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Show page A4 Tuesday, August 1 3, 1996 Davis County Clipper In our opinion Politics and morals like oil and water, they don't mix Values and politics. Isnt that an oxymoron? Yet we hear that values are the main concern in this upcoming presidential election. How can that be? Aren't we smart enough to know morals and government are like oil and water? They just dont mix. Whose values are we talking about? Are we endorsing killing babies or letting them live? Are we for guns at church or do we want assault weapons banned? Arent those values? Or are we so calloused those value judgments are now just a political choice? y Maybe we need to reinvent the system. We could the Politicians Public Then or the to it would be simparties. belong If its a with to moral and come ple up just, it would party platform. be a plank in the Public party platform. And if its unjust and... well you get the picture. But is it that easy to define who belongs where? America has literally sold out its values. Remember when being an unwed mother a as not OK? Remember when using drugs was not cool? Remember when presidents of the United States were expected to be of high moral c haracter? What has changed our society? Now every wife beater, every thief, every immoral politician and every child molester are guilty of only one thing. They are guilty of making poor choices. They arent guilty of crime. According to their lawyers society is to blame. Or in some extreme cases the devil made them do it. No one has to pay the consequences of his poor choice because he couldn't help himself. And the jurors acquit the murderers, because they were just victims of society. We complain about unwed mothers being on the government welfare roles. We complain about lazy people who wont work. We complain about gangs. We complain about violence on television. We are all whiners. We are especially hard on politicians because we look to them for moral guidance and they fail us. But if we need moral guidance we should talk to our religious leaders not our politicians. Studies show Americans want to rebuild the family to stem the growing tide of juvenile crime. They want to return to the values of the past when Ozzie and Harriet families sat down together for dinner. We say thats what we want but what are we willing to give up to get it? The number of working mothers is increasing each year. Most e families use one of the incomes so their families can have more things. They work to get a second car. They work to pay for boats. They work to pay for recreational vehicles. Few married moms are working so their families can have food on the table. And when our need for things grows too great, even bigger than two incomes can handle, its not a problem. We simply claim bankruptcy and start all over again. No matter that we have left our dignity and our honor in the wake of our ego building spending spree. Were not thieves. Weve just made poor choices. It seems we arent willing to judge ourselves by the same measure we use to judge politicians. They say there are three ways to teach, example, example, and example. If we want to be members of the Public party we must band together and serve as an example of moral and just people. What we do as individuals is reflected in two-part- Nothings as certain as death and traffic Like his famous Catskill relative, Rip Van Winkle VI had dozed off for 20 years. Now, arising from his long but peaceful slumber, he was perplexed. dual-incom- Washington D.C. Everything has changed, he look around and 1 cant said. believe Im still in Davis County. What have you young guys done to 1 this place? What do you mean? To begin with, I didnt expect to find myself stuck in the middle of an auto dealership hemmed in by all these cars and trucks. Oh, youre not in a car dealership, 1 told him. Youre on during rush hour traffic. But were not moving. No one does during daylight hours. Theres too many vehicles. Then why don't some of these people drive at night? Its even worse at night. That when UDOT does its road construction and closes the highway down to one lane. said Van Unbelievable, Winkle. Where did all these cars come from? In the past 20 years, Utah has experienced very rapid population growth. You blink your eyes and the next thing you know there are bareight more Toyota the down reling highway. "But unless things have changed since I took my snooze, Utah was a pretty big state. Cant some of these drivers move out into the country?. ..Maybe settle up in Layton? Theres not much rural area left along the Wasatch Front, I told him. Since 1940, the population of Utah has grown by 1.4 million with four counties Davis, Salt Lake, Weber and Utah accounting for nearly 83 percent of the entire growth. Utah is now the sixth most urban state in the U.S. And as for Layton, it is no longer an example of country living. Its now the shopping hub of Davis County. Its packed with restaurants; but it has more rib joints than it has cattle. Gee, when I took that nap, I never thought Id wake up and confuse Utah with New Jersey. Its probably the result of all those damned Californians moving in. Nope, you cant blame them. The Utah Foundation which keeps track of this stuff reports that the driving force behind Utahs population growth is natural increase. In other words, 84 percent of the population boom has come from Utahs high birth rate. Well, if Utahns took naps like I did, the birth rate wouldnt be anywhere near as high, he relied. We wouldnt have all these traffic problems. When I went to sleep 20 years ago, congestion was limited to a guys nasal passages. But if you think traffic is bad on visit some of the major streets in other Davis County communities. During rush hour, a driver could read Moby Dick while waiting to make a left turn onto Olympics brought joy, not basketball, and baseball. Nor do we limit our heroes to the athletes who participate in these games. 20-ye- ar 200 North from Kaysvilles Main Street. And the same holds true for motorists trying to turn east from Main to Gentile Street in Layton. Maybe the Legislature should increase the driving age to get kids and some of these teen-ag- e their cars off the road, he suggested. It wouldnt work. School busing has been limited, so more students have to drive to school. On top of that, we have become a economy fueled by servic- e-oriented young, teens couldnt drive lower-wag- e workers. If to work, entire close down malls would shopping and you couldnt find a Big Mac or a Whopper. Its obvious Ive got to get up (o speed on things, he said. I just cant believe how everything has changed in 20 years. Except that over hands shaking there. ..Now he looks awfully guy familiar. Thats Merrill Cook. Hes run- ning for political office. Shaking his head in amazement, Rip Van Winkle muttered, At least some things never change. in your opinion Cyclops is blind on non-alcohol- ic beer issue hditor. This is in reference to the Tuesday. July 9, 1996 Cyclops column by Bryan Gray. Mr. Gray used a quote from a letter to the editor written by Dr. George Van Komen about beers as one of four True Dumb Quotes. In Mr. Gray's opinion to qualify as a True Dumb Quote a public statement should reflect unerring stupidity, not meie frivolity.' think Mr. , could be awarded comment-Cray's the "Head in the Sander trophy. Mr. Gruv makes the following assertions, in relerence to Dr. Van Komen 's letter: (1) His statements are characterized as Routine ranti-ng- s. (2) He is compared to Carrie Nation. (3) He heads a state alcohol advisory council. (4) He hates anything with bubbles. (5) He makes the ridiculous assertion that nonalcoholic beers are just being used to promote the sale and consumption of beer. (6) His offer of proof was that beers are packaged similar to beer in cans or bottles. Ranting. is defined in the dictionary as bombastic, pompous and overblown speech or language. Anyone acquainted with Dr. Van Komen. even for a minute or two, would not use these words to describe his personality, speech or demeanor. The chief phrases I would use are extremely dedicated. knowledgeable, intelligent, sincere, tireless and articulate. He is a leader, motivator and coordinator. Carry Amelia Moore Nation, around the turn of the century waged a much cruder war against the evils of alcohol. Often arrested for disturbing the peace and destroying property (saloons), her chief tools were rocks and a hatchet along with fiery but eloquent and inspiring speeches. Most likely a major reason she hated liquor was the early death of her drunkard first husband. In light of todays level of knowledge, Carry Nation's understanding of the ill effects of alcohol was comparatively innocent. At her death in 1911. the tragic results of operating vehicles and other mechanized devices while under the influence of alcohol was just beginning to become apparent. Neither could she have known, but may have suspected, how the ingestion of alcohol by pregnant women affected unborn children. Surely Mr. Gray is aware of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect which cause mental and physical retardation and health problems in infants and children exposure to alcothrough hol. The extent to which these problems as affected children grow into pre-nat- al adolescence and adulthood con- tribute to criminal victimization and fill our prisons is presently unknown but believed be substantial. Dr. Van Komen is chairman of the Alcohol Policy Coalition, which is not a state advisory council, but is a collection of public and private professional persons whose aim is to reduce the ill effects of the use of alcohol (health problems as well as violent deaths and injuries on the highways and their enormous expense to the public) in Utah through discussion, policy formulation, education, as well as lobbying for laws effecting those ends. Unfortunately, it seems for every small success there are many disappointments for the Coalition. Van Komen probably does hate anything that bubbles, if it is an alcoholic beverage. As a physician, he has had considerable first-han- d exposure to the health effects of alcohol within the human body. Are the beers being used to promote the sale and consumption of beer? Do ed smoking guns internal company memos exist that would show this to be a fact? I am not aware of any research that would shed light on why beverages that, on grocery store shelves, are virtually indistinguishable from alcoholic beverages are being marketed. To whom is the marketing directed or why? Who actually buys and who consumes these beverages? What are the manufacturers and distributors beer the strategies? Is gateway drink leading to stronger drinks? The doctors conclusion, as to beer manufacturer's intentions, is logical given the dismal reputation of commercial advertising campaigns for virtually any type of product. beers Are pack- aged similar to beer in cans or bottles? Anyone who may be curious can go to the beer shelves on their next trip to the grocery store and beer. I did. Of look for course the experienced beer buyer probably would not have the diffi- culty that I did. After carefully checking the beer shelves in three different grocery stores decided that they didnt have any. On my way out of the third grocery store a clerk happened to ask if she might be of some help and so I explained what I was looking for. She took me back to the beer section and in a minute or so pointed out the in cans and bottles. beers The words, small and in colors that blended with those of the can or bottle, containing less that 0.5 percent alcoholic were there on each container. However, much larger and in 1 ic bold contrasting colors were the brand names: Old Milwaukee, and Coors. Miller, Anheuser-Busc- h wishes to read who can or Anyone (or has read) the label on the container would know the difference. But the close similarities in packaging, labeling and marketing are very obvious. Sincerely, H. Wayne Overson Dept, of Criminal Justice Weber State University boredom to non-athlet- es Editor, Mr. Gray, From one to another, isnt it wonderful that in America we each have the opportunity to view things differently? This is in response to your column of July 30, 1996. non-athle- te I can honestly admit (to answer your question) that I do appreciate the athleticism of the women who compete in beach volleyball especially the woman who has taken time out to have children and has made a comeback, plays as she does, and looks good in her ADVERTISING Gene Milne albeit Rebecca Jamieson n nontraditional American sports. Pardon me, sir, but (tongue in cheek) not all of us live, breathe, and die for football, Advertising Manager Advertising Sales Advertising Sales Classified Ad Manager Tyler Boyce Tina Webb Sharon Lords PRODUCTION Hayes Powell Ruby Evans Ryan Frazier Nick Rose Brock Holmes Lesa Christensen peace. In contrast, on another evening we were viewing a film of the early day in America. Soldiers establishing settlement on a new land and Indians battling to retain a spot of sports, by 1370 South 500 West P.O. Box 267 Bountiful, Utah 84011-026- 7 nations standing, together, for their homeland. My eight year-ol- d son asking Mom, when did it start? People killing people to get what they want? You said you enjoy sports. Can you see through my eyes that the Olympics are not only about sports? We are not being drafted. Mothers do not have to send their children to war. We honor the many who freely decide to protect and defend our freedom and human rights. All we, a mother of four and her young children, can do, is stand for the National Anthem, put our hands over our hearts and reverence America, the one we all hope for. Along with enhancing our patriotism we are able to enjoy the Marie Spackman Published took the opportunity to share it with my children. For a brief moment in time, individuals representing 197 countries stood for peaceful compeninety-seve- P.S. from all the tidbits of Olympic info you mentioned you must have had one eye open during that nap of yours. ..Touch6? Clipper Publishing Co., Inc. During the Olympic Opening Ceremonies my children and I were watching the Parade of Nations. An feeling touched me. I tition. One hundred Speedo doing it. I enjoy reading your weekly column and ask forgiveness for waiting to write when I saw things differently than when I have cheered you. Helen Meier Jay Mills Clark Stahle Production Manager Desktop publisher Desktop publisher Desktop publisher Desktop publisher Desktop publisher Production Production Courier Pressman Reed Stahle To reach CIRCULATION Roy Millard Rosalee Millard Circulation Manager Assistant Manager particular departmtnt, dial in txteniton number iremediRteJy upon reaching wain number. - DEADLINES fospAY . 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