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

RS. Aa. wii wr wT wee hl 16 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, October 21, 1986 Take a Look Back 2 (ifs ri sy This week's photograph is a view of Brooklin, taken in 1906. It was taken from the end of Church Street looking to the north-west. In the centre of the picture can be seen the spire of Brooklin United Church, which was built in 1867. The "larger building to the right of the church Photograph courtesy of Whitby Historical Societ ry ¥ '33 3 ", t XY ; [8.8 Sip : ea 4 a ta 3 3 : Ye, \ % wa he OL ~. #4 WY a? . A v > ANY ® - 4 ANS > SI 2 Ee % : 2 y is the old Masonic Hall, built of wood in 1871 and demolished in 1951 when a new brick building, still standing today, was erected on the same site. The fur- thest building to the right, and the largest, is Brooklin Flour Mill, built in 1848 and still standing. There is nothing wrong with fighting to ensure animals are treated humanely. It is a noble cause. Why then must I now confess that I think many people in this crusade today are muddleheaded, if not down right wierd? A little background info if you please...a relatively mild story compared to some of the strange things that have been done by animal activists. This happened a few years ago at a board meeting of the Toronto Humane Society which was discussing a request from the Universi- ty of Guelph for co-operation, at no cost, in an 'experiment to see what viruses dogs might pass along to humans. Dogs' ears would be swabbed, and the cotton sent to the universi- ty for analysis. ~The radical wing of the board, which has now unfortunately seized control, demanded that no co-operation be given unless two pro- visos were met: the dogs had to give their per- mission; and the researchers must prove the experiment would be of value to dogs. Do you believe this? Now how are dogs going to give their ap- proval? Would they bark? The answer to that was no. The board said if the dogs flinched when the swab was put in their ear, that would be a sign of refusal. Common sense would tell them that anyone would flinch when something unsuspectedly touched the inside of their ear. What bothers me was the indifference to the possibility that this would be a valuable experiment that would not harm dogs, but might well demonstrate man's best friend may be a carrier of disease. I love dogs too. Save for the few years spent in an apartment after I was married, | have always had a dog, but there is nothing far fetched about the idea they might carry disease. Remember those painted turtles about the size of a quarter that many children had as pets before it was discovered they were a great source of salmonella and other ills that Viewpoint by ROXANNE REVELER could give kids a permanent feeling of having the flu? Of course, most of the experiments that animal rightists have been fighting are much more serious and pain-filled than swabbing dogs' ears. Now I'm all for the elimination of as many experiments as possible that hurt animals. But let me hasten to add that it's a lot of crap to pretend that we can eliminate all such experiments and still meet all the needs of medical research. You see, I happen to care more about human beings than I do about animals. Maybe it's time more humans said the same. Last month the humane society chair- man, Vicki Miller, who is also the leader of a radical animal rights group called Ark II, held a press conference urging a boycott of + Gillette products because the giant company tests products on animals. After that, she made the "tour" of any television and radio program that would have her. The clincher was supposed to be a video made secretly of such tests, I wasn't over- whelmed by the evidence because there was a theme running through all of it that any testing on animals was bad. I for one would like to know that any material I may want to put on my hair, face, teeth, or anywhere on my body for that mat- ter, is not going to blind me or raise whopp- ing big blisters. If it means that some animal must be tested in order to ensure that all pro- ducts in a drugstore are safe, then I want the testing to be done, providing the government monitors cuch procedures strictly. By the way, Gillette says it does such testing "judiciously." However, the real issue is far more im- portant than hair spray and shaving cream because these crusading animal rightists are harrassing our researchers and hindering ex- periments that might save human lives. Editorial | Hate Censorship, 'But ....... | am ~~ a fan of censorship and (never will be. However, some of the pornography that now sells for an incredible buck just can't be tolerated. oo oo The main prablem faced by those who are fighting this: twisted filth is the lack of political support since most Canadians, just like myself, want to be free to decide for themselves just what they want to sample out of life. The old, oft repeated slogan "if you don t like it...turn it off' (or don't buy it, whichever the case may be) rings in my ears as | have repeated it all too many times. The attitude is that the government should butt out and keep its mitts away from what | choose to watch. _ Trouble is, the porn now flooding *he Canadian market isn't just a man and woman having sex. If only it were that simple. Police "censors" are among the first to say they are really not after erotica when they argue Canada needs tougher rules. Oh no, the couple romping around on a bed is the least of their porn pro- blems. Anyway, "legitamate" movies on the big screen are now get- ting so explicit, there will soon be almost no difference between Hollywood productions and the skin flicks most of us have come to think of a porno movies. Police are worried about the growing number of hard-core magazines and videos that feature kids, animals, bondage, and unbelievable cruelty. And that's where they should collect support, even from critics, like myself, who are against censorship on principle. There is no need to get into great debates about the possible esthetic value when the material under scrutiny is kiddie porn. Material portraying sex acts involving children should be against the law to make, sell or posses. No great work of art will be threaten- ed as a result. That should be the main target on any porn legislation. Then comes the vicious examples of bondage and violence to women that turn the stomachs of all but the sickest viewers. Police friends, who through their jobs have seen the seedier side of life, tell me such videos make them want to throw up and | will take their word. | don't want to see them as proof. One problem with Bill C-114, the porno bill that died with the last sitting of the House of Commons, is that it went far beyond any broad concensus opposing children and violence in pornography. Critics feared that the Conservatives had got carried away in their reforming zeal and would now be banning the kind of erotica that you might not particularily like, but felt if your neighbour wants to look at it, that's his business. . . It may be next summer before the bill surfaces again in the House, which is too long to wait for measures dealing with kiddie porn. But the bill as it stands is not suitable. It goes too far in censoring explicit sex. Already the battle lines are being drawn again. Emmett Cardinal Carter sent a letter to his flock in mid-September appealing to them to write Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Justice Minister Ray Hnatyshyn. ) o The Cardinal warned that many groups which have something to gain from weakening the legislation would be making representa- tion to Ottawa. So, he urged Roman Catholics to affirm their support "for strong legislation against pornography which victimizes and degrades women and children." | am not a Catholic, but | read his words, and | agree with them totally. They are something people of all religions can, and should support. Get out your pen and paper and write. At least that's the way it looks to me. LIBRARY NEWS Learn Christmas Crafts at Library Plan your Christmas presents early this year at your library. Every Monday evening from 7 to 8 p.m. for the month of November join Mrs. Edwards in creating some uni- que Christmas crafts. A small fee will be necessary for some of the supplies, so please register early so everything can be purchased. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to make these exciting hand made crafts. If you know of anyone in need of the library's 'Outreach' service please call 655-3191. This service not only applies to adults unable to get to the library but also to children who are under the weather. We look forward to serving this community with excellent reading material. We are celebrating Ontario Public Library week from October 20 to 25 and are happy to offer our patrons a "tine free" week. So please return any overdue books free of charge during this week. Don't forget our Dessert Tea on Wednesday, October 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. Our travelling "Costume Clinic" will be visiting Myrtle United Church from 12:30 to 1:30 on Oc- tober 22. Ashburn Community Cen- tre Moms & Tots from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 23 for anyone who missed our Tuesday program at the library. This clinic is designed to show how simple and easy costumes can be made for the non-sewer and for those who find the needle easy to use. Rounding off this week of ac- tivities will be a visit from the Science Fair coach for the kids on Saturday, October 25. Your library looks forward to your visit during this fun packed week! :