A 6 - The Oakville Beaver, W ed ne sd ay, July 31, 2002 EDITORIALS AND LETTERS THE OAKVILLE BEAVER 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 337-5610 Circulation: 845-9742 IAN O LIV ER Publisher N E IL O LIV ER Associate Publisher TERI CASAS Office Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in C hief K E L LY M O N TAG U E Athertising Director S T EV E C R O ZIER Circulation Director M ARK D ILLS Production Manager RIZIERO V ER TO LU Photography Director ROD JERRED Managing Editor M etroland Printing. Publishing & Distributing Ltd., includes: A jax/Pickering N ews Advertiser, AJIiston Herald/C ourier. A rthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance. Barry's Bay This W eek. Bolton E nterprise. Bram pton Guardian, Burlington Post. B urlington Shopping News. City Parent. Collingwood/W asaga Connection, East York M irror. Erin Advocate/Country Routes, E tobicoke G u ardian, F lam bo rou gh P ost. Georgetow n Independent/Acton Free Press. 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Forever Ybung, City o f York G uardian THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by O ntario C om m unity Newspapers Association ^ a W f .i c w f w N flf Canadian C om m unity Newspapers Association | oakville galleries | (9af<i>iUe ©fatarfki Jin g e B e l!F u n d <5 "£/« © S K Suburban Newspapers o f Am erica TV AUCTION United Way of Oakville M im M U m Ttw OaKvJta Milton and Oistnd A politician with class When all is said and done, it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. Former O akville Mayor McLean (Mac) Anderson played like a real sport. While Anderson's politics and platforms can be recalled, it was his personal conduct, character and beliefs -- in short, how he lived -- that most remember about him. As he is laid to rest tomorrow, Anderson will have lost his battle with cancer. Yet, he put up a valiant struggle and hung on to celebrate his 77th birthday -- along with his grandson's 21st birthday. His friends and family noted his fortitude through the ordeal. Anderson's foray into politics, a field into which he stumbled acci dentally -- he was encouraged after winning a public speaking contest -- was marked by impec cable timing. He knew when to wade in and he knew when to bow out gracefully. Mayor Ann Mulvale recalled the sound advice Anderson gave her when she donned the chain o f office -- take the job seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously. It's sound advice for all o f us. Anderson was described as a gentleman, a giving person, one who exemplified the meaning of loyalty and commitment, a civi lized man who was attentive and gracious to others, particularly his family. Political accomplishments may be fine, but personal accolades such as those bestowed on Anderson are what life is truly all about. It's what leaders should be all about -- setting the right example in character as well as in policy. Perhaps there's more room for those qualities to shine through at the municipal level o f politics, but it should be a goal for us all. And, obviously, Anderson had his pulse on the heartbeat o f reali ty -- he opened firehalls, broke up squabbles at the Town council table, ran for office both winning and losing, and keenly enough recognized that local political tugs o f war would extend to the north as well as continue between east and west. Through it all, he had grace and style, class and eloquence. Oakville will m iss Mac Anderson. L E T T E R ST OT H EE D IT O R G reenw a yor sp raw lw a y ? Same sex marriages I found the last two Sunday editorials entitled " Clear the air on Clean Air p a c t" and " Water solutions hard to swal low" quite interesting as both comment on the decline of our quality of life in Halton Region. "Clear the air on Clean Air pact" focuses on the Region's action plans to fight smog. The editorial questions the com mitment of the Region to fight smog on one hand, while on the other hand, supporting OPA 198, Oakville's plan to expand its urban boundary and add 55,000 new residents and 35,000 new employees in north Oakville. "Water solutions hard to swallow" remarks on the Halton water ban. The editorial observes that two solutions to the annual water "shortage" include expanding treatment/storage facilities or possibly instituting a development freeze until all the proper infrastructure has been built. An even better solution to these problems would be for our Oakville councillors to go to the Region and request an amendment to the Regional Plan that calls for the urbaniza tion of north Oakville. Our councillors could tell the Region that to gobble up more farmland for industry and houses is nothing but urban sprawl, which will create more and more air pollution and water problems. Our councillors could tell the Region that Oakville wants to be a leader in the fight against urban sprawl; that Oakville is the community that dared to say no to sprawl; and that Oakville plans to become the Green Capital of Ontario. Our councillors in Oakville have a choice. We can follow the green way by revisiting and rejecting the current OPA 198 (which is currently in dispute at the Ontario Municipal Board), amending the Region's plan for the urbanization of north Oakville, and keeping our remaining 7,600 acres of countryside green. We can grow sustainably, and become the Green Capital of Ontario. Or we could go the sprawl way and just follow the road we are on -- to more water shortages, more air pol lution, more gridlock, increasing taxes, and a declining qual ity of life. Which way do you want to go, the green way or the sprawl way? Let your councillors and the mayor know what you think. RENEE SANDELOW SKY OAKVILLEGREEN mm of tiii; cannot be denied under Charter of Rights Oakville has only one Gentleman As is the case in most cities in North America, the name "Smith" is the most preva lent in Oakville, at least according to the new telephone directory presently being distributed. A quick count shows there are 3 64 Smiths in the Oakville part of the Halton District phone book. But the Browns rate a close sec ond with 214. Other names high on the list include, 167 Wilsons, 133 Jones, 124 Thompsons when spelled with a "P", Andersons count for 99. There are 124 Johnsons, but if you take in all other spellings like Johnstons and Johnstones add another 108. There are a few other spine-tingling facts about names in the Oakville phone book. Colours are well represented. There are 214 Browns, 104 Whites, 58 Greens, 56 Grays, 48 Blacks, three Pinks, three Golds and one Cherry. Occupation is well represented. There are eight Butchers, 51 Bakers, but no candlestick makers. However, we do have 104 Millers, eight Farmers, seven Carpenters and four Dyers. Although there are 26 Littles, there is only one Bigg. And while we do have 17 Smalls there are only three Larges. There is a lot of wildlife here in Oakville. There are 108 Martins, 15 Birds, 14 Crowes, five Robins, four Wrens, three Eagles, two Ravens and a solitary Blackbird, yet no Hocks. On the animal side of things there are 32 Foxes, four Wolfs, seven Bucks, but no Does or Fawns. As far as animal noises, we have one Yip and 13 Brays. And they can Trot in three cases and Dart in three, but not Dash at all. On the stove, one can Fry for five, Cook 53 times, Bums on 22 occasions, to a Fritz on six. Those looking for a Fortune can find it for three, from eight Cards, on one Deal on three Bridge for one Trump. You could shoot the Works, but only once. Royalty in Oakville consists of 81 Kings, 12 Princes, but no Queens, supported by four Dukes, three Earls and 23 Knights. To play the music there is one Fiddler with three Horns and 55 Bells, but not enough to make a single Band. Religiously there are seven Popes, 18 Bishops, five Pastors, three Cannons, but to find a single Cardinal you have to go to Burlington. Greenery is not so common, with nine Birch, four Ash, one Juniper and nine Bushes, but there are 26 Woods, seven Groves, four Parks and 16 Lanes. There are five Flowers but no Garden to put them in. There are 27 Brooks and seven Rivers, also one Roadhouse. Checking out the calendar we have 21 Days, 10 Marches, 10 Mays and one September. If your looking for Banks there are 15. You can find 13 Bonds, but to find Cash you'll have to go to Burlington for the only one. But look out -- there is protection with two Constables, three Sargents and 10 Dicks, presumably after four Crooks and 10 Hoods. The problem is that among them, they have only one Gun but seven other Gunns. There is only one Gard to handle the three Gates. And if the fugitives are caught, they'll say "Dang," but only twice. In the Oakville directory, there is no oil, although we have two Derricks. The automo bile industry is represented by 41 Fords, 15 Austins, 43 M orrises, five Dodges, four Lincolns, two Chryslers, two Toyotas and a single Nissan. You can get 29 Prices on one Deal. There is one gallant Gentleman, and he can have five Martinis. There is no Golf, but there are 25 Balls with one Clubb for the 58 Greens and one Hazzard. And you can find the political scene here in Oakville. There are 124 Thompsons, 23 Douglases, 19 Pearsons and one Trudeau but no Diefenbakers. Going a little further, you can find 44 Bennetts and 12 Mannings. If all this sounds a little fishy there are three Fish with a single Chipman. We have one Fisherman trying to catch the 12 Pike and the three Salmon, but that's about all. There are three Salt to go with the four Pepper, but you have to go to Toronto for the Vinegar. Perhaps you've heard enough to be thor oughly confused, so it's just as well on the Oakville Phone Book to say Good-Bye. Incidentally, they are three and two respective lyMAURICE. B. LANE Bylaw is breath of fresh air I read with dismay of the campaign by bar and restaurant owners to have the non-smoking bylaw repealed. It is truly unfortunate that their business is suffering because of the weak politicians in Burlington backing down on this issue. I am a regular visitor to my local pub and I have never enjoyed it more now that smoking is prohibited. Even my smoking friends have commented that they preferred the pub as non-smoking and most smokers these days are accustomed to smoking outside anyway (most don't even smoke in their own homes any longer). Speaking with the bar staff they liked not to have to work in a stinking haze for the entire shift, too, but understandably were worried about the drop off in busi ness. This is quite unlike the situation six or seven years ago when Toronto went non-smoking for a few months. Then people were lighting up indoors just because the law said they couldn't. This time I haven't seen anyone smoking indoors in public places. What I would rather see is the bar and restau rant owners campaign in Burlington to get them to match their law to Oakville's. In fact, it would be preferable to have the entire province shift to non-smoking in bars and restau rants. Either way I'll still patronize my local, but it has been a lot nicer since the end of May and quite honestly, I haven't heard anyone say otherwise. It has only been a couple of months, can we not try this a little longer? It really is the right thing to do. DAVID DAVIDSON In his letter headed: 'Ruling makes a mockery o f marriage, ' (Oakville Beaver, July 24), Vernon Beck bemoans the unanimous Superior Court of Ontario decision declaring the prohibition on gay marriages unconstitu tional because it violates Canadian tradition. With all due respect, to build a society on tra dition is to erect monuments to the status quo. There is no more formidable enemy to genuine progress. Had it not been for the efforts of those who steadfastly opposed tradition, Canada would still be a British colony ruled by fiat, women mere chattels, universal suffrage a pipe dream, and entrenched rights and free doms the stuff of fairy tales. To those individuals who courageously challenged tradition, oftentimes risking life and limb, an enormous debt of gratitude is owed. Clearly, the traditional definition of mar riage as being the union of a woman and a man imposes a barrier on gays who seek sim ilar legal recognition. Denying same sex couples the right to marry contravenes Section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which states: "every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimina tion based on... sex.' In light of the Charter, how can gay mar riages possibly be denied? Tradition is a euphemism oftentimes invoked by those seeking to withhold rights they themselves enjoy. Better by far to build a society on toler ance; better by far to build a society on car ing, compassion and understanding. The discomfort felt by Mr. Beck and oth ers regarding gay marriages is their problem, just as it was the problem of those bitterly opposing responsible government. Con federation, universal suffrage and entrenched rights. We must not allow personal discomfort to impede progress, when such progress is aimed at enhancing the rights of others. 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