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0 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, February 6, 1990 Back Talk COUNTRY OF CHAMPIONS The colors of red and white have shone brightly through- out Auckland, New Zealand over the past two weeks. The Maple Leaf has rightly been displayed high above coli- seum crowds, while thousands of on-lookers paid tribute to a slew of outstanding athletes. Those watching these games, if they have learned anything, it is that Canadian athletes are a force to be reckoned with. Many Canadians have stood on the highest step of the po- dium bending forward to have that symbol of excellence slipped around their neck. The recognition these athletes are receiving from specta- tors at the Commonwealth Games is more than they are re- ceiving from fellow Canadians in their home country. Where is the support for these athletes that have done our country proud? After 142 events Canada has claimed 82 medals. Of these 29 were gold, 28 silver, and 25 bronze. Currently Canada is in a fight for second place in the medal standings with England. Is two countries are only second to Australia with 131 med- S. These unsung heroes are not receiving the hype they so ! richly deserve. } Remember the feeling when Ben Johnson crossed the fin- ish line in Seoul, and brought home the gold(or so we thought). Remember the feeling of seeing Carl Lewis trot in safely behind Johnson. For a few memorable days the whole country shone with pride. Remember the full page, front page picture dedicated only to Mr. Johnson himself. Now those were moments to remember. Canada was elated, people all over the country were brought to life. Local bars, and streets became all night par- ties, couch potatoes all over the world sat up and took notice. If Johnson had never been stripped of his medal, | am sure people would still be praising his excellence to this day. Where is all this enthusiasm now? One bad experience can not wash away the respect for hundreds of other Canadian athletes. | myself was a huge "Ben fan", and even though his medal is gone, | still am. | like countless others was disa- pointed over the whole Johnson scenario, but | am also like many others waiting to see Johnson perform in the red and Wie of Canadian shorts and once again leave Lewis in the ust. In the meantime what about the outstanding achievements of Canada's other great athletes. Where is the hype for Curtis Hibbert....Who, you ask? You know, no one important, no one worth watching; just Canada's number one male gymnast, maybe a man who could at the next Olympics prove to be the World's number one gymnast. ...No one important, just a single Canadian (Turn to page 15) Letters to the editor COUNTRY UPHOLSTERY ree p T 0 5 _ 3 & Delivery 28-1156 Free Estimates DURHAM'S "FAVOURITE" NISSAN DEALER * New & Used Cars & Trucks * Leasing mE -* Service ; * Parts 1990 * Bodyshop PATHFINDER MIDWAY MOTORS VTE: 1300 DUNDAS ST.E., WHITBY 668-6828 Our Volume Means You Save! Where does the killing stop? To the Editor: By last week's statistics concer- ning the M.P.'s abortion survey it appears that the Pro Choice or Pro Death movement is still strong in Port Perry area. I wonder how the unborn would vote? Pro Choice? Whose choice? Certainly not the baby's. Who would vote to burn to death? Yet this is what happens to a small baby inside his mother's womb as a saline solution washes over his tiny body. Who would vote to be pulled apart limb from limb then discarded like garbage into bags? We call it intra-uterine dismemberment. Pro Choice? What no proponent of abortion ever says, is that the choice they defend is the choice to kill people; the weakest members of our society; the unborn. Babies ARE people, even if our confused government determines not. As early as three weeks, the doctor can hear his heart beating. The abortion question seems to be, "How human are we?" A cen- tury ago the black man was con- sidered a NON-Person. We look back with pride at those who stood against this evil and are asham- ed of those who did not. Will the future look back at us with shame? How will future genera- tions see our efforts to right past and present wrongs? Will they look back with pride on our firm stand for human dignity or with shame at our selfish apathy and Teachers not badly treated To the Editor: Regarding "Why We Don't Play the Parity Game," your paper of January 30, the separate school teachers issue. "As newlyweds, living with my parents, we are attempting to save and eventually purchase a home, but that goal continues to evade us. Not only because of in- creasing home prices, but also because we see and are increas- ingly aware of the tax burden my parents are being subjected to. We thank the trustees of the Durham Separate School Board for clarifying the issue for us. We now have a fuller appreciation of the dispute and say to the teachers, 'you have not beer bad- ly treated." Febee Pennypool Durham Bankrupt law IS not Canadian (From page 7) me, don't have the luxury of a Chapter 11, That allows big guys like Campeau to bail out, declare bankruptcy, but still carry on business as usual, free from the talons of angry creditors and suppliers." Only trouble is, he's writing about the American law of bankruptcy. Little guys or not, Canadian bankruptcy law is not so indulgent. Yours truly, Mary Kershaw, Toronto. blindness. If we don't stop this slaughter of innocent children and re-instate respect for life - at all levels - then this generation of baby-killers will perhaps live long enough to find themselves the 'victim of a society built on con- venience' - a society that en- dorses "mercy killing' - the elimination of the sickly, infirm- ed, elderly or mentally handicap- ped. Where does the killing stop? Poor little one; who was it took you breath? Who made the healer's hands a thing of death? Who was your Judas? Mother? Doctor? State? Or was it we who fought your cause too late? He has no cradle, cross, no grave, no tomb, This baby crucified inside the womb. Carol Switzer Port Perry, Ont. Letter was good, but.. To the Editor: Other than being much con- cerned taxpayers, my husband and I have no direct connection re the separate school teachers strike. Regarding your letters to the Editor coverage we wish to reply to John Bardeleben's letter to you, Jan. 30, '90. Also to com- pliment you on the coverage. Having followed the debate in the Port Perry Star over the past few weeks we can only say that Bardeleben's position appeared well thought out and worth serious consideration, until that is, his unwarranted challenge/closing remarks to Mrs. Kent. To say the least, a silly and cheap shot. M. Coppers, Uxbridge. French debate goes on To the Editor: I have been asked by a number of people how much Frenchis costing us. The Barrie Examiner re- ported in an editorial that by 1983, Ottawa's spending alone had cost $8 billion. Figures since then have shown $6500 million. No wonder we are fac- ing a 7 per cent GST on top of the 8 per cent provincial sales tax. In Ontario, before Bill 8 came into law, Peterson had spent about $50 million, that's traceable, in 28 ministries, an increase of 300 per cent this year. When questioned, Peterson replied "it'sonly peanuts." The truth of the matter, it is in the hundreds of millions. The $50 million figure does not include numerous offices and community services grants by the Minisitry of Francophone Affairs. There was $600,000 to fight assimilation by the Eng- lish speaking majority; $500,000 for a French survey. Do we English speaking have some kind of cultural disease? In 1983-84, the Ontario government spent $88 million on French. When Bill 8 became law last November, they were given another $135,000 and told to demand to be spoken to in French. Phones in Ontario government offices are now an- swered in French, ordered by the government, whether the employee speaks French or not. In Durham Region, French Immersion costs $26 million per year, and another $230,000 for busing, where French speaking people make up between 0.35 and 2.5 per cent of the popula- tion. Ontario's Francophone af- fairs office costs $1.3 million; French services for Ontario's Science Centre cost $12 million; another $1.5 million for French material for Ottawa library, and $50 million for more French. . The above figures do not in- clude the money it costs for mandatory French in high schools. In Metro, where one per cent is French speaking, a health centre was given $1.3 million for operating costs and more than $200,000 for start up and capital expenses. Mean- while, hospitals all over the province are short of money. Don Cousins, MPP, report- ed last September "I have tried on a number of occasions to ob- tain from the Peterson govern- ment a full account of the costs associated with the French Lan- guage Services Act. Each time my efforts were of little avail." If an MPP can't get the fig- ures, how can the taxpayers find out what it is costing? It's a deliberate cover-up. The average public debt for all Canadians is $34,000 for each household (1988-89) The Ontario government takes $60 million in income tax from peo- ple earning less than the pover- ty line of $10,000 per year. Now Ontario wants to put 8 per cent on top of the 7 per cent federal tax. The true figure is a shocking 16.8 per cent. The true cost of French could easily be more than $1 bil- lion per year. Mulroney says no cuts as Ottawa gives millions to francophone nations around the world. Dean Kelly, Association of Dedicated Canadians, Box 1000, Port Perry, Ontario. MACKEY, BAILEY & KORB BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Saturday Mornings - 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon Lake Scugog Lumber Building Oshawa Rd., PORT PERRY 985-1391