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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle - Thursday, October1 Page Eight tf. 191 Opinions nrC Editorial intzKtz MNUMn&C H Riascot racism Should sports fans chop the tomahawk chop? Ute name need not be chopped this week The maintain political correctness on campus. With the quick rise of the Atlanta Braves baseball team from last place in their division to possible contenders in the World Series, the Tomahawk chop has also risen to public n leaders attention. And some believe that sporting teams with names like the "Redskins," "Braves" or "Utes," provide an arena for improper racial behavior. The chop first came to the public's attention when Braves' fans used it as a rallying cheer for their team. n But some leaders say the Native-America- Native-America- swinging Tomahawks paint an inaccurate picture of Native Americans today. And that using the chop in sporting events only perpetuates the stereotypical belief that all Native Americans are warmongers, out to scalp anyone they see. The only way to stop fans from swinging the chop during a tense game would be to change the name of the team. But is that really necessary? When fans raise their arm in support of their team, are they being offensive to a certain group of individuals? No, they are only trying to rally the team and prompt crowd excitement. There's no doubt Utah fans will perform the chop on Saturday's game against Colorado, but only because fans want the Utes to chop through n the Ram's defense, not to offend the tribe the team is named for. The Ute mascot is not meant to be offensive or derogatory to anyone. Quite the contrary, it is meant to respect and honor the tribe. Traditionally the University of Utah has had the Ute as its mascot. The Utes are part of this state's heritage and it is a way to recognize some of the native history and culture. Native-America- Football heroes the University of Utah football This week is joining with the FBI, the Western Institute of Neuropsychiatry, KUTV and KALL radio to help educate Utah kids about the dangers of drug abuse. Football stars will kick off the campaign in Rice Stadium Saturday. Younger kids often view football players as heros. And if a child's role model speaks out against drugs the child will be more likely to listen to what the hero says. In turn, this gives Ute football players even more incentive not to experiment with drugs. The football players not only have a responsibility to themselves, but also to the children they are telling to not use illegal substances. Education is the key in the fight against drug abuse and the excitement of having an important football star teach kids about the dangers of drug abuse will not only keep students attentive, but chances are they will listen to their message. Washington sends mixed message about a guaranteed right to privacy head honchos are bunch. And other in our history time no during was this more apparent than this past weekend during the Thomas' hearings and the confirmation procedure. Last weekend, the American public had the rare opportunity of seeing their senators kick, scream and about defending one man's right to privacy. They proclaimed the public nature of the hearings a Washington's cat-scrat- ch t' ' ,A. W m$ Eleni Vatsis Chronicle Asst. principles upon which this grand country was founded (dramatics added by this writer, but certainly an apt portrayal of senatorial style). the Every senator tried to one-u- p others by seeing who be most critical of the hearings and the confirmation process. Then each of them sought to discover who had the most eloquent apology prepared for an angry and hostile Clarence Thomas. All of the dramatics won't make up the odd speaking out against the inherent existence of a right to privacy in the Constitution. Clarence Thomas joined with the senators in complaining his privacy had been grossly violated. By denying him his privacy, Thomas claimed, the judiciary committee, the media and the public turned his life into a living hell. Given the tone of Thomas' voice and the anger and disgust in his mannerisms, he seemed genuine in his passion for believing in a right to Editorial Editor privacy. But his attitude seemed disgrace and an embarrassment to the Senate and to America. All of this protesting seemed a bit staged, as every senator had his own thoughts on how denying Clarence Thomas privacy in discussing this matter went against the fundamental for finest. Strange, isn't it, that many of the same senators who were seen ranting and raving on television for three days about how sorry they were for Thomas to have his privacy attacked can usually be found (during every other day except last weekend) (but expected) inconsistencies in Washington's pretty strong considering this is a man who was asked one month ago about privacy rights and responded that he could not remain an unbiased judge by stating whether or not the Constitution inherently guaranteed a right to privacy. With the events of the past weekend behind him, and his seat on the U.S. Supreme Court secured, maybe Thomas will find that personal experience has forced him to change his opinion (or really lack thereof) about the right to privacy. As it stands, most senators, and indeed Judge Thomas, think that privacy rights are only necessary when they suit their The issue of privacy rights has been hotly debated recently in defending a self-intere- st. woman's right to abortion, mostly because the Supreme Court based its Roe v. Wade decision on the right to Letters Families with more members have higher insurance costs Editor: I am writing in response to the article "U. Student Insurance Costs Rise 25 Percent for Those with Families," Oct. 14. While I sympathize with Mr. Hammon on the rising cost of insurance, I feel that the increase in rates for those with larger families on a per child basis is justified. Simple math will tell you that a family of six will cost more to an insurance carrier than a family of three or four. Immunizations alone for a family with four children are double that of a family with two children. Costs are absorbed by insurance carriers. If costs absorbed by insurance rates are the same for all subscribers with families, then the smaller family is penalized by paying for the higher cost of insurance coverage. The rate hike should be allocated to those with larger families because larger families cost insurance carriers more. I do not dispute Mr. Hammon's right to have a large family; however, I believe that he should have taken his financial status into consideration before having a larger family at this time in his life. Insurance is only one of the many costs in raising a child. S. Christiansen Staff privacy which the Court indicated was implied by several amendments in the Constitution. Now, however, constructionists and conservatives on the Supreme Court seek to deem that notion as false. They believe that according to the original intent of the founding fathers who wrote the Constitution, the right to privacy was not one of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the American people. So, the government appears to have set up a double standard. When infringement on the right to privacy somehow affects the elite of Washington, they all cry foul. But there appears to be no indication that Congress or the Supreme Court is willing to extend this right to all of the people all of the time. Most importantly, the right to privacy, although not mentioned specifically in the Constitution, is one of the most valued rights in America. It extends far beyond just the recent debates about abortion. We don't have to let anyone into our homes whom we don't want there, we cannot be arrested without just cause, and we do not have to report all of our actions to some higher authority. When Clarence Thomas is unsure (or just won't say anything) about the right to privacy, the repercussions of his ambiguous position are frightening. Maybe the rest of Washington should be subjected to a public grilling so that they can change their minds about supporting privacy rights. However, it shouldn't take public crucifixions for Congress and the Supreme Court to understand that privacy is a right that must be Letter Policy The Daily Utah Chronicle Business hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 581-704- 1 The Daily Utah Chronicle welcomes reader response. Please bring typed double-space- d letters, not exceeding two pages, to Union Building, Room 240. Each letter should include your name, major and telephone number (for verification purposes only). Unsigned letters will not be considered for publication. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters for spelling, grammar and space. |
