OPINION PAGE 6 WEDNESDAY 11/17 Daily U t a h Chronicle THE CHRONICLE'S VIEW Let them eat pie T he Bennion Community Service Center will make 200 pies this Saturday for the Utah Food Bank. The pies will be given to AIDS victims and their families on Thanksgiving. But who will bake them? The only facility on campus that is large enough to accommodate 200 pies is the food lab in the HPER Building. The building has graciously allowed the Bennion Center to use the lab in year's past, but not this year. Apparently a door was left open last year and material was stolen. While there weren't any formal charges pressed, the connection between the pie makers, open door and stolen goods is questionable. Anybody can understand the . building's management taking extreme measures to protect security. If you let a friend use your kitchen while you were away and stuff was stolen, you might think twice about doing it again. But the punishment is too harsh. The unlocked door was a tragic accident, but that's no reason to punish the pie makers. Then again, the real people being punished are the AIDS victims' families who are being denied pies. Where else can the Bennion Center bake these pies? The holidays are a time for charitable works. The pie makers are only trying to perform a service for other people, What excuse is good enough to deny a large kitchen to a large group of people who are trying to feed the needy? The bottom line is HPER and the Bennion Center need to find a way to make this work. The university's facilities are for the use of students. Students want to use the facilities to help others. If a security guard needs to be hired or special release forms need to be signed, so be it. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily Utah Chronicle Editorial Board. Editorial columns and letters to the editor are strictly the opinions of the author. The forum created on the Opinion Page is one based on vigorous debate, while at the same time demanding tolerance and respect. Material defamatory to an Individual or group because of race, ethnic background, religion, creed, gender, appearance or sexual orientation will be edited or will not be publfshed. LETTERS TOTHE EDITOR 'Cougar on the loose' language too loose Editor: I am not generally one who would write to you in protest. I have a "live and let live" attitude. I was, however, shocked, having read the Nov. 16 issue of The Chrony, and the language used in the "Cougar on the loose!" contest. I recognize this is a college news- paper and so will use colloquial language such as "furry little ass," but this goes too far. The credibility of the newspaper is jeopardized when such vulgarities are used. I can't imagine reading things of this nature in neither The Los Angeles Times/nor The Daily Aztec (the student newspaper at San Diego State, where I am an alumnus). Please use better judgment when deciding what is, or is not, appropriate content for The Daily Utah Chronicle. Ethan Webb Graduate Student, Electrical Engineering The U needs to show some humility Editor: I thought Ruth Anne Frost's article ("Nothing brings the U together like hatred for the Y," Nov. 16) was well-reasoned and also provocative. Obviously Frost is writing from an LDS member's perspective, and what she is talking about in the article illustrates an incredible misunderstanding (or willful ignorance of facts) about BYU's purpose. If you want fodder against BYU, see the Daily Universe opinion column online. That should give you more than enough stupid ideas from BYU students to write an entire novel. As much as I enjoy the rivalry, I think many would be surprised to know that a lot of the student body here doesn't even know where the U is located (is the U the one in Salt Lake City?). I would guess that a significant part of BYU really doesn't even care that the U exists. I hope you win. I think that earning a BCS bowl is far more important than a BYU upset this year. Nonetheless, if the wicked Cougars scourge the Utes this year, you can bet that whatever deity reigns in heaven is punishing the Utes (or maybe just Ruth Anne Frost) for their pride and "holier than thou" attitude. May the team who sucks the least win. Jon Reed Provo Be true to the U—in your best sombrero Editor: By now, most everyone is aware that our football team is on the brink of a very special season. With a victory on Saturday, our likely bowl destination would be the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. Add to this likelihood that ESPN will be broadcasting its nationwide "College Football GameDay" program from Rice-Eccles Stadium, and this weekend is a perfect opportunity for Ute fans to show off their support to the entire country. Many football commentators have said the Utes don't belong with the so-called "big-time" programs. Let's prove them wrong with a massive turnout for the "GameDay" program and the game on Saturday. Also, with the help of www. Utefans.net, a Ute sports-related Web site, I would like to encourage EVERYONE to show up Saturday wearing a sombrero to show the powers-thatbe at the Fiesta Bowl and the entire BCS that Ute fans love and support their team to the fullest. You can get a sombrero at your local party supply store— they're cheap, fun and perfect for a Fiesta. After all, when the Utes win on Saturday and travel to the bowl in Tempe in January, you'll still have a sweet party hat to take with you! GO UTES! Ray Lindenburg Senior, Urban Planning POINT COUNTER POINT Should the Blue States secede from the Union? Discontent with the future of the country causes many to ponder alternatives Ed: Them Democrats are at it again, trying to leave the county— only now it's the Northern Democrats—not the Southern ones. It's no joke; top Democratic Party leaders are talking about secession (Washington Times, Nov. 9). Finally the Democrats have a good idea! Instead of promising bigger government and constantly being outdone by the Republicans in delivering it, the Democrats have come up with a real alternative. Literally shrink the federal government by dividing up the country by political persuasion! Mike: Spokesperson for the proposed Blue States of America resent paying disproportionate amounts of taxes and effectively subsidizing the Red States, which receive more federal support. Ed: Of course it always comes down to money. One top Democrat said, "The segment of the country that pays for the federal government is now being governed by the people who don't pay for the federal government." Here is an interesting bit of history: The Confederate States paid three-fourths of federal revenues (according to tax historian, Charles Adams). One of the major reasons for Southern secession was the tax/tariff policy that unfairly stuck Southern states with the bill that favored northern industries. Mike: They dislike how their money is being used, but for me this recalls a more fundamental question. Why should I have to pay taxes? Right now my tax money is still paying Nancy Workman's salary while she's on leave for felony charges. Answer? Because popular whims don't govern, law does. Uni- form rules of law are so valuable they outweigh occasional nepotistic abuse. Ed: Why should 49 percent of the population—more than 100 million people—be subject to a ruler they Edward Stevenson Mike Bednarz don't support and to Columnist Columnist programs they find morally reprehensible? Ed: Secession is the only real check-and-balance the federal Many people have already stated government has. I know textbooks that they will move to a different all give praise to the three branches country. When Alec Baldwin said of government, but historically, he was going to leave, perhaps he that has failed. In truth, the three finally took the classic advice, "If branches are like a three-headed you don't like it..." That alone made monster, each of which is granting a vote for Bush worthwhile. Maybe the other more power to receive the election wasn't about war and reciprocal gains. moral values, but about getting rid of stupid celebrities. As it has bqen stated in the DecSo what's the big deal? Why not laration of Independence, it is the let the left create its workers pararight of people to alter, abolish and dise and the right its laissez-faire institute new government to seek Utopia? Monopolies are always bad, their safety and happiness. It's about right? So why do we accept a motime we exercise that right! nopoly of government? Let smaller nations be formed and we will see Mike: Sure. After all, it's a legal who has the better society! When right clearly defined in the Congovernments compete to best serve stitution, section... um...well, hmm. the interests of citizens, the citizens Apparently there is no right to win. secession. But this isn't important, because the Constitution gets its authority only indirectly from Mike: You're right. There's somestates. As the Constitution said, thing to be said for local control. "We the people..." Oh darn, that's no Thus, I'd like to present a radical good either. Apparently the federal compromise: Let's give each region government has authority directly its limited sovereignty, but unite from citizens. them in law in some sort of federation. This will let us share our common Ed: This country was founded respect for the law and enact policy on the principle of secession as an that is more suitable for each region. inalienable right. In fact, you might even call it a federal government between united Mike: The i860 secession was states. I know it's crazy, but I think it so beneficial and peaceful, no one just might work. would dare imply otherwise. Ed: But Red and Blue would recognize the benefits of secession. Those who want homosexual marriages can have them and those who want prayer mandated in school can have it. We could all practice the novel idea of self-governance. Mike: Why stop there? Sometimes I wonder how I can share the country with people who don't use turning signals and like apples more than oranges. In fact, I would like to declare the Blinking Liberal Orange Republic of Mike (BLORM). Ed: If you feel so passionately about apple-biters, then you very well should be able to form your own community or larger-sized nation. The Amish have some unique social customs and they are their own nation in many ways and are exempt from many state and federal laws and taxes. American Indians have certain exceptions as well. If it is fine for them, then why is it not for the rest of us? Mike: But is it really rational to carve a people based on which candidate they found slightly less horrible? No states believe in letting folk "marry whomever you want," and most states can't even agree to marriage between two consenting adults, but let's conduct a thought experiment. Imagine that San Francisco secedes and starts marrying gay couples. Aren't the four conservatives living there going to be oppressed? Should they declare themselves their own republic, exempt frpm San Francisco laws, taxes, marriages PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO LETTERS@CHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU and regulations? Is this honestly more justified than BLORM? Ed: So long as we have a democracy, somebody will be oppressed by the majority. Secession allows for political units to be small enough for local majorities to have control. This is in contrast to being controlled by a majority on the other side of the country that knows nothing about their values or their way of life. But the Times made a good point quoting Andy Nowicki, a Libertarian blogger, saying the Blue States won't go through with it because "liberals don't want to leave their enemies alone. Instead, as their track record shows, they want to take over the government in order to force their enemies to endure perpetual sensitivity training for being such racist, sexist, homophobic, 'closedminded' boors, i.e., for disagreeing with them." Mike: Being from Utah, the first question is whether or not we want the local majority to control our lives. One benefit of united countries is less of an opportunity for local minorities to be stripped of their rights. I would never let the Blue States leave. Hell, we get $1.14 for every dollar taxed out of us, and I, for one, think that's pretty sweet. Ed: This is the third movement for secession. First it was New England from the middle and Southern states after the Revolution. The South was the second try. Hopefully, the third time is the charm. Mike: I don't think we should trust those Alec Baldwin types for one second to govern themselves. tetters® chronicle, utah.edu