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Show HE SIGNPOST Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Signpost Viewpoint September 11: Reopening old wounds had been so bold before, so strong in emotional unity, weakened by dividing? Or could it be that this new way of thinking was a sign of healing? The black sore on the New York City skyline may be a gray scar now, but for the most part it is only noticeable to those who lived there. People are thinking rationally again. Perhaps the citizens who ask so called dividing questions are signaling that the American public is once again thinking rationally. In most cases, decisions made with a cool head are much more sound than those made in a passion. The country is healing from that dark September day. Of course there are places of Rudy Guiiiani Those who lost parents, that will never and President .. „ # •/ # fully heal. All Bush consoling the siblings, children or those who lost frightened public frjen(]S w\\\ lOOk O/7 With someone they from Ground Zero love will always were reawakened and remember and bowed heads and heavy fresh in the public's will always hurt mind. But the next hearts. But the rest of the at the mention year was a little country moves on. After of Sept. 11. different. One year Time only dulls all, letting go is what into President Bush's the pain, and second term and is going to let us live in those so closely the Iraq war nearly impacted, who in its third, 2005's peace once again. lost their father September seemed on a doomed to lack WHAT? The flight or their blueprints for the Freedom Towers were completed and firefighter mother in a rescue attempt, finalized, but perhaps this is where a sister from the pentagon, or a brother the sentiments began to fade. Signs in a subway tunnel, have liberty to feel of detached emotion began to spring what they must for as long as they up. Motion pictures about the events must live without their loved one. After of that day, even more dramatized all, the United States doesn't mandate than the Discovery Channel specials mourning parents to get over their the American public had already seen, child lost in the collapse of a building, began to be produced. People argued like certain communist countries. over whether it was a pure intent to Let them remember and heal in their tribute those people or an attempt to own time, just in their own time capitalize on people's emotions. The which may be a little less accelerated country thai stood united in shock than the rest of the-American public. And as for the rest o'f us, and this was beginning'to ask questions. But year, a Pentagon memorial will be what did it mean? Was the country that dedicated for the 186 lost in that building Sept. 11, 2008, seven years after the attacks. Those who lost parents, siblings, children or friends will look on with bowed heads and heavy hearts. But the rest of the country moves on. After all, letting go is what is going to let us live in peace once again. Aww honey, she's going to become a great VP someday And please bring the apocalypse before the Republicans can be held accountable for their crimes! September 11, 2002, flags flew. Conversation in school cafeterias hushed as the students of junior highs and high schools across the United States and several across the world observed a moment of silence for those killed on that day the year before. The next year, the second anniversary, was haunted with images from the newly begun Iraq war. Patriotism gushed forth once again as the news and magazines had specials of towers collapsing and airplanes descending, which the American public now knew by heart. Banners waved in September of 2004 as President Bush ran for reelection. Images Comment on this story at wsusignpost. com. SOURCE: delong.typepad.com/images/911 GRAPHIC BY JOSHUA BARNEY | TH£ SICNPOS1 A bit of common sense Scientologists in the news of Hawaii in aircrafts resembling DC-8s. Ttiere, Xenu dumped the bodies into the volcanoes, where their souls Signpost were then released. But Xenu was columnist ready for this. He had giant soul catchers in the sky. He captured the aliens' souls and brainwashed them to believe in false gods to confuse them. Scientology, a religion springing up After this, the souls were released in the 20th century, is a highly volatile where they wandered Earth until finding subject that frequently pops its head thefirsthumans. Viese souls, or thetans, into the news. L. Ron Hubbard, a science attached themselves onto humans, fiction writer, created the church in 1952. causing all ofmankind's problems today. As, an organization, Scientology has Ta-da. stepped on £om'e toes in its attempts Moving on ... what's new in news? The to- censor' certjjin parties who might Church of Scientology made more than disagree with the churches beliefs. And 4,000.claims of copyright infringement I feaye ,to :say,| ^rsorjally, jll.want to against YouTube videos in just twelve J prote5t::a#yj]airigf; should be able to. hours, causing many accounts to be After all, Scientology has the right to shut down. YouTubers were upset, to be a religion in; America, a fact that is say the least. With a flurry of Internet not true in France or Germany. They responses, most of the closed accounts have been denied the right to define were reinstated. This means the church themselves as a religion in eithercountry. lied to YouTube to have videos they SOURCE: MSNBC I understand.that many people on disagreed with pulled downfromthe site. campus might not keep up with the latest There are countless numbers of Famous scientologist Tom Cruise South Park episodes. If you don't, then you might not understand some of the slanderous Obama and McCain videos There are a lot of people out there subtle nuances of Scientology. And you on YouTube, but they manage to stay angered by the church's intolerance might not know that Tom Cruise fought, up, no problem. Maybe because the and attempts at censorship. In the end, and succeeded, in banning an episode candidates figured it would be bad PR members of the church have the right as making fun of the church from airing in for the campaign to have them pulled Americans to practice what they believe, the UK. If that's the case, let mefillyou down. Bad PR ... very bad PR. Duh. no matter how controversial, no matter France, who does not recognize in on some of the beliefs of the church. Scientology as a religion and closely how much others will try to fight it. Now you are not actually supposed to watches the organization, is bringing WearenotEurope.Butonthatsamenote, hear this story until you have spent years the church up on charges of fraud. freedom of speech goes right alongside in the church and given them a good The charges, made in 1998, come from freedom of religion. Scientology needs to chunk of change, Butcritics of the church a French woman claiming the group step back and allow others to criticize. All thinkyoushouldhearthis before you join approached her near a Paris Metro. religions are picked at, but the true religion ... whether or not you read it is up to you. She spent the next few months stands on its own feet without backlash. •SPOILER ALERT* spending 140,000 francs with the Lord Xenu was dictator over the church. That is the equivalent to 30,000 Galactic Confederacy. One day he decides dollars. The church is claiming the case Comment on this story at the universe is overpopidated, so he lacks impartiality, but really it seems wsusignpost.com. rounds up thousands ofaliens andfreezes like an attempt for France, finally, them. He then flies them to the volcanoes to push the group out of its borders. Gina Barker Chatting over the fence By Mike Kofoed, Republican Chris Bentley, Democrat r | 1 {* WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY 1 HE SiGNPOSl 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 Shelley Hart 626-6359 Georgia Edwards 626-7974 -'/Tic Signpost is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall and spring semesters. Subscription is $18 a semester. First newspaper copy free, each additional copy $0.50. •Vie 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 writer's signature. •Vie 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, Ogden, Utah 84408-2110. Attn;Jessica Schreifels. E-mail thesignpost@wcber.edu Mike: Republican? Democrat? Liberal? Conservative? It seems like labels are flying around everywhere these days '(especially during this crucial election year). The only thing that is missing is thoughtful dialogue. You know, people actually taking amongst themselves in a way that doesn't degrade to some kindergarten i^ame-calling fight (minus the spitballsj. Hopefully, this column will fill the void of what is missing in America: honest, respectful conversation. So, Wildcats, turn down thetalkradioandopenup TheSignpost. As way of introduction, my name is Mike Kofoed. I am a Republican. I grew up admiring Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln. I believe in the free market and the Second Amendment. I consider myself pro-life and believe in traditional marriage. Although I respect the great things that government does for us, 1 still believe that America's greatness lies in the innovation of her people and the strength of her values. : Chris: And I'm Chris Bentley. and I'm the other partner who will be taking you on this adventure through elections and the need for you to make your opinions count. I'm a Democrat. I'm afraid saying Utah can turn some heads. Let me try to explain some this, but who knows if that will happen. Finally, I don't think I have seen our reasons why I lean towards the blue. country as divided as it is now. Strong I, too, believe in the power and need for people's innovation. Through polarizing issues have separated us, people's ingenuity, we have been and, in many ways, fueled a refusal for brought amazing things, such as compromise. Many states that have one personal computers, cures to horrible party or the other have traditionally diseases, and space exploration. I, counted on could now go either way. however, believe that the best way to The presidency is not the only thing bring out that innovation is to provide at stake, but Congress, the Governor's all people good healthcare and a office and our state legislature. With good education, clean air to breathe so much counting on us, how could we and protected inspiring places like shirk our responsibility of studying the Zion's National Park and Yosemite to issues and making an informed vote? Chris: Michael's absolutely right visit as nature intended. I recognize about our responsibility to study the the necessity of balance between the human need for progress and making issues and voting, but there's even responsible decisions with our natural more reason to vote: it's also really very resources. And I also believe that, in exciting! When we vote, we engage in keeping with our founding fathers' the political process in an intimate beliefs, the pursuit of happiness should way. Ultimately, though it might be a be an attainable goal for all people, and little disappointing when our chosen not just those rich enough to afford it. candidate isn't elected, the most Mike: Thanks Chris. This election important thing for each of us to do is to will be probably the most important be prepared to make sure that our voice is in our lifetimes. Now, we hear that heard. And with 639,765 college students every year, but consider this: the last in the U.S. our voice should be one time no incumbent president or vice- that the politicians ought to be paying president was in the running for the attention to (U.S. Census Bureau, 2007). White House was in 1928. In 1928 Republican Herbert Hoover took on Democrat Al Smith. That was 80 years Comment on this story at ago! Now I hope to be able to live to wsusignpost.com. be 102 and see the next election like |