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Show ommunity lews A2 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2007 Covering what matter's most - N E W S - Spanish Fork Letter to the Editor 280 North Main St. Spanish Fork, UT 84660 Lane Henderson Steve Hardmari Namon Bills Publisher Editor Assoc. Editor The Spanish Fork News is published each Wednesday for $37.50 per year in area and $41.50 out of area by J-Mart, 280 North Main St., Spanish Fork Utah 84660. Email stories to editor@spforknews.com Email ads to ads@spforkncws.com Call us at 794-4964 POSTMASTER Send address changes to Spanish Fork News 280 North Main St. Spanish Fork, Utah 84660 The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright© 2007 Spanish Fork News. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the editor or publisher. DEADLINES Weddings, anniversaries, missionaries, 1st birthdays, articles, photos, letters to the editor Friday, 12 p.m. Display advertising and classified advertising Friday, 12 p.m. North Park We live in that "I I'd like to think that swear the sample looked the city government really different" blue trailer on cares about us — I really the corner by Macey's — would. After attending another story for another some of the earlier rounds day. Here's a shout out of Spanish Fork City versus to our Spanish Fork City concerned citizens down at government — namely the the city offices, it became city planner, city council apparent very quickly who and let's not forget the was going to win. 1 almost mayor. Thank you forsaw a tear roll down the your fearless examples cheek of the chairman of of leadership. Top notch. the city planning committee I mean, your willingness when he cast the final vote to offer a selective few of to approve zone changes, your outstanding citizens after hearing what seemed a financial hit for the good to be hundreds of concerned of the city is off the hook. voices against the decision After perusing through compared to only a handful the Utah Law to check for it (almost entirely sitting out the legality of the deal on the committee, by the that was seemingly going way.) He said (I'm pretty down with the trailer park sure this is exactly how it residents, I found that happened), "Well folks, there are absolutely no it seems there are a lot of laws to protect trailer park questions involving this, residents from empire- but ... (adjusts necktie and like territorial expansion. peeks in wallet) I'm gonna So, kudos to you Spanish have to vote for the zone Fork and developers, change for no particularly you're a great team for good reason." taking advantage of this (Side note: Why hold a to exploit some of your meeting if you've already poorest citizens. I guess made up your mind?) you really are making the Maybe I'm poking fun a city wealthier — get rid of little bit here, but the reality the poor people and bring of the situation is that from in a couple high-dollar the get-go, we trailer park "big box" stores. residents have been jerked around and left in the dark who were actually duped Those that technically can, like they think we're a by that whole "conflict of the closest park that will bunch oT toothless yokels. interest" bit or whatever take them is in Price. We're There's been he-said-she- your clearly misunderstood one of the few lucky ones, said rumors floating around motivation is.) If I still even though we're taking for nearly a year with noth- believed anything you over a 50 percent financial ing concrete and everyone told me regarding this hit from this awkward deal that seems like they should mess, I wouldn't have — which I'm willing to know something gives you stopped calling you for take because I'm sick of the the same, "Uhhh, we're information. whole rotten mess — we waiting to hear from Mr. What it all boils down actually have a place to go. Blah maybe you can call to is this: if it were all up But there's a lady that lives him." to Allen, I wouldn't be behind us whose trailer is And then you call him writing this letter. I'd know too old to move and she's and he says, "Yeah, we're that we'd all be taken care on a fixed income. What's waiting for so-and-so to of, end of story. They are she supposed to do? give us such-and-such, giving us a little bit of Well, while you are maybe you can try them," financial help, for which I all saving your pennies until you eventually make am very grateful because I by getting your premium it back to the first guy you know that they have no legal shopping done at your new obligation to do so (that still called. Frustrating. "big box" Target store, I And all the while, the boggles my mind.) What hope you remember our only guy that even seems about moral obligation, "Did they really paint it like to genuinely care about not just for the city and that?" blue trailer that used us, Allen Thomas, gets developer but all of us? If completely left out of the our little trailer park was to be on the corner. I hope loop. Which leads me my torn to pieces by a category you think of our neighbors shout out to you, Mayor Joe five tornado (apparently that were pushed aside and Thomas. Take a lesson from a common fate for trailer discarded like trailer park father and try to actually parks) people would be all trash because they made the care about the people whom over it offering assistance. mistake of buying a trailer you profess to represent, When essentially the same that, who knew, happened instead of showing a thing happens by American to be sitting on "prime real blatant disregard for their capitalism with similar estate." Who cares, we live well-being in favor of your financial effects happens, in a trailer park. And, Joe own personal aspirations no one sees a thing or says ... oh, forget it. as mayor or to secure your a word. Steve Jensen own inheritance. (That part Spanish Fork Many of the trailers is for the two percent of you here can't even be moved. Tyndall AFB, Fla. Letter to the Editor Illegal immigrants Many people have written about immigration have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. I have even seen one who suggested we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't •being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry. Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like those writers why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States. People had to get off a ship and stand in long lines in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home. They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into our culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. Most of these men, whose parents had come straight overfromGermany, Italy, France and Japan, never gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the FrenchAmerican or the German-American or the Irish-American. The people of France saw only Americans. We carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country'sflagand 1 waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl. And here we are in 2007 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900s deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags. Albert V. Burns Spanish Fork '"•••^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^•^^•^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M Benjamin girls' camp held it out at their annual girls' camp held from Tuesday, June 5, through Friday, June 8, 2007, despite the late and Kathleen Olsen heavy snowstorm that altered some of the scheduled activities. Through the First of all, a correction on a date listed in this column two weeks ago - adverse conditions, the girls maintained The date of 1972 is incorrect as the date that it was a wonderful camp which when part of Benjamin Ward was put had its own special spirit. From with Leland Ward. The actual date was Benjamin First Ward, the girls included August 14, 1977. We appreciate that Colette Woolsey, Kelsey Argyle, error being brought to our attention in Stacy Johnson, Katelynn Urmston, Kylie Stone, Mallory Mitchel, Kaylee order that it can be corrected. Beckstrom, Lynsie Beckstrom, Jenna ••• Hats off to the stalwart girls and Anderson, Malea Elliott and McKenna leaders from Benjamin who, along Penrod. Their leaders were Gina Tanner, with the rest of girls and leaders of Janis Taylor, Michelle Anderson and the Spanish Fork West Stake, stuck Susan Beckstrom. Benjamin Second 'Round And About Benjamin Ward girls were Kimberly Mullins, Jocelynn Mullins, Lacey Godfrey, Magan Martinez, Allie Hughes, Tausha Rindlibacher, McKenzie Beckstrom Kira Fenn, Marlee Olsen, Kailey Doty, Paige Beckstrom, Savana Johnson and Ashlynn Rudd. The second Ward leaders were Denise Mullins, Jill Rindlisbacher, Sandra Doty, Ashley Hughes and Brittany Moon. ••• Belated happy birthday wishes go to Clair Anderson. His 80th birthday was celebrated on Monday, May 28, 2007, with a family picnic at the Benjamin See BENJAMIN-A3 One nation, indivisible this page for future use and go back to the index. Page 512. Did I read that wrong? Charla Zeeman Maybe I picked up the pages and closed the book, or what It's interesting how things is left of it... develop, even in writing. "I pledge allegiance to I've said this before, but my flag and to the republic sometimes an idea just isn't for which it stands, one there, so I begin somewhere, nation, indivisible, with anywhere. liberty and justice for all." This column began as a This, the original pledge, backward look into history, was published in the Sept. either as I know it or way 8, 1892, in the issue of before my time. It weaves Youth's Companion, a around whatever my mind weekly magazine published happens to fall on, but I still in Boston. More than 30 try to tie it into the past, years later the words were somehow. This morning is no changed so the pledge read, different. "I pledge allegiance to the I walked into my flag of the United States of workroom, the generic word America", and to the republic I use for my writing, filing, for which it stands, one sewing, storage room without nation, indivisible, with a thought in my head. Except liberty and justice for all." what does next week hold? This is the pledge I repeated This column appears a week every school day morning after it is written. until 1 was in high school. June 22, 1942, according In 1954, the words, "under to my trusty calendar put out God," were added by an act by the Veterans of Foreign of Congress. Wars, Congress officially The authorship of the recognized the Pledge of Pledge was originally Allegiance. Great idea! We'll talk about that for a claimed by James B. Upham, while. What is the Pledge's an executive of the Youth's history? Let's take a peek Companion. In 1923, a former member of the editorial staff, into my almanac. Where's my shopping Francis Bellamy, claimed list? I drastically need a new authorship. He died eight almanac. This one begins years before the United on page 373 and continues States Flag Assn. followed to page 738, then goes to the advice of a committee the front cover to page 372, to study the controversy and then comes some loose upheld Bellamy's claim in pages, then page 739 to the 1939. In 1957, the Library back cover. There have to of Congress issued a report be missing parts somewhere. attributing the authorship to But the index is in the front. Bellamy. It is still common I need page 372 and there it practice today to credit or is. Here are all four verses to blame an executive for what the Star Spangled Banner and has been accomplished by a seven of the verses to Yankee committee or a member of Doodle. Let's just tear out that committee. Ramblin' Roads |