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Show i o PI: on THE SUMMER UTAH CHRONICLE THE CHRONICLE'S THURSDAY JUNE 26, 2003 VIEW Minority Groups Must Work Together to Succeed The panel that should have on issues affecting been shown in Wednesday's panel by many of the ethnic minorities in lesbian, gay, bisexual and attendance. Blythe Nobleman, the woman who serves as the minority affairs director for Rocky Anderson, came under attack for being a sexual Wednes- transgender community day never got to its point because the audience didn't come to listen, they came to complain. The panel, titled "Defining Minorities: Process of Inclusion," featured members from both LGBT and ethnic communities. While both groups should have supported one another, many of the ethnic audience members minority brought their own gripes to the table instead of listening to what could have been a fruitful conversation. The LGBT community has suffered through much of the same alienation and discrimination many ethnic minorities have felt As Charles Milne, director of the LGBT Resource Center defined, minorities are those who have undergone systematic forms of discrimination. The LGBT community falls well within this definitioa such as the Organizations Human Rights Campaign strive to bring equal rights such as marital rights and tax benefits to homosexuals. The U's LGBT Resource Center has done a commendable job partnering with other minority groups on campus to promote all minority issues. minority instead of an ethnic minority. Many said they didn't feel represented by her. Nobleman's response is that it isn't her responsibility to represent, but rather coordinate. Instead of being berated, audience members should have supported having a diversity of minorities in places of authority. Squabbling over the title of minority is something best left to academia. Why does the U's Women's Resource Center exist when women make up the majority of campus? Because women are discriminated against more often than men, and need a place to turn when in need In any situation where there is a large majority and many smaller minority groups, the minorities must come together to stand up for each other. The panel organizers need to be commended for trying to open up an honest dialogue, but those who attended need to rethink the chips on their own shoulders, and realize that uniting is the only way to making the situation better for That same respect should have Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily Utah Chronicle Editor- ial Board. Editorial columns and letters to the editor are strictly the opinions of the author. The forum created on the Opinion Page is one based on vigorous debate, while at the same time demanding tolerance and respect. Material defama- tory to an individual or group because of race, ethnic background, gender, appearance or sexual orientation will be edited or will not be published. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Quit Whining About 2000 Election Editor: I'd like to know when Craig Froehlich and other liberals are going to quit complaining about the 2000 election. It's been almost three years now, yet the whining continues. And despite what vintners may tell you, this kind of whine does not improve with age. Froehlich makes the point in his most recent column, "Polls Indicate: Americans Blame Iraq for Everything," on June 19, that President Bush did not win the popular vote but went to the White House anyway. This is interesting, perhaps, but completely irrelevant. Football games are not decided by who amasses the most yards, they are decided by who scores the most points. Baseball games are not won by the team with the most hits, but by the team wjth the most runs. Similarly, winning the presidential election, by definition, requires winning the Electoral College not the popular vote. In other words, the Presidency is determined by a vote PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR of the states, not a vote of their individual citizens. However, populous states like California, New York, and Michigan get a much "bigger" vote than do small states like Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. It is interesting to note that these larger states typically vote for the Democratic candidate. So I can understand why Democrats would be upset. If I had a candidate in an election that was already slanted in my favor and he lost anyway, I'd be a little ticked off too. Without the Electoral College, candidates would have no reason to pay attention to smaller states. If all a candidate had to do to win the presidency was to win New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Chicago, why would he or she pay any attention to places like New Hampshire or Iowa? Or, for that matter, Utah? Michael Scott Martin Senior, Chemistry Education TO LETTERSCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU MillaTV Clinton for President in 2008 Shouldn't Be Surprised by the NY Senator's Candidacy Why We House Speaker Marty Stephens to run for Governor. Just Monday, eyeing a run for months, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean formally announced his candidacy for President. Merrill Cook has hinted that he might like to run for mayor of Salt Lake City. People involved in politics aspire to other offices all the time nothing radical, that's just business as usual. Unless, of course, you're Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her new memoir, "Living History," has spurred a flurry of wary speculation that she wants a shot at the White House in 2008. So what's the big deal? Hillary has been a polarizing figure in American public life for more than a decade we seem to either adore her or despise her. As an unconventional woman in the public eye, she faces a constant barrage of criticism from all Utah sides. Many liberals criticized her for staying with her husband. Conservatives would have criticized her if she had left him. Though a longtime champion of important domestic issues like education and health care, she is perceived by feminist out to many as a radical, destroy traditional family values. During her husband's tenure as President, private details of her marriage were broadcast self-servi- publicly and criticized to pieces. She not only survived, but she held her seven other men seeking the Democratic nomination) can aspire to higher office without causing a stir. Instead of their questioning the motives, majority of society examines their own and went on to become the junior senator from New York-win- ning the election by a comfortable margin. Love her or hate her, qualifications. Women like Hillar) en that's impressive. Gurr Kathle don't have the luxury of is nion Columnist Chronicle Opi Hillary merit-baseevaluation ed, thoughtful, articulate have the to because they and ambitious. She has a sophisticated underget public to let its standing of important national issues and has guard down. A large segment of society is wowed her colleagues in the Senate with her inherently skeptical of influential women seeking power. Hillary has to convince America thai intelligence and hard work. she isn't a calculating feminist, but an experi- her even a still controversial figure, Though most zealous opponents admit that she knows enced public servant with meaningful priorit ties. ner stuff. A man considering the Presidency with her qualities (enthusiasm, intelligence, Hillary Rodham Clinton is painfully familiar experience in public service) would be with the conflicting roles the public expects of applauded. So why do we view Hillary's women. During her time at the White House, assumed ambitions with such suspicion? long before the impeachment scandal, she was the target of endless criticism about her priorifaced It's the classic paradox by powerful women: be tough but not harsh, assertive but ties, ideological beliefs, parental practices, pernot bossy, nice but not weak, smart but not sonal habits and even her hair. Laura Bush doesintimidating. Expectations are subjective and n't receive this same personal criticism because she better fits our expectations of a woman in keeping this precarious balance is impossible. public life: a sweet, quiet, supportive sidekick is with no concrete agenda of her own. whether over The public uproar Hillary United States The idea that a because is partly eyeing the White House with uncomSenator make many in society female increasing popularity and influence might want to be President is not bizarre; fortable. People often perceive motivated calit's standard procedure. Let's set the expectawomen as pushy, accomplished women as tions about women aside for a moment and as women confident arrogant. culating, examine in poliwomen Hillary's qualifications as a person. Unconventional (particularly are exceptional. After graduHer credentials or ambition their about tics) have to be discreet Yale from Law Dean School, she championed Howard (and ating they appear well-educ- at d ever-changi- well-know- go-gett- self-seekin- g. n family issues by serving on the board of the Children's Defense Fund. As a thoughtful, articulate citizen active in her community, she has a strong history of hard work and common sense on issues both regional and national. As First Lady of Arkansas, she the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and chaired the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee with outstanding results. As the nation's First Lady, she chaired the Task Force on National Health Care Reform and discovered first hand that success in Washington derives from patience, persistence and cooperation. Her experience in the Senate is good preparation for anyone seeking the White House: thorough research, proposing and debating federal legislation and working across the aisle to achieve progress. As a first-terSenator, she has shown promising leadership as a principal advocate for homeland security, adequate health care coverage, education a- - ' he environment. The speculation that Hillary might run for President should be considered with less suspicion and more legitimacy. She is bright, outspoand strong. ken, ambitious, experienced Whether you agree with her ideologically or not, her qualifications should be enough to make her a suitable candidate. Her situation represents able women everywhere. If she can find and keep the precarious balance between being ambitious and appearing conniving, strong but not threatening, flexible but not weak, she can prove herself qualified for whatever task she takes on, whatever office she aspires to. And that shouldn't surprise us. kgurrchronicle. utah. edu ed m 113 COPY ""owe |