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eee a Lette I'S to the editor A positive side to "rock music' To the Editor: Once again, a crusader for morality has presented a one- sided and misinformed view of rock music. Carol Switzer, in her condemnation of heavy metal, has neglected to review the op- posite side of this issue and will thusly cause undue panic in the hearts of parents everywhere. While I will concede that many of her arguments may be well- founded, I also must dismiss some of her statements as questionable. For example, Mrs. Switzer states "we find the majority of rock stars are into drugs" - how would she know this unless she has had personal social involvement with these people? It is so easy to employ blanket statements to de- fend your view if your comments have no statistical foundation. Also, blaming rock music in cases of suicide is using it as a scapegoat by parents who refuse to admit that other factors must have been involved. Firstly, if a person who commits suicide has been listening to rock music for years it should be no surprise after his death - just because the victim was listening to it when he took his life does not give any substance to the theory that the music made him do it. Consideration must be given to the emotional stability of the in- dividual, as well as family rela- tionships. If he comes from a world of violence and abuse there must be something in that to cause emotional instability and to develop suicidal actions. If we look at the Janet Jackson song "State of the World" we can understand this point - "Lil' Johnny all alone / His only friend, the doll he carries with him / Goes to school each and every day / To be teased because he has no place to stay / This young homeless boy feels his life is worthless / Instead of suicide he cries himself to sleep." However, while this child does not kill himself, there are many who may. Of course, the cir- cumstances will not be similar but if they believe they are wor- thless they may take drastic ac- tion - and it will not be due to the music they listen to. When a particular rock group receives bad press for advocating violence or sexual promiscuity, individuals like Carol Switzer assume that all rock music main- tains similar attitudes when this is not the case. Groups and in- dividuals like Janet Jackson, MC Hammer, Living Color, New Kids On The Block, and Public Enemy, condemn a world of racism, homelessness, and violence, but they are continually ignored by a misinformed public. Why can they not receive con- gratulations for their efforts while groups and individuals like Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, and 2 Live Crew receive condemnations for their lyrics? Why is it that a group of West Coast rappers received little recognition for their united ef- forts, a song called "We're All In The Same Gang," to stop the street gangs of Los Angeles from murdering each other and inno- cent bystanders in a week of peace in the California metropolis? I believe it says much of our society when we neglect to men- tion the good that is being done by musicians. We must, as adults, look at ourselves and our actions to determine what is really the cause of violence in our world. As Janet Jackson sings of children, "Living in a world they didn't make / Living in a world that's filled with hate / Living in a world where grown-ups break the rules / Living in a world they didn't make / Paying for a lot of adult mistakes / How much of this madness can they take / Our children." Sincerely, Margaret Rowland Port Perry Is it cows or garbage To the Editor: How Much Garbage Can You Eat? Next time you go by a garbage dump ask yourself, '"'How much garbage can I eat?" Next time you look at 600 acres of good farm land ask yourself 'How much wheat or beans or milk or meat will that land produce?" Next time you buy anything you can't reuse, ask yourself, "Where is this going to go when I'm finish- ed with it?" If the answer to any of these questions does not please you than 68 Water Street PORT PERRY 985-9888 76 Baldwin Street BROOKLIN 655-3306 1487 Simcoe St.N., OSHAWA 432-3727 do something about it. Tell McLaren Engineers and Durham Region politicians that they are making a bad mistake if they put a huge dump on good farm land. Tell yourself and your friends and neighbours to stop producing so much garbage. If you would rather see corn or cows growing on the remaining farms in Durham Region, than a 75 ft. high mound of garbage, then let's do something about it. Yours truly Lawrence McLaughlin Nestleton. Please recycle this newspaper \ J PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, October 16, 1990 -- 29 Letter ruffles feathers!! To the Editor: It seems that feathers have been ruffled due to my letter two weeks ago in the Port Perry Star. In a telephone conversation I received from Mayor Hall, he could not understand where the information about his ques- tionable attendance at the P.L.C. - McLaren meeting came from. It came from the Municipal Office by an unknown person. He also was upset that I inferred that he was in favour of a landfill site in Scugog Township. He told me that he is, and always has been against a landfill site in Scugog Township. I simply stated that he was in favour of the process and the possible outcome. Generally, if you are in favour of a process then you are willing to accept the results, be they what you would like to see or not. Therefore, if you are advised to co-operate with the Region, and allow them access to your property then that is part of the process. It is part of a politi- cians job to be responsible for his, actions, and to listen to their con- stituents' concerns and needs. Ms. Banting says the presenta- tion that was made at my door was not as I said it was. I did not distort facts. The only part that she has a problem with is about the invitation to the meeting. Her assimilation to a wedding invita- tion and then told not to come is totally ludicrous. The invitation was given after being told that the access had nothing to do with us. Westill live here, and would have had our privacy violated none- the-less. We then found out from them, that our lot that we live on, likely would not be needed for testing, as we are on the outer perimeter. There was definite hesitation, an exchange of looks, and then I was given the letter of invitation. I was not told not to come, but, there appeared to be 'some doubt as to whether I would be given an invitation. If we would like to relate distortion of facts, when does a single unruly person make an unruly crowd? The New Lexicon Webster's Dictionary definition of unruly is: refusing to submit to rule, undiciplined and causing trouble. I think that there were several hundred people pre- sent at the meeting that would take offense at Ms. Banting's description of the community members present. The air seem- ed to be filled with disbelief and anger but "unruly crowd" is an inaccuracy. This is the kind of hype that you would expect, and did receive from the media, not from someone who is a volunteer public representative. It is the right of everyone to pro- tect and do as they see fit for their home and property. I think everyone should decide for themselves what they want to do in this situation, and frankly I do not think that a stranger or anyone else has the right to tell or advise (unless requested) what to do with their property and livelihoods. Linda Wheeler R.R. 2, Blackstock Landfill legacies To the Editor: The proposed Durham landfill in Scugog Township poses a serious environmental threat to the ground water that will flow north from the site to the com- munities of Blackstock, Nestleton and eventually into Lake Scugog. There is now undisputed evidence that all landfills leak and liners fail. Dr. Cherry (Universi- ty of Waterloo) and Dr. Montague (Princeton) are just two of the dozens of researchers who have found toxics in groundwater as a result of landfills leaking. The first of groundwater con- taminants from landfills is Lengthy; it includes the following known human carcinogens: . benzene, chlorobenzene, carbon tetrachloride, dichloroethenes, vinyl chloride, styrene, PCB's and heavy metals to name a few. The Stouffville cluster diseases of leukemia, cancer, chloroacne, Chrones disease and birth defects and six times the the national average miscarriages have been attributed by both the present mayor of Stouffville and the Ministry of Health to the Stouff- ville landfill. We will not accept the same legacy in our or any other com- munity. I will outline safe and sane alternatives to this 1950's technology of landfills in a subse- quent letter. Yours truly, Bob Almack Zero Garbage Blackstock, Ont. FUTURES WORK AND EARN WHILE YOU LEARN FUTURES is designed to improve the employability of youth who are experien- cing problems, to successfully enter the labour market. Basic eligibility criteria are 16 to 24 years of age, out of school and out of full-time work for at least 3 months (if you have less than grade 12) or 5 months (if you have grade 12 or more), and eligible to work in Ontario. -- 16 week program -- Counselling -- Life Skills -- Job seeking / keeping -- Computer training PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM (Must have less than Grade 12) -- $125./week allowance -- Academic / literacy / upgrading PART-TIME SCHOOL / PART-TIME WORK -- 19 years of age -- Out of school 1 year -- $100 / week school allowance -- Hourly minimum wage for work component ao ap COLLEGE DURHAM For more information on the Futures program, call the centre nearest you: UXBRIDGE (416) 852-7848 Ministry of Education Ontario i A A a le a a «ah ST yc nko