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Show Free Press - Wednesday, December editorial 11, 1991 CUR Page 2 WWW by: ED SANDERSON Bill of Rights birth important to nation For the past four years, our nation has celebrated the events that led up to the creation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution a document designed to ensure that the governed would be in charge of the government. The Constitution made possible a form of government that had been envisioned for many years, but which no nation had been able to realize. By delegating powers to different branches of government, and then providing for each branch to serve as a check and balance for the other branches, the framers of the Constitution revolutionized man's concept of government. But delegating the powers of go was not enough, and the ratification of the Constitution in 1789 was possible only when the framers of the document promised to provide a declaration of individual and state's rights. This Bill of Rights was designed to shield citizens and states from the new, powerful entity created by the Con- - S0RBV, JS but simple. Among the rights are freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the press, the right to assemble, the right to keep and bear arms, prosearches and seizures, the right of due process, the right to a speedy and public trial and protection from cruel and unusual punishment. It was a desire for the guarantee of these rights that fueled the sentiment behind the Revolutionary War, the failed Articles of Confederation and, finally, the U.S. Constitution. We have never lost that desire. The Bill of Rights, written to protect our forefathers from the tyranny suffered at the hands of a government in which they had no voice, remains a vital force in today's battles for individual free- dom - - rights they ensure are anything Many qualities define what makes a friend Browsing I came across an article recently that struck me as being something worthwhile. The author is unknown but is a man of wisdom. The article is titled The Art of Friendship. "The first step in the art of friendship is to be a friend; then making friends takes care of itself. "To be a friend a man should strive to lift people up, not cast them down; to encourage, not discourage; to set an example that will be an inspiration to others. "To be a friend a man should be sensitively responsive to the dreams and aims of others and should show appreciation for the contributions others make to the enrichment of his life. "To be a friend a man should practice the . By TOM GRIFFITHS companionship of silence and the magic of words that his speech may build and not never made a mistake never accomplished destroy, help and not hinder. "To be a fried a man should close his eyes anything. to the faults of others and open them to his To be a friend a man should go more own. than halfway with hisfellowmen.Heshould To be a friend aman should not attempt greet others first and not wait to be greeted; to reform or reprimand, but should strive he should radiate a spirit of overflowing only to make others happy if he can. Himgood will. self, he should be done. To be a friend a man should remember To be a friend a man should be without that we are human magnets; that like athypocrisy, artificiality and pretense. He tracts like and that what we give we get. should meet and mingle with people in To be a friend a man should recognize and noman knows all the answers and that that simplicity humility. quiet To be a friend a man should be tolerant, he should add each day to his knowledge of he shouldhave an understandingheart and how to live the friendly way." I hope this bit of wisdom will help us to a forgiving nature, knowing that all men stumble now and then and that he who become a friend. . bumper-to-bump- PGflUl HGHWQI7 ElGlTJS ClMlLosAne-eU- e Tlmaa Syndicate Courts, hearings new source of TV filth better be careful. Joy Beach and are so anxious to prevent pornography from polluting our hallowed yet have you heard atmoshpere via anything about the pollution that is infecting our society via rape trials and judicial - One-twen- ty Labor costs in Japan are 90 percent of what they are in the United States. The Japanese want to and do deliver good service with careful attention to detail. Service in top Tokyo hotels is some of the best in the world. They know and build quality products very efficiently. Their finish levels are superior to America's and as good or better than Germany's. The grout lines between tiles in any bathroom are per fectly uniform. The gasket in an engine is measured to microscopic tolerances. Even a cardboard box is beautifully propor Why are decent, people actually making bets on the outcome? Why are we willing to accept this garbage into our homes? Where is our na' tional and spiritual pride? The very fact that we're accepting this type of programming is an insult to us. The We'd her Vetm'cJ 's, hearings? You can't even leave your children at home alone in case they find the key to the television or see the daily papers before you get a chance to check them out. It's a very sad commentary that we are ' accepting the absolute trash that is permeating our society in the name of law and order. We're hearing filth in a court of law and in a judicial hearing. We're not blind to the ways of the world, but we're not naive either. We may not have heard of some of this stuff before, (heavens forbid), but its coming in our living room s through the very channels that we've previously held sancrosanct a courtroom with judge and jury setting precedents that were formerly held criminal. Movies, which were formerly held in control by the Hayes Office, are pouring obscenities on the big screen. What is even more ironic is that people by the thousands are actually paying big bucks to watch. I feel sorry for the Kennedy Family. Joe Kennedy started a political dynasty that Would-b- e God-feari- law-abidin- g, cc-ho-rts DaeBieuG itf ng moguls that bring this multi-millionai- re kind of programming into our homes are aren't they? They're being patronizing thinking, They like it, they like it. Let's the juicier the give 'em what they like By BETTY FOWLER - better." What can we do about it? How about has been sprinkled with heroes and hero- turning off your television sets? Or switchines a dynasty that he thought would ing channels? How about writing letters to continue to make its mark in America's the editor expressing your disapproval of the explicit accounts ofa rape trials that are future. in a being reported? Let's not encourage this that Now, shambles, dynasty is kind of stuff by tuning in to it, or reading people, Kennedy Democrats and Republicans alike, are turned off because of the about it, without complaining. The best Christmas gift you could give disregard for human dignity that we're arroof as a your children would be a letter to your result Kennedy experiencing gance. How dare they, through a court of congressmen asking them to initiate legislation to(yes, Virginia, the C word CENlaw, try to justify this kind of arrogance. This is not to say that William Smith is SOR) or, once again prevent cameras and guilty of the offense he's being accused of, microphones into acourtroom during atrial ifs just to say what they expect the Ameri- of this type. No, that wouldn't be like going can people to swallow in the name of law back in time to the dark ages it would be a statement that pornography, in any form, and order. , is unacceptable to decent people everyWhy is this kind of garbage being allowed to be broadcast over the airwaves? where. - politicians run to lose With an election just over, politics was the last thing on my mind, until Grumble walked into my office, laughing and shaking his head. What's so funny? I asked. "People," he chuckled, "or, to be more precise, politicians." Make up your mind, I said. "Okay," Grumble replied. "How about people who wish they could be politicians but never quite make it." You mean like those who never get elected? "Even worse," he chuckled again, "those who never quite get a constituency. Get your coat and let's get a Dr Pepper. M tell you what I mean." ; Afew minutes later we were sitting over a couple of frosty plastic cups, sipping our daily ration of liquid caffeine and arguing the important issues of the world. "Let me tell you what I mean," Grumble - said. Don't bother, I replied. I already know. You mean David Duke and those of his ilk. Grumble got serious. "Well, Duke is certainly one, although that man has a constituency he can count on. We are never at a loss for bigots, are we?" No, I agreed. "And Duke is selling pretty potent snake oil." What do you mean. "Well, he markets security to the middle class, prosperity for the downtrodden whites, and superiority to people who feel a need to feel superior because they feel theyVe been getting shortchanged for years. ' "But Duke, even though he is destined to lose election after election, is not a politician without a constituency. Like I said, we always have a plentiful supply ofbigots who will support a David Duke in any election." Well, then, who were you laughing about "I was a little closer to home." Ah, yes, Utah's perennial would-b- e politician. Merrill Cook, who takes a lickin' but keeps on politickin'. "Can you figure him out?" Not yet. I can see someone being inter- - tioned, assembled and finished. The Japanese, dealing with America diplomats or American businessman, can speak perfect English when they want to. When they don't want to, they use the "language barrier as a device for delay. There remains strong filial affection in Japan, child to parent and parent ofelder family member. Children do not, however, have the same selfless allegiance to their employment as their parents have had. Many young do not want to work days as their fathers do. There is a general lack of respect for women in society and in the workplace. Women are to be found nowhere in management. Respect for authority at all levels is obvious. In a business meetingnoonesits down before the controllingmanagersits. At mealtime, no one picks up a fork until the senior person present begins to eat. Interruptions just never happen! Bergstrom's analysis ofhis own snapshots is that the Japanese have done all they can with what they have. Now they must look to the rest of the world for expansion of manufacture and markets. 12-ho- ur er - WERPA WELL, 1 WONDER Japan has done well with resources teresting snapshots: Seventy-fiv- e percent ofJ apan is mounand yet 120 miluninhabitable, tainous, lion people are crammed into that tiny 25 percent. And because the Japanese have exhausted their domestic labor force, they art importing outsiders from South America to fill manufacturing jobs and further compound traffic constipation. Cars move during daylight hours. Japan's train system is timely, runs beautifully where train service is available. If you are going where the train is going, you will go comfortably. At all levels top management to the assembly line Japan's workers are not flexible in the face of any quick change or unexpected problem. Private housing for the average Japanese is almost unobtainable. fourth ofan acreofland in the Osaka area is $150,000 American money. And the most bask house you can build on that land will cost another $250,000. GONE tection against unreasonable To be sure, they set up a standard that we have been unable to match all of these rights are threatened daily. But these vital first 10 amendments to the U.S. stitution. Constitution provide hope, and a Sunday, Dec. 15, we celebrate platform from which to continue the final act in the Bicentennial of the battle for freedom and indithe United States Constitution, for vidual rights. 200 years ago Sunday the State They aren't necessary to the govof became the ernment, which could operate easLegislature Virginia HthstatetoratifytheBillofRights. ily under the Constitution without Those first 10 amendments of them But they are necessary to us, the U.S. Constitution have proved the governed. to be remarkably flexible over the That is why Sunday should be 200 conand one of the highlights of the Bicenpast always years troversial. While stated simply, the tennial Celebration oftheU.S. A trusted observer, John F. Bergstrom, has returned from Japan with some in- 3UT..V many of them think of Cook as the leader of the movement? Not many Fll bet. "After all, Mills Crenshaw probably has The Editor's f Column By MARC HADDOCK) better credentials as the leader of the battle for tax limits and food tax removal than Cook does. "And I haven't seen any evidence that there is a big term limits battle raging in Utah." , ... True, butCook is the man who has taken these issues to the polls. "And lost with them. And look what he's going after this year. Cook is now that we've lost the bid; eliminating special interest groups who isn't, even the Church is coming under fire here; bringing jobs to Utah; and finally higher teachers' salaries and lower taxes. Cook is appealing the same sentiments who have failed him in the past." Well, maybe he's just a candidate whose anti-Olympi- ested in running, but not interested in losing so often. "How many times has he lost?" Grumble asked. "You newspaper types are supposed to be up on all this stuff." Really only four times and each time for successively bigger political jobs. Let's see, he lost for state school board, Salt Lake City mayor, Salt Lake County Commission and Governor of Utah. "He's breaking a pattern then, running for governor again. He ought to run for Senate or the presidency. But that's not what I find humorous. Itfs his campaign that is really humorous. For e. ample? "Wei1., for example he claims that by leading the battles for tax limits, food tax removal and now term limits,' he has set Utah's political agenda. ButallofthosepropoeitionslostinUtah. "Exactly. Cook thinks that by supporting losing efforts, he sets the agenda. No wonder he's running again. Here is a guy who thinks that losing is winning, and jumping on the bandwagon is leading." But he does have a constituency, doesn't - - he? "Not really. The causes Cook espouses have a strong group of followers. But how LQfifiGFG ft - time has come. "Maybe," Grumble said, "But the tax limitation crows is interested in results, not candidates, and they will throw him over in a second if they think they can get a better deal. "Add his Pillsbury Dough Boy looks and lack ofcharisma and you have the makings of a perennial loser. In fact, you have the credentials of a perennial loser, too." But we're past the charisma thing in Utah, aren't we. After all, Bangerter won., "But just barely. And he was a Republican. Once we get inside the voting booth, e our TV mentality and party loyalties take over. "Don't get me wrong. Cook is an okay guy. In fact, he only has one thing in common with David Duke." What's that. "We can look forward to voting against them many more times before they are through." old-tim- tiC.Q eGfliflOI? Change in 'Lifestyles' curriculum is not in best interest of children sexual activity and those who receive abstinenUtah has revised its "Healthy Lifestyles ce-based curricula calculate at 19 per Core Curriculum alias, sex education. It cent sexual activity. , looks just like the programs which other This revised core curriculum created by states have been discarding across the na- the State Office of Education has not been tion for the past 10 years. The State Office tested to determine whether it produces the desired behavior. We do have a problem; of Education is calling it an abstinence while information on adolescentbehavior does need tobe changed, including program but let's not put our heads in Utah sand and contraception. Statistics from the U.S. Department of attempt to do with programs which are not Health and Human Services show that high only obsolete but are damaging to our chilschool students who receive the kind of sex dren, Utah's richest natural resource. ed Utah is now creating manifest 65 per--V. Laurl Updike cent sexual activity before graduation . Those who receive no sex ed show 34 percent Provo Editor: Policy on letters to the editor We welcome letters 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, S4003. ; - ' ; ."' , 7 |