile ton blp out a frieînd in need- even if those itidividuals saw il as nothing (out of the ordinary. Fax your letters to the editor to 878-4943. 71