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Back to HomeLetters - March 30, 2011Letters: March 30

Re: Disaster in Japan felt in Cloyne, Naomi Ono

Re: 40th anniversary, Zelda Hannah

Re: Central Frontenac Fined for Illegal Gravel Pit, Dorothy Clow

To spank or not to spank, John Wallace

Unhappy electorate, Bob Taylor

Re: Disaster in Japan felt in Cloyne

I appreciated that you ran the story about Cloyne resident, Kahoru Noonan, and her family and friends who have suffered in the Japanese earthquake. I didn't realize that we had someone in the Frontenac community (so far away from Japan) who was affected by the earthquake like her.

I am Japanese myself and moved to Mountain Grove from Japan about a year and half ago. Quite fortunately, none of my close friends and family were affected by the quake and the nuclear disaster. But I was deeply shocked by the catastrophe, to the extent I feel my mental clock stopped at the time of the quake.

Just like Kahoru, I also felt powerlessness in that there's very little I could do to help the people there – that is, until one of my friends in Kingston decided to hold a disaster relief fundraiser next month. whole bunch of Japanese residents in Kingston and vicinity, including myself, are gathering together for a yard sale & good will concert at the Next Church, 89 Colborne St. in Kingston on Saturday April 16, from 10am to 1pm. Any support would be appreciated. Thank you.

Naomi Ono

Re: 40th anniversary

Congratulations to the Frontenac news on its 40th anniversary. It just seems a short while ago that I was helping out at the Frontenac news, when Moe Bush and Audrey McWilliams were editors (at different times) and the paper was printed and put together in the upstairs at Northern Frontenac Community Services. I was the reporter for Parham-Tichborne; I proofread and wrote short articles when needed. Now, my sister Colleen Steele and niece Christine Teal do the Parham-Tichborne column. I sure enjoyed helping out and the fellowship of the people working on the paper was incredible. I think – Jean Campbell is the last of us workers of a few years back. I look forward to receiving this wonderful and newsworthy paper every week. I hope for the future that the Frontenac News will continue to be enjoyed by its many readers for many more years to come.

Zelda Hannah

Re: Central Frontenac Fined for Illegal Gravel Pit

I feel, as a Central Frontenac taxpayer, that congratulations are in order to the staff and council members of the township. First they decide to raise our taxes by 13% and then we read that they have been fined $36,000 for using a government pit illegally as well as being required to pay $58,817 in royalties. Surely someone on staff or council would know that this was an illegal operation and could have put a stop to it. What a waste of taxpayers’ dollars. To my knowledge there is no one new to the area on this township’s payroll. Perhaps, everyone’s salary could be reduced by 13% instead of raising taxes to cover such needless expenses.

Dorothy Clow

To spank or not to spank

The Federal Liberal Party has made the elimination of spanking as part of their platform in the upcoming election. Let's examine this issue.

Scientific studies show that about 5% of spanking is excessive causing long term emotional trauma but, sad to say, those who declare that all spanking is violence against children is untrue, anti-Biblical, and without scientific proof. The Bible says “The rod and reproof give wisdom”. About 70% of North American parents discipline by spanking. Reputable scientific studies show that moderate spanking by loving parents benefits the development of proper character.

Anti-spanking advocates have tried and failed to convince the Supreme Court to appeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code which permits reasonable corporal discipline of children. How would these anti-spanking advocates feel if the "spankers" appealed to the Supreme Court to make all non-corporal discipline a crime? In a democracy, the state should only intervene if there is clear indication the welfare of the child is in jeopardy. In the vast majority of cases, spanking does not jeopardize the welfare of the child. Using the small percent of abusive spanking to make all spanking illegal makes as much sense as making all car driving illegal because a small percent of drivers cause death by accidents.

By declaring all spanking as a criminal offense, we would be guilty of the following: 1) admitting that the Bible teaching on discipline is false; 2) declaring that 70% of North American parents are potential criminals; 3) promoting undemocratic procedures by overriding the majority of the electorate; 4) disregarding many studies showing the benefits of reasonable corporal discipline.

In 1979, Sweden introduced anti-spanking laws and in a few years child abuse rose 400%. The reason: parents, continually frustrated and angered by a law prohibiting a few well deserved taps on the backside of a misbehaving child, discipline in anger. Discipline in anger and frustration is usually excessive. Yes, we should help parents avoid excessive discipline, but please don't paint all spankers as criminals. Let us not throw out the baby with the bath water.

I am one of many grateful people in the Kingston area who appreciate those helping abused children, but it is possible that those who continually deal with parental abuse of children develop a lopsided opinion that all who spank are guilty of abuse. Let us all try to understand those who differ with us on child discipline. I am fearful that if the Federal Liberals are returned to power in the next election, that they will try to appeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code and make all spankers, who discipline with love, criminals.

John Wallace

Unhappy electorate

Disgruntled Canadians once more head to the polls for an expensive, needless election when even  unofficial polling indicates we are only going to get more of the same - a grossly partisan, vitriolic, and dysfunctional administration.

Sadly our political system is broken when our duly elected representatives are only pawns for the party machinery, gagged with only talking points by the party leadership. Canadians, weary and disillusioned by the political gamesmanship, are fast losing any trust in the system. How can we send a message to the powers-that-be? Staying away from the polls is not fathomable in estimation as it is our democratic responsibility and right that too many have lost their lives for to preserve.I'm voting non-confidence; I'm voting Green. This reduces the amount of money each of the mainstream parties gets for your vote. Maybe that will make them pay some attention to an unhappy electorate.

Bob Taylor