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Show Viewpoints. A-15 WEDTHURSFRI, JUNE 30-JULY 2, 2004 EDITORIAL THE PARK RECORD Search and rescue help doesn't come cheap There is only one real reward for the volunteers who make up Summit County's dedicated search and rescue teams - finding a missing person and returning him or her safely into the arms of loved ones. Unfortunately, despite their valiant efforts, often in harsh terrain and adv erse weather conditions, searchers are too late and their service is measured only by the peace of mind they offer families of the deceased. lTieir efforts are impossible to put a price on. but search and rescue operations in Summit County and across the state are also becoming more expensive as the number of backcountry travelers, on foot and horseback, mountain bikes. A'lVs. skis and watercraft continues to increase. 'Hie rising cost of outfitting rescuers and mounting a comprehensive search has led some Summit County officials offi-cials along with local officials around the state to consider charging those who use the service. State law currently gives counties the right to charge for the hard costs of an operation. opera-tion. Cirand County, which is blessed (or cursed -- depending depend-ing on your perspective) with huge tracts of public land and is called on frequently to find errant hikers, bikers and boaters, does send out search and rescue bills - but the intermittent reimbursements still don't cover the county's expenses. Summit County, whose backcountry terrain is popular in the summer and winter, is finding itself in the same predicament. However, charging for search and rescue services raises serious ethical questions. Is it appropriate to charge when the search is unsuccessful? Should the family of a kidnapped kid-napped victim be charged for a search? What about rescues necessitated by freak acts of nature like an avalanche or flood? And what about those who cannot afford to pay for a search - should they be denied these potentially life-saving services? Most people, especially local search and rescue volunteers volun-teers would likely respond with an emphatic 'no.' Firemen don't write out an invoice before dousing a house fire, EMTs don't check for health insurance before offering aid at the site of an accident. In the same spirit, search and rescue res-cue volunteers don't waste a minute wondering who will pay for their gas. their gear or for lost time at their 'real' jobs. They drop everything and go. The state does have limited sources of revenue for paying county agencies back for some search and rescue costs. Minimal surcharges (25-50 cents) are currently added to hunting hunt-ing licenses and ATV and boat registrations. The concept is a good one but the funds they generate are not enough. In order to maintain well-trained and well-equipped search and rescue personnel similar charges should be added to backcountry hiking, biking, skiing and camping equipment sales. Non-motorized sports enthusiasts need to chip in their fair share too. Also, state and national parks should consider earmarking a portion of their user fees toward local search and rescue outfits. Those who find themselves in need of search and rescue arc often saddled with other unexpected, emergency-related costs and no one wants to have to bill a family who has just lost one or more members in an avalanche or other disaster. dis-aster. However, everyone who travels in the backcountry wants to be able to call the most professional rescue vr-sonnel vr-sonnel and equipment available when necessary. Utah, as well as other states should begin to draft legislation legis-lation expanding the current program of search and rescue surcharges. SINCE YOU'VE CHOSEN TO SEE FAHRENHEIT 911, WE HOPE YOU'LL WANT TO SAMPLE OUR COMPLIMENTARY CHENEY'S F-BOMB POPCORN AND SIMPLETON SAP SODA POP! JOHN KIL BOURN PARK Ht'CORl' LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Democratic right to choose Editor: This is a response to the two letters that you posted on Saturday regarding the Michael Moore movie, "Fahrenheit 911." It is no secret that I am a very politically politi-cally conservative person who supports our country, troops and president. Willi that said, it's probably no secret that I think Michael Moore (Jabba the Put.) is the poster boy for the "blame America for everything" crowd. He is also. I feel, a classic example of a limousine limou-sine liberal, making money on the backs of our troops in the field while claiming to support them. As such, he walks around dressed like trailer trash while living the life of a decadent millionaire. He artfully edits people's lives and comments to make them look good or bad depending on how their beliefs mirror mir-ror his own and writes unsubstantiated trash fiction as fact. Now. with all that said. I agree with both of your writers in a certain context. Firsi. why a disclaimer? Do we not believe in the First Amendment? Mr. Moore has the right, thank God. to print trash, say garbage and make any kind of ignorant movie he wants as part of our free America. As free Americans, we have the right to read or not. listen or not and choose to pay or not pay money to see his self-serving drivel. At the same time, we also have the right to have God in our schools, salute our flag, love our country, support our wonderful, moral president and openly disagree with each other in a civil manner. man-ner. 1 urge everyone to think for themselves, them-selves, investigate both sides of all issues, pray for guidance and vote their conscience. Whether we re-elect President Bush or elect John Kerry, the consequences will be felt well beyond 2004 to 2008. Sincerely. Roger Strand Park City They serve so we don't have to Editor: I am shocked that many critics have denounced Michael Moore's new movie, "Fahrenheit 911." as unpatriotic and anti-soldier. For me. the movie served as a powerful (and painful) reminder of the costs of war - and of my obligation as a citizen to hold our leaders accountable lor making wise decisions about when to send our troops into combat. Toward the end of the movie, Moore provides a voice-over to images of U.S. soldiers in Iraq. He reminds us: "They serve so that we don't have to. They offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is, remarkably, their gift to us. And all they ask for in return is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. Will they ever trust us again?" "Fahrenheit 911" highlights crucial questions about the "necessity" of the war in Iraq. Engaging these questions and holding our leaders accountable for their decisions to go to war is the best way we can support our troops. Ivor Allsop Park City By definition, not a documentary Editor: I would never try to dissuade anyone from seeing the newly released Bush-bashing Bush-bashing film by Michael Moore. But I would recommend keeping in mind the following facts while viewing it: 1. According to my dictionary, a documentary docu-mentary is "a work, such as a film or television program, presenting factual information without editorial comment or fictional elements." So. obviously. Michael Moore's "documentary," "Fahrenheit 91 1." like his "Bowling For Columbine" "documentary." does not qualify as a documentary at all. There are several scenes that have been fictionalized fiction-alized and Moore's personal commentary commen-tary carries the film along. This movie is Michael Moore's presumptuous version of reality. It is not a documentary. 2. Is the movie presumptuous? Let's see. The movie gets released before the final findings of the 91 1 Commission are released. Already critics have pointed out specific inaccuracies and misrepresentations misrepre-sentations in the movie. Even though there are many sides to every story and all the evidence is not yet in, Mtxre and his fans have already convicted the president pres-ident of all the accusations circling in the media. Apparently, the adage "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't apply to the president of the United States, at least not this one. 3. According to USA, Today, 'Moore "hopes his film will help defeat Bush." That said, keep in mind that what you are watching isn't merely entertainment (and it's not a documentary). It is a partisan par-tisan political message that uses character charac-ter assassination and misleading information infor-mation to persuade the public to vote Bush out of office in November. USA Today predicted that the film would not influence voters but that it "will turn Bush-haters into bigger Bush-hatcrs." I agree. A vicious personal attack on the president, clearly motivated by pure hatred, will not win reasonable people over to the Bush-hater's camp, but it will definitely fortify the hatred of people who have already made up their minds about President Bush. 4. Thinking people will question the movie's illogical premise. President Bush is portrayed as being clueless and dumb, and at the same time, he is depicted depict-ed as being clever enough to deceitfully orchestrate an entire war in the Middle East simply to protect his own greedy interests in the oil industry. So, which is it? Is the man a bumbling idiot or a smooth-talking snake in the grass? Come on! How can such an inept ignoramus ignora-mus also be such a sneaky, warmongering warmonger-ing mastermind? 5. Do you remember the playground adage, "what you say is what you are?" or the saying, "when you point one finger fin-ger at someone else, there are three fingers fin-gers pointing back at you?" Bearing these psychological truisms in mind. Michael Moore's film is more of an indictment of his own dishonesty, greed and lack of concern for American soldiers sol-diers and their families than it is of President Bush. Sinccrelv. Wendy Mair Heber City, Utah Freedom of expression Editor: I was quite saddened when looking though The Park Record movie section this weekend and read after "Fahrenheit 911" times, that the theater had to add an announcement that the views of the movie doesn't reflect on the management. manage-ment. What a sad statement it is. that a movie house has to publish this kind of statement. 'Die freedom to make this kind of movie, whether we agree with it our not. is what makes our country different from the oppression that affects other countries. coun-tries. And our local movie house shouldn't be afraid to show a movie. Do we want to be fearful to speak our minds and face censorship in our country? I sure hope not. Sincerely. Parte Thompson Park City 'Fahrenheit 911' disclaimer Editor: I commend Jon Winterbottoin at Redstone Theaters for screening the film "Fahrenheit 911" despite its controversial controver-sial nature. This is a must-see documentary documen-tary for anyone, be they conservative or liberal, claiming to be active participants in our current political state. Knowledge is the key to making informed decisions about those candidates we wish to lead us into the future. Whether or not Mr. Moore offered the facts, which I believe he did. it is important impor-tant to approach such topics with an open mind, rather than dismissing them simply because his views contradict yours. It is a sad day when conservatives make such a fuss that movie theaters are forced to make disclaimers in order to screen a film without suffering negative feedback. Thank you Michael Moore for having the guts to make a difference! Hillary Schenk Idealist - Park City Excellent job by curbside recycling Editor: As residents of Old Town and customers cus-tomers of County Curbside Recycling we would to commend them on excellent service. They always show up on time, pick everything up and even during the depths of winter and snow (,ilcd up everywhere, our little green tub was emptied. We really appreciated, at the start of our service, that an information handout was given explaining what and what isn't picked up ami how to set it out curbside. We still use the recycling center on Woodbine Way lor stuff too big but the additional things that County Curbside Recycling accepts is very nice and the extra space we have in the garage is even better. Instituting Conn: bside Recycling has been the Kc ' '' . happen to ( )ld Town since ne i wi Lilt Thank You David and Rachael Bertinelli Park City Facts regarding Arts Forum Editor: Information being conveyed by the Arts Council director. Brian J less, regarding the Library Park Open Arts forum Friday through Sunday was being continuously conveyed incorrccllv. although he was advised to check with the city as he posed himself as their spokesperson. His pretentious if not incompetent failing to communicate with his superiors to verily facts sparked the so-called "effigy" artistic statement targeted at the council and city authority when the target should have been Brian Hess The council or legal department were assumed told by Hess, alter several advisements he was wrong, and nothing was corrected, leading me to assume the council, et al. failed to act. Hess was the Park CitySummit County Government Directory Park City Council Members Marianne Cone, 649-9613 Candy Erickson, 640-3498 Kay Calvert, 940-0850 Joe Kernan, 655-8423 Jim Hier, 649-5900 Mayor Dana Williams, 61 5-501 0 Summit County Commissioners Shauna Kerr, 649-6718 Bob Richer, 647-8066 Ken Woolstenhulme, (435) 783-5526 Summit County Planning Commission Chairmen East side: Arlin Ovard, (435) 336-2865 Snyderville: Donna Vanburen, 649-5351 Park City School Board Kim Carson, 649-1 743 Kathryn Adair, 645-081 9 David Chaplin, 649-9613 Jim Santy, 649-9285 Supt.Dave Adamson, 615-0225 Carol Murphy, 649-3385 State Government Governor Olene Walker, (801) 538-1000 Rep. Scott Daniels, (801) 583-0801 Rep. David Ure, (435) 783-4650 Sen. Beverly Evans, (801) 454-3494 Sen. David Gladwell, (801) 927-1110 U.S. Congress Rep. Rob Bishop, (202) 225-0453 Rep. Chris Cannon, (202) 225-7751 Rep. Jim Matheson, (202) 225-3011 Sen. Bob Bennett, (801) 924-5933, (202) 224-5444 Sen. Orrin Hatch, (801) 524-4380, (202) 224-5251 The Park Record welcomes letters to the editor on any subject. We ask that the letters adhere to the following guldelines: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 davs. 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. Send your letter to: Editorparkrecord.com problem. Once 1 knew he had failed. I then personal!) inlonned the appropriate appropri-ate department authority and the appropriate appro-priate revisions were immediately made because they were not legally consistent with or explicitly aligned with the actual ordinance text and tone. Fads: The forum is a creative interactive interac-tive development, opportunity, education educa-tion and a local point for expression of personal original artistic works by original origi-nal artists. There are NO LIMi IS on original artists (it's open), but limits tents to M) of lllx 10-loot area that can lit in the space currently provided. The city will allow more tents or space if demand warrants. The ordinance automatically extends the forum to include official holidays hol-idays as Fourth of July and Park City Arts Festival. Exhibitors must register so demand may be tracked and properly managed and serviced. Visual artists and original acoustical performance artists' works are encouraged, encour-aged, and they welcome to oiler free classes and instruction, invite groups to engage in discussion?; about art" and creativity cre-ativity and the public may openly acquire works. Fad: I apologized to the city authority for my assumption lh.it Hess was competent. compe-tent. Hess owes us an apology. Want something done right'.' Do it yourself --right'.' --right'.' Ars (iratia Artis, my fellow Parkiles and friends. T. 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