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Show r Tanadar, October 6 - The Daily Utah Outmlcle 17, 1995 PINION Ly One Week Without Violence Might be a Good Way to Start violent society. Whether it's Pulp Yfncor Bugsin aBunny, we are continually being mend low UYE IN A COUNTRY FREE FROM THE THREAT of 1 TERRORISM... 7 IJPMEN BELTER 5J f ,L Fiction live bom- - W w barded with images of physical and mental cruelty. And no matter if you think such movies and entertainment have a direct impact on individual actions or not, the statistics of violent crime are truly alarming. In 1991, there were nearly 6.5 million violent crimes committed in the United States. It is safe to assume that, in addition, there are a fair number that go unreported. That is why "A Week Without Violence," sponsored this week by the YWCA, should give us all an opportunity to reflect on ways that we can make our lives, communities and society less violent. As a part of the week, the YWCA has issued a series of challenges, from abstaining from violent movies and television shows, to finding peaceful means of discipline for children. The YWCA is also sponsoring the following series of activities to educate the public on alternatives to violence and how to prevent violence in our daily lives: "Violence in the Lives of Women," a panel discussion at the State Capitol Rotunda from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18. A race unity rally will be held to protest hate crimes and promote racial unity, beginning at the State Capitol at 4 p.m. on Oct. 20, and proceeding to the mayor's office. On Oct. 2 1 , a series of workshops and lectures will be held promoting alternatives to violent sports. A forum will be held at the Central City Community Center on "Eliminating Violence from Children's Sports," from 10 a.m. to noon. A workshop will be held at the University of Utah, 323 Union, on peaceful conflict resolution from 9 a.m.'to noqn. KUED will gather volunteers to work as mentors for Utah children from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Channel 7. From 1 1 a.m. to midnight, the 49th Street Galleria will give discounts to anyone wearing a Week Without Violence pin. To many, eliminating violence from our lives might seem simple, since we take so much of it for granted. But the alarming steps we have to take in today's society to escape violence should alert us to one thing: Violence is everywhere. And once we recognize how violence permeates every aspect of ou" community and our lives, we can begin to work to curb it's influence. The Daily Utah Chronicle encourages all those who are able to recognize the sources of violence in their lives and to join the YWCA in dedicating this one week to living our lives without the destructive influences. The alternative to violence just might be a wonderful change. As John Lennon said, "All we arc saying, is give peace a chance." Euthanize Ch ronicle Columnists? Why Not? Editor: In yet another one of The Daily Utah Chronicle's misguided attempts to gain readership, they decided to print Patrick Sheltra's repugnant editorial, "The Aged Demand too Much of Our System." Mr. Sheltra, you prove that you are on par with Mark Fuhrman. As much as he suffers from racism, you suffer from ageism. Mr. Sheltra, your solution to end your impatience in traffic or in store lines of having, "the old farts . . . to be euthanized" is brilliant. I suggest that whenever we get hot-heade- d Male Bashing Is Not annoyed by somebody who we can stereotype, we should follow Mr. Sheltra's advice and kill them as well. In fact, using Mr. Sheltra's sage wisdom, we should also euthanize those who wear goatees and write editorials for The Chronicle. After all, they are just as useful as those I am being facetious, of course. Mr. Sheltra, your ageism is only superseded by your ignorance. I see from your experience that the entire elderly population reside in Winnebagos in Laughlin, Nev., with, "lots "gray-hairs- see "Elderly" on page 7 the Answer to Our Woes Editor: I recendy read the editorial "Marriage: Bad for the Goose, Good for the Gander." I heard also that you have received only male responses to that article. I'm writing to share with you another perspective that of a married woman. I'm also writing because I'm concerned about the future of the feminist movement. I changed the original draft of this letis getting us anywhere. ter because I don't think the I want to talk about where we've been and share my ideas about where we should be going. - In the 1950s, Betty Freidan studied the condition of American housewives and from her interviews wrote the groundbreaking book The Feminine Mystique. In her conclusion, Freidan advocated continued education for women. ' Freidan believed rampant depression of American housewives had to do with life opportunities they were missing, not the ones they had embraced. In fact, 10 years later after establishing the NOW organization Freidan wrote again. This time she wrote to criticize see "Feminist" en page 8 - - PETA Has Gone Too Far in Demanding Fish Rights Kenneth Jackman St . Chronicle Editorial Writer o fish have souls? Perhaps a J I rather amusing question at first glance, but nevertheless one that should be given deep thought by each student on this campus. As such, I have been mulling over this perplexing, even philosophical, question throughout the week. I Erst began to examine this issue last Tuesday when I read about one fisherman's experience in The Wall Street Journal This gentleman had just taken a day off work to enjoy a leisurely afternoon fishing in the Montana mountains. Suddenly, rocks began V flying over his head into the pool he was trying to fish! The gentleman looked up and saw two culprits. He asked them to stop throwing rocks because it would scare away the fish. They responded that was the exact reason they were even throwing the rocks. At first, throwing rocks may sound like childish behavior, but when the fisherman got back to his truck he quickly realized that these were not normal rock hurlcrs. In his truck he found several pamphlets proclaiming the evils of fishing according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. aniPETA is a Washington-basemal rights group that fights to protect all animals. Recently this fight expanded to include the rights offish and crustaceans. This leads to the question: Do fish have souls? According to a spokesperson for PETA, a fish has feelings and can suffer just as you or I. PETA believes d '. fishing is a cruel and heartless pastime which should be banned in any civilized society. Their spokesperson even gave a graphic image portraying the absolute cruelty of fishing. She wanted to know if any regular person would go home, put a hook through their cat, and watch it flop around on the deck gasping for air. The spokesperson said fishing is no different Over the years I have heard a lot of crazy ideas from animal rights activists. Moreover, I have even come to expect people breaking into research facilities to free captive animals. However, this latest attack on fishing should receive the Nobel Prize for stupid causes. This time the animal rights people have just gone too far. I remember when "Saving the Whales" was the popular thing to do and say. At least with whales it was foreign whalers who were the enemy. They mercilessly hunted and slaughtered the wild-eye- d ." creatures with no regard for life. lobster dancing in the street I'd just Now the activists are calling a grandfather taking his grandson fishing an enemy of all animals. They want the American public to take up arms every time we see these two heartless killers casting a fishing lure into the water. Still, if fishing seems rather boring and you couldn't care less whether people are allowed to fish, consider PETA's other cause: crus- want it even more. Perhaps PETA would be better served to simply break into the lobster prisons and taceans. mane and cruel. PETA has just gone beyond the bounds of normal PETA wants all people who eat lobster to repent now before it is too late. The activists have dressed up in lobster costumes and picketed outside several infamous lobster restaurants to further this cause. They must be hoping that each hardened criminal (lobster con- sumers) will see these giant lobsters and feel pity for the creatures. , However, 'this method is proba-- ' bly not working too well. I know if I were craving lobster and saw a giant , set them free. I am not advocating animal cruelty of any kind. I myself have owned numerous dogs, cats, fish, and even hermit crabs. The crudest thing I've ever done is put a circle of salt around a snail. Well, at least until I discovered that fishing was inhuanimal protection. Proclaiming fishing and lobster consumption inhumane is entirely ridiculous. Neither fish or lobsters have a soul and even if they did have a soul, it would probably just add to the taste. I am definitely not going to shed any tears over dinner tonight at Red Lobster. While I enjoy my dinner, I hope to see giant dancing lobsters " for entertainment. . |
