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Show SPANISH FORK WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009 • A3 Covering what matters most Finding good in the bad Benjamin My Unintentional Life Rosemary Jarman Which was it? The first or the second? Maybe the third. I don't remember... but I know it was way up there on the list of initial reactions to my cancer diagnosis: I'm gonna be bald! Like most everything else cancer-ish, you really don't dwell on it that long, if at all. Denial is readily accessible and easily applied. Why waste such a gift? Why not go shopping instead? It's easier to think "I'm going to the mall and I might have long red hair or a really awesome hat when I come out" than it is to think "Oh my sosh! I'm going to look likeVoda!" So, I collected six hats, and four wigs. And not a moment too soon. It started to fall out on a Sunday. I could have let it fall for a few days before anyone woulcTve noticed, but one night while I was helping my daughter with homework, I looked down at her worksheet and saw some of my hair laying on it that hadn't been there two seconds ago. I decided it was time. So that night, instead of playing Balderdash or Sorry, we played "Sorry, You're Bald." I thought the kids would find this quite entertaining, but they were actually rather somber. No one wanted a turn shaving mom's head. My husband, Mark, stopped shaving at mohawk stage and tried to tease it up for a picture to commemorate my crazy high school days, but every time we pulled a spike up to rat and spray it, it just came out in our hands. . Everything was going Kate Jarman/ Spanish Fork News well, I understood what had to be done — just like every GETTING IT OVER WITH: Rosemary elects to have her other weird thing I'd been head shaved instead of waiting for the hair to fall out. through since March 27. But then I looked down. I back the tears as I ran to my Don't know what I'd have saw ALL my beautiful hair room. Mirrors met me ev- done without him. lying in a pile on the floor. erywhere and my good old Even though I've come Have you ever considered friend denial was nowhere to accept of my new look as how much time and emo- to be found. a reprieve from 21 st century tional energy you (women) Fortunately, my good vanity and a welcomed exput into your hair? (not to old friend Mark was to be tra six hours a week, I do admention money), it was found and he stayed with mit, it will be nice to return more than I could handle me all night, through each to the world of the coiffed and I struggled to hold emotional twist and turn. when this is all over. 'Round and About Benjamin Kathleen Olsen During the final week of June, Young Women from Spanish Fork West Stake spent several days at Camp Koholowo in the mountains high above Santaquin at their annual Girls' Camp. Girls from both Benjamin wards were among them. Several women accompanied the girls as chaperones to ensure their safety and to help whenever needed. Going as chaperones from Benjamin 1st Ward were Janice Taylor, Bonnie Foy and Tiffany Maughn. From Benjamin 2nd Ward were Jill Rindlisbacher, Jill Stewart, Ashley Hughes, Sandra Doty and Alisha Rudd. Throughout the week, adult priesthood holders took turns at the camp in the capacity of watchmen and guards. On one evening, the bishoprics of the various wards attended supper and the evening's activities. From all reports, everyone had a wonderful time. ••• We extend our sympathy to Jean Lundquist and her family on the death of Jean's father, Gary Gene Lundquist, of Rigby, Idaho. Funeral services for Mr. Lundquist were held on Thursday, July 2,2009, in Rigby. It hasn't been long since both of Jean's parents were here in Benjamin for their grandson, Caleb's, baptism and confirmation. ••• While I've been writing this column, I've been entertained by a baby sparrow learning tofly.It had a huge cheering section of adult birds fluttering and chattering around it as if to say, "Come on, you can do it!" And, sure enough, it finally gathered everything together and took off. A few minutes later, it returned and peeked in the window as if to say, "See, I did it!'1 Letter to the Editor Prayer and Religion I recently read Luke GraybilFs letter objecting to the practice of offering prayer at the recent Miss Salem competition and his further objection to that prayer being offered in the name of Jesus Christ. He. cited the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution as the basis for his general statement that "religious invocations at public events are unconstitutional." He further cites Lee vs. Weisman, a Supreme Court Case that ruled the offering of prayers by religious officials unconstitutional at secondary school graduation ceremonies. In Lee vs. Weisman (1992), there were several factors which made the prayers offered at that graduation ceremony unconstitutional. In the first place, the graduation was held on school property, built by the taxpayers and owned by the government. Secondly, the Principal, as a government official, directed the clergyman about the content of the prayer. Most importantly, he decided that the prayers would be a part of the program over the objections of Mr. Weisman, objections which he had made previous to the ceremony. He imposed a religious practice on youthful citizens who were constrained by the importance of the event to attend and participate in the ceremony. In this court case, there was obvious governmental interference in the proceedings of the graduation — religious practices that were forced upon all who attended. I have read the opinion of the Supreme Court in the Lee vs. Weisman case and found this statement at the end of the opinion: "We do not hold that every state action implicating religion is invalid if one or a few citizens find it offensive. People may take offense at all manner of religious as well as nonreligious messages, but offense alone does not in every case show a violation." The opinion also event in name only, but it cites another court case. is not a public event that Marsh vs. Chambers would violate the civil (1983) in which the rights of anyone because Supreme Court upheld those present could leave the state legislature in if they were offended by its practice of having something in the content prayer before the ses- of the program. sions. They held that When Mayor Henthe atmosphere "where derson told Mr. Grayadults are free to en- bill that prayers are also ter and leave with little offered at city council comment and for any meetings, he obviously number of reasons" did intended to convey the not compare to the pub- feeling the community lic school graduation and holds about public prayer did not find the practice at many different civic unconstitutional. events. If all the memIn the case of the Miss bers of the city council Salem pageant, non-gov- choose to pray together ernmental members of in their meetings and no the community worked one involved in the meetout the agenda for the ing is objecting to that, program and there were is that a problem? These no objections to having prayers are not regulated prayer. Certainly the of- by government officials. fering of prayer was not They are the prayers of dictated nor was it con- individuals who agree to trolled in any way by any reverence each others' government official. It personal prayers uttered was offered by a woman publicly and in behalf of who happens to serve the group. There is no interferon the city council. Her governmental prayer was totally spon- ence involved. If sometaneous. It is my under- one gets offended, they standing that the City may leave. of Salem sponsored the Salem is used to treat- ing people of different religious backgrounds with respect, and members of the community are very willing to be tolerant of differences and inclusive in their social functions. When someone moves into the community and calls our traditions unconstitutional, it is hard to know how to respond. People in this city respect law and are reasonable about differences of opinion. I am sure that no preference to one religion was being made in asking Ms. Durrant to pray. The predominance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in this area is due to the fact that this is still a relatively small town settled by members of that faith, just like the Lutheran faith predominates in areas of Wisconsin and other faiths predominate in other areas. However, you will find that people here are very concerned about your objections. We like to be good to our neighbors. I also feel that the framers of the Constitution were God-fearing men and that their intent was not to remove religious practices, such as prayer, from our public life. They were concerned about one religion being supported by the government over all others. If you know your history, you know where this safeguard came from. These days there are those who bend over backwards to express to such objections as Mr. Graybill has raised in the name of civil liberty and thus deny the majority their civil liberty. In the past, the majority ruled and people learned to be tolerant of the prevailing wishes of that majority. It would be a mistake for members of this community to become self-conscious about the practice of praying at public civic events. The will of the people in this matter is our constitutional right. Annette Wells Salem Madison's Avenue HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING • Service • Furnace Replacements • A/C Add Ons • Green Sticker • Financing OAC bryant HmrnOna * Cooling 8y*tema "Daddy, you were right. I was exhausted. I do feel better now... AFTER MY NAP!" WHATEVER IT TAKES 798-1700 |