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Show oiniDfroinril: lteview Wi-clncBtlay, December 18, 1991 Page 3 Cuest editorial Give Christmas gifts that won't wear out By GLEN O. JENSON, Ph.D. College of Family Life UUh SUtr University It is hard to go anywhere without havingyour Benses assaulted by Christmas Christ-mas displays vying for v ur attention with a wide variety of goods that promise to provide lasting pleasure. Yet, here are a few ideas that WILL provide that lasting last-ing pleasure. These gifts won't break or wear out and are sure to be a source of happiness into the future. The gift of a parent's attention. Few of life's many pleasures are greater than knowing that someone is giving you full attention. It is even better if the attention atten-tion giving happens on regular occasions. occa-sions. The gift of a talent to share. Achild with a talent to share has a greater chance ofbeing accepted into wholesome friendship groups. Self-esteem is enhanced en-hanced and opportunity knocks much more frequently among those with talents tal-ents to share. The gift of asense of humor. Everyone, Every-one, regardless of age, can benefit from a good belly laugh &t least once each day. Humor makes the down parts of life that we all experience more palatable. The gift of ' ope in tomorrow. Our world has its share of problems. The news is full ... human sorrows and sufferings. suf-ferings. Making plans on how to make tomorrow a better day will brighten today. to-day. The gift ofbeing loved. We all survive sur-vive better if we know that we are loved through word and deed. Knowledge that we are loved is recognized by the recipient recipi-ent when kind words are spoken and acts of service are rendered without be Christmas caroling brought out character It was time for our kids chorus to go singing. Christmas was only two weeks away and some carollers were already singing. sing-ing. There were five of us boys who sang together. There was Dai Dent, Eddie Simkins, Johnnie Davis, me and Tommy Goodfellow. Tommy was a male soprano. In fact, he was a soloist with the Baptist Church choir. We were lucky he decided to sing with us. We decided this year to start our singing at the little village of Cwmcorn that was inhabited mostly by coal miners. Cwmcorn was a couple of miles down the valley. The first place in the village was a little white-washed cottage. We hesitated about singing there. It looked so poor we didn't think they could afford to give us anything. But the Christmas spirit prevailed and we stopped outside the door and started to sing. In a few minutes the door opened and a little old lady appeared. Her hair was white and she was neatly dressed with a white apron. "You must come in," she said, "my husband hus-band and I would love to hear you. You see, he is crippled and can't walk. He wa, in: jured in a roof fall at the colliery.'' He was sitting in a big chair by the side of a cheery fire. His hair was white with the snows of time. We sang several Christmas carols. Now I must confess we were boys and knew very little about human emotions, but as we sang"Away in amanger, no crib for his bed, the little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head," we looked at the old man and tears were on his cheeks. It came time for us to go and the lady opened her purse and took out a sixpence which she pressed into my hand. "It isn't much," she said, "for you have brought Christmas into our home." That evening we sang at many homes and may I be forgiven for my thoughts. The big homes that could afford to be generous were not so. It was the lowly miner in his little cottage that was the most generous. Could Jefferson get elected today? If Thomas Jefferson were running for President next year, would you vote for him? Are you sure? Contemporary politicians complain that you elect them to perform with nobility nobil-ity and then insist that they reward you with favors. Thus, they say, the most well-intentioned well-intentioned campaigner -- once elected -finds himself powerless really to change things. Let's paraphrase what Thomas 'Jefferson said, evaluate what he did and try to anticipate what his campaign platform plat-form would be in 1992 -- and let's then decide if we want him back. Or anybody like him. He would take the money out of politics poli-tics and put it back into industry. He would remove the center of power from Washington, D.C., and distribute it among our nation's centers of production. Jefferson would have us remove the attorneys and bean-counters from control con-trol of our once-great corporations. Give up airlines that can stay in the air. Encourage En-courage a new generation of dreamers and inventor, engineers and designers, ing assigned. The gift of your time. Most of us, regardless of our age, cherish the time we spent with significant adults. A person per-son recently told me the best gift he ever received was i. coupon goou for 15 minutes min-utes of his father's time once each week for a year. Make a "date" with those you love to spend time together! The gift of "roots." A feeling of rootedness comes in many ways. It is best seen in memories of the past that are occasionally recalled, written family histories, relatives who care and make contact regularly, parents who are respected re-spected by others, and people who say frequently they are proud to belong to this family. Thegift of values to guide behavior. The things we see as important to others are often the things we adopt as important impor-tant to us. Parents who demonstrate such values as a healthy balance between be-tween work and play, honesty, charity towards others, respect for the elderly, love of God, love of cou ntry, appreciation of self and many other such items of high value, give children guidelines of things that bring people happiness. The gift of a violence free home. Home does not need to be a violent place. Few, if any, worthwhile lessons of life are taught with violence. Violence only momentarily changes behavior. The gift of responsible use of substances. sub-stances. Irresponsible use of substances if all around us. People misuse alcohol, tobacco, use i.iegal drugs and misuse legal drugs that are made to heal and help. What greater gift could a parent give a child than to stop smoking and use all substances responsibly? (Browsing By TOM GRIFFITHS For example, we went to one fairly large home. We started to sing and the door was opened by a man. I saw at once that he was a m inister. He still h ad the stiff clergy collar on. He interrupted our singing. "Indeed now," he said, "what have we hear?" He spoke first to Dai. "What is your church, my boy?" Dai answered and said, "I go to the Wesley an Church." Then he turned to Eddie Simkins. "And what is your church?" "I go to Sunday School at the Congregational." Congrega-tional." He got around to Tommy Goodfellow. "I go to theBaptist church and I sing solo with the choir." He asked me, "What church do you belong be-long to." I just shook my head. I thought if I told him I was a Mormon he would have thrown us off the porch. In stead he said, "I am expecting a group of carollers from my church so I can't give you anything." He went in and closed the door. It was Dai Dent who spoke up. "Wehad better sing for him, don't you think?" "Aye," we all said and sang, "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." Paul Haruey News 1991 Los Angeles Times Syndicate salesmen and producers. Transform our stock exchanges from the casinos they have become to the true sources of capital for productive enterprises enter-prises they were intended to be. Cleanse financial markets of the churners and turners, the slashers and burners. Let the small investor be welcome wel-come and respected instead of scorned and fleeced. Jefferson would have us invest in long-term long-term growth instead of short-term plunder. plun-der. Treasure and develop our greatest re ''' , Christmas bring out best in This season of the year brings out the best in all of us and I like it. The Christmas Families that the newspaper news-paper tries to help each year will be greatly benefitted by the number of lovely gifts that have been donated in their behalf. Here at the Pleasant Grove office we have had a large amount of gifU '.urned in, along with food and money. Almost all that was delivered to my office, and there is a lot from Pleasant Grove that is taken directly to the American Fork Citizen office as that is where we store the items until Christmas, has come from senior citizens. Senior citizens are probably the ones with the least amount of money to spend on gifts or cash to donate, but they have come through like real troupers. Some of the cutest dolls I have ever seen with clothes crocheted for them, games, new Avon items, food, toys, and lots of cash donations have come from this group. Pleasant Grove businesses have donated. A couple of weeks ago we found out that Pleasant Grove Junior High, which has provided many of the canned goods for the Christmas families in past years, would be unable to do so this year. We appreciate all 'hey have done in the past. So, I talked to Principal Norm Barton at Pleasant Grove's Valley View School. I asked if he thought his school could collect the canned goods this year. He didn't even bat an eye. He didn't even hesitate. "Sure we will," he said. "I am sending a memo home to parents today and I will include that on it," he added. The senior citizens had just participated in a drive to get food for the needy, but when I mentioned we could use their help, they wasted no time in helping out again. It might help Some folks are putting up a lot of fuss because Joe Cannon has expressed interest in buying a newspaper - specifically the Ogden Standard-Examiner. It is unethical, they say, for a man running for public office to consider purchasing pur-chasing a newspaper that would be covering cover-ing his affairs after he is elected, if he is elected. Frankly, however, I think buying the Ogden Standard Examiner would be good for Cannon, whether he gets elected or not. Cannon's interest in owning a newspaper newspa-per is genealogical. His great grandfather, George Q. Cannon, waa one of the great newspapermen in Utah history -- and his name is engraved in history - right ther m the Newspaper Hal1 -f Fame in the Utah Capitol Building. In fact, many of Utah's early leaders made their mark in journalism. Why, John Taylor spent years in New York as the editor a Mormon newspaper - giving the Mormc view on national issues for a national na-tional audiV ce. The newspaper's motto, interestingly enough, was one of Brigham Young's favorite sayings -- "Mind Your Own Business." Brigham Young and Taylor were not known to get along well, even though Taylor succeeded Brother Brigham as the LDS Church President, but Taylor's journalistic efforts in New York were sufficient to earn Pres. Young's praise as "the greatest editor that " r lived." I noble profession, of sorts, and it's net .d to understand why Mr. Cannon wot. - wish to follow in his illustrious ancestor's footsteps and become a newspaperman. newspa-perman. And there is certainly nothing wrong with becoming a newspaperman by buying the newspaper, if you can afford it. It's a lot easier than working your way up through the ranks -- and it pays a lot better, too. The Standard Examiner is the paper of Letters to the esUitot? Kids on the Move offers programs for disabled Editor: KIDS On The Move, Inc. (KOTM) is an early intervention program which serves infants and toddlers ages birth to third birthday who have Stabilities or developmental develop-mental delays. source, our children -sendingforth from our schools educated, skilled, productive citizens. Aspire to and expect an ever improving improv-ing standard of living -- not as a result of other people's efforts and taxes but because be-cause of our own willingness to do our jobs better. He would have us invent, create, build and produce until we are again the leading supplier of building materials, vehicles, food, machine tools, shoes, technology and the million other things the world needs. He would insist th at we deal fairly and firmly with all nations that wish to trade with us and on those who exploit our good nature to slam the gate. A new newsletter called AIA (American (Ameri-can Industrical Ascendancy) highlights and encourages new U.S. products and technologies, export opportunities, license and investment offerings - any and all offerings that will contribute to creating American jobs, building U.S. industry, increasing U.S. exports. If it is stillborn, Jefferson will be buried bur-ied and contemporary politicians will be justified. PG Blab By MARCKIJ.A WALKER At a Chamber of Commerce meeting this month, the owner of one business asked if we needed food for the Christmas families I assured them that we did ai.u they came through with a great contribution. Other people have called and asked if they can get Christmas gifts for families that were not selected for the Christmas Families project at the newspaper. The newspaper has acted as a clearinj ousefor Sub-for-Santa for this part of the country for the past few years. Hopefully, through this process, every needy family is able to receive nice gifts, money and food. But it is not only at the newspaper that good things are happening. We went to our ward Christmas party the other night and all we were asked to bring was a non-perishable type food donation dona-tion to give o the needy. The local Eagles Aerie holds fundraisers togetenough r Dney to buy Christamsgifts and food for several families each year. The Esteem Team at the high school was planning to do the Twelve Days of Christmas Christ-mas for senior citizens. Students reaching out to the community from the high school will do wonders to foster understanding, communication and good feelings. And the students will love it. In addition to that, the students at the high school recently had a campaign to collect coats, blankets, and other warm things to give to the homeless shelter. Cannon to own a paper The Editor's Column By MARC HADDOCK choice here simply because it's for sale. Utah daily newspapers aren't for saleoften . And I think Mr. Cannon, or anyone else, for that matter, can learn a lot from this business. To be sure, Mr. Cannon has had his critics. But he has learned how to handle the controversy. In many big businesses you can talk your way out of almost anything any-thing by obfuscating the facts with more and more data. You fight the opposition's numbers with more numbers until the reader's eyes start glazing over and you've won the battle. You have a corps of public relations men to do the job for you. Newspapers don't work that way. Instead, In-stead, newsptpers must make sense of all those numbers;, and it is tough. At the same time, you are making people angry daily. The mother of thebride whose name was misspelled can point to the name, right there in print, and prove you were wrong. No one is more ingry than someone whose name is misspelled. Unless it's a politician who feels he has been misquoted. Or a government official whose hand has been caught in the till and who has been exposed in a newspaper article. Or the father who is waiting for the photo of his son's baseball team to appear in the newspaper without success because A recent estimate placed Alpine School District with over 300 children who would qualify for services from early intervention. Some children are born with disabilities, others are at risk for developmental delays because of prematurity, heart and lung problems, tumors or other reasons. If an infant or toddler seems delayed in speech, fine or gross motor (ie: walking, crawling, sitting up), self help, or socialemotional skills, heshe may benefit from early intervention. inter-vention. There is no charge for the program. Parents, in consultation with teachers, speechlanguage specialist, occupational Scouts say thanks Editor: The Boy Scouts of America, Timpanogos District, would like to publicly thank those who helped make this year's Scouting for Food program so successful: the wonderful people in the Pleasant Grove, Lindon, Manila Ma-nila and Cedar Hills area for giving so generously; the Utah National Guard for their generosity in transporting the food; Community Action Agency for storing and distributing the food to those in need; the Senior Citizens for double donations; and finally, the Cub and Boy Scouts for deliver Policy on letters to the editor We welcome letter to the editor. All letters should be typewritten and double spaced. Letters must also be signed, and must include the writer's name and telephone number. Please send letters to Editor, Newtah News Group, P.O. Box 7, American Fork, Utah, 84003. all of us And I urn sure that many other groups and individuals have given in many ways during this Christmas season When 1 go to pick up some of the dona tions, I get a very warm feeling around my heart. I want to put my arms around all of those who have given and hug them tight and tell them how much their offering is appreciated A lovely lady at the sen r citizen center came up to me Friday and tucked a ten dollar bill in my hand, and said softly, "This is for the Christmas families. I know it iBn't much but maybe it will help out a little." I told her how much we appreciated it and what a generous donation it was since many senior citizens have a hard time just getting by. I didn't hug her physically, but I did in my heart. A local service club donated candy for Santa to give to children in Pleasant Grove. It was unsolicited. It was just a gift where one was needed. So I would like to give all of you who have donated anything at all dunngthis Christmas Christ-mas season, whether it was to our Sub- for-Santa for-Santa project or any other, a great big hug and thank you for all that you have done. I bet it makt i you feel all good and warm inside just like it does me. And if you have not yet given, I'd suggest you try it. The saying that it is better to give than receive, is a true adage. It will make you feelbetter and, forsure, it will make the recipient feel a lot better. Make it a year-round project, too, not just one at Christmas. But, never feel bad if Christmas is the only time you remember to give to those in need because from anyone's viewpoint, especially a child's, it is needed at Christmas Christ-mas more than any other. Stop in for a hug, too, if you need it. there isn't room. Or the feminist who take umbrage to a woman performer being referred to as "Miss" - even if that's what the style book says. The list goes on and on. And no one is worse at public relations than the printed news media. There are few PR whizzes here. There is not enough money in Utah journalism to keep them happy. Even worse, the alleged felon can take you to court, and to the cleaners, because a reporter left the "alleged" out of a story reporting his alleged crime. In the news business, you are condemned in someone's eyes by your own words just about as often as your newspaper is published. pub-lished. Mr. Cannon's newspaper couldn't be slanted and stay in business very long. The news business in Utah is extremely competitive, com-petitive, and people expect to get the straight story in their daily news. If they don't feel like one newspaper will give it to them, they will subscribe to another an-other newspaper instead. If you don't believe be-lieve me, compare the circulation numbers between the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. They are both good papers, but public perception is tough to buck. On the other hand, learning to be fair is tough. A lot of people think their side of the story is the only side, But journalists know that even the most innocuous story has another view that probably should be told. And telling it will probably make someone mad. So let Mr. Cannon buy his newspaper. He may not get elected. If he is elected, he won't serve forever. But there are few chances that come along to buy your own newspaper. You need to take them when they strike. Besides, I think owning a newspaper would make Joe Cannon a better Senator, or industrialist, or whatever in the long run. and physical therapists determine goals for their child. There is nocharge for evaluation. We are only interested in reaching as many of the 300 as possible and make sure they are aware of thehelp available. Early intervention interven-tion can make the difference in whether a child can become a happy and successfully functioning part of society. If you have concerns about your child's development or would like to schedule a free screening, please call: Kids On The Move, 222-8000 extension 561. -Karen Hahne for food drive help ing bags and picking them up. A heartfelt thank you is also given to the following for sorting and boxing 14,900 items: Steve and Diane Anderson family of Pleasant Grove; Howard Jackson of Orem; Kent and Nadine Johnson family of Provo. Also the Pleasant Grove Lions Club for use of their building again, and all those who stopped by for a while just to give a hand. -Timpanogos District Boy Scouts of America |