cktimes.ca Archives for Notes from a Garage


Notes from a Garage

With John Gardiner

This is where women's lib went wrong

Tuesday, March 25, 2003

I must say that I am thoroughly distraught about the war in Iraq....or should I say, the Attack on Iraq – that's got such a better ring to it. As I watch and listen (as little as possible), I am becoming aware that this could get very messy. I heard one radio commentator mention the "V" word the other day and I'm not talking about Victory. The "V" word means Vietnam to those of us from another generation and it means a messy, brutal affair where the body bags will truly begin to pile up and which is very difficult to win. I must say, too, that I'm thrilled with the women's lib movement these days. It's somehow thanks to them that I saw a photo of a truly miserable looking 19-year-old American prisoner-of-war on TV the other day. Problem was this was a young girl. Has somebody lost their marbles on this planet? Why are young women out there killing and murdering each other with the same vigour as young men? Now, there's progress for you. If we really wanted women to get to do the same things as men in our society, why not try to get men to try to stop killing and brutalizing each other, instead of encouraging women to do the same? Man, are we screwed up on this planet. Actually, my buddy Phil Shaw and I were having coffee last week at the Oak's Inn and I nearly flipped my lid on him. It was through no fault of his – we just got talking about the war which had just started. I told Phil that our world leaders and power brokers just don't get it. This (look around you) is Eden and Heaven and Nivana and all those wonderful places rolled into one – and we're screwing it up. Why is it so hard for people to worship and revere life and to do everything they can to make it better for all? It doesn't look that hard.

I attended the first public meeting of the ROCK (Reorganization Chatham-Kent) Committee in Blenheim last Saturday and I think this movement will continue to grow. There were several passionate speakers during the afternoon, ROCK members like Jim Brown and Rob Watson of Ridgetown, but also people who approached the microphone. And I'm going to tell you that although there are questions about some of the money issues in Chatham-Kent, money was not the main concern of most of the people who spoke. It's about political representation and living in a small town. One gentleman talked about the ability to modify an apartment for a handicapped person without going through a mountain of red tape. Others talked about being able to have an impact on decision-making in their municipality. It's about living in a small town, folks. It's about knowing your police and firemen and your dog catcher and town works crew. Most of us who live in small towns, chose to live in small towns. I've had a variety of opportunities to re-locate to a large urban centre after being raised in a small town, and, in fact, I've lived in cities on a couple of occasions. I picked Wallaceburg to move my family to almost 20 years ago because it's a small town and that's where I want to live. That's what wrong with amalgamation – I don't think most of us want to live in a city. If amalgamation had gone through and ended up saving huge piles of cash, then proponents might have an argument. It clearly isn't saving us huge piles of cash and it's got some of us wondering why we live here. That's why the whole issue should be revisited.

I must say that I got an immediate reaction to Jim Gilbert's Cultural Musings on Chatham-Kent last week. Jim questioned the municipality's financial backing of the Festival of Nations and whether it makes sense in the overall Chatham-Kent scene. I remember going out to Rondeau to visit Jim and Lisa last summer to talk to them about involvement in cktimes. They wanted to know if they could write about cultural issues in Chatham-Kent and sometimes take a critical perspective. I assured them that that was what cktimes was all about. I welcome the viewpoints of all my columnists and encourage them to express them freely. Still, I got a call from one of the fine volunteers who are working hard to try to make this year's Festival a success, and they were disappointed that I'd run something that casts a critical eye on the event. I explained to him that Jim Gilbert and all of my columnists have to be able to express opinions as they see fit. That said, I will continue to try to work with the excellent people who are labouring hard to make the Festival of Nations a big success and I hope all of you will join me in that effort. If the question of funding for the Festival needs to be revisited, it should be done after the event is held. Until then, all of us should work hard to make it work. I've got my Nitty Gritty Dirt Band tickets – have you?

I'm continuing to enjoy being out and about in the community to try to give you the best product I can. Sometimes I get to feeling tired and a little worn out, but then in comes an e-mail or something saying how much the product is appreciated and off I go again.

Was up to Hanover last week to attend the funeral of my best friend's Dad. It was a sombre occasion and a reminder to all of us that we're none of us getting any younger. My good friend remarked that our generation is quickly becoming the last generation. All my best to Kuntzie and his family. I must say that I also purchased three dozen of the best honey dipped donuts that you'll find on the planet at Schultz's Home Bakery – and, man, what a treat. Schultz's has been in operation since 1937 and I used to buy honey dips there while I was doing my paper route when I was a kid. Good memories.

Time to go for another week. Hope things are well with you. Take care....and remember..."Hew to the line; let the chips fall where they may."



John Gardiner is a 25-year-veteran of the community newspaper business, but he is also a prolific writer of moralistic short fiction he refers to as "emotional thoughtscapes" or "adult fables". Samples of his fiction can be found at:

He has also produced a noteworthy piece of humanist philosophy which can be found at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~aboiten/ad502.htm He welcomes comments on his work.