So, I just read The Banner article about the Town of Orangeville deciding to take on clearing all sidewalks of snow during the winter. (All sidewalks to be plowed next winter, April 4) As I read, I realized that we North Americans truly are the laziest people in the world.

I remember as a kid we all shovelled the sidewalk in front of our houses because it was common courtesy. Now, it seems we don't care much about others, we just care about how little work we can get away with doing.

I live down the road from an apartment building. This winter they did not once clear the sidewalks around their property. In fact, when the parking lot was cleared they piled the snow, sometimes two metres (six feet) high, over the entrance to the sidewalks. After watching people (including kids) have to walk down the road, my wife and I decided to clear the sidewalks. Next snowfall, well, I guess they didn't get the hint.

Of course, with the pawning off of work to others, we have to deal with the inevitable costs. According to The Banner, clearing all the sidewalks next winter will cost the town about $358,000 -- a nice piece of cash. This should only cause about a one per cent increase in our taxes. Now, the first thing people in town are going to do is complain about yet another tax increase. Amazing isn't it? We complain about doing work, then complain when we have to pay someone else to do it. Funny that.

So, I think I have a great solution. How about we all realize that we live in a community, and that being part of a community means that we need to work together to better the lives of all who are part of it.

This means that instead of me worrying about how to make my life easier, maybe I should think about people who are housebound during the winter months because they can't walk down the sidewalk.

Maybe if I live beside an elderly couple or single mom who has a hard time with big snow falls, I should go help them by clearing the sidewalk in front of their home. Or here's a nutty idea: Maybe I could do their whole driveway! Not only would this prevent another tax hike, but it would also show people that we care for them and honour them.

To sum up: I commend the Town of Orangeville for seeing the problem of laziness that makes sidewalks dangerous and causes people to be "winter housebound." However, maybe the solution is not in taking on all the responsibility, but it is in helping the rest of us townsfolk to see beyond ourselves and lend a helping hand.

Mike Leney, Orangeville

Dear Editor,

I write this as an open letter to Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson following an interview of Louise Arbour, head of the Unite Nations Commission on Human Right, and a former resident of Hornings Mills, by Carol Off on CBC. On announcing her retirement, Arbour received thanks and generous acknowledgement for her outstanding international work from every country she has worked with except Canada.

I am embarrassed beyond words at our government's lack of common courtesy shown to Louise Arbour. I am asking Tilson, as my representative, to thank her, for her great contribution to world peace. She was a resident of our riding after all.

Heather Sheehan, R.R. 1 Orangeville