Trinity College School - Record Yearbook (Port Hope, Ontario Canada)

Page 29 text:

The Younger Generation vs. Richard Needham In a recent series of articles in the Globe and Mail, Richard Needham openly accused the younger generation of being generally lazy and gutless ! He implied that the younger generation, my generation, would not and could not fight if there was a real challenge put to them. Because of this basic failure inherent in the younger generation, he says, the par- ents of the world, at least in the North American context, can be divided into two classes. There are those who admit that their children are failures and those who do not. What I object to most in these articles is the basic, and I think unsupported, negative gen- eralizations that are put forward. It is simply not possible to condemn the young people of North America in one simple sentence, especially when it is not true. In answer to Needham s accusations I would like to answer with my own generalization, a generalization I feel I can show to be basically true I think that there are a lot of young people around who are extremely resourceful and energetic and whose parents are proud of them, think they re making a success with their lives, and are only too willing to admit it The younger generation is more tolerant of others and we are more inventive than our parents, who were brought up in a world of rigid social structure and prejudice. As to Need- ham s suggestion that we eouldn t and wouldn’t fight if faced with a challenge, I reply, “Just try us and see what happens. ' Thanks to our parents the younger generation is generally more aware of the world situa- tion, the way others live, and how we affect them. The result is such organizations as the stu- dent operated and conceived “Pollution Probe in Ontario, the massive student clean-up of the polluted California beaches, the highly successful CUSO profram for university stu- dents, and the countless other examples of student involvement in the world community. The Canadian Government “Opportunities for Youth program is another example. I admit students are taking advantage of this program but then there will always be people, young and not so young, who will take advantage of a good thing. For everyone who takes advantage of the program we can point to a hundred who made productive use of it. In answer to Needham’s articles I do not mean to portray the younger generation as a bunch of latter day saints. There are many young people, as indeed there are old people, who are lazy bums, who don t care about anyone but themselves, and are authentic failures in the eyes of society. What I’m saying is that the younger generation is by no means what Need- ham says they are. Frankly, the fact that Needham is single and has no children of his own seems to show through here. At this moment it seems the whole world is moving toward social and economic crisis. With the emergence of the Third World OPEC countries as major economic powers, the ever- increasing world food shortage, and the fast-decreasing resource base, the world is head- ing towards some kind of revolution that must change our present political, economic, and social way of thinking. The Club of Rome predicts this will come before 1985. In order to deal with this, the major powers of the world are going to need strong, inventive leadership. It is my generation that must accomplish this. I have, unlike Needham, seen enough good in the younger generation, — in the leadership structure of my school, and in such enterprises as the provincial debating seminars of this country, to know that my gen- eration has the potential to fight for what they believe in. The world and its leaders face per- haps the greatest challenge of our history in the next fifty years. In order to meet that chal- lenge we will have to be strong, and more co-operative on a world-wide basis than ever be- fore. I think my generation can do it. 19

Page 28 text:

Law and Order In the fall of 1974, both major Toronto dailies, the Globe and Mail and the Star, published a series of articles about alleged unprovoked beatings being adminis- tered by members of the Metropolitan Police Force to innocent citizens. I live in Toronto and I believe that these charges can do nothing but harm. Being a citizen of Toronto means being able to say that I live in a city which is an urban paradise compared to many cities of its size. A visitor to Toronto is amazed to see people walking downtown after sunset without fear of being at- tacked. The lack of crime in Toronto can be attributed to two things: the public’s confidence in, and support of their police force; and the police force’s knowledge that they have this supp ort. To illustrate this point, one can compare the jobs of a policeman in Toronto and in Detroit. If the Detroit policeman is responding to a call he knows that it might be a trap set for him by a psychopathic killer or it may be a harmless old lady lonely for company. Worse, however, is that he knows that no matter where he goes, people will stare and sneer, yell pig , and ignore him if he is in trouble. The Toronto policeman on the other hand knows that he can obtain assistance from citizens if he needs it. I realize that I might be paint- ing an exaggerated picture of the Toronto citizen fighting his way through a hail of bullets in order to save the hard-pressed man in blue. But this is not far from the truth. When ugly incidents such as goon squads of policemen used to subdue violent prisoners, and harsh methods of questioning are disclosed to the public, I think this mutual trust and confidence is undermined. There are over thirty-two hun- dred men in the Metropolitan Police Force of Toronto. The media have told of the deeds of at most twenty men in this force and the “crimes they have com- mitted. What of the countless lives the other 99.6% have saved and the peace and order they have maintained in Toronto? In other cities, riots are quelled with brutal stormtrooper-like tactics, whereas the Metropolitan Force have on many occasions attained the same results by orderly means, relying more upon the powers of reason rather than violence. They are the finest police force in North America as they have proven time and time again. I was relieved to see in the Globe and Mail the other day, an article which told of a gang who dragged policemen from their cars and beat them on two occa- sions. The news was disheartening, but the fact that the incident was noted and the following public outrage was immense gave me the feeling that the Toronto public are still in full favour of their police force. They are not going to be hood- winked by sensationalist, scandal-hungry newspapers which allow ' rumours and innuendoes to occupy the front page. It has proven that the public trust and have confidence in their officials and upholders of the law. Several years ago, there was a great deal of talk about “Law and Order across North America. Today much of this talk has died away but the spiraling crime rate persists, and has reached critical levels in many urban ghettos. Toronto is indeed fortunate to possess such a fine police force, and in order to ensure that the ideal of “Law and Order ’ remains a reality, we must continue to give it our utmost support. 18

Page 30 text:

First Impressions I made my way to the dining hall for my initial encounter with one of Mr. Bogyay’s concoctions and my first meal as a T.C.S.’er. My jacket and my pants were both spanking new and my hair was prudently brushed: first impressions are important. I was one of the very few New Boys present, as it was a day be- fore our expected arrival. Edging meekly along the Brent House hall, I admired the portraits of recent Bigside Cricket teams, but also noticed that the sixth-form- ers were not treating this meal with as much deference as I was, for they were all dressed in casuals. I inquired of my brother as to what the dress for dinner was, and he replied, “Anything you feel like wearing”. “Way to go, Rick, I mumbled to myself as I returned to my dorm for a change of costume. “Two hours here and already they’re laughing at you. That night I contemplated my inaugural day in a dark and lonely dorm, and the approximately two hundred and twenty one remaining ahead of me; it was a bleak prospect. Now, almost at the end of term number two, I can reflect upon the good times I have had in two-thirds of a year. The first feature of Trinity that impressed me was the amazing degree of fellowship and brotherhood that every member of this community possessed and outwardly showed. Doors were held, greetings were exchanged, and a favour was never turned down. At high school, which I experienced in grade nine, even if the principal was following you through a door, no effort whatsoever was made to hold it for him. Another factor that was of great variance from public school was the person- ality which was displayed. Everyone knew and respected each other and all names were known. At my old high school, the only people I knew were a small portion of people in my own year. On my report card, I was a number rather than a person. The third great change I noticed was the tremendous school spirit at T.C.S. Everyone went to football games and cheered for the Bears — and they played their hearts out for their own teams as well. In Toronto, if you went to a football game you were considered out of the ordinary. Most importantly, however, Trinity encourages you to participate in activities which normally you would not get involved in. Last year, for example, I played football in the fall and the other two seasons were left for vegetation. Here, even if you don’t make a team, there is ample opportunity to have some form of physical exertion. As well, there are numerous interesting clubs and other extra- curricular activities. These were just my first impressions from the point of view of someone coming into a brand new environment. If I enjoy the rest of my years here half as much as I have the first terms, then I am looking forward to them. In short, Trinity, you’re the place I want to be. 20