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Show Free Press - Wednesday, October 4, 1995 - Page 2 The political process: Entertainment at its best Editorial Harrington decision victory for property rights "Enough bickering and stagnation." With this simple statement, Dr. Carl Bell hopefully set the tone for the future of the Harrington School and his dream to turn the historic building into a cultural center in the heart of American Fork's downtown district. Certainly, there has been enough of both in the past several months, as American Fork and Dr. Bell turned to the courts to settle issues they were unable to settle themselves. Perhaps now both the city and the Bells can move ahead with plans. Dr. Bell can begin the renovations that will eventually result in his Harrington Garden Restaurant, the Dreamer's Cafe and a downtown theater. He acknowledges that the challenges are great, but he thinks his dream is up to the challenge. American Fork City can begin planning for a city complex that will meet the growing needs of the community- Clearly, the city was unable to make a case that the Harrington School must be that building. Judge Lynn Davis's ruling last Thursday demonstrated plainly that the city's plans for the Harrington Building were inadequately conceived and poorly planned, as he stated that the power of eminent domain "has been abused in this case." Eminent domain is one of the greatest powers afforded governments, because it allows cities to some of the usurp property rights most revered freedoms in our country. It should not and cannot be exercised lightly. In this case, American Fork clearly was not ready to use the building. There was no plan for the structure; the studies needed to see if the city could use the building well-defin- ed is coming. You know the one I mean, the deluge of . political rhetoric and advertising that accompanies any election. A good example of that is the mayoral race in Salt Lake City. With our broadcast television stations, as well as half our mainstream daily written media originating from the capital, all of us are subjected to some major coverage of that race, even though it will have relatively little or no impact on us. Still, before it becomes tiresome, it may provide a little entertainment for us as we watch the antics of those involved. One of the incumbent's opponents issued a statement to the press saying how pleased he was that her tax records were being called into question. In a statement she made to the camera, she hoped that the campaign could focus on the issues at hand. How about the presidential race? Have you picked the candidate of your choice, or even a front runner from those who have expressed a desire to run? As in the past, we will see some very interesting things take place in the next were not completed, and had been undertaken as an afterthought to bolster the city's case, rather than as a means of preparing to use the building; there were no architectural plans prepared to show how the building would be used; the city was not ready to move ahead with the renovation if it was awarded the property; the city could not show a true and pressing need for the Harrington property; and the city did not budget funds to place the property into timely use. City officials may have perceived a real need for the property, but they did not make their case. In the city's defense, the case caught them between administrations a previous one with no perceived need for the property and the current one, which felt the property was crucial to the city's future. But the fact that city took no definite steps to acquire the property until after it was secured by Dr. Bell scuttled the city's attempt to obtain the Harrington School by eminent domain. It should have been a red flag that waved off the eminent domain from the outset. On his part, Dr. Bell is to be admired for his tenacity in pursuing his "dream." His battle is a victory for property rights and will certainly give other city governments pause before pursuing eminent domain, and provides some clear guidelines tacfor the use of this d tic. With the issue of ownership settled, we hope the Bells and their supand look porters can move ahead to the city for the support that should be granted to any developer interested in bringing new businesses and new ideas to the community's commercial profile. year. After Senator Bob Dole came out with his affirmative stance against the trends of the entertainment industry, the newspaper reported that he had sold off his stock in Walt Disney, who was involved in the production of a film that did not meet his approval. Dole's wife, herself a very public figure as well, did not sell her stock as the same time, and it happened to increase in value over the next year. She eventually sold her stock, too, but at a better price. I'm not questioning the actions of either of them, but I have wondered if he would have started to reassess his position had the value of the stock had been different. I think I've found one of the last frontiers. It's on the WWW, short for Wild, Wild Web. and Actually, ifs short for World Wide Web anyone who doesn't think the Information Highway is real simply hasn't taken a ride on the Internet. Not only is it real, it is currently and constantly under construction and chock full of information. About everything and anything. k After a class on the Internet offered recently by in Orem, I am certainly no expert on the subject, but I have had an introduction to the information highway that will soon run us over if we don't hop on. Basically a network of computer networks, the Internet is a compilation of com- -. puter network servers from all over the world. Almost any kind of information you want is out there, to be downloaded at home or office and put to use. A few Utah newspapers offer online editions. The Deseret News just came out with a good e product. A few weeklies the Park City Record e have and the Wasatch Wave ser- heavy-hande- five-wee- Browsing tling. "Good morning, sir," said the traveler. "I would like to settle in this community. I hope that the folks here are better than I found at the last place." "What kind of folks were they?" asked the old man. "They were terrible. Nothing but cheats and gossips. They never gave an honest man a chance." "No," said the townsman. "The people here are no different from those you just left. You had better look elsewhere." The traveler departed with a heavy heart. , Later in the day, another traveler greeted the old man. j "Good morning, sir," he said. "I am looking for a community where I may live in 4uiet. I thought perhaps you might tell me ij" I can find it here. ' "And, how were the people you left?" Uiquired the old man. "They were the finest I have ever known, lways willing to help each other in time of frouble. Like all human beings they made ihistakes, but they were honest and sincere With each other. I hated to leave them." "Well, young man, this is the place for Jou. These people are no different from tfiose you just left." In the same way, many hope to find a place where they can hide from themselves, but they always find that the same process that records what we would like to remember also records those things which we would like to forget. i Perhaps this accounts to some extent for tjie restlessness of those who seem to always be wanting to move on to a better Daiy planet ByRUSSDALY Of course, we've been critical of both our elected officials and our candidates for many years. In the case of the latter, their private lives come into public view, and our opinions of them may be based not on their ability to lead, but on personal matters that may be very similar to our own cir- cumstances. Look how many potential candidates have been disgraced from the race because of infidelity. That problem may or may not make one unfit for the job, any more than being a bishop or a high councilman guarantees a person success as a statesman. For those that do take office, it is a thankless job, one that is also full of criticism for decisions made. Often the issues are not black or white, but gray, and the line between making a prudent decision and making a decision based on personal bias may become unclear at times. In one book I read, it seems like Richard Nixon made the list of Most Hated People, ranking up there with Hitler and Charles Manson. But I think there are two things to keep in mind. First, I believe there were some valid contributions along the way, despite the mistakes. Since I was just a teenager at the time of his scandal, it took until his death for me to realize that I had overlooked some of the positive aspects of obvious on-lin- on-lin- vices. How soon will there be a Newtah We figure it's just a matter of time. But we are not sure how to make money at it. We aren't sure how anyone is making money at it. But that doesn't mean ifs not a lot of fun, and intriguing. When I spoke to a civic group last week, I mentioned the Internet and got a reaction a sharp intake of that I hadn't expected breath that said I had been dabbling in forbidden material. Oh, it's out there, I suppose. You hear a lot about cyberporn. It is the information that nature of everything will be available. But it is that lack of regulation that makes the WWW so fun. Anybody with a little computer savvy can build a Home Page and present his or her case for well, for just about anything. Where else could you find the words to every Star Trek song ever found. Or an endless supply of lawyer jokes. Or access to the Grateful Dead, or to Orson Scott Card's virtual community of Hatrack On-lin- By TOM GRIFFITHS place. When we stop to analyze ourselves and to weigh those things which we have been though along the way, we begin to realize that we cannot get away from our conscience. We do not need a scorekeeper to watch after us and to jot down the errors and stumbles that we make. We engrave these things indelibly upon ourselves and I like the communities in the story just told. We imbue our surroundings with our small-nes- s or our greatness. The Editor's -- ff- Column Jg". By MARC HADDOCK related press releases. The new logo was there on the Internet. Information that you couldn't find anywhere else was available on the WWW. My wife and I made this class a joint exercise, and while I was looking for valuable information I heard her laugh with delight and looked to see she had keyed into Yanni's homepage, complete with color photos, biographies, play lists and sound bites from different songs. She was delighted. Everyone is getting into the act. Orem City has a home page of ports. Utah Valley e has its own service, with information about everything from upcoming elections to plays. And from our Orem classroom, we were able to find out what is currently playing on London's West End and how much ticket and we could find out when prices are flights to and from England were scheduled. All we needed the money and we were on our way to see The Phantom of the Opera in its birthplace. We also found the virtual cafe in Edinburgh, where Kristy is on her mission. She wasn't there. But we were, for just a minute. down-loadab- le On-lin- But all the fun aside, I found out how useful all this can be last week when we needed a photo of a candidate for the Cedar Hills City Council. The candidate is a BYU student, and we learned we were missing his photograph Tuesday morning just before we had to have it. We were able to make contact with his mother, and eventually with him. But he wasn't coming back to Pleasant Grove until later in the day too late for the necessary picture. A photo was available, and scanned into a computer. His brother could post the picture file on BYLTs internet connection and I could get it there. So that's what 1 4j(i I entered the Internet from my America Online service, went to the address he gave me and found the picture file posted. It tookonly a feW key strokes to download the picture file to my computer, where I was able to change it from color to black and white, and then place on the front page of the Pleasant Grove Review in time to go to press. It looked great. Two correspondents are using our address to send their copy. I have received various letters and some press releases at our address as well. I suspect this is as companies learn they can the start, just attach photos to their stories and send all the information simultaneously to a whole group of newspapers, the practice will grow. Two months ago I had heard little of the WWW. Now I hear it mentioned literally every day. I dont know if I'm just more aware now, or if the service is actually gaining acceptance that fast. But I suspect that people who don't catch the WWW wave pretty soon will be left behind. Although it doesn't take long to catch up on the information superhighway. E-m- E-m- River. Surely the writer of those ancient proverbs well knew of all things for he wrote, "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandment, for length of days and long life and peace shall they add to thee." As we look into the Great Guide book. We find, among the truths arranged by the great Solomon, these words: "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." If you avoid the bad stuff and that's not hard to do there is a lot of fun to be had, and a lot to be learned. For example, I have read minute press releases from the White House from my American Fork office, as well as transcripts of yesterday's press conference. When Novell made its announcement last week about a new agreement, I was able to find the text of the announcement, as well as up-to-t- seems so easy on television It all My wife, Angel, and I were seated in the Salvation Army Citadel in Norridge, 111., awaiting the Sunday service, when a lean young man in shabby jeans and soiled, untied Nikes strode to the pulpit. His words are more significant than his name. I'm going to try to paraphrase his words: It all seems so easy on TV. You know people meet in a bar or on the street or in some funny sitcom setting, and they're lonely, and they just have this thing for one another. you know They go somewhere and "do their thing." break for a Then, there's a two-minu- te commercial. Somebody comes on the tube trying to sell you an Audi or a piece of the rock or a Michelob Light. Then there's our couple again, and I everything is just fine. Or, if everything is . . i not fine, tney wail uuw ubai. ween., aim before out the worked everything gets next episode. It all seems so easy on TV. much on TV. People don't get pregnant hardto comes sex, people it when In fact, the do, pain fits ever get hurt. If they . ly The Second, he certainly wasn't the only president who had erred during his term of office. Others before and after have been found to have problems in their administrations and to have made mistakes in their judgements. I believe the key is to learn from those mistakes, and if necessary, to set up new laws or policies to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. Even then, we may not always been perfect at that, but we're making progress if we at least try. So now comes the time when we have to sit up and take notice. Our responsibility ta get out and vote is tremendous, but so is our responsibility to find out what the issues are and where the candidates stand on those issues. Growth is probably the prime issue these days, and we need to select candidates who most closely espouse the same ideals. One person may want continued growth, another may want it slowed or halted completely, but each should try to find candidates who can represent their feeling at council meetings. The responsibility will continue after the elections as citizens need to continue to communicate their wants and needs to those that take the oath of office. Circumstances change and we need to keep informed and keep our representative informed. Actually, politics will go on after the election in another way, too. Watch the political signs that go up this month, then watch how quickly or slowly they go down next month. Those that are not elected will probably remove their signs very quickly. But those that win may not share that motivation. Whatever happens in our elections this year, it should provide some entertainment for the next few weeks. Information superhighway is way to go Our troubles travel with us An' old story tells of two travelers seeking a place to live. The first one came to a community and met an old man who was leisurely whit- his life. Prepare yourselves, folks, the onslaught drive her to the clinic. I never thought it would end like this. I thought it would be -l ilike in the movies. You meet a girl, you hit it off, you do what seems like the natural thing to do. Maybe in the movies, the clinor something. ics are I don't know what to think. I guess I had to prove my manhood. I guess I figured the pleasure was worth the guilt. I guess I thought I loved her. That seemed like a good ticket for admission into bed. 1995 Paul Harvey Products Inc. It always is on television. I don't think I loved her. Enough to drive her to the clinic, maybe. But not enough to be a daddy. And probably not time slot, and then ,. enough to see her anymore. nicely into a it's gone as they break for a commercial. Look, I know what you're probably It all seems so easy on TV. Me? I'm not ' thinking. I'm a jerk, right? Tell me someI'm still waiting for the thing I don't already know. on television Tell me a beer commercial is about to commercial. I'm waiting for someone with come on and that the commercial will a nice little jingle to break into my stinking situation. Or I'm waiting for the show promise that I can have it all! Or promise me that next week, there will be a whole to end until next week, when everything new episode with no complications, no will have worked out fine. But I've now waited through several regrets. I just didn't think sex was going to be weeks, and she is still pregnant. And this complicated. everything is very unfine! I don't believe in abortion It all seems so easy on TV. but I did Paul Harvey News fei y' ra Quiet Bwe in '.' m te Policy on letters to the editor 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, 84003 or through email at Newtahaol.com, We welcome |