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6 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 8, 1988 Editorial Comments THE ISSUE _In his letter to the editor, printed on the letters page in this edition of the Port Perry Star, Finlay Grant of Port Perry sums up in a very few words what countless Cana- dians are thinking right now. Who is right about free trade? The federal election campaign is now into its final 14 days, and it is obvious that free trade has become the central, indeed the only issue, in front of the electorate from one coast to the oth- er. ~The gloves have come off as all three main-line par- ties turn up the heat in the free trade debate. And yet, as Mr. Finlay so succinctly says it in his letter this week "I propose (demand) that we no longer be sub- jected to the obvious lies or distortions of the political leaders." His further suggestion that this paper find Simor Ries- man, the chief negotiator for the Free Trade Deal, and haul him in front of a neutral panel for non-partisan an- swers is a good one, though perhaps outside the re- sources of the Port Perry Star. It is however, an indication of the frustration many car- ing and thinking Canadians feel over this free trade is- sye. There seems to be no middle ground, no room for compromise, or even discussion. The Conservatives say it is good for Canada, and the people of the country; while the Liberals and the NDP say just the opposite. We have listened to the arguments, read the agree- ment (or parts of it, anyway) and still the refrain from the politicians remains the same. "Trust us," they all say in unison. And that, sadly is what it will come down to for most Canadians when they cast their ballots on November 21: who do they trust. Possibly over-looked in the highly charged atmos- phere of a political campaign over free trade, is another very disturbing aspect with long range negative implica- tions for the nation. ~ And that is. the "us-them" confrontation that is turning Canadians against each other. Lord knows, Canada has weathered enough confrontation over the past couple of decades on issues that not only split the nation into re- gions, but even cut across families as well. With free trade, big labour and big business are at op- posite ends. Some farmers like it, others hate it and fear they will be wiped off the map. Some say it will hurt the manufacturers, erode social programs, others say no it Aside from whether free trade is a good or bad thing . for Canada in the short and long term, we are being po- larized as a nation, split into two camps, each spewing venom at the other.. In a democracy, it is normal and healthy for differenc- es of opinion to be debated in vigorous fashion. But we fear the debate has gone far beyond that, to the point where the split will take years to heal, if ever. Mr. Grant has hit the nail on the head. Sadly, we have no answers. But we feel very uneasy for Canada. | Gla i i ed 0 Port Perry STAR 235 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO Phone 985-7383 P.0.Box90 LOB 1NO J. PETER HVIDSTEN Publisher Advertising Manager J.B. MCCLELLAND Editor CATHY OLLIFFE News & Features RMADIAN COMMUN 12 ot Subscription Rate: In Canada $20.00 per year. | Elsewhere $60.00 per year. Single Copy 50° Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association and Ontario Community Newspaper Association. Published every Tuesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd., Port Perry, Ontario. Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for cash payment of postage in cash. Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 A, 2s, , LPEns ASS © COPYRIGHT -- All layout and composition of advertisements produced by the adver- tising department of the Port Perry Star Company Limited are protected under copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. ELECTIONS & SIGNS Signs.....signs.....signs! Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there are elections signs sprouting up around the township like a bad crop of weeds. Stapled onto hydro poles and trees, taped onto cars and trucks, stuck into widows and staked into the Jrourg in every conceivable raw piece of land around the township. It's election time, and | don't think anyone would would expect anything different with two very important elections (municipal and federal) just a few days away. | don't think |.can every remember seeing so many political signs posted in the township at any one time in my twenty plus years here in -Port Perry. In Scugog Township there are twenty four people running for office and with the federal election only one week later (November 21) there are three more candidates seeking the support of the voters. It's all rather confusing, especially if you are one of those who really hasn't taken the time to. follow 'who' is running for 'what' seat. It's debatable if the signs help to make up the voters mind, but obviously the candidates are taking no chances. If the competition puts up a sign, then the others must follow the lead. If another candidate runs an advertis- ment, then the rest feel they must also keep their name in front of the public. Our mail boxes are filled with pamphlets and literature about the candidates, the news- papers are loaded with stories and advertis- ments, even the local cable TV station is dis- playing ads for the candidates on their community channel. But it will all be over very soon. In fact, when the Star hits the street next Tuesday, we will be filled with the results of election day. After the polls close down at 8:00 p.m. next Monday, November 14, it's a good bet that most of the candidates will have their team of supporters out taking down their elec- tion signs. Win or lose, its not an easy or en- oyable task, but it doesn't pet any easier leav- ng it for a few days or weeks. We would urge every candidate to make the removal their signs and cleaning up of the debris a top priority following the election. STRANGE SITUATION Last week, my wife and | and another couple ventured to Toronto to take in the pro- duction of 'Cabaret' with Joel Grey. 1 Jottings by J. Peter Hvidsten Having seen the movie an number of years ago | thought it might be enjoyable to see the play, but | must say it was a little more than dis- appointing. Cabaret never did live up to its' billing, and after some thought as to why it was less than enjoyable, | decided it might have been the absence of Lisa Minnelli in the lead roll. Although the show wasn't that great, there was an interesting incident happen during in- termission that made the whole trip worth- while. Getting up for a stretch | decided to head for the washroom to freshen up, and as | pushed aside the door to enter, there stood a woman in the middle of the men's washroom. She seem oblivious to what was going on around her as she kept her eyes trained on one of the washroom toilet doors. Men stared at her as they walked by and some washed their hands with their necks twisted in her di- rection. There were even a few that brushed by her and stood up to the urinals without a thought to her being a few feet away. | left the room for a moment to find my friend and tell him about this 'strange lady'. When | returned with him we entered the washroom only to find that she was now in the toilet stall, and there were a number of men with puzzled looks on their faces staring in the direction of the door. My first thoughts when | saw her in the washroom staring at the door were; her hus- band was sick, or her child was using the facili- and she was waiting for whoever was in there. But later it became apparent rm still not sitive) that she could not wait for the lon lineup going into the women's washroom an boldly and courageously decided to take the shorter "men's room" lineup. The amazing thing is, in all the time this was going on, not one man asked her what she was doing in the men's washroom. | would expect that some 30 or 40 men must have Passed through the facility by the time we left. | tried to imagine if a man walked into the la- dies washroom, what the result would be. | have no doubt in my mind it would have been quite different. LAST WORD ' Don't forget that Monday, November 14 is municipal election day. It is very important eve- ry member of our township takes the time to gt out and vote. Remember, if you don't vote, then you have no right to complain! pm ee ay ag a a RA 5 lr Kak Lh A ites en 20 ai