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Show THE PARK RECORD WED/THURS/FRI, FEBRUARY 2-4 2005 Viewpoints A-15 EDITORIAL Iraqis' ink-dipped finger offers important lesson for Americans n Sunday, a new symbol was added to our collective global O vocabulary - an ink-dipped index finger. Though it is too soon to tell whether that indigo stain represents a new era of democracy for Iraq, or whether it is just another page-break in a long history of oppression, it is impossible to dismiss the courageous act of hope it represented. According to the State Department, 14 million Iraqis registered to vote in Sunday's election which featured an enormous slate of candidates from a morass of 256 political parties. The candidates are hoping to serve on a national assembly charged with writing a national constitution. Based on the rules devised by that assembly, Iraqis will go to the polls again in December to actually elect leaders. In essence, Sunday's vote was like an American county convention at which party members pick delegates to vote at the state convention who then haggle about the party platform and then pick delegates to the state convention, SENATOR BENNETT, I HAVE CONFIRMED > THAT SUNDANCE I S NOW OVER. MY SOURCES TELL ME THAT "INSIDE DEEP TMROAT" WAS AN EXPOSE ON THE MOVIE AND NOT ABOUT WATERGATE SO YOU REALLY HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT! and so on. But while Americans have become blase1 (to the point of apathy) about the process, on Sunday, Iraqis showed they were willing to risk their lives to participate in even this very preliminary step toward democracy. Imagine Summit County residents braving potential suicide bombers to cast a vote in the Republican primary for a County Commission seat. Even without the threat of bodily harm, less than 20 percent of Summit County voters typically show up to vote in the primaries. Iraqi citizens are putting Americans to shame. While the results are still being tallied and the long-term outcome is still unknown, the short-term legacy of Iraq's election should be a reminder that democracy depends on grassroots participation. Perhaps next year the Summit County clerk should place a pot of purple ink beside the ballot box so those who vote can dip an index finger and remember the price that others are willing to pay for the same privilege. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR in the driveway after a couple of hours of shoveling. On Jan. 20. we went away for five days, returning mid-Sundance Film Festival to Bob Richer find our cul-de-sac still barely wide Summit County Commissioner enough for two vehicles, due to huge Park City snow banks. We live one block from a Film Festival venue. Early the morning of Jan. 27, two SUVs and a Humvee were parked across from our driveway in the entrance to our street, preventing snowplow and mailbox Editor: access. Calls to neighbors indicated the A recent letter to the editor suggested vehicles did not belong to their guests. that the solution to Dutch's Draw Thankfully we were able to speak avalanche danger is to deter entry by directly to Jim Weinberg at Public Works. requiring a would-be entrant to relin- In less than two hours all three vehicles quish his/her daily ski pass before passing were gone. By the next day, "No parking" through the Dutch's Draw gate. Does that signs were in place, and a snow-throwing mean those of us entering Dutch's Draw truck had "widened" our street considerwith season passes have to give up skiing ably. at The Canyons for the rest of the season? Clearing and moving snow out of Park Does this mean The Canyons should maintain a constant ski patrol presence at City during and after those storms was • the-'-gate? Sounds HkeiXJUtch's^^Dcaw.. obviously1 a huge task involving many empldy£e s,"rri6st d( \vh6m we'll probably dementia! - y. s w j . . . never'know. Our thank's to Jim and all of The Canyons could hardly do more you. than it does to facilitate rational behavior when it comes to entering Dutch's Draw. Mary and Dave Hanscom Signs on the 99-ninety lift warn of avalanche danger. Signs on the boundary Park City who I am and what I am trying to accomplish during my tenure in office. Setting the record straight Editor: 1 am writing concerning the story that appeared on page A-5 of Saturday's Park Record ("Bill frees religion from zoning laws") by Pat Parkinson. I have had the opportunity to get to know Pat over the last two years and believe him to be a fine journalist who works hard at getting the story right. This is why I am disturbed that The Park Recordchose to highlight and create a story based upon a 30-second comment by Commissioner Sally Elliott. By the way, we spent over two hours talking about transportation and transit issues in the Basin during the same meeting. I hope and trust that Pat and The Park Record will be providing in-depth coverage of that topic in future editions.,While I.am .disturbed, about theiprorni-.; nence of the .article, I am not perplexed as to why it received the coverage it did. Any morsel concerning religion makes for a "juicy" story in our area. Add to the entree the appetizing presumption that there is discord between a member of our legal staff and the commissioners and the story becomes simply irresistible. In addition, I am very much aware that all journalists, in building a story, create a point/counterpoint perspective rather than emphasizing the areas of agreement. While it appears that the conflict in the story is between Dave Thomas and me, what 1 said was that Dave is free, in his senatorial role, to sponsor any legislation he sees fit. As the state senator from South Weber, he does not have to discuss his legislative ideas with the Summit County Commissioners. While I do not think the legislation, which was the subject of this article, is necessary and I do believe in home rule, I also very much favor places of worship being integral parts of our community. Unfortunately, that last phrase, which I stated to Pat several times, was left out of the feature. And, for the record, I believe Dave Thomas does an excellent job for us as Summit County's chief civil attorney. That's the clarification, but here's the real reason I am writing this letter. As a Summit County Commissioner, one of my top personal priorities is to bring our county together. Regrettably, divisions do exist in Summit County. Some are geographical (east side vs. west side) and some are based upon religion (LDS vs. non-LDS). At the risk of sounding too simplistic and preachy, we must listen to each other, respect each other's opinions, reason together and work through our differences. I have tried to do this and to lead by example. The above referenced article implied otherwise and I do not think it is an accurate representation of Dutch's Draw dementia fence inform you that you are leaving The Canyons and that avalanche danger exists in this uncontrolled, unpatrolled area. The Canyons ski patrol posts the daily avalanche danger report not 20 yards from the gate. Finally, after climbing 10 minutes above The Canyons boundary fence, you must physically open a final gate with a skull and cross bones icon and in very large lettering, the warning "YOU COULD DIE!" What all these measures demonstrate is the simple fact that you cannot protect irrational risk takers from themselves. All you can do is inform them of the risks they are taking. The Canyons surely met this obligation. Max Mendel Park City Kudos for a job well done Editor: This is our 27th winter at our current Park City address, and every one of them has been different. We don't recall ever getting so much heavy snow in such a short time as we did this January. When a plow left impassable snow boulders at the mouth of' our driveway the evening of Jan 10, we phoned Public Works. Jim Weinberg's recorded message, advising why it might be Jan, 11 before help could come, was calm, clear, thorough, even reassuring. Thankfully, we were able to get our car Park Record'e-mail addresses Andy Bernhard Nan Chalat-Noaker Valerie Deming Jay Hamburger Patrick Parkinson Jared Whitley Matt James Adia Waldburger Anna Bloom Scott Sine Grayson West Kat James Mike Duffy Matt Gordon Chris Gill Inkarna Black Joe Lair ab@parkrecord.com editor@parkrecord.com ads@parkrecord.com citynews@parkrecord.com countynews@parkrecord.com education@parkrecord.com arts@parkrecord.com sports@parkrecord.com business@parkrecord.com photo @ parkrecord.com photo @ parkrecord.com kat@parkrecord.com circu lation @ parkrecord.com production@parkrecord.com realestate @ parkrecord .com classifieds@parkrecord.com Scoreboard @ parkrecord .com The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guidellnes:They must include the address and telephone number of author. No letter will be published under an assumed name. They must not contain libelous material. Writers are limited to one letter every 28 days. Letters must not be longer than 350 words (guest editorials, 550 words) and should if possible, be typed. We reserve the right to edit letters if they are too long or if they contain statements we consider unnecessarily offensive or obscene. In addition, thank you letters are limited in length with regard to businesses and event sponsors. Thoughtful comparison Editor: Having Sundance in Park City is a lot like having a 10-day visit with the grandchildren. It is nice to have a visit from the kids, but it is also nice when they take their toys and go home! Sincerely, Michael Flaherty Park City Those damn cigarettes Editor: I can remember, while faithfully watching "The Tonight Show" in the early '70s, how Johnny smoking would sometimes remind me of my dad, who so painfully died from smoking-related emphysema on Jan. 13, 1964, when I was only 11 years old. I hoped that he wouldn't gel emphysema like my dad. In May of 19yr I experienced tears as I watched Johnny for the last time in my life. My heart also wept Jan. 23, after learning of his emphysema death, and while watching all the tributes so rightly given to him. A few years ago, after learning of Johnny's emphysema, I thought how powerful would he be, if he came out of his private world to rightfully seek revenge against tobacco.. It would have been more exciting ^tmaii all the old "Rocky" bouts combined to watch Johnny, with his class, charm and cash, duke it out with his betrayers, whom he called on his dying bed, according to brother Dick Carson, "Those damn cigarettes." With compassion. Mike Sawyer, Executive director, I Will Never Use Tobacco, Inc. Birmingham, Ala. Necessary conflict Editor: If Amfififk is not free, as Mr. Redford stated nj£ an interview with Chris Matthews, someone better tell the recent- ]y defected Cuban Dance Company, now living in Nevada, who may never see home or families again. And excuse me, this presidency never touted Iraq as a walk in the park. It's been accurately portrayed as a "some days good, some days bad" process toward change that must occur so the events that took place there never happen again. Not only this presidency, but events themselves, attest to the fact that this process must go on as long as necessary. Iraqi (and Coalition Forces) successes include the birth of 140 newspapers. And not one had to apply for a "government issue" license to go to print, unlike all the rest of the Middle Eastern papers that still do. And in Afghanistan, women can now become doctors. And what allies did we not ask to join us? Should we have asked the allies who were sending Iraq illegal arms during the build-up to this thing? The belief that we could protect, defend and feed - without interfering --also -died- a n ^ l l * We must be an engaged and engaging presence in the Middle East, because our high-end listening devices have their limits. Because our lives here depend upon freedom's eventual success in the region, and because boots on the ground will pave theroad and build the bridge for education. This is not only an economic struggle. Sincerely, Kimberiy C. Wade Park City The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER Andy Bernhard Editor Nan Chalat-Noaker Staff writers Jay Hamburger GUEST EDITORIAL What seniors will miss most By SOL BROWDY Park City Self-test for seniors... What do you think you will miss most around 70 to 80? Select only one. ( ) 1. Spousal loss/companionship ( ) 2. Memory loss ( ) 3 Sex ( ) 4. Loss of driver's license ( ) 5. Enough money to live on Let's face it. Those who checked No. 3 either are dreamers or fantasizers who have successfully experimented with Viagra or other meds, or urologic devices without suffering an acute myocardial infarction. Those who selected No. 4 - loss of driver's license ~ are to be commended for their foresight and insight, because I happen to be in the same boat as you and I commiserate with you. From the landmark moment when you were issued your initial driver's license and acquired your first set of wheels as an adolescent, you were hell-bent on doing your own driving and you never thought twice about it. It was as effortless as breathing in and out, and if you drove defensively, avoided accidents, and incurred no traffic violations, it was as if your right to drive actually ranked high up there on the bill of rights, although it never was expressed as such. But along the way, if you had to surrender your license for various reasons, then it was as if suddenly your sense of independence was pulled out from under you and you found yourself on the ground perusing yellow and white pages as well. Among the options, my first choice would be key words such as transportation lines, city and county; senior citizen's services, city and county; and taxicabs. Last, but not least, I would look into private individuals seeking parttime employment, who usually charge by the hour. Park City's basic transportation services are free. When I called local taxi companies, I was quoted hourly rates of $18, and frequent riders are entitled to a $2 discount card per trip. When I contacted Park City's transportation services, I was told that my address lay outside the regular bus routes by about one mile, but the staff was hopeful of extending their boundaries in the near future, perhaps around July 1.2003. July 1 finally arrived, and miraculously the county has put in place what I would consider a model for the rest of the country's senior citizens busing programs. Buses now run daily except Saturdays and Sundays between Summit County and Park City. Day be lore reservations are encouraged, but one can call the same desired day and most of the lime requests can and will be accommodated. And it is door-to-door delivery. Oh yes, these buses arc equipped with a movable step so the possibility of making missteps and falling are practically non-existent. I know of no listing of individuals interested in chauffeuring non-driving seniors; it is usually by word of mouth that they become available. When I need to be transported to Salt Lake City, I have hired a college student whom I pay at the rate of $15 per hour. P.S. One unplanned and totally unexpected dividend of totaling one's car within a couple weeks of purchase - provided you survive - is that when it comes to settling your auto insurance claim, you will receive not only the value of the car (little changed from what you paid) but. in addition, the registration and license fees. In essence, with the money you receive -- assuming this is the second car you've totaled within 20 days and you've opted to give up driving you could buy a used car in good condition and hire your own chauffeur! Visit The Park Record website at www.parkrecord.com Contributing writers Editor's assistant Classified advertising Office manager Circulation manager Accounting manager Advertising director Advertising sales Editorial production Photographers Production director Production Distribution Cartoonist Pat Parkinson Joe Lair Jared Whitley Adia Waldburger Matt James Anna Bloom Tom Clyde Ten OFT Jay Meehan Joan Jacobson Silvia Leavitt Linda Jager Courtney Herzinger Inkarna Black Sheree Durastanti Holly VanDenAmeele Michael Duffy Kate Fischer Valerie Deming Wendy Haitiday Anne Anderson Molly Ballard Cheryn McNicol Teresa Chavez Lacy Brundy Chris Gill Annie Macdonald Kat James Scott Sine Grayson West Matt Gordon Kristi Ruppert Scott Schlenker Jason Plawecki Kyle Burress Kim Vance Jon Smedley Chris Anderson Todd Kendall John Kilbourn Contents of the The Park Recordm<z copyright © 2005, Diversified Suburban Newspapers. All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the managing editor or publisher. The Park Recant (USPS 378-730) (ISSN 07459483) is published twice weekly by Diversified Suburban Newspapers, 1670 Bonanza Dr., Park City. Utah. Periodicals Postage paid at Park City. Utah. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Park Recant. Box 3688. Park City. Utah 84060. Entered as second class mailer, May 25, 1977 al the post office in Park City, Utah 84060, under the Act of March 3. 1897. Subscription rates are $37 inside Summit County, $70 outside Summit County, Utah. Subscriptions are transferable; $5 cancellation fee. Phone (435) 649-9014 or fax (435) 649-4942. ^iihiNUcd every Wednesday and Saturday. |