OCR Text |
Show Free Press - Wednesday, August 31, 1994 - Page Editorial Making Utahns should vote on term limit issue Term limits will be one of the hot issues in this year's Utah election -if the ballot petition signed by well over 100,000 Utahns makes it to the November ballot. The petition drive has been largely pushed by Merrill Cook, running as an independent this year for the U.S. House against Karen Shepherd and Enid Greene Waldholtz. But he's not the only one pushingfor the right of Utahns to vote on this important issue. Pat Shea, the Democratic who is challenging Orrin Hatch for his seat in the U.S. Senate, has added his support to the term limits issue. As it stands, some 76,000 signatures were needed to get this issue on the November ballot. Over 136,000 signatures were gathered and submitted to the state. Not all of these are valid. The state has found evidence of fraud in the case of some of the individuals who were hired to go out and collect signatures. Although the number of fraudulent signatures probably will not be enough to throw the petition out, it has been enough to slow the process down - and even put the present initiative effort in jeopardy. That's too bad, because Utah voters need to make the decision on this important issue not politicians who may owe their future livelihood to keeping the current system in place. -- Few politicians are going to support any efforts at limiting their future terms, and their possible future income. That is one of the problems that term limits are designed to solve. Many of the factors motivating our legislature can be resolved by making election to nad tional office rather ol service-oriente- than career-oriente- d. Placing a limit on the amount of time a man or woman can serve in the House or the Senate will also take away the incentive for exorbitant pay raises and congressional perks. And if a politician isn't buckhe or she can ing for make decisions and vote based on what is best for his or her constituents and the country, rather than votes based on what is most likely to secure Finally term limits will hamper the ability of powerful special interest groups to buy politicians on a long-terbasis, since there will be no long-terpoliticians. As such, it is a move that can be expected to put some controls on political corruption. Is it a good move for Utah? That is up to Utahns to decide. m m Here's hoping that the current controversy surrounding some signatures on the initiative to put term limits on Utah's November ballot doesn't prevent this important issue from going before the general public. dreams is a world without hope A world without There are times when I believe that we oldsters forget what it is like to dream, and we also forget that our children should dream. For a world without dreams and hopes can be a pretty dismal place. When do dreams begin? I don't know exactly, but there was a time in my own life when the awakening of dreams began. It was on top of a mountain in my native Wales. It went by the strange name of Twm Berlum Tump. On top was a huge mound covered with heather. It was said it was a burial place of ancient Britons, but no one had excavated to find out if it were true. I stood on top of the mound and looked out to the sea. The waves were shimmering in the sunlight. Occasionally a cloud would obscure the sun and the waves would become dark and foreboding. Then the clouds would pass and the wave tips would become silver again. It was only a few days before that my mother had left us, suddenly like a bird falling from the sky. Now as I stood on old Twm Berlum Tump I had found the true meaning of loneliness. She who had given me life and nurtured me through the trials of childhood would never be by my side again. Of course there was father, or Tad we called him, but he was a man a good man but he was not as understanding as was our mother. I would work with Tad in his garden -and spading, hoeing and weeding and when the work was done we would go home without any words between us. He believed this was part of my responsibility for living and being his son. But mother, or Mam as we called her, there was a sweet soul for you. Whenever I worked in her flower garden, there was always a reward. Some lemonade and a few little blackberry tarts. - Mr. Nixon: sing mutually-exclusiv- In a class I took in college, I learned that the choices we make are sometimes mutually exclusive, and choosing one thing sometimes means we have to settle for less in another area. The example was given of clean air vs. industries like Geneva. Choosing to have clean air, which would mean curtailing or eliminating potential polluters, also brings about a reduced economic base, which could also reduce the quality of life. Allowing such ventures to operate unchecked could enhance the economic status of the area and its population, but would reduce the health part of the quality of life. In that situation, I guess we must look for some middle ground, where we can reap some of the economic benefits while maintaining some of the clean air we have en- es. This factor has been overlooked in the biographies that have sought to explain Richard Nixon. Joan Hoff, as a graduate student at Berkeley, was arrested twice for demonstrating against Nixon war policies. In recent years, as a historian, she set out to join those who chose to crucify him. But before she had completed her tedious 10 years of research, she was converted to the realization that on balance "Nixon was in fact a great president." Her book is called "Nixon ReconsidHow would Nixon explain Nixon? D calif Pfleanett ByRUSSDALY fat-fre- e we approve sodium-frefoods if we find that they are made with heavy doses of e, additives? Having to make those choices can be discouraging. Since we're all going to go sometime, maybe we shouldn't worry so much and enjoy the ride while we're here. We were pricing an item in the store just the other day when we came across the product descriptions of two different models of the same object. Both lists of features were very attractive, but neither emphasized the same set of features. Even the price was the same, and price can sometimes be the great differentiator. Since we were out and about that day , we decided to look at computer items, too, not really to purchase, but just to get an idea of what is available. As it turns out, the store did not even have any ofthe item in stock, and it is a good thing, because the salesman was rambling on an on about the new things that were soon to be released. After we left the store, we opened a discussion on why computer manufactur and fat content, nutritional benefits and composition of the edible material in the box, bag or can. I can accept that, in fact, I'm usually happy to have that information made available to me. But how do I decide about a product when the sodium in one is unusually high and the fat content is acceptable, and the competitor offers a product with low sodium but higher fat content? Are reduced-calori- e items beneficial if their cholesterol content is out of line? Can ers continue to offer better products almost immediately after you put your money into their current model, which then becomes outdated. Memory size and built-i- n features seem to increase in each new model, while prices seem to drop in the outdated ones. So the question is: Do you invest in the older model to save money, only to spend it later on upgrades, or do you save longer or go into debt for what seems to be the unsurpassable model? It's not just money, though. Sometimes we have to make the decisions about the time we allot to a project or the food we eat. Years ago, we were visiting friends in southern California. With both of the guys having served missions in Japan, we decided to eat at an authentic Japanese restaurant in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles. I've always been envious of my wife, because she always knows exactly what to order that is most satisfying to her and to the others around the table who often say they wished they had ordered what she had ordered. At that restaurant, Peter and I both ordered the same thing, and we were fairly pleased with it. Our wives each ordered different things, and of all of us, Diane's meal looked the best and she seemed to enjoy it most. When it comes to some of life's decisions, it's too bad we can't return to the naivete of young children, who are usually very content to trade a couple of dimes for 10 shiny pennies. Remember the day all hail broke loose? Aug. 31, 1994: That was quite a storm Monday. Were you there? No? Well, let me tell you about it. I was sitting in the office when the noise started it sounded like ball bearings bouncing off the roof of the building. "Boy," said Tom. "It's really snowing out there." That's Tom. He knew it was hailing, but he thought calling it snow might get a - E elisor's fir They even pulled their ads. I've got pictures of the storm somewhere. Let me go look for them. Don't you go away, now. August 31, 2024: Did I ever tell you kids about the great hail storm of 1994? Why, it puts these little hail storms of today to shame. I remember it well. I was working in the office when the roof started humorous reaction. newspaper MARC HADDOCK By When I went to the front window, I was shaking like a earthquake had hit. Someone said it was snowing in August, but no astonished. Hailstones the size of small snow storm ever sounded like that. It was marbles were dropping from the sky. a hail storm to end all hail storms. HailI tried to remember if I had rolled up my businesses downtown. car window when I came back to the office August 27, 2004: You call that a hail stones the size of grapefruit were falling from lunch. Louise was worried about her storm? Man, let me tell you about the hail and the constant banging made it impossistorm of 1994. Puts that little storm we had ble to talk inside the office. window, too. So I dashed out the back door I lost my head for a moment and ran out I The check hail but on the cars. to yesterday to shame. stung, I was working in the office when a bangback to roll up my window. I figured one of knew if the windows were open, I would have a problem when the storm passed so I ing started on the roof that almost made me these babies would probably break offthe ran out and checked. jump out of my chair. I was writing on my steering wheel if it got in the car. One hailstone knocked me to the ground The windows were all up. I couldn't see computer this was before was perfected and we actually had to and another one smashed into my leg. I an open window on Louise's van, either. I hustled back inside - out of the hail. I was type words into the computer on a keyboard looked just long enough to make sure the . . . well, that's another story. window was up and then limped back into damp all over. Anyway, this banging started and Tom, the office. I was so wet it took me three days By the time I got back to the front of the he was the advertising salesman, he said to dry off. office, hail was coming down so fast that the We watched the carnage from the front streets and sidewalks were covered immesomething silly like, "It's starting to snow." Well this was August - of the hottest year office as hailstones felled trees and pounddiately. the history of Utah and I know it wasn't ed huge dents in the cars. Hailstones were We watched the traffic moving down Main Street and the cars slowed noticeany snow storm. crashing through some windshields and window I to the out the back roll ran traffic was brought to a standstill. of to see ahead unable the drivers up ably, them because the hail was so thick. Pretty in my car. Hail stones the size of golf balls Why, cars were backed up bumper to windows me. were into the of most Luckily the drivers no pounded were there cars, bumper from one end of town to the other soon, having pulled over to wait for the storm to rolled up and I hurried back into the office. - or, maybe that was a few weeks earlier I was soaked to the skin. when that tanker overturned on the freepass. When I got back to the front office, we way well, never mind. I tried to take some pictures through the Once the hail stopped, the city had to front door of trafficpassingby . As the storm watched the hail rain down on Main Street, started to abate, I stepped out into the denting cars and piling up about a foot high break out its snow removal equipment, street with a borrowed umbrella and made on the street and sidewalks. Traffic was even though it was only August. But they were too late. The hail started melting too some more pictures of people watching the brought to a complete standstill. I went out with my camera to take picfast and soon we could hear this rumbling storm. as the water started running down the And then the hail stopped. People broke tures, but the hail stones drove me back. Then, all of a sudden it just stopped. And streets like a river. People from all over out their snow shovels and started clearing the sidewalk. I grabbed some film and took the hail started to melt. The gutters filled lined up with sandbags to make a channel with water and cars were careening down through town and down to Utah Lake or my camera for a walk. The hailstones were melting as quickly Main Street hydroplaning through the maybe that was Salt Lake City during the as they had fallen and the gutters were stop signs and such. I took my camera out floods well, never mind. and tried to take pictures of the damage. Anyway, that storm closed down just immediately filled with water. At the corPeople everywhere were shoveling the about every business in town. We almost ner of Main and Center, the gutters were so swollen I couldn't cross the street. The hail offthe street, and the water was so high didn't put out a paper for two weeks. Anyway, Fvenever seen ahail storm like people in Blondee's Diner were trapped for in places it almost carried cars off. Some at least five minutes as the water, which trees were beaten to the ground and about it before nor since. And neither have you, had overflowed the city's storm drains in 10 businesses closed down for the week. either. minutes, flooded the streets. Passing cars threw up arcs of water as they plowed through. Leaves, beaten offthe trees by the hail stones, were strewn every- - voice-recogniti- : - - -- -- s By TOM GRIFFITHS - Jf There were words of encouragement. In fact, there were times when I almost felt the scent ofthe violets and sweet williams were the results of my efforts, because she made me feel that way. There are some who will feel I am daft, but every spring I become a dreamer. I dream of those days when I went with her to gather the fat buds from the elderberry tree which was the basis for an ointment she made. Then when the big white blossom came, we would gather them and mother would hang them up in the scullery 10 days. This was medicine for stomach ailments and headaches. But now she rests with her husband under a willow tree in Llanvech Cemetery and I am left with my dreams. But back to that day on Twm Bertum Tump. How could a boy dream who had never been more than a dozen miles from his home? Because every boy has the ability to dream and we parents must not forget that. school-ager- My generation, running scared from a terrible depression, will never stop running and will always "work too hard." Genetics notwithstanding, largely, we are the product of our earliest experienc- IT IBS joyed. As I heard many of my math teachers say: You can't compare apples and oranges. Take food labelling, for example, which allows consumers to see calories, sodium - - where. About five minutes later, the water was all gone. I've never seen anything like it. We even lost an ad because the storm caused some water damage in one of the Paul Harvey Product Inc. 1884 1&. The explanation few of us ever heard was delivered to his White House staff as he said farewell in 1974. Nobody since has explained him better than he explained himself. Quote: "What starts the process, are laughs, slights and snubs when you are a kid. Sometimes it's because you are poor or Irish or Jewish or Catholic or ugly or simply that you are skinny. "But if you are reasonably intelligent and your anger is deep enough and strong enough, you learn you can change those attitudes by excellence, by personal gut performance - while those who have everything are sitting on their fat butts. Cnce you learn that you've got to work -- harder than anybody else, it becomes a way of life as you move out of the alley and on your way. In your own mind, you have nothing to lose, so you take plenty of chances, and if you do your homework, many of them pay off. "It's then you understand for the first time that you have the advantage your competitors can't risk what they already have. "It's a piece of cake - until you get to the top. "Then you find you can't stop playing the game the way you've always played it because it is a part of you and you need it as much as you need an arm and a leg. "So you are lean and mean and resourceful and you continue to walk on the edge of the precipice because over the years you have become fascinated by how close to the edge you can walk without losing your balance." End quote. In a republic, we are supposed to elect our best men to make decisions in our behalf. Recently, what we have tended to do instead is to elect men our own size and then expect them to be something more than we are. , - - Thanks to ambulance crew, police Editor: In appreciation: I want to thank the Lehi Police and the Lehi Ambulance for the instant response when my little granddaughter, Brooke Thomas, rode her bike into a Bronco. Then, now and next ents. decisions e -- Where did you get your religion, your politics? s However generations of may rebel, generally we keep moving in the direction in which we were first pushed. Your faith and your politics are likely to be the faith and politics of your par- ered." 2 Many thanks to the person who called them. Also thanks to everyone who was so concerned. I find it a great comfort living in Lehi, knowing these special people are always here. -- Betty Beck U.S. should open arms to Cubans the Castro has Editor: The massive exodus of Cubans challengwaters of the Florida ing the shark-infeste- d straits is evidence of the intolerable situation that Cubans have been experiencing under the Castro regime for nearly four decades. Those who have never experienced life under an oppressive police state, as my family and I have, may have difficulty identifying with the plight of the many Cubans who, in desperation, much rather risk their lives on the high seas than continue to live under the abuses of the world's greatest living tyrant. The three pounds of rice per person per month, and one pound of meat per person per month of the late sixties now appear to be the "good old days" for those in the isolated nation. With the fall ofcommunism world, Fidel throughout a paraia found himself to be in the community of nations. Rather than attempting reforms that would ease the misery experienced by the people of Cuba, he has stepped-uhis "austere measures" even further and has brought despair to already hopeless lives. If there was ever a time when this great immigrant nation of ours was to open its arms, it is now. President Clinton must continue the U.S. policy of granting preferential status to Cubans seeking political refuge. It is the humanitarian thing to do for a people who have been treated inhumanly for so long. odd-man-o- p Jorge Mena Lehi Policy on letters to the editor We welcome letter to the editor. All letters should be typewritten sad double spaced. Letters must also be signed, and must include the writer' name and telephone number. Please send letters to Editor, Newtah News Group, P.O. Box 7, American Fork, Utah, 84003. , |