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Show Wednesday, September 24, 2008 EDITORIAL t, r THE SIGNPOST Signpost Viewpoint All things in moderation that's pushing it. Now, throwing a It is always fun and exciting to get skull or a little strand of lights up into the spirit of a favorite team's in a minor cry of anticipation, that game, which, of course, Weber State can be quite entertaining. However, University's teams are counted when those full-blown cemeteries, among. The same can be said of tombstones, lights, spider webs, the anxious anticipation for the ghouls and all are completely many holidays that are celebrated constructed and operational by throughout the United States. It's the first week of September, that's part of what being American really pushing it. means. One of these holidays which is all-inclusive of the American Fanatics, enthusiasts, radicals, experience is annually dressing up and extremists, these are all terms as people we would never dream of that are well-known, and go very being in everyday life and banging on well with those who put Halloween doors asking for candy. decorations up two months in advance, begin picking The holiday we refer out theirThanksgiving to as All-hallows-eve, When turkey the minute or more commonly, they've finished Halloween, captures Halloween devouring the last, and the imaginations of dust off the Christmas decorations both young and old songs in June. alike, infecting the begin to appear nation with Halloween Find some other fever for the better part at the end of productive activities of the fall season. While to keep busy with to Halloween was not help ease the pains August, that's originated in America, of waiting for the pushing it. it certainly has become proper time to begin a highlight of the the festivities. Perhaps holiday season within take a better interest the states. in those sports teams. Rumor has it WSU hockey games are quite the From Marylyn Monroe, to Bill event to attend, as are the many Clinton, and the traditional pirateother sports teams showing their king and wicked witch combination, enthusiasm on the field every day. people dress to the often-gruesome nines. Yard decorations popThere's nothing wrong with spirit, up everywhere, from the simple many people could use more spirit tombstone or two, to the outrageous and may take a paragraph from the full-blown cemetery, complete memoirs of these enthusiasts, but with motion activated swinging, maybe not an entire page. The term screaming ghosts and witches, "All things in moderation" fits well in haunting trick-or-treaters on their situations such as this. By all means, treacherous path to the doorbell. build that cemetery, enjoy Christmas What more could a kid, or not-sowith the Chipmunks, and find that grown-up adult, ask for? perfect turkey, but please, for sanity's 1 Ail of these things are perfectly sake, wait until a month or so before acceptable, and highly anticipated the actual holiday. in most cities, towns, and rural areas, everyone enjoys a good scare, Comment on this story at however, there's a line. wsusignpost.com. When Halloween decorations begin to appear at the end of August, GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA BARNEY | tut A bit of common sense Sex sucks? Gina Barker Signpost columnist While those with an HBO subscription may disagree with me, I believe America just can't handle sex. There is this opinion in our culture that sex is disgusting ... that nudity is gross. I hope we aren't fooling ourselves into thinking the online porn industry is a 4 to 10 billion dollar industry because of British subscribers. No, I think you'll find a good portion of the world's sex industry (DVDs, Web sites, and magazines) are bought and sold inside the borders of the good old USA. Why else would every hotel chain under the sun have a special adult channel? So why, then, would the country that makes most of it and buys most of it publicly condemn and scorn sex? Puritan roots maybe? The fact of the matter is Americans love sex as long as it tucks nicely under the bed, but actually coming out and admitting this? Please. That's for Europeans. Case in point, proof if you will, is sexual education. There are politically and, of course, religiously motivated groups of people who are so opposed of to the idea of sex being acceptable in mainstream culture that "abstinence only" is the most popular form of sexual education in this country, and is the only form of education in Utah. The idea being promoted to kids is that sex is bad. Unbelievable - that there are people f \ WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY 1HE SIGNPOST Editor in chief Managing Editor News Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Business Editor Features Editor A&E Editor Adviser Ad Manager Office Manager Jessica Schreifels Frances Kelsey Heidi LeBaron Jon McBride 626-7121 626-7614 626-7655 626-7983 Catherine Mortimer 626-6358 Ashley Salvador 626-7624 Tricell Taylor 626-7621 Samantha Neri 626-7105 Allison Hess 626-7499 SheUey Hart 626-6359 Georgia Edwards 626-7974 •The Signpost is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall and spring .semesters. Subscription is S18 a semester. First newspaper copy free, each additional copy S0.50. -The Signpost is a student publication, written, edited, and drafted by Weber State University students. Student fees fund the printing of this publication. Opinions or positions voiced are not necessarily endorsed by the university. The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include name, address, telephone number, relationship to staff, and the writers signature. -The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and also reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. Letters should not exceed 350 words. Bring letters to the editorial office in the Student Union 401, or mail to: The Signpost, Weber State University, Ogdcn, Utah 84408-2110. Attn:Jessica Schreifels. E-mail thesignpost@wcbcr.edu who think that saying "don't have sex" is bad? Nudity is evil? Is this healthy? will make kids not have sex. The laws Utah in particular has a nasty case in Utah are particularly harsh. Teachers of sex phobia. I had a roommate a few may not answer any questions that are years ago who was convinced that her not covered by the curriculum and must boyfriend had never masturbated. Are not encourage the use of contraceptives. you kidding me? That goes beyond There is something being denied repression and hits closer to naive. Sex is about human nature, and not giving part of the human condition. Deal with all the facts won't prevent sex from it. And the argument made against sex is tired. "We're creating sexual predators." happening. From where I stand, this country False. "Our kids are being damaged." turns into a bunch of overgrown children False. when it comes to sex and nudity. I know There is a fear out there about actually this has been beaten to death, but Janet dealing with sex, a belief that there are Jackson's breast. Okay, one tiny flash, two groups of people, a "them" and an without actual nipple, "us." The "them" buys and people want to sue hardcore porn and lives the network because There is a fear a nasty, sex-crazed life their children have been out there about and the "us" always corrupted? Overreact lends neighbors sugar much? I was living in actually dealing and keeps the cursing Germany at the time level at "darn." This is and the Germans were with sex, a belief where a lot of people get shocked and amused at into trouble, creating how seriously we took that there are groups to separate the incident. And they two groups of themselves from others were right to think we when there is no real were being stupid. We people, a "them" difference. were. I'm not saying there and an "us." Europe does have a should be bare breasted very different view on all women on the covers of this. Nudity is simply not a big deal. And magazines or that explicit material should kids aren't jumping off buildings, "doing be available to children, as it currently it" like rabbits, or any other horrible is via Internet. What I'm saying is that concocted consequences. I think there sex is a part of life and should be dealt are American moms who if you put with and not covered up. Nudity is not them in a European gas station would offense-worthy. We're losing something be diving at the magazine rack trying valuable about ourselves when we deny desperately to cover what "shouldn't be that our own sexuality exists. showing." But if parents (and schools for that matter) treat sex like it's supposed Comment on this story at to be under the table, then what is the wsusignpos t com. ultimate message being sent to kids? Sex Chatting over the fence GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY JOSHUA BARNEY I 1HL SIGNPOST r • 1 SICNPOSI By Mike Kofoed, Republican Chris Bentley, Democrat Chris-As Mike said in our last article, this election very well may prove to be one of the most important elections of our lives: There are many difficult decisions facing the presidential candidates-foreign policy conflictsspringingupseeminglyeverywhere, economic degradation, natural resource depletion, and much more. For this reason, it will be especially important that we all become educated on what's at stake when wechecktheboxonourballotsinNovember. Publicly announcing one's party choice can sometimes lead people to believe that one no longer pays attention to the individual candidates' platforms. This is definitely not the case with me, and I hope it is untrue of all of us. My interest in Senator Barak Obama stems from his ideas, his passion, and his way of making me believe that he'll actually achieve his goals as president. Mike- As one could guess, I am supporting Senator John McCain for president. In fact, I am one of those "five percent" detractors that voted for John McCain over our state's "adopted" son Mitt Romney. Although I am a huge Mitt fan, let me tell you what attracted me to McCain in the primary and continues to impress me now. independence. Although I am a member of the Republican Party, I feel that the only way to make government efficient and effective is to rise above the partisan bickering and reach across the aisle to solve our nation's problems. Although Obama h Inhn MrTain has put this idea into practice. Many times he has angered his ultra-conservative base with bills such as McCain-Feingold (campaign finance reform), his opposition to the Bush Tax Cuts, and his support for comprehensive immigration reform, but I feel that a leader is someone that does what he or she feels is right for our country, not someone who tries to toe the party line. Chris-Unfortunately, when it comes to deciding on a candidate to vote for, we really are left to just two things to assist us, in making our decision: candidates' pledges - what they say they will accomplish if elected - and what they have done in past positions. This leaves much of our decision to be made based on trust. I think all of us realize this country needs to make significant changes in order to restore economic, foreign policy, and overall domestic stability. And both candidates are claiming to have change in their plans. However, if we look at McCains track record - agreeing with our current president more often than not when it comes to important issues like foreign wars, health care, and educational policy- and at what he plans to do if elected, one might wonder what change he really claims to be offering. On the other hand, Obama has specific plans to protect our natural resources with support and real funding for alternative fuel research, plans to get our faithful troops back on American soil with a real timeline and to heal the wounds caused to our relationships with foreign nations, and to provide a workable solution to address our current economic crises. For these reasons, Obama is my clear choice to be our next leader of our country. Mike- Well, at least McCain has a track record, while Obama has just promises. I take objection to the idea that McCain is another Bush. Bush and McCain are two differentendsofthe Republican "spectrum," in fact that seems to be one of his major hurdles in the party is selling himself to strong Bush supporters. While he agrees with the president on many issues, so does much of America I feel that John McCain is ready to lead this country, and hopefully away from the devisive politics of the past His foreign policy experience and his reputation as a Washington reformer is matched by none. In a time of political and financial crisis, we need someone who knows clearly the issties and has proved himself in the past. His promises on cutting pork-barrel spending, for example, are certified by his track record as a fiscal conservative who has fought this issue in the past. An example of foreign policy experience is the conflict in Georgia. While some people were cowering with the idea that Russian tanks were rolling in the streets of Atlanta, John McCain ndt only knew that there was also a country named Georgia, but had been to the province of South Ossetia. He understands the issues that face our country. McCain is the candidate with the experience and expertise to lead Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. |