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Show pOOIROPJI EDITORDAi Utahs' history ignores blacks Benjamin Franklin, when playing the role of philosopher under the pseudonym Poor Richard, wrote, "Historian relate not so much what is done as what they would have believed.' How true. History is not nearly the prefect discipline its practioners claim it to be. What qualifies as history depends entirely on its authors. If they do not place an event in the historical record, knowledge of it may vanish forever. If not that, certainly very few will ever know of it. It is that possibility that scares many blacks in this state. They fear that Utah is incapable of confronting its past. According to Alberta Henry, community it v relations woordinator to rtf Salt I Schml District, Utah's, guiltv of the sin of o:r.;. re h'.nv k- wj;..w.- .itv lo - discussine the state's Utah '$ Heritage the text recommended by the State Board of Education, "offends" Henry. She bhwY 1 1 IV says important facts aren't in the book. For example, it fails to mention that three black slaves arrived in the Salt Lake valley with Brigham Young. It fails to mention that for years blacks were not allowed to swim in the pool at Lagoon. It fails to mention that Utah was the only western territory that permitted slavery. And it fails to mention that the black code a law prohibiting blacks from using the same hotels, restaurants and theatres as whites was enforced in Utah until 1965. The book even omits LDS President Spencer W. Kimball's revelation that finally made the church's priesthood available to blacks. "Curriculum nowhere in Utah is accurate," said Henry. "It was written by historians with a slanted point of view, who have not considered that helped make Utah great." The situation has prompted some black leaders to call for revision of the text. Ozwald Balfour, community affairs director of the University's Black Student Union, said, "All people have the responsibility to rectify history when they discover inaccuracies." We agree. The Chronicle believes the true story of the way blacks and other minority groups were treated in this state should be told to Utah's students. Our rationale is simple. The reason we study history is principally because we believe we can learn from past mistakes. As the great statesman Adlai Stevenson said in 1952, "We can chart our future clearly and wisely only when we know the path which has led to the present." Inversely, we cannot act wisely when we are ignorant of the past. mini-cultur- es LETTERS Rights for deviant gays are ludicrous Editor: In a lackluster speech delivered Friday on behalf of the Gay Student Union, Don Qark managed to make a couple of valid points. Minorities have certain rights, issues arc not always black and white, and is generally an asset to society. On th; other hand, rights are not absolute; society defines issues is not important in a strictly intrinsic and limits. sense it is also important insofar as it furthers individual and social development in a postitive fashion. Qark failed to address the vital issues in the controversy over "Gay Rights." Instead, he spoke of circles, continuums and infinity. He extolled the virtues of the "gift" of homosexuality which conferred upon gays a special mission as the "caretakers" of society. Clark made clear his sexual preference and the nature of his particular subculture, but he did a great disservice to his cause in sacrificing a valuable opportunity to tackle the heart of the controversy. I "referred to Clark's failure to address the vital issues of this topic. The first is found in his contention that homosexuality is "natural," and inevitable for many members of society. He sees human sexual preference as falling into a "normal" distribution curve. This claim may or may not be supported empirically. No such case was ever made by Qark. My alterntative is to take a ity Non-conform- ity reasoned approach to this claim. Natural selection demands procrcMiin through heterosexual interaction Genetic homosexuality would constitute a recessive trait and soon be eliminated, as it would make those organisms with this gene less likely to reproduce. Does "natural" then, refer to learned behavior? ( )ne might wonder how an "intolerant" society that "demands conformity" manages to yield normal distributions of sexual behavior through learning mechanisms alone. Let us assume that it docs, on the other hand, if not for the sake of argument than rather because it is the only way left for us to understand homosexuality as 'natural.' We are steered by this assumption to another vital issue that Clark failed to address. If homosexuality is a learned behavior, then does society have a right to control that behavior and that learning process? More specifically, on what grounds does the homosexual lay claim to particular legal standing? eradicated. And an essential step in the right direction is owning up to past discrimination. Let's put the whole truth in our textbooks, even if it may be embarrassing. The authentic story of black culture in Utah must be told. approximately 10 percent of the student population. Even in the midst of such a virulent attack, such factual statements should be greatly encouraging to the good folks at LGSU. Indeed, they have requested little from the University besides recognition, and they have constantly reiterated that their sole purpose for existence is educational to let the University know that they are here and elsewhere Chronicle The Daily' Utah Chronicle is an independent student newspaper published daily during fall, winter and spring quarters, excluding test weeks and quarter breaks, by the University Publications Council. Editorials reflect the. opinion of the editorial board, and not necessarily the opinions of the student body or the administration. Subscriptions are S25 a year, S10 an academic quarter. All subscriptions must be prepaid. Forwaro. all subscription correspondence, including change of address, to the Business Manager, Dailv Utah Chronicle, 240 Union, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 841 12. is homosexuality on these grounds. Advocates of gay rights would counter, at this point, with analogies to black and women's suffrage. Here, we have twocases where society has excluded race and gender from subjects of discrimination in society. Not all groups can lay claim to this exclusion, of course. Criminals arc not analogous. Neither are the mentally deranged or deficient we pluck these people out as soon as we identify them. Be that as it may, we need to ask whether or not we are prepared to add sexual preference to this category. If we legally recognize alternate sexual preference with regard to gender, then why not with regard to age? This leads to a Student Union. What about heterosexuals who want to get kinky? Arc we to give legal rights to members of a Sadomasochistic Student Union? Although this may be overstating the case, we can see that our argument takes us full circle. Homosexuality is not genetic. If it were, the trait would either disappear or we would once we stopped reproducing. If the trait is learned, then it is not analogous to race or gender and the proper subject of societal consideration as behavior that may or mav not be restricted. We have always recognized society's right to define sociallv acceptable conduct. An individual's mind is inviolate. His speech and written word are staunchly protected. In private, he has an extensive degree of freedom in his actions. With actions, however, we begin to weight society's interests more heavilv. When these actions enter the domain of public policy and socially accepted mores and values, we see many cases of regulation. For these reasons, we legislate abortion, school prayer and drug abuse, as well as acts of physical aggression. I find no basis on which to grant homosexuality legal standing on the grounds of sexual preference. What they do in private is, of course, their own business, as are the actions of a man and his wife in the sanctity of their own home. To ask society to legislate Child-Molest- er approval or condonement of sexual deviance, however, is ludicrous. John N. Zaratzian 'Levi Day' column is encouraging opportunities for blacks in this state than others, we still have a long way to go before all discrimination ethical codes of conduct. We could probably reject Consider that cultures tend to reinforce those elements Editor: Regardless of J. Michael Smedley's knowledge of Jewish culture and his ability to analyze thoroughly and logically a given situation, he raised several points in his March 30 column on "Gay Levi Day" for which the Lesbian and Gay Student Union should be thankful. Although Balfour says there are more advancing their interests. This has certainly been the case with the development of families, the incest taboo and moral as well as Smedley referred to the University's "homosexual community" and implied that the community comprises Editorial Board: Brian Aggeler, Jeff Arrington, Ann J. Bardsley, Peter Behle, Richard Adams, Marcus Gilbreath, J. Michael Smedley, Tony Tsakakis. Tony Tsakakis Editor-in-Chi- ef Associate Editor News Editor Assistant News Editor Chief Copy Editor . . Copy Editor Assistant Copy Editors Night Editor Editorial Editor Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor Brian Aggeler Richard R. Adams Patricia J. Pusey J. Michael Smedley Phil Sahm Shawn Cany Laura Adams Marcus Gilbreath Jeff Arrington Peter Behle Mark Saal .... . . here in significant numbers and that they do think of themselves as a community. Smedley's comments are evidence that their efforts have not been in vain. In fact, I wore my 501s on the day in question. I knew about Levi Day, and I was proud to show my support of the organization. You see, Levi Day is not a ploy to catch unsuspecting innocents. No. It only works if you know about the day. Then you must decide how to express your true beliefs whether to don proudly the jeans or to rush as quickly as possible for the khakis. But then, I forgive Smedley his shortcomings. He meant well. After all, some of my best friends, at other universities, have been editorial writers. Kelly J. Dingus Mike Johnson Photography Editor Entertainment Editor Ann J. Bardsley Asst. Entertainment Editor . Kathryn Samuel Senior Reporters Marilyn Abildskov Debbie Eldredge Milne Maribeth Thueson ...... Photographers Business Manager Ad Representatives Alan Overmoe Liz Grant Elisabeth Vorkink Earl Cline Robert McOmber Julia Jenkins Steve Hausknecht Jerry Stanger Jill Aggeler Accountant Accountant Assts. Classifieds Production Manager Asst. Production Manager Production Assistants !. Typesetters ' . Steve Wilson Kay Andersen Ron Jackson Mary Safi Lori Raucum Holly Miller Robb Welch Audrey Anderson Kimberley Lude Douglas A. Tubbs Rodney Dalliri , Lisa Jones , Tina Cartoonist E. Neinstedt Marianne Macfarlane Mark McCunc |