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Show Page 10 The Ogden Valley news Volume XX Issue XII July 15, 2012 Letters to the Editor Huntsville’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame Now that the dust-up over the Huntsville parade has settled, let’s review. Some initial information was inaccurate as reported in the Standard. Some was corrected the next day. However, matters seemed to worsen as quotes from the genius, who came up with the idea and executed it, came to light. My own immediate take on it after reading Friday’s paper was to find the idiot. After venting a little on a few people and seeing the U-Tube video, I softened a bit. But, then I began to read the quotes from the genius. “If anyone chose to be offended, well too bad.” Really? Like “choosing” to feel bad or happy or angry or witnessing an unprovoked attack? Then another, I stayed away from Obama for three years “and the one time we do, we’re called racist and hate-mongers and seeking to assassinate him.” I’ve asked the paper why, and wonder why every other media interviewer didn’t ask the genius, “Why do the parade in Huntsville when he lives in Brigham City. The answer I’m getting is he is a native. So, if I travel to Brigham City with a controversial parade entry on Peach Days, will anybody ask me why I’m there causing trouble for Brigham City when I don’t even live there? I guess I’ll tell them I’m a Mormon and the place is named after Brother Brigham. ABC4 quotes the genius as saying, “I will offer an apology to no one for it.” And, “nothing wrong.” “Political humor.” And the icing on the cake, “If you watch SNL, you’ll see a lot worse.” Watching TV at home with a channel changer is quite a bit different than watching a parade from the side of the street with your kids, and you have nowhere to run. Ok, some say I’m guessing on some stuff here, but logic says this. Genius knew there would be trouble, since he had plenty of excuses prepared. He knew he was close to the line because he ruled out toy squirt guns suggested by his Mom. He probably came to Huntsville to please his Dad, who lives here, COMMENTARY cont. from page 3 and now Dad has let his boy genius take all the heat. He says that he has done this many times in Huntsville on various subjects. I am waiting to see those videos . . . . Now, letters in support of genius are popping up. One lady from Kaysville (outsider) says that genius (outsider) was OK to put his ideas in Huntsville’s parade and the ladies from Ogden (outsiders?) have no right to tell Huntsville what goes into their parade. Irony alert! The outsider says outsiders are allowed in parade and outsiders shouldn’t complain even though Huntsville officials didn’t know about the entry. One guy says the protest was “the only relevant point in an otherwise mindless and meaningless celebration.” Whoa, dude, you just dissed the 4th of July! One old cowboy reminisces about a 48-year-old Ogden parade political statement: LBJ (then President Johnson) initials painted on the rump of a horse. And there were no complaints. He failed to give the relevant context. LBJ had stolen the Presidency, escalated the Vietnam War, and was drafting our boys to be sacrificed there. Neither side liked him. In contrast, President Obama appears, as viewed from outer space, to have done nothing more than audaciously get elected as a black man to the office of President of the United States. Oh, wait, there’s more. He made it possible for 30 million people to get health care, he saved the U.S. auto industry, he pulled our troops from Iraq, he killed the Somali pirates, he lowered student loan rates, he saved a million jobs with the stimulus, and he lowered total middle class taxes to the lowest in 40 years. OMG, HE KILLED OSAMA! Really think he deserves to be mocked in front of 4000 kids on the 4th of July? “Don’t Taze me, Bro” Larry Bennington, Eden an apology may come the same day you read front page headline news “Standard Examiner Readers Sickened Over Tuesday’s Editorial.” else is inaccurate. We feel the Standard-Examiner owes an apology to Huntsville, especially the mayor and Note: To sign a petition being prepared to city council, the organizers of the Huntsville send to the “Standard-Examiner,” visit <www. 4th of July celebration, the parade organizers, gopetition.com/petitions/standard-examinerand Standard-Examiner readers. We realize owes-huntsville-residents-an-apology.html> OUR AMERICAN-DO SPIRIT (More letters on page 11) Huntsville Humor Only a few short weeks after a letter to the editor I wrote suggesting the Republican Party had a racist component stirred up such indignation and protest, some buffoon in a black mask and white limousine provided us with proof positive. I mean, my goodness! All he needed to do was line his parade route with burning crosses and waving confederate flags for the imagery to be complete. What apparently passes for humor in Huntsville Town struck me, instead, as a demonstration of extraordinarily bad judgment and gave once again clear indication that the GOP is slowly dog-paddling its way into the shallow end of the gene pool. After recovering from the initial shock of what I was witnessing on Independence Day, I took a step back, inhaled a deep breath, and forced myself to remember that the gift of free speech, a gift paid for by the blood of our forbears, is granted equally to both the wise and the foolish. Limo Boy too serves a purpose. His message was clear. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Gary Anderson, Huntsville A Tale of Two Johns When I first heard that Obamacare had survived Supreme Court challenge, I was momentarily irritated. How could Chief Justice John Roberts side with the liberal wing of the Court? Further reflection has reversed my initial reaction and caused my admiration for the Chief Justice to soar! Even in my first reaction something in the recesses of my memory tried to bubble to the surface. Eventually it did. John Roberts has given his political adversary a surface victory that will cost team Obama the election in November. The way he accomplished this is parallel to what his predecessor Chief Justice John Marshall did in the landmark case of Marbury vs. Madison. And equally as brilliant! In the waning days of Federalist President John Adams’ one term, his party concocted the notion of continuing their influence in the central government by packing the courts with those of their political persuasion. John Marshall himself was almost one of these so called “Midnight Judges,” having obtained his appointment six weeks before Adams left office. In fact, as Adams’ Secretary of State, it was Marshall’s duty to prepare the commissions of appointment for his fellow Federalist Judges. As the Adams’ administration left their offices on the last day of their term of service, the appointment commissions were signed, sealed, but not delivered, and were left on the desk of the new incoming Secretary of State, James Madison. In consultation with the new President, Thomas Jefferson, it was decided not to issue the commissions because they were clearly a court packing scheme, even though such was perfectly legal. One of the intended appointees was William Marbury, whose undelivered commission directed him to take his place as a Federal District Judge for Washington, D. C. In course of time, Marbury brought suit in the Supreme Court against Secretary of State James Madison for his commission. Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the decision. To see Marshall’s brilliance in this ruling, it must be remembered that he and Marbury were of the same political persuasion or party. Marshall agreed that Marbury was entitled to his commission, and that there was a remedy at law for one with his particular complaint. However, because Marbury had sued in the wrong court, he was denied his commission. Marbury’s side argued they were clearly following the procedure laid out in the Judiciary Act of 1789, duly passed by Congress to fill the gaps in the Federal Judiciary established only in broad outline in the Constitution. To this Justice Marshall replied that the Constitution established original jurisdiction for the Supreme Court, and for Congress to expand that jurisdiction to include issues such as Marbury was presenting, would in effect amend the Constitution by congressional enactment. This was not allowable and thus that part of the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional. This decision established the power of Judicial Review for the Supreme Court of the United State by which it can declare laws or actions of the other two branches of our national government unconstitutional. In modern phraseology, Marshall threw fellow Federalist Marbury under the bus in order to establish a far more significant principle. In hindsight, perhaps he did Marbury a favor. Had Marbury received his appointment, who would have ever heard of William Marbury? Now, for our second John; Justice Roberts joined with the right thinking wing of the court in curtailing the misuse of the Commerce Clause that has been used as a club against the liberties of the American people for more than a century. For the foreseeable future, the national government will not be able to stretch that power for its nefarious purposes. This part of his decision was what caused observers to originally think he had struck down Obamacare. Then came our second reaction when we learned Justice Roberts had found that monstrosity to be constitutional under the taxing power of the national government. So weak was the argument for this line of defense for the “Affordable Health Care Act” that it was overlooked entirely by observers, especially by those who foisted this business upon the American people, and that because the word “tax” is anathema to them in light of their numerous denials that it was a tax. Justice John Roberts has brilliantly placed the albatross of Obamatax around the neck of the Democratic Party and put President Obama in the crosshairs of electoral politics. Like John Marshall before him, John Roberts sacrificed a little for a lot. Chuck Watson, Eden ESSAY CONTEST GOT SPIRIT? WRlTE ABOUT IT AND WIN! YOUR UNIQUE SENSE OF AMERICAN SPIRIT can win you money and recognition! Just write in your own words what Our American Spirit means to you in 500 WORDS or less, and send it with an official entry form to: OUR AMERICAN-DO SPIRIT ESSAY CONTEST c/o John Reynolds, 28 White Barn Dr., Pleasant View, UT 84414. Entries must be received no later than JULY 24, 2012. That’s The Spirit Bonus - Entries received by July 4th (Independence Day) will receive a 5 point bonus. AWARDS FOR FIRST PLACE BY AGE AND GENDER There are three age groups for men and women: Ages 16 to 29, 30 to 55, & 56+ First Place Awards of $236.76 each for three men and three women will be given, a total of $1420.56. In addition, each winner will receive a Freedom Library set of biographic books about the lives of American Heroes. Awards to be announced at Constitution Day and Patriots Day Ceremonies in September 2012. Winners will be invited to participate at these events. Winning essays will be featured in area newspapers. CONTEST BEGINS JUNE 14, (FLAG DAY) Entry forms available at the Smith & Edwards store and various locations throughout the area. For a location near you, contact John Reynolds @ 801-782-8077. Sponsored by The AmeriCAN-DO Spirit Project Committee. OUR AMERICAN-DO SPIRIT ESSAY CONTEST ENTRY FORM Please complete all lines. Your Name (First, M & Last)_____________________________Birth date__________ Home Address, City, State, Street, zip_________________________________________ E-mail address_________________________Phone #_________________________ Profession or School___________________________________________ Please check one age group and gender. Age __16 -29 : ___30 -55:___56+ : Male___Female__ How did you hear of this contest?________________________________________ Date you completed your essay____________Date mailed or delivered___________ Deadline for entries –July 24, 2012 That’s The Spirit Bonus Deadline –July 4, 2012 I have read and understand the contest rules shown below & confirm that it is my own work. Your Signature________________________________________ Date________________________ Please attach the entry form to the upper left corner of your essay. Your name and address must be shown at the bottom of essay. Mail your essay and this entry form to: “Our American-Do Spirit Essay Contest”, C/O John Reynolds, 28 White Barn Dr. Pleasant View, UT. 84414 Those who wish to support the essay contest but don’t want to write an essay may do so by sending a contribution to the same address above. Thank you! CONTEST RULES (keep for reference): Essay must not exceed 500 words in length; double spaced in 11 or 12 point font, clearly readable such as Calibri, Cambria, or Times. Any reference sources used must be listed on a separate page and attached to your essay; sources may be a person, book, magazine, newsletter, movie, video, web site, or others that were helpful to you in writing your essay. Clearly list the title of your work at the beginning, the title is whatever you choose to give it. Essay must be about REAL PEOPLE and/or EVENTS. Essays will be evaluated based on five criteria which carry the following values: 10 POINTS each for READABILITY, LOGIC, GRASP of SUBJECT, AND CLARITY; WITH 5 POINTS FOR ORIGINALITY. ALSO, a 5 POINT BONUS (That’s The Spirit) will be ADDED to all essays received by JULY 4TH, 2012. Decisions of the Judges are final. All essays become the property of Our AmeriCAN-Do Spirit Project, please make a copy of your essay for your records. Ogden Valley Football Registration July 16-17 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Eden Park For questions, call Jeff and Melanie Shaw, 745-0275. Come sign up and be ready to play! If you are a new registrant, bring a copy of your birth certificate. 801-745-4000 2555 WOLF CREEK DR. EDEN From the Service Deli www.valleymarketeden.com STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. 7 AM - 10 PM SUNDAY 7 AM - 9 PM Any Whole Watermelon $1.00 OFF with coupon Expires 8/1/12 80/20 Hamburger $2.49 per lb. with coupon Expires 8/1/12 Deli-Fresh Pizza $1.00 OFF with coupon Expires 8/1/12 From the Meat Dept. From the Deli Dept. Two 12-pack Shasta Products $1.00Expires OFF with coupon 8/1/12 Any Lofthouse Cookies $1.00 OFF with coupon Expires 8/1/12 From the Bakery |