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Show "We must give lengthy deliberation to what has to. be decided once and for all." Publilius Syrus 12 Wednesday, April 25,2007 797-1762 statesman@cc.usu.edu www.utahstatesman.com Picking our pockets one boot at a time Utah Statesman Staff Error.* Out of memory You'll hear more about this in Friday's paper, but in case you weren't aware, Logan City just raised booting fees from $50 to $70. Looks like former ASUSU president Quinn Milieu's campaign to stop booting has hit another roadblock. We understand what the Logan government wants to do. By increasing booting fees, they hope jr rp the number of illegally parked Ulir VlGW cars w Editor in Chief "' r^M b y Features Editor Seth Hawkinsc' /n Assistant Sports Editor r, Samuel Hislopjj Diversions Editor ° Ja\o Steve Shinneyr; Thoughts on leftists and left fists I had a hard time care. Alas, someone Matthew else will have to write coming up with those editorials now. this week's column Blackham Before the year is because it's my last over, 1 also wanted and there were so to re-address the leftmany things I didn't handed civil rights cover. I appreciate all movement. First off, 1 the letters that have applaud (with both my come in this year, and # *t •«" I apologize to those I L i H e r a 115 I D left and right hands no less) the efforts of lefthaven't responded to 1010 yet. Had I the col-morwocfthom@cc.uju.edu handed activists who umns left, I would responded. Bravo. I have enjoyed writing one on didn't even know they made feminism, gender roles and left-handed flags. stereotypes, globalization and I personally have nothing its effects on American jobs against left-handed people and the developing nations, and their evil lifestyle (people and a pivotal issue for the call me leftist all the time - it '08 election season: health pisses me off). I identify with your struggle and am sure you are decent human beings, out enough of the left-handed compliments: Alas your leftylifestyle is an abomination. It says so in the Bible, Matthew 25:31-41, for starters. In fact a few minutes online revealed to me that lefties have found approximately 100 favorable references to the right hand and 25 negative verses about the left-hand. God's will is clear - he must hate them more than the homos because there are only a few verses LAST CLASS see page 13 there is a time for action. In January, Art Buchwald died. He was a Pulitzer Prize winner and a columnist for many years. Not too long before his passing, he decided to write his own obituary, which turned out to be almost a memoir, consisting of things he loved and things he'd missed. One thing he said was he wished he'd eaten more eclairs, said if he could do it again, he'd never pass one by without partaking. I bring this up because I feel I'm in the same boat. While I am not dying, a critical point in my life is coming to an end. As I look back, I only have one regret. I wished I wouldn't have let so many sweet opportunities pass me by. USU is an extraordinary place. It is one of, if not the only place, where the idea of kissing someone on the A isn't offensive or disgusting. It is a place where you can be whatever you want because there are so many "sweet" things available to you. Of course, some of those sweet things don't really look that good at the time they pass. It's easy to decide to just let it go - because tney are full of useless calories, not worth the work it would take and not worth the consequences of trying. But, as a dying out columnist, here is my last will and testament to you fence sitters like me. While you are out there getting understanding, learning all you can, remember there is a time for action, and you can't have one without the other. "The time has come," the walrus said, and I must say it too. Thank you to my readers, ana to all of USU. It's been great. Co Aggies! Mikaylie Kartchner is a senior majoring in print journalism. Comments can be sent to mikayliek@cc.usu.edu. Letters to the Editor Erroneous views on religion To the editor: Why is it still okay to fi Sports Editor I've been muddling over ten during these past two Mikaylie what to write for my last colyears, and it isn't hard to pick er umn in The Utah Statesman. out my successes, and it's Unfortunately, not as many even easier to pick out my things came to mind as I screw-ups, the times when would have liked. . • «:. I could have been clearer, In all of my time as a better understood. writer, the hardest part has If 1 had to pick one overall always been waiting and goal for all my columns, a searching for that brilliant theme, it would be underidea. For reporters, somethe Fence standing. I have never been times the ideas come a little mikayiiek@cc.usu.edu one to pick sides. I don't easier. Their stories are diedraw too many lines in the tated by events, circumstances and sand. I am an explorer, determined public opinion of whafs important. to see both sides and find the middle As a columnist, I have to decide for ground on every issue. myself what's important, not only to I hope that's what I've done, maybe me but for all my readers as well, and not all the time, but most times. And then, after I've figured out what, 1 have I hope it made a difference, and I to figure out why and tell it in a com- brought a few people along. 1 also pelling and convincing way. hope that while we are out there gainI'll admit, sometimes ! have been ing understanding, sitting on the fence more successful than others. 1 think and guarding the middle ground, we back over all the columns I have writ- don't get too comfortable and forget To the editor: I was recently at the Special Olympic Track Meet this past Saturday, April 2 1 . What an opportunity for students to be involved in! I was so impressed that the director of Athletics, Randy Spetman, was there to cheer on the athletes and give remarks that were highly motivating. Not only Randy Spetman needs a thank you, but to the ones who organized this event and to all the volunteers who made this possible. 1 was deeply honored and highly privileged to serve as a timer for the event. No words can express the experience I had when 1 got to give these special athletes a grand high-five for finishing. Special Olympics has become a tradition at USU and it will be a fond memory for the rest of my life. Thanks to those coaches, organizers, athletes, and volunteers for keeping this tradition alive. Kemper Ure b Holly Mitchell Assistant Features Editor ^ Manette Newbold After graduation, don't forget to explore new horizons express ignorant generalizations about "religion"? Over two centuries have past since religious freedom was enumerated in the founding documents of this nation. Yet broad, undue categorizations are still often applied to "religion" and "the religious" even in modern America. There are religions of all kinds, involving billions of people and many diverse views, beliefs and practices. But from the many comments, implications and outright slanderous opinions expressed in this paper alone over the last couple months, it is apparently no big deal to make unfounded judgments about religion. We label people as chauvinists and bigots who make even the slightest off comment about gender, race, culture, etc. We pass off people who rip on religion as intellectuals exercising freedom of speech. "Religion" is not some universal club of people with the same beliefs and habits. In the political arena, "religion" is often used in context synonymous to "conservative" or even "Republican." In Utah, it seems to sometimes even imply those of the LDS faith. Perhaps referring to some vague group of religious people is done to avoid offending a particular group, but reverting to "all fi Arie Kirk;1 m ( j c h Special Olympics worth the time (-, Di Lewiso Assistant News Editor ' " magically decrease. Here's the main flaw in their logic - until booting costs $500 or so, people won't stop parking where they shouldn't. The thing is, people aren't out to get booted; this isn't something anyone wants. Our guess is people will continue to be booted at pretty much the same rate as before and here's why. The reason people get booted is not because they purposely parked there deciding they could afford a $50 parking fee, and now they will stop because they can't afford the extra $20. People get booted because they don't know that the place tney are parking boots, they believe that a parking lot with the booting signs doesn't boot anymore, they need to run into a building for five minutes and don't think the booting people will come in the five minutes they are inside or any other myriad of reasons. An extra $20 isn't going to stop the majority of people operating on the above reasons from parking in booting zones. It will just make people angrier about what they feel is an injustice done to them. If Logan City wants to actually keep the good will of students and stop people from parking in the wrong places instead of using booting as a revenue machine, they should take a closer look at how they are operating and rethink the system to work witn people instead of against them. rl o Elizabeth Lawyer^ News Editor Wffiinnnl—^~WBM Maybe it will, but probably not ^ i religious people" implies an even deeper ignorance of the person making the statement. Matthew Blackham pretends to educate the public in his "open-minded" classroom, but I am not fooled into thinking that every Republican is religious or that every Democrat is atheist or any such narrow-minded notion. I have even agreed with many of Blackhams ideas on a number of occasions, only to be alienated by his snide allusions to religion or prayer. He only helps to charge the political polarity which he argues against. I can't deny that many disturbing things have been influenced by or done in the name of some religion. But even if one person or a group of people does something stupid in the name of religion, that doesn't make all religious people, or even a particular religion, at fault. Examples range from mass genocidal slaughter to writing a letter to the editor. For me, my religion is my entire set of ethics, morals and principles by which I live my life. I suspect the same is true of many others. Instructing all religious people to keep their views to themselves or to discount religious belief in politics is like asking all people with the first name Ben or Skyler to never write to the editor again because their views are irrelevant and worthless. Such a demand would of course be very rude and ridiculous. asked me who I thought I was to ask him to stop talking like that. He told me that if 1 didn't want to hear him then 1 should find another place to sit. It was really quite something. And he went on! Cade Perkins Space does not permit the full description of this brief exchange. It was disappointing to hear that language from someone at an institution of higher learning, claiming by To the editor: his very presence here to be educated. This morning 1 was at a But whether a student here table in aTSC cafeteria listen- or not, I was disheartened ing to my i-Pod. A group of to see his response; void of male students came and sat respect, courtesy, or considnext to my table. They imme- eration—not for me, but for diately laced the air with a stranger's simple request profanities. I could hear them for decency. How easily we through my headphones. 1 treat others as an enemy! In tried not to hear them. this day and age of "indiAs they continued with vidual rights," it behooves this language, 1 decided to us to remember social presask them to please refrain ence, common courtesy, and from doing so. I calmly understanding. leaned over and in a low And speaking of rights, voice made this request. people have the right to sit in They were all quiet for a sec- a public place without having ond. Then the one who had to hear such base language been most vocal looked at while staying where they are me as though I had just shot seated. People have the right him in the leg. He became so to civility without having to angry by my simple request find it only in seclusion. The that ne could hardly contain onus of subduing is, or ought himself. He told me that he to be, on the insensitive and hadn't been talking to me. irrational, not the other way He told me that he was not around. trying to bother me. He made references to religion, assumMatt Barclay ing my religious stance and that I was self-righteous. He Lacking a sense of propriety Copy Editor Rebekah Bradway* Photo Editor Jamie Crane Assistant Photo Editor Tyler Larsen^ Editorial Board n Elizabeth Lawyer Di Lewis Seth Hawkins Steve Shinney Holly Mitchell V r ! >' ^ ' About letters n • Letters should be limited t d l ! 350 words. ° • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of fl similar letters. II • Letters must be topic ori- ~ented. They may not be directed toward individu- n als. Any letter directed to a specific individual may be l ] edited or not printed. N • No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number -n or e-mail address as well ,., as a student identification it number (none of which !is published). Letters will b not be printed without this ^ verification. d • Letters representing groupS'S — or more than one indi- ° vidual — must have a sin- \9 1 gular representative clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. • Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters — no exceptions. • Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The Statesman in the TSC, Room 105, or can be emailed to statesman@cc.usu.edu or click on www.utahstatesman.com for more letter guidelines and a box to sumbit letters. q Online poll Do you think the media's coverage of the Va. Tech shooting has been in poor taste? • Yes • No ti H •U •I) b N )T Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesman.com to cast your vote. Check out these links on www.utahstatesman.com: Archives Dining Guide COMING! 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