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Show DAVIS COUNTY CLIPPER bl In A7 Tuesday, October 26, 1993 Opinion we Our Opinion STILL HAVE A FEW TvlOUSWO LEFT IN WHY NOT SAiHGS1 CONTRIBUTE TO Hl& cause, tbor dont Two Bobs make a right in Packwood case What was Sen. Bob Bennett thinking when he decided to donate $10,000 to Sen. Bob Packwoods defense against charges of sexual harassment? Thats the question that Utahns are having a hard time answering. Sen. Bennett has explained his actions as nothing more than one colleague helping out another. He said the high cost of defense for Packwood had created a financial burden for him and Bennett just wanted to help out a friend. That may be true, but why contribute to his legal defense? If, as some have suggested Bennett has money to spare, there are many worthwhile causes. He could start by contributing $1 to every woman he has angered by his thoughtless decision to support Packwood. That would take a sizable chunk of his fortune. Its not that Bennett doesnt have a right to contribute to whatever cause he feels is worthy, its just that if this is his idea of a worthy cause his supporters need to rethink their political views. Sen. Packwood has been charged with making improper sexual advances toward more than two dozen women over 20 years and then trying to intimidate some of them into silence. In todays world, most senators would not jump on the Packwood bandwagon, let alone contribute $10,000 to Adult leaders failed in hazing decision As of last week. Sky View High School became Utahs most famous institution. In fact, some would say its more than famous. In many eyes. Sky View became notorious. some, the hazing was a blemish on high school athletics. To many, it reeked of the boys will be boys syndrome. To a few (including a popular talk show host), the story was an overblown example of a kid who went crying to his mommy. But to Cyclops, it was a matter of leadership and a lack of it! If anything, the hazing controversy depicted adults unwilling to make The school is located in a wintry burgh most commonly populated by gentlemen farmers. Well, the farmers may be Smithfield, common sense decisions. it. gentlemen but some of the football players arent. The hazing 1 - made-for-televisi- incident a Ipoys nude body hogtied to a towel rack' for the forced viewing of his girl friend and the cancellation of the schools football season generated enormous publicity...the type unwelcomed by the Smithfield Chamber of Commerce which wanted the city on the map, not in the mud. Upon hearing the story, on everyone formed conclusions. To Thanks to Coon for listening Editor, We just wanted to publicly express our gratitude to Renee Coons. As I drive around Bountiful City I have seen her signs posted here and there. As I was looking closely to one of her signs which said, "She listens that statement I have found to be very true. Renee has taken on a crusade of her own to help our neighborhood. She was the only one who has rallied for our neighborhood from the beginning to help us in getting a stop sign for 100 South and 300 East. On Wednesday, Oct. 13, that is just Published by Clipper Publishing Co., Inc. John Stable, Jr. publisher semi-week- ly 1892-195- 1954-198- 9 4 R. Gail Stahle publisher 1 Judy Jensen managing editor 370 South 500 West, Bountiful, Utah 8401 0 ISSN: 1061-122- j j 3 y on published No. Publication (USPS 149-18Years at Bountiful, Tuesday and Friday except the week of Christmas and New all correspondence Utah Second class postage paid at Bountiful, Utah. Address Subscription rate: 50c per copy. to P.O. Box 267, Bountiful, Utah 84011-026$20.00 per year, Mailed: $30.00 per year. semi-weekl- News Advertising Circulation Classified 295-225- FAX 295-304- Office Hours: 8.30-5.3- 0 DEADLINES Classified Ads..,. Display Advertising DEADLINES POSTMASTER' Send change address 4 thru Fri. to Davis what she did. We as a neighborhood were invited to sit in on the citys traffic safety meeting. We discussed the issue that was at hand. The city decided to monitor the intersection for up to three months but not Renee, she let her opinions be voiced and with that she helped encourage the others on the board to take to heart and consider installing a stop sign. When we as a neighborhood left the city council room we felt very discouraged. To our horror there was another accident in our intersection when we arrived home. W then ran back to city hall and told the board there was just another accident. After we left they voted all in favor of placing a stop sign at our Monday Noon Thurs. 5pm intersection. Renee we just wanted you to know if it was not for you ................Wed. 5pm Accepted Until 11am Mon. Friday 5pm considered. We know with the and your compassion our 24 Hours In Advance intersection would have never been FRIDAY PAPER J uesday 5pm Wednesday Noon Display Advertising:. Classified Ads of Mon. 8 2 TUESDAY PAPER If Proof Required and Color News Articles & Photos Obituaries Public Notices.. 1 292-205292-202- j I 1990-prese- County Clipper, PO. Box 267, Bountiful, Utah 84011-026- 7 came under flak, the district superintendent put on his battle armor and announced a form of community cleansing: rather than punishing the teens involved, hed punish everybody by canceling the season. The community uproar brought more poor decisions. A parent group tried to overturn the decision in a courtroom. Another group passed around petitions to oust headed to the state football ; playoffs. The pranksters would even apologize to the entire student body once the offending seniors wiped the grins off their face. But the Seamons family wanted something more. They thought the taping of Brians genitals and the embarrassment of him being seen by his Homecoming date was more Brians mother from her PTA presidency. In fact, the only thing everyone agreed upon was that Brian would become an outcast, a pariah who tampered with the sacred institution of high school is they find offensive. NYPD-Blu- e these. has television one of My only been turned off for so long that I forget to turn it on when there is a program I think I might want to watch. The sad thing is that while there is the furor over NYPD-Blua worse program appeared on another network. It is not only the programs classed as entertainment that flaunt the worst of human In Your Opinion good-old-bo- John Stahle, Sr. publisher And when decisions were made at all, they made the wrong ones. Take a look at what happened. When the boy, a junior back-u- p quarterback named Brian Seamons, reported the hazing, the school principal and head football coach blinked their eyes and issued a written apology. In their view, it was a dumb prank pulled by seniors If Packwood is indeed guilty, which the evidence clearly suggests, why should he not pay the penalty, including the monetary penalty? There are many more deserving of Bennetts assistance. Funds for battered women, homeless Utahns and gang prevention at home could use a boost. Bennett should not help defend someone whose crimes are ' v,,n' .' : indefensible. ' V' i At some point the full Senate is going to vote on the Packwood case. Whats Bennett going to do, abstain due to conflict of interest? It will be hard for him to be objective. Packwood is refusing to submit his diaries to the ethics committee saying they contain information about sexual relationships between other lawmakers and congressional movie. The staffers. Sounds like a face could Packwood committee warned charges of contempt of Congress if he doesnt comply. Will Bennett remain silent when the Packwood case is decided. Is his action a ploy to keep him from taking a stand on womens rights? How much money did he give Packwoods victims? How much thought? Once again Utahns have been embarrassed by the actions of one of their elected officials. Even if Bennetts y contribution was a humanitarian gesture, from one to another, it was a mistake. Utahns would not chose to defend someone who has admitted to degrading women, not would they chose to elect someone who would. Bennett owes Utah an apology, and women an apology, especially those women who suffered from Packwoods actions. It took a lot of courage for those women to step forward to face family, friends and the press. Bennetts actions are a slap in the face to their courage. In most cases the victim gets help not the perpetrator. Bennett needs to examine the facts of the case more closely. Packwood is not the victim. than a prank. They viewed it as a legal assault. So the principal and the thickheaded football coach made a decision. In the best interest of the school and the victim, Brian was encouraged to leave the football team. The Sky View mentality was to punish the victim and ask the rest of the students not to snicker. One idiotic decision and that was followed by another poor one. When the Seamons family went public with the story and the school election coming up you will have hundreds of votes stuffed in that ballot box for you. You do live up to your promises and your sign is right. Thank you rgain for all of your time, work and understanding you have given to me and the 100 South neighborhood. Bountiful City is very fortunate to have you as one of their council women. Renee is a jewel in the sea of despair! e, nature; the Elvis not the same as today's filth, violence ' young to see whatever was considered obscene about him. I wonder, though, if perhaps the uncontrolled majority would have listened to the moral minority at that time, we would not have been over our eyebrows in filth and violence in 1993. The New York Times critic made some statements that deserve consideration: 1. Television is not the only culprit... 2. Broadcasters are addressing themselves to even younger than teen groups... 3. Selfish exploitation of youths physical impulses is a gross national disservice. I am not in favor of self-appoint- ed or government-appointe- d censors, but I feel that more people need to take a stand on programs news and violent happenings, competing with each other to see which channel can beat out the other. Dan Rather said it better than I ever could in his recent address to a Miami audience. To go back to the critical review he quoted, I think the issue is indeed one of common sense and responsibility. For broadcasters to find out about something we used Melanie Thurston Editor, Regarding Mr. Grays editorial on censorship, I would interpret his comparison of the 1956 furor over Elvis to what we are seeing on TV today in quite a different way than he did. On the subject of Elvis, I plead no opinion, since I was too old to be one of his fans and too so-call- broadcasts emphasize the sleazy to call good taste would be refreshing. Evelyn Tanner , football. In Smithfield, everyone loses. And we call that leadership? In the common-sens- e Cyclops world, the correct decision was simple. Depending on whom you believe, as few as five and as many as 40 football players participated in the hazing. As the victim, Brian knew who the main culprits were. Rather than throwing a brick at the football season, why not boot the pranksters off the team and let the other team members take the field? Why punish everybody for the misdeeds of a few? Why not send a message that hazing has consequences for those who participate in it? Its common today to hear adults slam teenagers for not display ing leadership qualities. Yet the grownups in Smithfield showed the courage of a banana. The football coach. ..the school principal. ..the superintendent.. .the outraged parents. ..all deserve extensive television publicity. How about a guest role on The Gong Show? school to make sure they get there, only to have them walk out the other door. These parents set curfews only to be up all night wondering where their children are and how to help them straighten up their lives. These parents try to help their children find better peer groups, try to give them the self- esteem needed, try to find good activities that interest them pr ay far them, read how to help them and attend classes to advise them. Do these parents deserve to have their names printed? Isnt their heartbreak punishment enough? The adolescents in toda's society make their own decisions, whether they be good or bad. We as parents that care can try as much as possible but they must be held accountable for their own actions. Printing their names is a small act. Many of these youth laugh after being caught because they know there really is no punishment. We have taught our youth that there are few consequences. Now they are progressing to worse crimes and we still dont want any consequences. Do we love our children enough to show them there are consequences? Teen criminals' names should be printed Editor, 1 was furious as I read the editorial from October 6th. Yes, our children need to be protected and yes, we need to love and nurture them but do we accomplish that by allowing them to remain anonymous? It seems parents fall into two groups. The first group of parents has not loved or nurtured the child but would it even bother them if their names were printed? I think not because they dont care about anything, even their children. The second group is parents who keep trying to help their children. These parents drive their children to t Isnt it worth a try? Linda Owen Letters to the Editor Guide The ClipperKaysville Today welcomes letters from our readers. Please submit letters to the following conforming guidelines: 1. Maximum length should be 300 words (approx. 1 12 typewritten pages). 2. No letter will be printed that may be considered offensive to our readers. 3. All letters should include the dbl.-spac- author's name, address and a daytime phone number. No unsigned letters will be printed 4. All letters are subject to editing for content or length. |