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Show SEPTEMBER 14,2006 DON'T CLOSE YOUR BLINDS The other day, my nine year old son wanted to know why we were at war. My husband looked at our son and then looked at me. My husband and I were in the Army during the Gulf War and we would be honored to serve and defend our Country again today. I knew that my husband would give him a good explanation. My husband thought for a few minutes and then told my son to go stand in our front living room window. He said, "Son, stand there and tell me what you see?" "I see trees and cars and our neighbor's houses." he replied. "OK, now I want you to pretend that our house and our yard is the United States of America and you are President Bush." Our son giggled and said, "OK." "Now son, I want you to look out the window and pretend that every house and yard on this block is a different country," my husband said. "OK Dad, I'm pretending." "Now I want you to stand there and look out the window and pretend you see Saddam come out of his house with his wife, he has her by the hair and is hitting her. You see her bleeding and crying. He hits her in the face, he throws her on the ground, then he starts to kick her to death. Their children run out and are afraid to stop him, they are screaming and crying, they are watching this but do nothing because they are kids and they are afraid of their father. You see all of this, son....what do you do?" "Dad?" "What do you do son?" "I'd call the police, Dad." " OK. Pretend that the police are the United Nations. They take your call. They listen to what you know and saw but they refuse to help. What do you do then son?" • "Dad but the police are supposed to help!" my son starts to whine. "They don't want to, son, because they say that it is not their place or your place to get involved and that you should stay out of it," my husband says. "But Dad...he killed her!!" my son exclaims. "I know he did...but the police tell you to stay out of it. Now I want you to look out that window and pretend you see our neighbor who you're pretending is Saddam turn around and do the same thing to his children." "Daddy...he kills them?" "Yes son, he does. What do you do?" "Well, if the police don't want to help, I will go and ask my next door neighbor to help me stop him," our son says. "Son, our next door neighbor sees Page 8 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER an email sent to the editor.... what is happening and refuses to get. involved as well. He refuses to open the door and help you stop him," my husband says. "But Dad, I NEED help!!!-1 can't stop him by myself!!" "WHAT DO YOU DO SON?" Our son starts to cry. UOK, no one wants to help you, the man across the street saw you ask for help and saw that no one would help you stop him. He stands taller and puffs out his chest. Guess what he does next son?" "What Daddy?" "He walks across the street to the old lady's house and breaks down her door and drags her out, steals all her stuff and sets her house on fire and then...he kills her. He turns around and sees you standing in the window and laughs at you. WHAT DO YOU DO?" "Daddy.." "WHAT DO YOU DO?" Our son is crying and he looks down and he whispers, "I'd close the blinds, Daddy." My husband looks at our son with tears in his eyes and asks him, "Why?" "Because Daddy the police are supposed to help people who needs them...and they won't help.... You always say that neighbors are supposed to HELP neighbors, but they won't help either...they won't help me stop him...I'm afraid....I can't do it by myself Daddy....I can't look out my window and just watch him do all these terrible things and and do nothing...so....I'm just going to close the blinds.... so I can't see what he's doing and I'm going to pretend that it is not happening." I start to cry. My husband looks at our nine year old son standing in the window, looking pitiful and ashamed alms answers to my husband's questions and he says... "Son" ."Yes, Daddy." "Open the blinds because that man... he's at your front door... "WHAT DO YOU DO?" My son looks at his father, anger and defiance in his eyes. He balls up his tiny fists and looks his father square in the eyes, without hesitation he says: "I DEFEND MY FAMILY DAD!! I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM HURT MOMMY OR MY SISTER, DAD!!! I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM, DAD, I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM!!!!!" I see a tear roll down my husband's cheek and he grabs our son to his chest and hugs him tight, and says... "It's too late to fight him, he's too strong and he's already at YOUR front door son you should have stopped him BEFORE he killed his wife, and his children and the old lady across the way. You have to do what's right, even if you have to do it WEDDINGS alone, before its too late," my husband McKee - Waller whispers. THAT scenario I just gave you is WHY we are at war with Iraq. When good men stand by and let evil happen, son....THAT is the greatest atrocity in the world. "YOU MUST NEV ER BE AFRAID TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, EV EN IF YOUHAV E TO DO IT ALONE1! BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! BE PROUD OF OUR TROOPS!! SUPPORT THEM!!! SUPPORT Laresa McKee and Chad Waller AMERICA SO THAT IN THE FU- were married Saturday, August 26, TURE OUR CHILDREN WILL 2006 in San Luis Obispo, CaliforNEV ER HAV E TO CLOSE THEI n i a . A reception followed at the Sycamore Springs Resort. BLINDS..." The parents of the bride are GOD BLESS AMERICA! Norman and Debra McKee of Panguitch. The groom's parents are ADVERTISE IN Don Waller of San Luis Obispo and Linda Waller of Tustin, California. Laresa is a former resident of Panguitch, Cedar City and St. George. IT WORKS!!! Following a Hawaii honeymoon, Call 676-2621 the couple will make their home in Atascadero, California. to place ads. "THE INSIDER" FOURTH ANNUAL COMMERCIAL CONTEST CALL FOR ENTRIES Utah Film Commission announced the 4th annual commercial contest call for entries today. Contestants may submit up to four 30-second commercial campaign-style or individual commercials. All together the winning commercial spots will air over 130 times during the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on Park City Television's "In The Can" program. The show has become essential viewing for many motion picture executives and festival participants every January. The commercial contest was developed 2003 to give local filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work while promoting the state of Utah as a location for filming. Filmmakers will receive $1,500 for each winning spot. In addition to having their winning spots air on Park City Television, the winners will also be able to participate in various 2007 Sundance Film Festival activities including screenings, receptions, and official parties. . "Once again we are excited to offer this tremendous opportunity to our local community of talented filmmakers," said Aaron Syrett, director of the Utah Film Commission. "Our state has so much to offer and this contest really helps showcase our industry and the exceptional film infrastructure here. The commercial contest has been one of our most ambitious endeavors and has proved well worth it. It gives participants a chance to produce work that has a great deal of potential and gives winning contestants immediate exposure. It also gives us the chance to see emerging talent and get to know our aspiring industry professionals." The contest is open to the public and there are no age or experience prerequisites. Applications of intent are due October 31,2006 and final Mini DV submissions are due November 30, 2006. Applications and guidelines are available on the Film Commission's website at www.film.utah.gov. Industry professionals will judge all submissions. The four winning spots will be announced December 15, 2006 at the semi-annual Utah Film Commission Film Industry Luncheon. The footage will become property of the Utah Film Commission. To view past winning commercials visit www.film.utah.gov/6tit takes/ commercial contest. Formed in 1974, the Utah Film Commission is part of the Governor's Office of Economic Development and is a member of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI). The mission of the Utah Film Commission is to create high-paying quality jobs within the motion picture industry, market the entire state as a location for film and commercial production, and to promote the use of Uta*h support services and professionals- The film commission is client-driven servicing both in state and out-of-state as well as international production companies. For more information visit film.utah.gov or e-mail Aaron Syrett asvrett@utah.gov |