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Show 4 SIGNPOST-Tuesday, June 27,1989 Editorial Flag burning a disgrace By Scott Summerill Editor in Chief The Supreme Court ruling protecting the burning of the American flag as a freedom of speech is a sure sign that the judicial system is truly blind, deaf and dumb. How can a country that has seen hundreds of thousands of it's people die on foreign soil while protecting the rights of democracy stand still and watch ungrateful fanatics desecrate the symbol of their nation? How can we justify allowing someone to take the symbol that covers the coffins of our dead soldiers to signify their ultimate sacrifice for their country and kin and turn it into ashes. Then, as if the desecration was not enough, to chant slogans like "America, the red, white and blue, wc spit on you." The fanatics stick a knife in the back of our people, and the Supreme Court has given it a hard twist. ' , We fight for the right to express ourselves without fear of repression and reprisal, and freedom of speech should always be defended. However, there is a big difference in freedom of speech and the demoralization of a nation. One of the cornerstones to what makes the United States great is the ability to allow our people freedoms unfound in other countries, while maintaining a high sense ot pamoucself-conliUcnceTtsut, wiieu me Same powuis that prompt Americans to fight and die for these rights fail to recognize the importance of protecting the inspirations of patriotism, democracy and all those under it's wing suffer degradation and slander. Exposure of governmental wrong-doings and condemnation of such deeds plays a vital part in the propagation of personal freedom in this country. When sounjiiiiiig is wiungspcaK ourwiUi vigui. Lt.i juui dissatisfaction be heard, but be responsible and aim your attack at the culprit, not the entire nation. Flag burning is not a responsible or rational voice. It's the kind of thing you see radicals doing in third world countries One last thought, does the ruling mean that destruction of national, state or religious symbols is merely a expression of free speech? And, if so, how long will it take before the Washington Monument and other "symbols" are trashed and lie in rubble to show the world Daycare bill shouldn't be political prize By Peter Avion Managing Editor And they're off! See the politicians run. See them race around the track. See them filibuster at every turn. See them play partisan politics. See me get very sick very fast at watching them play games with so many families without the first bit of care as to the importance of their efforts. Yes that's right, it's that time again. There's a political brass ring on the floor of congress, and just like the pavlovian dogs they are, senators and representatives are salivating at the opportunity to claim some fame. I'm talking about the daycare bill drafted by the Democrats, which recently passed the Senate, thanks in part to gasp Republican Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, which is now on it's merry way to the House of Representatives where it will unlikely be modified before it struts down the yellow brick road to the White House, where President Bush (You remember him don't you? You know, "thousand points of light," the man who visited dozens of daycare centers on the campaign trial, and the bit about being everyone's president, and not just the president of the people who elected him...) has promised to VETO the damn thing just because it was drafted by double gasp the DEMOCRATS! Ah, yes, isn't the stink refreshing? Uh, excuse me... Whatever happened to what was good for the people? While you guys and gals are sitting there in your cushy, albeit stressful, jobs on the hill, without a care in the world about daycare, thousands of single working mothers are fretting, "Is it a Democrat, or is it a Republican?", and no ultrasound is going to give them the answer. See, it seems real weird to us down here in the trenches why it would matter who sponsored the bill, what party he or she happened to be from, or whether he or she is ethical, gay or otherwise. The fact is, this is the first good, solid piece of legislation to come out of Washington D.C. in a long time, and what are you doing with it? Playing "one potato, two potato, three potato, no more." See, Georgie ol' boy, you already greased us on the minimum wage bill, and now you and your Grand 01' Party are asking us, the working poor, to take it in the shaft again? Why? We all know there's another bill, introduced by the Republicans, dealing with the very same thing, in almost the very same manner, on the floor right now, just salivating at the chance to land on your desk after you have condemned the Democrat's bill to outer darkness. And the sad truth is, you'll probably sign that one without reading beyond the first paragraph. ..just because it was one of the good ol' boys who wrote it But you know, I may bite my tongue for saying this, buy I'm starting to like Orrin Hatch. Of all the congressmen from Utah, he alone had the courage to vote his conscience, instead of his party. For that act alone, I can forgive a multitude of past partisan sins. He did what he felt was right, proper, even the decent thing to do. For that, he deserves our appreciation and respect. The sad fact is, his actions will probably remain pointless with the rest of the political piranha on Capitol Hill. Kind of makes you sick, doesn't it. Signpost Editorial-Advertising-Production Summer Quarter, 1989 The Weber Stale College Signpost is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall, winter and spring quarters, and once a week during the summer quarter by the WSC Department of Communication. The Signpost is distributed free of charge and is available by subscription for S9 per quarter. TheSlGNPOST offices are located in the Union Building, Room 267. Mail should be sent to: WSC Signpost, Weber State College, Ogden, Utah 84408-2 1 1 0. Editor in Chief 626-7121 Advertising Department .... 626-6359 News Department 626-7105 Entertainment Department . . 626-7105 Sports Department 626-79S3 The Signpost Staff Editor in Chief Scott Summerill Managing Editor pela- Avion Photography Editor Jin Tilensor Advertising Manager Liesel Wayment Production Manager Brandi Johnson Distribution Jeff Bybee Advisor P. Larry Slahle Secretary Linda McGee Publisher Randolph Scott Letter Policy The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. They must be typed and should not exceed 300 words in length. For subjects requiring greater exposition, arrangements may be made with the editor in chief. Letters MUST include name, address, phone number, relationship to WSC (student, family, staff, Ogden resident, etc.) and the signature of the writer. Letters without this information will not be printed. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. |
