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Show A8 Wednesday, May 2, 2007 Vernal Express nion pi Public Forum - Letters to the Editor What is your opinion? The Vernal Express welcomes letters from its readers read-ers concerning any subject pertinent to the Uintah Basin. There are no restrictions on contents, if not libelous, vindictive and is in good taste. The letters may be edited for length. Letters must be submitted exclusively to the Vernal Express and bear the writer's full name, signature, phone number and address. Letters for the sole purpose of expressing thanks to individuals or groups will not be printed in this forum. Letters may be mailed to 54 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, Utah 84078, faxed at 435-789-8690 or e-mailed to editorvernal.com The nsme or names of the persons submitting letters must appear on all published letters. Letters express the opinion of the writer and are not necessarily the opinion of the Vernal Express. Vote by trails coalition would have been more effective By Kfwih Askby Express Publisher The concept of a trails coalition coali-tion in Uintah County makes perfect sense. And I learned some things about the coalition last week. I had the opportunity to attend my first meeting when they met with Forest Service officials seeking input for an updated motorized travel plan in the Ashley National Forest. Forest Service officials were not seeking their advice and recommendations rec-ommendations alone, but they admitted that this coalition, a panel made up of ATV users, hikers, hik-ers, horse enthusiasts, and those representing the interests of snowmobiling and cross-county skiing, as well as government agencies, was an excellent place to start. And I agreed. I felt that if this group has been meeting for the past two years, they, of all people in the Basin, would understand the Forest's current motorized motor-ized and non-motorized road and trail plan and be able to offer some good, sound, grass roots suggestions. They would understand the needs for the Forest Service to offer a variety of recreational activities. They would understand the present use of the Forest and be able to recommend areas for more use i and even areas where there is too much travel. . And I was not disappointed. withthegroup,thetf representatives, representa-tives, nor their ideas presented to Forest Service officials. But I was taken aback with the process of elimination the group used to approve or disapprove proposals. propos-als. I was informed that the coalition coali-tion was set up as an input group to the county commissioners with every user group given the same amount of power to suggest and to veto ideas. They were instructed to only pass on ideas and suggestions that were approved by the board with unanimous consensus. Therefore, during this meeting, meet-ing, when the Forest Service wanted to take an existing motorized mo-torized plan and add roads and trails that the public currently uses, delete from use roads and trails in areas where they might not be appropriate, and even suggest areas that should be protected from off road vehicles, I was disappointed that one person could vote in the negative nega-tive and the proposal would be eliminated from the coalition's proposal. This was a meeting where local lo-cal user input was sought from individuals with an understanding understand-ing of what local people want. They, of all people, could give the Forest Service a plan after they had personally reviewed various trail and road proposals and work together in forming areas for ATV use, while recognizing the need for areas of seclusion for the hikers and horse people. The disappointment for me was after the majority of the group would come to a favorable understanding of what was being proposed on a specific route or trail and how that impacted the usage of that area by all groups, one person on the coalition could vote no, and the proposal was eliminated. , I am not proposing that the coalition change the way that each group is empowered to speak and propose. And there are times when consensus is the way to present ideas. But there are other times when a majority's understanding of what is being presented, and their understanding understand-ing of how a certain proposal fits in with other proposals being discussed, should rule. And I felt this was one of those times. This input meeting was an opportunity for local grass roots citizens to make a proposal to the Forest Service that was based on local understanding and desires. What an opportunity for the grass roots citizens to get together and offer a plan, even a majority decided plan, and letting the Forest Service know that this plan was thought out through a process of give and take and understandingbetween motorized and non-motorized use groups. Instead, the coalition offered bits and pieces of a grass roots motorized use plan the same way the Forest Service will receive future public input on the plan and then will process it and tell us what they believe is best for us. If the coalition would have let majority rule by vote, the process would have presented a clearer picture of what locals believed was a well balanced plan between environmental and public use needs. With that kind of a plan, county officials could then put forth a unified effort to enact changes with federal agencies that are based on local needs and desires. I do support the coalition and feel the current members discussed and proposed some valuable and timely ideas. And A do agree that consensus is good for a lot of what they' are doing, but sometimes a majority needs to decide. If you don't, them someone else will and I would rather have a local, grass roots based coalition carry the weight to sway decisions. And this process is not over as you will have some weighty decisions to mull over as the BLM goes through this same process in the future. He-s th closest fellow that Ive seen, uuho Looks Like a cojuboq since we've been in this cLhj. 1" W ' - Jk. YM Jf WV mm A VIM It J VttnVACV U Now ihats "the prettiest darn cowgirl I've ever seen what do tjou thinK? i ii w ' wit at mini fSS mk 10 Coach helped me with littlest things Dear Editor, I am responding to the article about Uintah coach protesting dismissal. I started swimming with the Vipers team because Coach Bruno asked me to. After School shootings: What parents and others can do to guide children I got to know the coach more I learned that she helped me with the littlest things about swimming swim-ming technique. Sheisaverygoodswimcoach. I didn't know how to dive and she took the time to teach me the technique on how to do it. Days came by when I finally learned it. My freestyle wasn't that bad, but she still taught me how to do better. Now I am a better swimmer. I am hoping that' they will reconsider her dismissal. I don't do a lot of sports; my parents keep encouraging me to try different dif-ferent sports so I will be better rounded. I enjoy the computer more than anything, so my parents want me to have a good workout program. I was really looking forward to working with Coach Bruno next year. Zach Pipher By Vai Firmfr Guest Columnist Another school shooting, this time on a college campus. How horrific! How incredibly sad and painful for parents, relatives and friends of the lost ones! It is one more wake up call to parents, school administrators and to the custodians of our culture that amoral students full of anger, rage and narcissism are threats to the very lives of their innocent peers. Shooter profile. A review of school shooter profiles shows a loose consensus around a number of warning signs for potential youthschool violence: Dchronic feelings of isolation, loneliness or rejection, 2) lack of positive communication com-munication within the family and school, 3) expressions of anger and rage, social withdrawal or depression, 4) fascination with or possession of weapons, 5) obsession obses-sion with violent acts, suicidal or homicidal fantasies, 6) alcohol or drug dependency, 7) lack of interest in school or poor school performance and 8) interpret others' actions as intentional, hostile, demeaning, provocative, and unjustified attacks - worthy of retaliation. How can this be? How can children in our society grow up so bereft of connection and compassion compas-sion that the lives of their peers could mean so little? How can a child exist in a school or family environment without red flags of dysfunction alerting those with responsibility for his or her well-being and the well-being of others? This kind of anger and aggressiveness ag-gressiveness builds for a long time. How does one reach that point where we are left to count the dead instead of intervening sooner? Media influence. We also live in an entertainment culture that glorifies and portrays aggression, ag-gression, violence, and indecency in our movies, video games and music. Children are exposed to an environment full of dehumanizing dehuman-izing lyrics, course language, pornographic images and sexual immorality. Demoralized youths can embrace and identify with the violent images, anti-social at titudes and themes of revenge portrayed in the media. Without regular meaningful contact with adults to listen to their pain and grievances and to care about them, the allure of media-mediated revenge fantasies becomes a solution to their misery. Parents bear this responsibility. respon-sibility. Parenting is the most important and the longest lasting last-ing influence of anything else we do in life. Parents need to know their children and be connected to them through relationships of trust and love. Relationships are about meeting needs. That takes selflessness and commitment - a sacrifice of time, attention and energy. Too many parents are working too hard and spending spend-ing too much time away from their children in a world that is increasingly hostile to families. Parents need help. It takes parents and a village. Parents need help from adults and communities com-munities who devote themselves to making a difference in children's chil-dren's lives. Parents, teachers, clergy and youth leaders share in the responsibility to prepare children to become moral, loving, lov-ing, compassionate, responsible members of society. If guidance doesn't come from parents, it must come from somewhere else. Through bonds of love and concern, young people thrive. They will work to please those .who care for them. Without a sense of connection, youths will seek acceptance from peers like themselves, or even worse, brood in isolated loneliness, anger and hurt. Raising moral children. Here is some advice for guiding your children so that they will build strong, moral lives. Know your values and pass on those values while they are young. Parents who are wishy-washy about their standards and expectations will find their children adrift in a ' troubled culture. Bond your children to your faith through family fam-ily and church worship. The spiritual practices, morality and traditions within the family make church teachings credible. Your children's involvement with other church youth and leaders will be a great support to you. Youth who actively attend their church have greater self-esteem and are more immune from negative nega-tive peer influences. Minimize conflict and criticism with children. Accept and tolerate individual differences while holding firm to important values and principles. Be generous in your praise, encouragement en-couragement and support. Cut down on negative emotions and communication. Take time to really listen. lis-ten. Be adept at drawing out feelings feel-ings without being judgmental. Keep a lifeline of communication between you and your child until . he or she has a lifelong companion compan-ion as a safe haven for emotional release. Teach your children to respect your authority in the home. Discipline should never be done in anger. Have set rules and consequences that are applied consistently in a matter-of-fact manner. Teach negotiations negotia-tions skills and be prepared to negotiate. Share ideas and experiences experi-ences from your own life. Pass on the lessons of life. Children need to know where our values and emotions come from. When they know the reasons for our rules and expectations, they are more inclined to accept or understand why we do what we do. f ' . One solution to the problem of troubled teens and young adults is for parents, church leaders and educators to children chil-dren to know what is going on in their heads and in their lives. We owe it to every child to feel loved, cared for and con-. con-. nected with encouraging adults, parents or counselors. Children need adults who believe in them, admire them and offer guidance for their lives. For more information of parenting, par-enting, visit Val Farmer's Web siteatwww.valfarmer.com. Val Farmer is a clinical psy-, chologist specializing in family business consultation and mediation media-tion with farm families. He lives in Wildwood, Missouri and can be contacted through his Web site, 2007 The Preston Connection Connec-tion Feature Service safe.morris safemorris |