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

HEADS UP FOR KIDS Thought I would begin this month's article by providing all of the kids and teens out there with a 'heads up' on the fact that Sunday May 8®...... YES, I did just say SUNDAY MAY 8th, is Mother's Day. Kids, here is an oppor- tunity to win back all of these Brownie points lost in the preceding four months of this year, by a timely intervention with a nice suitably worded card, and perhaps, if the allow- ance will stand the stress, a bunch of daffodils ($5 to $10) or a box of chocks (the 'zero calorie' kind that she loves). Teens, think of the benefits to giving a little bit of apprecia- more days before you are gently reminded to "clean up that tip;" your attention might not be drawn to washing the dishes for yet a few more days, and hey, Mom might be per- suaded to loan a few $8$$'s for a burger and fries next week, all for a little bit of thoughtfulness! For me, I wish my mum/s were still around so that I could spoil them in some little way... .but I spoil them in my heart, which is where they have rested for the past 20 or so years. On a different note folks, this month celebrates the time of Pentecost in the Christian Church. Pentecost, com- ing 50 days following the death of the leader Jesus, marks the time when the Spirit of Faith and Hope descended on his followers and gave them courage and confidence to carry on with their mission. For us today, Pentecost is a time of God- given transformation; a time to move ahead with new ini- tiatives; a time to take all of the positive thoughts and ideas on which we may have been ruminating, and put them into action. Today we are seeing "little pentecosts' happening around the World. In the Lebanon, the people of that land are now grasping at the new opportunities for self govern- ST. PHILIPS ACW Calendar of Events - 2005 Canoe Trip May 23" Garage & Rummage Sale May 28™ Pork & Corn Roast August 3" | Turkey Supper September 21% Garage & Rummage Sale October 1% Christmas Tea & Bazaar November 26% ment, now that the Syrian army of stabilization and occupa- tion has moved back to the other side of its own borders. In the Middle East, there has never been such a time of hope that the conflicts between the Palestinians and the Israelites will be placed behind them allowing growth, renewal, and peace to be the order of the day. New initiatives between In- dia and Pakistan may resolve their long-standing conflicts once and for all. A strong and united Europe has taken its place among the world's super powers and only time will tell as to the benefits they will offer to humanity worldwide. China is rapidly venturing forth into the 20. Century (that's right, I did say the 20". Century as they have a bit to go yet) and will become the industrial powerhouse of the 21%. century. Etc etc. The world is being transformed. Pentecost is above all else a time for kick-starting a dream of a new and more just society. It is a time to ask ourselves, among other things, if our country and our world is the kind of place which we would like our grandchildren to inherit from us. When we entertain thoughts like these, most of us simply throw up our hands and say: "what can I do.? I am only one little person...a flea on the proverbial camel's back. Nobody will listen to my voice...a voice cry- ing in the wilderness of our political system." WRONG! You do have a voice, and if you choose to use it, then you can make contact with your political rep- resentatives and let your feelings be known. Make no mis- take, if EVERY MPP received a letter from each of their constituents, or even 50% of them, complaining about, for example, their government's attempts to alter Medicare to the detriment of those less able to take care of themselves, then that action would cease. If you feel you have no politi- cal representative to represent you, then approach your church and ask them to begin to make its voice known. The separation of church and state works well providing the state maintains a social conscience and acts on behalf of not only the wealthier members of the community, but ALL members. If that begins to break down, then it is time for other organizations like the Church to take up the challenge of bringing governments to account for their actions or lack of thereof. On that same note, I'1l close this month with a story § told in the USSR some years ago: Premier Khruschey was speaking before the Supreme Soviet Assembly and was se- verely critical of the late Premier Stalin. While he was 8 speaking, someone from the gathering sent up a note: "What were you doing when Stalin committed all these trocities?" Khruscheyv shouted, "Who sent up this note?" {| Not a person stirred. "I'll give you one minute to stand up!" The seconds ticked off. Still no one moved. "All right, I'll tell you what I was doing. I was doing exactly what the writer of this note was doing -- exactly nothing! [ was afraid Continued on page 16