WIIITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCII 20, 1985, PAGE 5 "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." - Thomas Jefferson w wo THE CROW'S NEST by Michael Knell New leaders should make campaign' more interesting If the speculation being put forth by the political pundits is correct, it appears as though we will have a provincial election on May 23. After all, the leaders of all three parties represented in the Ontario Legislature are actively cam- paigning. I'm looking forward to this election, it has the potential to be one of the most interesting held in Ontario since the Tories first swept to power some 43 years ago. It will not spark interest because of the new premier - Frank Miller - but because it appears that we finally have two opposition party leaders that have something to say and are not afraid to say it. The Liberals, under David Peterson, don't have a hope of forming the next government but this may be the first election in which the party actually shines. Peterson is an energetic, young, progressively thinking politician who is not particularly hamstrung by the antics and miscalculations of his two immediate predecessors or the ineptitude of his federal counterparts. I've said it before and l'l say it again - Peterson impresses me more than any other Liberal I've ever met, save and except Jean Cretian. He is also a rarity in politics of the 1980's. He is a politician with passion. He truly believes in his causes and makes people he speaks with believe in them also. But Peterson's major problem is his party. The ideals of Liberalism in this country were effectively killed by Pierre Trudeau. All Liberals are suffering because of Pierre. He may have been their greatest leader but he has become the greatest cross they have had to bear. Furthermore, Peterson's caucus lacks talent. He doesn't have any bright young men and women to form an effective team. So he has to carry the ball himself. This election will also be the first test under fire for the N.D.P.'s Bob Rae. I've met the man - once - and, frankly, wasn't impressed at all. He left me cold. He doesn't appear - to me, anyway - to have the passion that Peterson has. He struck me as too much of a "silver spoon socialist". But if Rae has given the Ontario N.D.P. anything at all, it has been intellec- tual credibility, Rae is a man who can think. He articulates problems well and offers solutions in an informed, aware manner. After the disaster of Michael Cassidy's leadership, Rae will have the opportunity in this election to give the N.D.P. a measure of respectibility. Unlike Peterson, Rae does have a caucus with talent. Men such as Jim Foulds and Richard Johnston (despite the fact I've always thought of him as a political grandstander) are typical of his caucus. They all have something to offer. Finally, we come to Frank Miller - the fate's punishment on us all for thinking Bill Davis would stay on until mandatory retirement. The major advantage he has over Peterson and Rae is that he's sitting in the catbird seat. As the leader of the government, he gets to chose the timing of the election. According tofriends of mine who have met Miller (I haven't), he's the kind of man everyone likes. People warm to him. He has that rustic charm that's so typical of people who live in rural Ontario. But I'm convinced that under the disarming grin is an ardent admirer of Ronald Reagan and the politics of the radical right. But he too, has a party with a fair amount of talent. Unfortunately, most of them could best be described as "Red Tories" and that could prove their down- fall when Miller wins the next election. People like Susan Fish, Sam Cureatz, Larry Grossman and other could end up finding themselves in positions of unimportance and that could ultimately sterilize the Tory dynasty in Ontario. Perhaps more than any other election I've seen in my adult life, anyway, this could prove to be one of truly differing political philosophies. No matter how much he restains himself, Miller will still be seen has a hard line conservative thinker. His unabashed love of free entreprise will come through. He will probably promote the "let's leave all our chances of prosperity to business, they will lead the way," approach to government and politics. Peterson will strive for the middle ground. He will probably take a moderate free entreprise position. Business must be allowed to grow and prosper, he will probably say, but they must accept social responsibilities and obligations. And then we will have Rae who will, of course, take the socialist view "let's nationalize the banks and the big companies and let the bureaucrats take care of us without forgetting to let big labor put its two-cents worth in." All three will proclaim their undying affection and concern for the common man. Each will claim him and her as their special constituency. Each will say the commom man is the spark and cause of their political being. It will then be left to each of us to judge them. But for me, while this election will be the most interesting I've ever seen, the most important one will be four years hence after we've seen these men and their philosophies in action. SOL WAY Birthday blues I am not a big fan of birthdays. I am mortified if I am taken out to dinner and the maitre d', waiters and assembled busboys arrive with a cake, com- plete with flaming candles and singing their version of "Happy Birthday". It is just not something I care about. That is not to say that I don't approve of other people doing it. I-just find it hard to understand why everyone else, strangers included, either has to break into insincere applause or even have their peaceful dinner enjoyment disturbed by a celebration. Alright call me grinch. Cali me a horrid old poop. Call me - wait a minute - let's not gel crazy.' Point. Everyone has a birthday. Il is no big deal. It is like getting a suntan or having good legs. Can you imagine someone rushing up to you and saying: "Congratulations on your blue eyes." What I'm saying is - having a birthday is not an accomplish- ment. Having a wedding anniversary is an accom- plishment. Winning a Nobel Prize is an accom- plishment. Being a good tap dancer is an accom- plishment. Being one year older is natural. I am prepared to stretch the point for say - 75 years old or 100 - a milestone. Time for the family to sit around and speculate about how much is there for them in your will. Last Wednesday was my birthday. I am a week late. If it makes any sense, I am writing this on my birthday. I am writing a tribute to me. I am singing quietly so as not to disturb people at the next table. I am neither ashamed nor proud, neither joyful nor sad. I am oIder. Just older. Not wiser. Just oider My daughter is different. She and I are both sen- timental, except that she cries more easily than I do. I cried for Marjorie Morningstar because she didn't get to be a big star. My daughter cries for the shirt that didn't get Wisk around the collar Naturally, she simply had to take me out and wine and dine me. She was, h think, disappointed that she had to do it Monday the ilth because I had to be in Whitby on Wednesday just in case anyone tried to stage a protest march through the dining room of the Marigold Dinner Playhouse. You can never he too careful. Instead of spending this day being toasted by my loved ones I am writing about my innermost feelings. Be warned. How about some good memories? Like 14 years ago today (and it was a co-incidence that il hap pened on my birthday) my book was released for sale. We had a party at my house. We opened some good wines. It was a double toast. Everyone was proud. I took many bows. The book, "The Day I In- vented Sex" did not turn out to be a best seller, but it took me on book selling and autographing trips across Canada, and it let me ventilate my feelings about sexual disfunction, impotence, frigidity and the morality of human behaviour. My favourite quote ot1at time was "The only sexual perversion I know of is abstinence." And I forget who said it. I remember ten years ago today. I was on the CNR Transcontinental filming my first full-length documentary, a 60-minute epic about trains and the folklore of trains and the from-sea-to-shining-sea part of trains. It was called "Railroads East Railroads West". It was another high point for me because I was riding high on national television. People in Biggar, Saskatchewan asked for my autograph. (But did not sing "Happy Birthday".) I remember the birthdays when my children said "Happy Birthday". Not just because they said it, but because both of them (now 23 and 33 years old) were developing an awareness of other people and learning that the world did not revolve around their own navels. Now another year passed - irretrievably lost. What to praise - to commemorate - to note? How about a truth. A Marigold patron confronts me. I am behind the bar and liking it. I dispense Pina Coladas and Har- vey Wallbangers and Shirley Temples when our regular bartender is off doing intermission bar in the theatre lobby. <It is good to have a trade to fall back on.) Up saunters a well-dressed hombre. I know he has something to say - he has that here-I-come look. "Explain to me the difference between your No Frills menu and your regular. I can't see where there is any difference.- I explain it. He is satisfied. He says he understan- ds. I have told him "You get what you pay for." I keep smiling His parting comment--"All those years I listened to you talk to people on CHUM - fnally I get a chance to beat up on Larry Solway." His very words For the price of a dinner he got to tell me off Years he waited Meanwhile I smiled I am older. Mellower. Sometimes sadder Maybe the guy will read this. Maybe hell send a card M 8