PAGE 4, THE HERALD, Friday, December 23, 1977 TERRACE daily herald. General Office - 635-6357 Circulation - 635-6357 Published by Sterling Publishers PUBLISHER... W.R, (BILL) LOISELLE ‘EDITOR ... ERNEST SENIOR Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum St., Terrace, ‘B.C. Amember of Varifled Circulation, Authorized as ‘secondclass mall. Registration number 1201. Postage paid In cash, return postage guaranteed. NOTE OF COPYRIGHT The Herald retalns tuil, complate and sola copyright in any advertisement produced and-or any editorial or photographic content published in the Herald. Reproduction is not permitted without the written permission of the Publisher. ~ EDITORIAL “Don’t use the term ‘Xmas’”’ I heard one of the typesetters say, in the ‘“Back room”, and an old controversy_started my brain reeling back to the many related ‘‘discussions’ -often filled with more heat then light, that I have weathered over the last half century, over the use of that word. I knew that the last (or should I say, “grevious’') publisher £ ‘“‘editored’’ has a hang-up against “‘X-mas” which no doubt (to judge by her years) dates from the ‘‘Don’t Take The ‘Christ’ out of Christmas’’ hysteria of about 20 years ago. | This in turn, brought to mind a professor of whom I was particularly fond. How he patiently explained to the classsome of whom had protested his writing “Merry Xmas” on the blackboard,-the ancient and honourable origins of “Xmas”. How “X" in Roman letters represented the Greek ‘‘Chi’’ that in turn stood for “‘Christ’’ back in the days of the pagan em- perors. Christianity was a proscribed religion then. All Christians caught were executed The language of Christianity was forced to resort to secret symbols in order for Christians to even survive. Thus the Greek ‘'X” (Chi) represented “Christ” and “mas” the feast; together they represented the feast of His birth. The use of the early Christian Church of the outline of a fish as a sign of a Christian is generally quite well known. The Greek word for fish being ‘“Icthyos”’- the letters each forming the first letters of ‘lesus Christos, son of God”... and s0 on... Now I might be starting to sound stuffy and “lecturish’- pedantic is the word, perhaps. -Anyhow...-here it is- Christmas is close upon us. I have been here barely since the first week of this month-practically a stranger to Terrace, it would be hypocritical for me to say that I wish you ALL a Merry Christmas. I don’t know you all-having met barely a dozen or two Terrace residents for more than a few minutes. Making friends, establishinbg friend- ships takes time, Everyone has too many false friends; fair weather friends. Although we know of course the time and the effort for such an undertaking is well worth it. Would I wish everyone in Terrace a Merry Christmas? There is more to life than being merry. I would have to think twice about these who gain at the expense of bringing misery and hardship and hurt to others. A “thoughtful” Christmas, perhaps, to those,that they might reflect on their selfish lives and decide to live more wor- To the merchants and shoppers? a “sincere”’ Christmas, -so that they be really concerned about giving good value for money; that they care enough about people to ensure they will never overload them with useless items they neither need nor afford. That they be sincerely concerned that what they stock and sell is worth- while, is useful and is made to last. To those in hospital, in pain, those who are old and lonely, to those who are suffering a terminal illness, to those who are blind and cannot see the Christmas decorations and those who are deaf and cannot hear the carols and other happy sounds of Christmas-I would have to use a dif- ferent word than “Merry” to line up with “Christ’’. ‘‘Endurable’'? “Warm” “Enriched’’? All of these fall short. To those many-whom I have never met, and probably never will-I would wish a Caring Christmas-that others may truly care... Ah! How about this... I have it now... A Loving Christmas! May God Bless us -everyone-as ‘‘Tiny Tim’’ so meaningfully phrased it, in Dickens oft told tale, so long long ago. And for those who are followers of a different Path while walking toward the same Light, -the many non- Christians,-Bless you, too! . Years ago, Victoria Report Cyril Shelford This will be the last Victoria Report until after the New Year and E would like to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. No doubt 1978 will bring many new problems, and also many new challenges, which should make the year a very interesting page in our history. It will be a reasonably good year providing all try to help the economy rather than damage it by strike or lockout. There will likely be two issues of major im- tance that will face all madians in the coming ear, and they will be a ederal election and a Quebec plebiscite for indepen ence which could change the path of Canada for many years to conte, There is fedvebee at the people of Que and the rest of Canada still haven't recognized the real issues facing this nation. The West blamesd the East and the East blames th eWest; the French Canadians consider their problems are mainly language and cultural; the Indians and Eskimos think all their oblems wil] be resolved land claim — set- tlements; many other Canadians think all would be resolved by right to work laws to curb Big Unions, while the unions think all would be resolved by curbing Big Business; unfortunately, the truth of the matter is none of ‘these ‘common | beliefs -would.. really ~ improve ‘anything forithe* average Canadian: and morel than liekly would make it worse. If any one group gets privileges above _ others, and become Citizens -Plus while others becomes Citizens Minus, then resentment builds ‘against those with special ghts There is no question that over 90 per cent of our problems in the nation are economic and no one group os to blame. It is time we dropped our petty quarrels and joined nds to resolve these roblems in a mature ashion instead of all acting like spoiled children. All political parties fall into this category by blalming others for unemployment without having solutions themselves, There is no question that unless all political parties change their approach and face up to the economic problems, it won't make any difference to the average workin CDanadian whether the Liverals, Conservatives or NDP get elected at the next Federal election. Even though I don't entirely agree with the solutions offered by the NDP waffle Group a few 1 have to concede they are tthe only group that have even .offered a proposal for change since the Social Credit Party many years ago recommended that the power of creating money and credit he brought back under the control of the Canadian Parliament form the hands :' International Fianance. It is well known that this solution aS ridiculed bny the Press and Politicians without one single con- structive alternative being offered. It surely must be clear to all now, with the devaluation of the dollar, which will cost the Canadian taxpayer 10 per cent more than last year to pay interest on our debts, that massive foreign borrowing is a dangerous path to follow. This, last year alone, cost the Canadina taxpavedr close to four billion dollars in interest. This is only the Federal debt and does not include interest payed by the 10 Provinces, Municipalities, Hospitals, Schools, Ferries, and many others which will in total be more than double the Federal debt, The fact is no one appears to know the answer or what we really owe. I wrote to all Provinces over a year ago to get thrie total dbet figure or Government on ail levels, us Crown Corporations. le some were very helpful, it appeared that none of them even knew the exact debt picture. If it were known, all Canadians would be shocked out of their wits by the total amount of money leaving this country in interest payments. This is the main réason’ “ll utility rates": have: to.“increase: each year.” ° Tt is simply amazing to read all the news reports about the advantages of money coming into Canada and the increases in wages causing problems for the export industry, while no one dares to touch the real drain on the Canadian economy which is pn rest payments going out. Ths sort of a situation, along with major international companies taking money and technology (with the help of the Government? out of Canada to start plants in other countries where wage rates are lower, puts ovr roduction units out tw usiness. We see it in agriculture, forestry and many other areas. Ow New Year's resolution sohould be to drop our petty bickering, and blaming others, and get together asa nation to chart a course for economic development which would brin maximum employmen and benefits to Canada. This will require holdin erh line on costs of kinds. Control .of our destiny wil] require sacrifices by all our people. If this In not done, Canada wil] quickly break up intofpieces and minority grpupa will come in cogflict with each other. }We must develop a_ national pur- pose we all can be proud of and move forward with confidence. Energy problems HALIFAX (CP) — The four Atlantic provinces containued to grapple with varying energy problems in 1977. prices in Canada, New Brunswick's energy probmems are less serious but the provinces continued moving away In Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island the main problem continued to be high electricity rates; they depend more than any other province on high priced oil for power generation. Both provinces moved to conserve [tel through a federally-financed program of home in- sulation grants. Newfoundland, thanks to hydro dedvelopment, has lower power rates but the highest petroleum from oil-fired generation. Offshore oll drilling ell to a dismal low but an Imperial Oil executive said in November the mest optimistic estimates would put the region in the same league as the North Sea for petroleum deposits. Optimism also revived for the long-talked about proposal to dam the Bay of Funday head-waters and harness its 50-foot tides for hydro-electric power. In late November the final feasibility stud on the three best tidal- power sites concluded that all three were technically feasible. The council of Maritme Premiers continued working toward a Maritime Energy Corp., which would build inter- provincial power lines and power-generating projects. It might also negotiate for construction of an underwater cable to Newfoundland to tran- smit Labrador power. In Nova Scotia, con- sumers reeled under & 47,2 per cent electircal rate increase March 2, but provincial officials forecast no increasesfo: 1978. Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Power Corp NSPC and the Provinciai government moved tu reduce the province's #2 per cent dependence 5 dil-fir. | generators. The t -stistep is a coal- fired guacrating plant under construction at Lingan in the Ca Breton coal field. The first of its two 150- megawatt gernators is expected to begin producing in November, 1979. Premier Regan an- nounced in the spring that Wimpey Canada Ltd. had been awarded a contract Fpmoarron slauk Buddhist family waits for “Tet” PETER ARNETr JERSEY CITY, N.J, (AP) — The 10 children of Tran Van Sam_ are resigned to going without presents again this tmas. Against the scornful advice of her teen-age brother, Son, sixyear-old Huong wrote a letter to Santa Claus. She knows daddy does not believe in Christmas or in presents. Sam, who came to the United: States with thousands of other Vietnamese in 1975, is no Scrooge. - He - told --a visiting’ reporter that more than half his $600 monthly wage as a radio assembler went for rent. sup- food y and Social y for his aged mother, was exhausted on basic necessities. The family is just a few sa awa from gr poverty. © But Sam has other reasons for ignoring Christmas. He is a devout Buddhist, whose most important occasion comes at Tet, or the lunar new year, usually in late January or February. His one luxury is a room devoted to Buddha. The walls and ceilings are painted bright yellow. Two large stucco statues of Buddha, bought: in California, are festooned with colored ribbons. IS STRICT PARENT He is alse a_ strict t in the traditional ietnamese sense. His word is law, befitting a former police captain in: the coas Tau. And the word is no presents. “We are refugees, and we pay the rent first,” he said. “And my children are not spoiled. Viet- namese kids are not like Americans. They under- stand.” The Sam children have their own style of un- derstanding. resort of Vung ' Huong’s audacity to go direct to Santa is backed up in spirit by her nine siblings who spill all over their narrow, threestorey wooden frame house. Huong asked for the Bab: B doll she saw ad- vertised on TV. Her sister, Hai, 9, wants a avin aet. Basebalt- a , 12, wants a bat an ball. The assimilation of the Sam children foes beyond Christmas time. The five boys, aged be- tween 11 and 18, attend, local: schools: All. have hadtheir share’ of‘ fist-, slits and“ranins with" other youths testing the lone Vietnamese family in the community. EXPLOITED FAMILY The family had an unfortunate experience with private enterprise when their first sponsor at Island Pond, Vt., in 1975 worked the parents and the older children in his restaurant from 6 am, to 9 p.m. six days a week for room, board and $70 a week. m In Jersey City in the shadows of Manhattan’s skyscrapers across the Hudson River, the Sams try to survive the best way they can, as a close- knit family unit. Mrs. Sam cares for the children at home, oc- casionally substituting packng convenience ioods ~when the budget cannot afford the special ingredients for. Viet- namégsé, fopd:E2) soe would do Christmas Day,. Son, said: ‘“‘We will probably just —sin iemamese songs while strum on my guitar.” But the kids have hopes for next year, a concession to the culture . of their new home, Sam allowed his children to place a tiny plastic Christmas tree in his Buddhist shrine. _ What is it like when you lose your job and cant get another? A woman finds the rules have changed, but many dont know it. A young woman phoned the MERALD Wed: nesday. “You asked us, or invited us, when we ‘had any issue to take up to write or phone the Herald.” she said. ‘‘Well, I have an issue-and I'm not alone, There are quite a few other people-a number of ther living in the same apartment blocks, who feel the way I do,’;’-she went or It seems (bh ment of Hui Resources os anew policy, Whe: 4 person is laid off fram iny job that person mv- report the same dav .o register at the “tarimployment —In- strane Offfee. Two weeks aller suc!. persons have reported. they can then expect ta set (or are eligite for’ two weeks berg. nf” assistance ‘rom DHR, Period. Now, -ome of the tenunts |. ngin my block are highly employable. They have always been workers. They don’t like to be out of work or on Some of these preferrred to go out right oway ani look for another joh uot report, then go home and sit back and wait out the wecks and weeks until they can get handouts. However, some of these Independent, self reliant types who were lald off, who tried for a full, month or so to land jobs on their own then have gone to apply to the Unem- ployment Insurance Corporation. By this time they. were flat broke. They have used up their last pay and benefits cheque from their last job. UIC then tells them they must wait a month to six weeks before a first VIC cheque will come through. 80 they turn to the Department of Human Resources for help to tide them over und that first UIC cheque can make it through the mails- copefally 30 to 45 days wou. ous TUIR do? Tels Ga er thes can't give them «ie cent until 2 weeks iter registering with ! , but that is not the « of it THEN (Alte 1» iw. weeks wi will b. able to git ocrean anky 2 weeks. he oat happens after that 2! weeks of DHR “ooh * guns out? “It's up t them <(DHR)": the c.jer said. ‘Each ease h.. to be individually eiuated. I said to them’ ste went on, ‘This is just like teuching people to swim when they are drowning." “Our biggest com- plaint’’ the patient woman caller continued is why isn't the public told about the new ruling? DHE says they want to train the people to register immediately they are laid off, with UIC. But most people have never heard of the new ruling! It was DHR who made the rules. The: rules that DHR won't help anyone until two- weeks after they have registered with UIC-and then they will provide only two weeks assistance. “Now, the point is. NO Landiord or landlady will take 2 weeks rent, I know. I work for an apartment block. Right now I have twe ladies, both single parents with young children, both highly tained, well qualified, good in their professions. But that's the runaround they've been given. What do 1 do? Kick them out- with their kids-on the streets?" A phone call ta Dave Annabee suupervisor of the Department of Human Resources § in Terrace Thursday revealed he was: out of town until January 3rd. A_ department: soctal worker whom -we were then referred to gave us the following ine formation. ft is true: the regulations have tecently been changed-just how recently he was not able to tell us. The UIC waiting period has been extended from two weeks to 4 weeks because of the increasing delay in reprocessing the mounting number. of applications (paper work), DHR has always had a ruling they would grant a maximum of two weeks assistance for persons -wailing to recelye their first UIC cheque. The spokesman said if there was a further delay in receiving the UIC startup of assistance, on. an indiyvidual basis, the client could be granted . special consideration and DHR could make a consignement agianst the delayed UIC cheques. . Such an advance wauld have to be repaid when the cheques arrived, howeyer,- ‘‘Naturally".. If a recipient of social - assistance gets any help . from any other source, including his or her family, friends-or even _. food and clothing: all must be reportedtoDHR . and the value of the gifts or help may be deducted . from that person’s ‘welfare cheque". . The social worker- spokesman for the . Department said that any client who felt he or she had received a bad deal, an unfair hearing or had. in any way not been properly dealtwith could — obtain justice, : All that person has to do, he argued, was to ask for a senior worker or if that was not sausfactory-. . - for the himaléf, . Provided-ofcourse- that the client does not ask for the supervisor at such dates as, say: Thursday, Dec. 22nd, Dec. 23, Dee. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 26, Dec. supervisor, 30, Dec. 31, Jan. Ist, Jan. 2nd, and-maybe-January ard, (who knows if the, , planes will be running —- then?) . as well. , ; toc 27, Dec. 28, Dec. 29, Dec. .