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------ PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 30, 1990 -- 7 ' THE NATION IN MID-WINTER As nations go, Canada should still be in the bloom of its youth. Founded some 123 years ago with the stroke of a pen rather than the slash of a sword, Canada is a mere pup when compared to such global senior citizens as France, Great Brit- ain, the United States. But that's in chronological terms. In spirit and vitality, Canada raced through its youth and teen years, skipped middle age and the "golden years" completely, and today, stands (or perhaps teeters) on two wobbly pins like some ancient, weary, bat- tered prize fighter who never leamed to roll with the punches. Bruised, bleeding from the lip, its energy sapped, Canada is slumped on the ropes; uncer- tain of the past, afraid of the present, and unable to shake the cob webs to focus on the future. This nation, which should be drinking in the heady spring air, laughing, dancing, racing ahead with a flush on its face, is actually in mid-winter; grey, short of breath, grumpy, badly out of sorts, roping half-blind in the cupboard for the Geritol or the Metamucil, or both. Never faced with a serious external threat in its short history, Canada's biggest enemies have al- ways come from within. There is a demon worm in the core of this nation, eating its way outward. It's been there for years, but in the ash, just when it looked like it would break through the outer shell, the nation would rally, shut it off, stamp it back to the middle for a few more months or years. Today in 1990 that worm is working over-time, eating away at the inner fabric with a voracious ap- Viewpoint by John B. McClelland petite draining the energy and the life-blood of a nation, taking one vital organ at a time, poised now to strike at the heart. The question of total collapse is no longer if, but when. Not too many years ago, the idea of this nation disintegrating was un-thinkable. We survived the Great Depression, the World War, the Cold War, several recessions, a couple of monetary cri- sis, economic bad times, the October Crisis, nu- merous constitutional challenges, a referendum, trade wars and cod wars, metrification, and the Harold Ballard Maple Leafs. Yes, we did survive, though more than one ob- server noted that it was perhaps in spite of our- selves. At the start of this new decade, the nation is being consumed by a piece of paper, known as the Meech Lake Accord, followed closely by the inces- sant bickering over free trade, language policies, a national sales tax, soaring taxes generally, and a collective dis-like for a Prime Minister who seems bent on tuming Canada the nation into Canada Inc. Among the people there is apathy and fatigue. Sniping has replaced dialogue. The mood is ugly and intolerant. There is fear of everything from the loss of jobs to rising crime in the streets. What an amazing sight this country must present to the rest of the world. An observer look- ing on Canada from afar sees wide open spaces, lakes, rivers, forests, fields of wheat measured in square miles rather than acres, gleaming office towers and a stadium with a dome on top, modern factories, schools, universities, hospitals. The observer sees some 25 million people who for the most part are industrious and hard- working, enjoying a standard of living still ranked in the top five in the world, living in a land that has never seen war, despotism, famine, or any major calamity that hits others who inhabit the same plan- et. - And perhaps that observer, if perceptive enough, would notice the long lines of people wait- ing to come to this land to call it home. How, the observer must wonder, can a nation that has so much, has prospered so richly, has nev- er been invaded, how can this place be in such a funk that it is threatening to unravel, come apart at the seams and split in two? How, indeed, Canada. How have we slipped into this animosity mode that pits province against province, region against region, culture against cul- ture, language against language. We as a nation are behaving like a bunch of spoiled brats, putting our own self and selfish inter- ests ahead of everything else. And as brats are wont to when we don't get our way, we sulk and cry, blame everyone but ourselves, and threaten to take the ball and run home. We, as Canadians, don't know how lucky we are. We don't know what a real problem is. We are masters at making mountain from mole hills. it is not the country that has grown old before its time, it is the people who live here who are hopelessly bogged down, caught up in their petty squabbles. Wake up Canadians. Wake up before the de- mon worm turns, and pray it's not too late already. Remember When? 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 1, 1945 A former resident of Greenbank, Flt. Lieutenant Salter, was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's New Years Honour List. Officers elected at the annual meeting of the Perry, Reach and Scugog Agricultural Society were President Fred Christie; Ist Vice, Armour McMillan; 2nd Vice, Leslie Smith; Sec.-Treas., R.D. Woon. By-Law No. 1108 was passed by Council appointing the following to various boards: A.B. Cawker to the Board of Educa- tion for 3 years; Roy O'Neill to the Board of Health of 1945; Mr. W. Harris to the Public Library Board for 1945; and Chief George Holmes to the Sanitation Board for 1945. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 3, 1955 Mrs. Art Brock, Regent Scugog Chapter 1.0.D.E. made a presentation of books to the library on behalf of the 1.0.D.E. members. Mrs. R.H. Cornish has been appointed to replace Miss Har- ris on the Library Board. The one room school at Epsom was damaged by fire. Port Perry and Uxbridge Fire Departments were called in to fight the blaze. Mr. Robert Walker was elected president of the Manchester and District Credit Union. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Reader celebrated their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. About thirty-five of their immediate fami- ly helped them celebrate the occasion. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 4, 1960 Mr. Ted Lamb, R.R. 4, Port Perry, was elected president of the Ontario County Junior Farmers. Port Perry Juveniles won the first play-off series from Ux- bridge - score 3-0. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 4, 1965 The Hon. M.B. Dymond, M.P.P., Provincial Minister of Health, and local member of Parliament, today confirmed that the Ontario Department of Education has given tentative ap- proval for a Vocational addition to the Port Perry High School. This addition is to be built under the Federal Provincial Technical and Vocational Agreement and would provide accom- modation for approximately 1100 students. The present Port Perry High School is now reaching maximum capacity. (Turn to page 10) Letters vi Should be proud of our library To the Editor: The library can't be all things for all people and not everyone will use the library any more than everyone will use the arena. But -- a very big BUT -- Scugog Memorial Public Library is a library to be proud of. Despite the fact that our library has been one of the lowest funded (of similar-sized populations) in the province, those who use this "most beautiful" library are en- thusiastic supporters. The staff at Scugog listen to concerns of patrons and sometimes suggest books that might be of help. They know the likes and special interests of patrons and frequently can sug- gest titles from almost any genre. School projects are of primary concern and the staff try to keep ahead of each of the 10 schools in the townships with books on mamals of North America or Social policies of 18th Century England. The topics are endless and each need is multiplied by at least 10! I think that with the limited staff and resources Scugog Library has been able to offer good books and good service. Our library isn't Metro Toronto Reference -- it isn't even Whitby Reference but it is a good library and it's getting better. The collec- tion of talking books is growing and so are the videos -- all FREE. Not a bad deal in this era! As a "former" staff member I would like to say a sincere thank you to my fellow staff members and to the Scugog Library Board for their kindnesses. I would also like to say to the patrons -- I will miss you most of all. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my love of books with you and it gave me the greatest pleasure to suggest an author or title that might have provided you some hours of en- joyable reading. I thank you also, for introducing me to literary '"gems" that are now part of me. 'All that man has ever thought Letter said To the Editor: I plead guilty to being one of the silent people. That is until Mrs. Kent said it for me. There does exist a line between ego and reality, the ability to pay and pay that is. I completely sup- port the view that the homeowner has now reached the breaking point and that not only the teacher but others being paid from the tax roll must reconsider and modify Smile For The Day or done is preserved, as if by magic, in books" -- this from an inscription in the library of An- drew Carnegie. Sincerely, Andrea Jones, R.R. 2, Port Perry. It for me their positions and demands. Where are our supposed elected representatives, the keepers of the faith, etc., etc., and their elec- tion promises to keep matters in mind and control? However, there is always a next time. Another election. E. Jones, Port Perry. Al Jt ff] 7 = "'Can'tyouatleastdo something about the leaky bucket?"