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Show "He are dedicated to the public interest, to fitirness and accuracy, to innovation and growth, - and to the restless pursuit of excellence," Pulitzer minion statement opm Oh -- 1 DITOR IH)ALD W Mfl I THl DAILY H1RALD (www.HarkTheHeralJ.com) RS 34405-4- The capture of the escapees from prison brings some peace to those living in the western United States. Since they broke out in December, the seven convicts were the subject of one of the natioii - most intense manhunts afiei Wiling a Mow Charf.n police officer in Texas. Sushi outlawed; freedom sacrificed as health precaution The state of Massachusetts has outlawed sushi. New guidelines that went into effect on Jan. 1 require restaurants using raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish or eggs to note this on their menus, along with a description of the illnesses that such foods can cause. As a slightly reformed health nut, I wish to concede that I do understand the urge to banish all ; possibility of illness. g waitI've been ers about raw eggs for years. But in even those health mania should stop to ask whether laws like these only sushi that has been frozen or cooked may legally be served in cross-examinin- .well-advanc- There were plenty of purported sightings of the men, including rumors that they were seen here in Utah. It all came to an end after they were featured on "America's Most Wanted" Jan. 20. People who saw them in a Colorado RV park called a consequence of poor food handling. But second, and more important, is this: How many risks should individuals be permitted to take? When the state intervenes to protect us from some perceived harm, it can only do so at the expense of some of our freedom. Should bungee jumping be illegal? What about sky diving? Motorcycles are notoriously dangerous. So is mountain climbing. And what about circuses? As a sushi lover, I think the very minuscule risk that raw fish might make me sick is worth taking. I certainly do not want the state deciding that the risk is too great. In Japan, one type of sushi is known to be fatal in rare cases yet it is considered a delicacy. We are health and safety mad. We line the playgrounds with foam rubber, ban seesaws and monkey bars, and swath our children in helmets and kneepads and elbow pads. The evening news nearly always opens with a tease about some new health breakthrough. Are these sensible precautions or the signs of an increasingly timid nation? In the process of attempting to .. protect ourselves from every conceivable risk, we elevate physical to the level of worship. Srfjoking and eating saturated fats are sins. Exercise and salad are sacraments. What rarely seems to be addressed is the question: What is ? the purpose of physical Teddy Roosevelt and the Victorian believed in physical fitness for its; character-buildinpotential as benemuch as for its g well-being- g g fits. And speaking of character, why it that our society neglects some habits and choices that are clearly is linked to longevity? Marriage, for example, and having fewer than 10; sexual partners in a lifetime a2ds years to one's life. Yet the hj?alth police never exhort us to be sexnally continent But the health nuts are selective. They never mention the documented link between abortion and breast cancer, or the dangers of . promiscuity. ' Since the nannies really don't know what's good for us, morally or physically, let's not let them save us from sushi. Mona Charen is a columnist with Creators Syndicate. Her column appears Wednesdays. captured. As with other dramatic incidents in modern American society, you can be sure someone will want to made-for-T- 1 . . We're not going to say don't do the stories. The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of expression. But we would ask those screenwriters and directors to not glamorize or romanticize these men either. It would be too tempting for some to play up their run from the law as a road-trimovie, or to look at them like a modern-da- y Robin Hood and his Merry Men. We've already seen Bon- nie and Clyde, one of the nation's more infamous crime teams, turned into heroes of sorts. But let's not forget that these men were desperate criminals who gunned down a police officer on suspicion. Christmas Eve after he had dinner with his family. their playing Christian rock' music and attending Bible classes was more likely a They busted out of one of the nation's toughest cynical attempt to blend in;,, " and divert suspicion. prison systems and were not planning on coming If we're going to do a ': back anytime soon, at least film or book, let's not make, of their own volition. them heroes. Let's show them as When police finally the monsters they are anck searched their motor save the laurels for the -home, they found thouofficers who arrested them, sands of rounds of ammuand let the rest of us sleep, nition, as well as several guns that were loaded and easier at night. Members of The Daily Herat J ediready for firing, probably on any officers who tried torial board are Publisher Kirk to bring them back in. Parkinson, Managing Editor Mike Fitzgerald, Opinions Page Editor Even their supposed Donald W. Meyers, Community Edi-,interest in religion shouldtor Sharon Gholdston, Orem residenfj n't be seen as a mitigating Curtis Turnbull and Provo resident .,; factor. In all likelihood, Carolyn S. U'rigkt. nt ' will reduce class size The Utah Legislature is sidering a $2,500 per child con- tuition tax credit thatan be applied to students who have not yet entered the public edu- cation system. In addition to creating badly needed competition to the government monopoly, the tuition tax credit saves UEA-controll- 'If taxpayer money. To accommodate 'ITUfY MFNJfcK 1 anticipated growth in the school-ag- e population, the state will have to build an additional 172 schools and hire an additional 5,000 teachers. By offering tuition tax credits to these additional 100,000 students, the state can forgo a good portion of the additional $1.2 billion in school construction costs and additional annual teacher costs of $250 million. The tuition tax credit amount is far less than the $5,000 that Utah presently spends on education and much less than the $6,400 that the teachers unions are demanding. The UEA mistakenly claims that tuition tax credits will not work because education costs are fixed. Schools that have not yet been built and teachers that have not yet been hired have no fixed costs associated with them. Nevertheless, the UEA fixed-coargument is ironic since the UEA insists on reducing class sizes and increasing spending to $6,400, which directly raises fixed costs. The least expensive way to reduce class size is to offer $2,500 tuition tax credits. Otherwise, Utah will have to raise corporate and personal income taxes by 25 to 50 percent to accommodate anticipated growth and to reduce class size. st per-stude- nt Jerman Mike Spanish Fork Friend will be missed My homeless friend, Dave BUTUHYPoiNeepso (b-SsgBPSM- KAMI & rr BKAuee TV Been SUCH A FAILURE AS A Momex r T r E: Clark, was found dead inside an abandoned car at a local automobile shop. His death has left a void in my life and in the lives of many of those in the community. Mr. Clark was not a "bum," as he was referred to in a recent Daily Herald article, but an accomplished executive and a significant person who touched many lives with his shy hello and quiet wave. His lonely death was a real tragedy for the city of Provo. I would encourage members of the community to reach out to those in need, so others like Mr. Clark will not die on our streets. President Kennedy once said, "One man can make a difference and every man should try." In Mr. Clark's honor, let's all try. Kena Jo Mathews Provo Show greater respect I was disappointed with the Herald's lack of accuracy and sensitivity in the Jan. 20 article regarding the recent death of a homeless man. I found the characterization of Dave Clark as a "bum" very offensive. Dave was active in his church, a devoted family man, and was employed as an executive at Hercules Aerospace until his retirement. He probably Ridicule undeserved paid more taxes than most of us ever will. Charlton Heston isn't one of I If the Herald wished to promy heroes, but neither does he vide the community with a deserve the ridicule displayed in glimpse into Dave's character, the disparaging cartoon in the why did they not ask his family Jan. 21 Opinions Page. Perhaps to whom they spoke, rather than j you know something about him leaving it to others who knew I don't know. nothing of him. Dave, in his Have you also made fun of I later years, struggled with the proponents of gun control? depression and its daily chalIf so, I haven't seen any. I'd lenges, but I find it both sad and appreciate knowing how your ; unfortunate that two of the peocartoons are chosen and who ple in this world who knew "chooses them. 2 Dave the least were allowed to S. Parker Fay unfairly and publicly eulogize a Orera man they never knew. As someone who has great LETTERS POLICY respect for those at The Daily I would the Herald, hope that The Daily Herald welcomes your letters, to the editor. paper will be attentive to the .1 Please remember to Include your full public's outcry for name, address and phone number where better reporting. Readership can be reached. Only your name and " results from earned public trust you the city in which you live will be published. All other information will be which is earned by fair, objeckept confidential. Anonymous letters will be discarded. 1, and accurate tive, reporting Letters must contain 250 or fewer words not sensationalism. approximately one page, typed and double The Herald has a sacred trust spaced. Your letter will be better read if It concerns one central theme or idea. to the public because most of us All letters will be edited for length, want and do believe most of ,u accuracy and clarity. what is printed. The Herald The Herald encourages community should this trust by cussion of issues In a responsible manneC Please send your letters to: tr offering an apology to Dave, his Editor, Tha Dally Herald family and his friends. h P.O. Box 717 Godspeed, Dave. Those who 1555 N. Freedom Blvd. " knew and loved you will miss Provo, UT. 84603 Letters may also be faxed or you dearly. The fax number is The ever-growin- g H dls-'- Orem Food & Fay S. Parker Care Coalition 344-454- Mallard Fillmore By Bruce Tinsley y IS JUST XlONGIUS&t, MormRkWFmspimSHfP - WSVTiT (l 16 ALL ABWT J J .' 344-298- address is: Ldeanheraldextra.com. If you have questions, call Opinions Page Editor Donald W. Meyers at HAPPON MYSCLF AS wxfff ... i nut V ,Jl A& too -- 1 r2W W I - M. 200I Tax credits MUCH VALIPATVN FROM WOZKT tUHATSTHAT "7 JANUARY Even their supposed interest in religion shouldn't be seen as a mitigating factor. In all likelihood, their playing Christian rock music tell their story. It probably won't be long before there's and attending Bible classes was more likely a a movie about the seven. cynical attempt to blend in and divert By Garry Trudeau jECiB?,Hcirjisr EDNESDAY. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Doonesbury IALMOSTFm. VKh lAlEP,RO(. ITS 'UKrvefeeNe- - o HERALD EDITORIAL r p the tip line, and four of the men were apprehended, while a fifth killed himself inside their stolen motor home. Two others escaped but were subsequently are Massachusetts restaurants entirely healthy themselves. Ill the first place, most food poisoning does not originate in restaurants at all but in homes, as health-givin- Vi mk MY TURN welj-bein- A6 J5s T7j J&pelytl 1 Ape At&ny |