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Show mafias anHuSa -- 12- WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER DIXIE SUN 8, 20 Reflections on 911 disaster nine years later BY TAYLOR GRIN Staff Writer The tedious question I hear most often regarding the 91 terrorist attacks is: How did 911 affect you? I rarely answer the question because I was young, and they had no real effect on me at the time. I would like to say they emboldened me or gave me some new drive to support my country or give service. As a 13 year old they did none of these things. At most they stopped me from going on a field trip. Yet, while I was oblivious to the weight of the attacks, others were 1 CELEBS continued from page 1 0 schools was rare. These days, it is very common. Actors have influenced that change in society. Todays generation is filled --A emboldened by them. One group in particular was spurred to action by 911, and one day that would affect me profoundly. The new atheists saw the attacks in a different light than others. While most Americans simply saw an atrocity committed by extremists, the new atheists saw religious extremism at its worst. Furthermore, they saw what they perceived to be an ultimate consequence to any religious belief. Scholars look at the Stonewall riots as the beginning for the surge for struggles and the breaking point of the GLBT community. New atheists already look back to 91 1 as their wake up call. They wrote, they held conferences, and they began to exploit the newly forming social media networks. Books that wouldnt have made enough money to cover printing costs before 911 began to hit bestseller lists. So while 911 did not affect me at the time, it inspired the writings that would one day change my views and everything I base my life on. During college I came to a crisis of faith. As many students do, I began to change my views on religion, and it was the writings of Dawkins, Hitchens and Myers that helped me to solidify my (non)belief. As the anniversary of those attacks approaches, it becomes more obvious that losing faith while at college is a regular occur with crises that go against traditional values; sex, violence, and addictions are too common in our everyday This is not something that will be fixed overnight. It is up to us to change how future generations think, and the first step is deciding to live your life how you see fit. Not fashioned after a gay-righ- ts lives. Changes need to happen if we want future generations to live in a healthy society. celebrity. cremes cm?A koto rence. I have found a surprising number of students who are agnostic, spiritual or "Well, I guess my family is Mormon." It seems there is some credence to the idea of god. College is a time when young people separate from their families and find their own views. Dixie State is growing more than ever. More and more students from Nevada, Idaho and further out are coming here for a chance to find their own views. So it should be no surprise that an event that created such a national uproar and upset the sense of homeland security, should lead to the unsettling of most people's firmest foundations. Is it safe to think religion out-thinki- , PEACE continued from page 1 0 money for tanks, fighter jets and building a nuclear arsenal unrivaled in the Mideast. Palestine has nowhere near the same capabilities as Israel, yet Israel, being the evil brother with my shovel, harasses Palestine constantly through constant expansion onto Palestinian lands. Several factions of Palestinian insurgents are fighting for the defense of their homeland. In my opinion its only going to get worse. I believe the fighting will Dear Kate: Curious Student BY KATE SEMMENS Lifestyles Editor Dear Kate, I am a foreign ex- change student studying in the U.S. Other exchange students and I have been debating two questions. The first: Is it OK to buy a movie ticket and watch two or three movies? Some say it is OK because theaters tolerate it in the hope that customers will buy snacks and drinks in the process. Others say it goes against the honor system. The second is: Is it wrong to return merchandise you never intended to buy in the first place? For example, if a person buys a novel and returns it after reading it. Some people say bookstores expect a certain number of returns and build it into the cost of the books. As long as the book is kept in good condition, it's OK. Other friends of mine stress, however, that this, again, is taking advantage of the honor system. What is your opinion? From, Curious Student Dear Curious Student, I find it very interesting that the first two letters to come to me this semester are both on honesty and ethics. I hope it is because people are starting to listen to their conscience again, and not simply because the world has become so unethical that the people inhabit ing it really dont know anymore. Both of the examples you have given are forms of cheating and theft. I know they seem like little tiny acts of when compared to other situations that are huge transgressions like grand theft or rigging the lottery. But where do we draw the line that says its OK to cheat or steal when it is tins tiny, but it isnt OK to do it once it reaches this level? I think this is a very dangerous and slippery slope. I dont want to go down it once those kinds of lines have been set. Another thing Ive been thinking about since reading your letter is your foreign exchange student status. I cannot think of a single country where this kind of behavior is seen as OK. No matter how you look at it, to pay for a movie in China, Russia or America and go to see two or three is wrong. If enough customers behaved that way, it could put the business owner out of business. The same is true for the bookstore, even if it is a huge corporation like Barnes and Noble. The fact of the matter is you are making a silent commitment to the business you are purchasing goods from that you want to use their product. That is the reason you walked in their door, wasnt it? I think as long as there is not a huge flaw in the process, what you purchase is what you will walk away with and nothing else. I have no problem with returning a book when you get through reading chapter two and you find that chapters three and four are completely missing from your book. That is a huge flaw with the book, and you should expect a good product from a business. The same is true for a movie. If you attend a movie and halfway into it the projector decides to mangle the reel and it will be hours before the movie theater staff will have it fixed, you should be able to either return to see that movie at a later date for free, or be able to go to a different movie of your choice. In both of these situations, a person in management will have been able to get involved and resolve your issue, reinforcing how reputable tire business is. The last thing I wish to bring up is the fact that you and your fellow exchange students represent your countries, and what you do while you're here reflects not only on yourselves personally, but also on the country you came from. It may seem unfair, but arent you making judgments on our country by the people you come in contact with here at Dixie State College and in St. George? Thank you for writing in Confused Student. You have addressed some issues many people try to make decisions on as well. Whenever you are placed in a situation where something may seem a little gray at first just ask yourself, What would a person of exemplary character do? I have all tire confidence that you will make the right decision after that. Sincerely, Kate M i ! ! 1 1 C I 1 H is always college is not the time to leave any views unquestioned. 911 brought a state of introspection to America, and nine years later it group of religious mentalists who were likewise motivated by the drive to save their views from perceived corruption. A week after the 911 attacks I went on a field trip and studied that event. I like to think it was one of the seeds that led to my inevitable deconversion. College is a time for ex would seem a more fittm: tribute to those who lost their lives to examine 4 they did. It would be a greater service to their memory to contemplate how we can stop fundamentalism like this from ruining so many lives again. ed (so mom, let the boys be boys next time, we know what we're doing) When it comes to Mideast peace we need remember that we should let them do their own thing, and let things take get worse because of what happened between my brother and I. I took back the shovel by force and knocked the crap out of one of his toys (his Toy Story Woody Doll). Yes, Israel and Palestine will go through that stage, but someone has nukes. If we didnt have our fingers in everyones pie, we wouldnt need to spend as much on our military, or our generous gift giving to Israel. The expansion of our to their course over there. So lets try to apply tho two things. When dealing with conflict (local or global), dont take anything away from anyone r it doesnt belong to you (Palestines land and my Power Ranger Shovel), Lastly, when dealing witl immature institutions (Israel, Palestine, my broth:: and I) let them handle ifr their own. Dont favor oi side over the other. governments power is hardly ever warranted. We as Americans have gotten lazy and accustomed to letting our politicians run our government uncheck n , i freedom of speech, press and assembly gives even one the opportunity to e plore whatever religious, political or any other vieu an individual wants. Yet funda- y i discovery. I wouldn't adop evangelical means for spreading my atheism. Tt best part of America is at George Tiller's murder who by a fundamentalist thought he was protecting "unborn souls". The Catholic Church is em- in controversy and shame over the cover-up- s of sexual abuse on youth by then Cardinal Ratzinger, who is the current Pope. The Mountain Meadows Massacre occurred on Sept. 11, 1857. It was an act of terrorism perpetrated by a i; Li ploration, education and beneficial? Look n A Li J i i A N si T P fl Vfc. v A : tf wA Consider adding Newspaper Production to your fall schedule and become the voice of DSC! Its easy! You can sign up to be part of the staff this fall to get credit for your work and start building a portfolio. You dont have to be a journalism major; sign up for Comm 2210, credits. Newspaper Production 1 for 1- -3 WRITE STORIES! . NEWS, SPORTS, MOVIES, POLITICS, AND MORE! . DESIGN GRAPHICS TAKE PHOTOS CREATE SLIDE SHOWS SHOOT VIDEO For info contact: Rhiannon Bent Dixie Sun Adviser Bentdixie.edu 652-781- 6 fs C I Photographers: experience preferred but not requiredA for writing on the pap Writers: Comm 1130 is a co-requis- ite |