| OCR Text |
Show 4 THE SIGNPOST Monday, May 7, 1990 Speaking out In spite of problems, Utah 's not so bad Opinion t J I ! FIG 1 rfSS. Letter to the editor policy i: The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters roust he typed and should not exceed 300 words in length. : For subjects requiring greater exposition, arrangements may he made with the editor In chief. Letters MUST include name, address,, phone number,, relationship to WSC (student, staff, 0den resident, etc.) and the signature of the writer. Letters without this information will not he printed. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. By Chris Carling Staff writer of The Signpost The end of another school year is fast approaching, and talk of graduating from college and moving on is often heard. For many students, graduating will mean leaving this state to pursue their goals and aspirations. College graduates can have many reasons for wanting to move away from Utah. Countless numbers have left this state in pursuit of higher salaries and more than just a few have left because they simply do not like living here. I have no problems with those who wish to leave Utah; it is not for everyone. There is a problem that does exist, however, with those who want to leave the state but do not. From Hart to heart Prayer dilemma offers no easy solution By Brett Hart Editor in chief of the Signpost I don't know about you, but I'm getting more than just a little nervous about graduation. Aside from all the ordinary, hum drum worries like: will I ever get a job? Should I leave Utah for better pay? Do I really want to go to graduate school? Or my biggest dilemma, which shoes will go best with purple and white graduation robes? what I'm really worried about is who's going to say the prayer at graduation. Now, don't think I'm silly, but what if they ask me to do it? I guess I can pray as well as the next guy, i.e. before every Jazz game or that my English class will be cancelled, but with These are they who work, attend school, and even freely choose to live in our great state, yet they speak of the "unbearable conditions" of life here. Truly, these pessimists project and even advertise the poor image that, to some degree, Utah now suffers from. Even for die-hard Utahns, there is no escaping the fact that Utah has its downfalls. We have a lower paid work force, a fluctuating water supply and high taxes just to name a few. But equally, there are positive benefits and advantages to living here, and they deserve attention. Contrary to popular belief, the Utah business environment is healthy and growing. Companies like Word Perfect, Novell, Kimberly-Clark and Delta Airlines are just a few that contribute. 1 all this prayer rhetoric flying back and forth, I just don't think it's safe to pray in public anymore. On one hand you have those who are disgusted with the idea of praying in public at all. What if I was asked to say the prayer, and I did and someone sued me for infringing on their right not to pray. What could I say as I looked up at some ominous judge leaning over the edge of the bench with his gavel in hand? I can hear his voice now, the voice of justice, booming loudly, "Well, what do you say for yourself boy; how do you plead?" And then of course, I'd start to tremble and meekly confess, "Yes your honor, lock me up. I did say a prayer at graduation. I'm guilty. They made me do it. Recently, major Utah business leaders met and were asked by government leaders "Why Utah?" Their common response was, "Utah workers are perhaps the most efficient and productive in the nation. They are skilled and educated." Utah devotes a higher percentage of its budget to education than any other state. Utah is also rated number one in America in advanced student placement. Centered in the heart of the West, Utah serves as the transportation and distribution hub to virtually every major marketplace west of the Mississippi. With an international airport and several colleges and major universities, Utah offers a highly educated work force and a research and development environment that has produced some of the most successful companies in the United States. These companies have not only been successful, but have also been leaders in the energy, aerospace, high tech and biomedical fields. John Huntsman, of Huntsman chemical says, "The business-to-government relationship is very close. Their concern is our business, and every single job in this state means something. Government and private business also pull together for community and cultural interests." Al Egbert of McDonnell Douglas says, "The work force is the key factor to us; they are hard working people who have a really solid work ethic." In 1978-1979 American Express studied more than 60 cities as an alternative to moving their travelers cheque business out of New York. After choosing a five cities, I don't know what came over me. I'm a bad, bad man for forcing a non-believer to listen to me pray for five or 10 minutes. I guess the devil made me do it." I wonder what the sentence would be for praying in public. I shudder to think of the consequences. Then on the other hand, what if I refused to pray? I'd be shunned by the entire Christian world. I'd be ranked right up there with Judas or even worse, Jim and Tammy. How could I show my face in the institute again knowing that I refused to pray at graduation? Or worse yet, with all the different denominations there are in the world, what if I said the wrong prayer, or worse, prayed to the wrong person? How could I ever possibly the fundamental and final decision on Salt Lake City was made on the basis of quality of life. Utah has long been considered an ideal place for "the good life." There is a low crime rate, relatively light traffic congestion, affordable housing and abundant recreational and cultural opportunities. Utah has also been selected as the American site for the 1998 Winter Games. Few states can boast of such diversity in landscape, wildlife and plant communities. Residents of this state can enjoy alpine tundra, endless salt flats, clear blue-ribbon trout streams, desert-warmed rivers, high mountain canyons blooming with wild flowers and plains full of sagebrush where antelope and buffalo roam. In addition to life-giving sustenance and the raw materials for industry, the natural surroundings provide Utahns with recreation. A boat ride, bird hunt, river raft, snow ski, rock climb or hang glide all can be experienced here in Utah almost instantly. Here in the shadows of a towering mountain range called "The Wasatch Front," Utahns have shaped their lives and built their communities in the image of their surroundings. We love this state and choose to live here in hopes of preserving and improving it. Those of you who see a different Utah, one with little opportunity and backward priorities, need to get the facts straight. Take a trip to Monument Valley or buy a mountain bike. Of course there is another alternative, if the other remedies fail. ..you can move. please all of the people that are going to be at graduation? Call me crazy, but I've often thought what a nice world this would be if we could just leave one another alone without expecting people to adapt to our way of thinking. Hey, wait a minute! Maybe that's the answer; we could all pray together according to our own beliefs. Yeah, instead of having one person say the prayer, everyone could stand, sit or whatever and say their own prayer. Those that don't want to pray can sit together and talk quietly, and that would be OK. This issue has got me more nervous than wondering what was really in that Junction burger I had for lunch. I just pray someone will put an end to this whole dilemma. |
