- Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, September 11,2002 Aocna Orono Weekly Times Serving East Clanngton and beyond since 199' (jCNA Subscriptions $29.91 + $2.09 G.S.T. = $32.00 per year. Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 • Agreement No. 40012366 Publishing 48 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. " Orono Weekly Times 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 < E-mail: oronotimes@speedline.ca • Phone/Fax 905-983-5301 Publisher/Editor Margaret Zwart r O(/ L The Orono Weekly Times welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our readers. Opinions expressed to the editor and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Orono Weekly Times. Letters must be signed and contain the address and phone number of the writer. Any letter considered unsuitable will not be acknowledged or returned We reserve the right tb edit for length libel and slander If your retail or classified ad appears for the first time, please check carefully. Notice of an error must be given before the next issue goes to print. The Orono Weekly Times will not be responsible for the loss or damage of such items. ë Stand Together by Jeanne Wigand Today is the one-year anniversary of the hijackings and crashes in the US that stunned the world. We were all traumatized traumatized by that day and many of us still find it hard to see the pictures pictures of the burning skyscrapers and the devastation that followed. followed. Over the past year we have been witness to a world that united united in sympathy and compassion and has been recently divided by new threats of war. Because of the magnitude of the tragedy and universal media coverage, we have gotten to know many of the victims and the heroism exhibited that day. Firefighters, Policemen and the Military regained a deservedly new respect from freedom loving people. Unfortunately the hatred and intolerance that planned and executed these horrific events has been dislodged but not eliminated. eliminated. Many people still wonder when and where the next terrorism act will take place because yve know it's not over. Acts of violence violence in the name of Religion have been the major flaw of Man since the beginning of our Existence and will continue because of intolerance. J ^Throughout the-yeair ITiave read many editorials blaming the West, especially the US, and its culture for the attacks. The idiocy of this argument is that the US, Canada and the other western nations allow freedom of the press, religion and individual individual rights - notably by allowing different people to express their views without retaliation. Western countries went out of their way to protect Arab citizens after September 11th because of the heated situation. Education is the equalizer in any free society and we should take note that both the US and Canadian quality standards have taken a slide with budget cuts. Widening the gap between the have and have-nots breeds contempt and intolerance. President Bush has recently said that the US will no longer tolerate Saddam Hussein's refusal to adhere to the United Nation's requirement to have weapon inspectors unfettered access to Iraq. Although it is fair and right to question the motivation of any government operation that infringes on the sovereignty of another nation, we should consider the ramifications ramifications of nuclear and chemical weapons in the hands of fanatics. Some diplomats have hinted that the Arab nations are not forcefully forcefully supporting the US and Britain on Iraq because they fear uprisings by extremists in their countries. The acts of September 11, 2001 have already taken away some of our freedoms. Imagine the world with an on-going threat of a dirty bomb ready to go off anywhere if the situation remains unchecked. Canada, the US and all free countries must stand together to fight terrorism in the world. Thanks to Jeanne also for creating the Orono Times Scarecrow entry who sits at her desk on the street in front of the office every day reading the paper Dismantling Canada's military Dear Editor: The anniversary of the September 11 attacks should serve as a wake up call to anyone anyone who attended a Paul Martin barbcque over the summer. If you bought a Liberal membership in support support of this mart or lined up to shake his hand, be aware that it was he who watched over the continued dismantling of Canada's military. Even in the face of threat to our own security and the pleas from several House of Commons and Senate committees, committees, Martin refused to supply supply the funds needed to allow Canada's fighting men and women to fulfill their duties. While 'previous - govern- 1 Letters to the Editor ments decreased the military budget as part of the "peace dividend" following the fall of the Soviet empire, Mr. Martin has driven today's armed forces to the point where we can no longer support even our NATO commitments, mush less assist the US in any further anti-terrorist activities. He and Jean Chretien are equally guilty of distributing public money for partisan means over the public good. We are fortunate that the quality of our military personnel personnel allowed them to serve in Afghanistan with honour, despite a lack of equipment, transportation, camouflage or staff for a second rotation. If Paul Martin can wreak so much havoc to Canada's national security (and health care, agriculture, the dollar etc.) as Finance Minister, Heaven help us should he ever become Prime Minister. Sincerely, Mike Reilly, Winnipeg Unknown variables Dear Sir: Canadians are being asked to pass judgement on the Senate Committee's recommendations recommendations to legalize marijuana marijuana without full consideration consideration being given to the fact that there are no known "roadside" "roadside" tests that law enforcement enforcement officers can use at the present time to determine whether a driver is handicapped handicapped by this substance as is the case with alcohol. Until those tools are provided provided this proposal is "premature". "premature". Proponents of legalization will not raise it. Those opposing opposing it may well have other bases of disagreement. The challenge being made here is that the media take a practical look of the effect of those sixteen and older having uni im ited vafcc#y. : te s?a, mood 'v* mSd I fief ihiif 'Iftliÿ v bfbalé^ 'as * ' much carnage on the highways highways as would unregulated use of alcohol. "Years ago, they didn't have the .08 level to work with either, but they worked at it and it became accepted," Mr. Thomson said. "There has got to be a way, or someone should come up with a way, of testing marijuana levels that can be proven in court." Mr. Thomson's son along with four others died in a crash where marijuana rather than alcohol was deemed a causational factor. "Guilty until proven innocent" innocent" must be the norm applied to full acceptance of a new intoxicant into our society. society. As yet this aspect of its effect has not been considered. Sincerely Yours, dackjDav ic&, Tillsdnburg. '•'** 11 ; ■ •'> t'<i. I . «• • a•*, <*!.,%W(*,i •¥ « "