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Show Letters Opinions less than 400 words, number (number and address include phone and full with name signed wont be published). Direct questions to Mitch Wflktason, Should be typed double-space- d, 0. Casing for your on Ever notice how rational and how civil most folks are until their ox is being gored? Your neighbors are wonderful people until their "brats" run roughshod through your flower garden. The principal at my child's school is a wonderful person until she dares to suggest Junior is not always a whiz at The jerks who trash Provo Canyon with soft drink cups and beer bottles should be hung, but if a homeowner happens to leave a little trail along the freeway as he takes an unsecured load to the landfill, that's not so bad because at least his yard looks better. Most of us are in favor of civil rights for blacks in South Africa and humane treatment for the oppressed, the downtrodden, and the infirm throughout the world. But prospects of a group home in our own neighborhood can cause our blood to boil. Most of us want better schools, better highways, and improved police protection. But heaven help the foolish politig cian who suggests higher taxes, or any of the "pork" to which we have become accustomed. cut-.tin- Editor: The joys of being asked to perform at the ' Stadium of Fire. All the big and little dancers that put their whole being into a production and then are not even given an introduction, let alone a thank you! But let's go back to the invita-- . tion. Boys and girls of all ages from many . , dance companies are asked to participate in the "Stadium of Fire." If you want to dance please notify your dance instructors. Ahh, the joys! Such excitement! Such fun! You'll get to meet the stars performing at the "Stadium of Fire." Great, let's go and dance and participate. So you are part of the show! But!! Now you need $95, well at least some of the dancers do, to perform and for your costume. Then you will need additional If your shoes are not money for a white buy some. Parents can come but now have to pjy for their seats. OK, still no problem. But the seats you pay for are not the ones you get. Alas, you are only parents. Practices are hard, hot, long and challenging. Now, forget you paid for the pleasure for your daughter to dance but they have to bring their own food, water or money to eat or drink. Costumes arrive. Dancers need more money for the finishing of the costumes. Oh! Surprise, surprise. Dancers can't meet the stars because of security reasons. Oh, well things aren't going as planned anyway. Dancers try costumes on they don't fit. Alterations, panic, tears, more tears. We are finally ready after long days, hot days and many practices. ... We present the "Stadium of Fire!" Look at all the darling boys and girls bringing the stage and ground alive. Brilliant colors, brilliant lights, brilliant costumes. Certainly a beautiful sight. But, not even a thank you to the dancers not even an "aren't these little people super?" "Don't they bring this stadium aUve. Aren't we lucky to have all these dancers to put this show together for us But, the show goes on and the dancers go - . Stadium is black. Lights are cold, big dancers and little dancers are tired! But boy, wasn't it all worth it. We hope so. No one said. Cheryl Christensen Highland Enough of Will Grigg Editor: I have had quite enough of Will Grigg. His latest editorial, "Feminists plummet into of selves" (July 6) is one of the parody more dramatic examples of his incompetence as a journalist. The man has totally missed the point of one of the most signifi- cant movements in human history. . He deliberately slants his arguments by choosing a few examples from the rauical .ringe of feminism and uses them to dismiss the entire movement, implicitly denying that there are any real issues. His quotation from Gutmann ("Man is entirely predatory; woman is entirely passive") stereotypes and vastly oversimplifies. "This," he erroneously assure us. "is the consistent message of feminism..." As for the women he cited who "presume to dictate the editorial choices of a men's magazine" (referring to a crudely sexist article in Esquire, for which he made excuses), they were simply objecting to ' something that had appeared in print which Ls to exercise a right that helps to keep America free and which is what I'm doing right now. Grigg's pronouncement, "All that remains . of feminism today is an apparently endless appetite for dissatisfaction," is very telling; Will, where have vou been? Feminism io alive and well and making strides that are starting to improve the world for the whole human race. Feminism at its best doesn't seek to promote women at the expense of men and children. History has proven time and again that when one segment of society loses, ultimately we all lose. When women have been oppressed, men and children have lost too. This is the very situation that responsible feminism seeks to overcome. We're all in this life together, and our TgSS id 1 Herald comment f LJ g conserve natural resources, especially water during these dry years, but why should we go to all the trouble of sweeping our walks and driveways when we can just grab the hose and wash them down? Everyone, with the exception of a few "radical environmentalists," wants progress in the form of new businesses, new industries, and increased prosperity. But let's be sure the new mall, stadium, industrial park of course), or highway, is in Payson if we live in Lehi, or in Orem if we live in Spanish Fork. Can't have those things across our back fence, you know. But what if a variance from city zoning ordinances will allow our ox to live a little more comfortably maybe put a few extra dollars in our personal bank account? Well, that's a horse, or ox, of a different color. HERE'S TO THE COLLAPSE OF f a&asM,iBLn:& (W Sunday 15, 1990 R p til ill g We all know how important it is to 1 will IHEBIPOFlfe I (non-pollutin- g, Letters Joy at the stadium July essential gender differences are relatively minor compared to the vast areas we have in common. This is a very crucial point, because the simple recognition of that fact would forge desperately needed bonds, not only between the genders, but among races, religions, nations, and generations. Attitudes like Grigg's, however, perpetuate the polarization of the sexes and the antipathy and distrust that go with it. In that situation, everyone's a loser. It is axiomatic that every movement in human history has had its extremists and its potential dangers, including the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the founding of America, and the civil rights movement. The extremist notions tend to fall by the wayside; some of the better ideas are preserved and implemented. The same will ultimately prove true of feminism. Grigg asserts that "feminism has always suffered from a very poor ratio of posturing to thought." In fact there has been a great deal of thought, much of it by brilliant .and men and women. A feminist, after all, is a person, male or female, who believes that women are just as important as men. The converse is obvious men are just as important as women. Does Will Grigg have a problem with these concepts? I prefer to read editorials by writers who (1) can grasp what is going on, (2) evaluate a cause or group by the mainstream activity rauier man Dy me lunatic fringe, and (3) can deal in issues and ideas, instead' of in slurs and stereotypes. These skills are basic to professional journalism. Judith Dick Provo fair-mind- An honorable man Editor: Recently there have been a number of letters, articles, and open assertions regarding the leading 3rd District Republican John Harmer. At Congressional candidate issue are stories concerning his financial affairs most of which are bizarre falsehoods at best. The Harmer campaign has repeatedly stated the facts and, though they were listened to by the delegates to the Utah State Republican convention, few of them have made their way into the local print media. It has been rumored that Harmer has had numerous bankruptcies and that he has left a string of unsettled debts arising from them. The truth is that Harmer has suffered the pains of bankruptcy in the 1980's and there were judgments, litigations, and other legalities. Others would cause us to believe that those matters remain open, while they do not. Harmer's attorney, Don Allen, stated 'Harmer has fully paid all of the debts and obligations arising out of the bankruptcy with interest.' Note that he was not legaly obligated to do so, but Harmer chose to make total restitution out of a sense of moral obligation to his creditors. Any qualified bankruptcy attorney will affirm that less than 5 percent of persons declaring bankruptcy will take such action and that those who do are among the most ethical and honorable members of their communities. It has been further asserted that Harmer has illegally 'avoided' paying personal income taxes. It is not illegal to 'avoid' paying income taxes, it is illegal to evade paying income taxes, and lhat accusation has not been levied agianst Harmer by the IRS or state tax authorities. Harmer is in an appeal process with the IRS in an attempt to determine the amount of tax owed on a specific matter. Welcome to world of weird news In our modern society, ior is considered deviant the 1960s, when the cry your own thing," people just that. not much behavor weird. Since went out to "do have been doing Mike Royko And it is reflected in the news. In earlier days, the Manhattan Dartman have been known all over the country. There would have been headlines about his latest attack, interviews with his victims and cops vowing that it was just a matter of time until they nabbed him. TRIBUNE would But outside of New York, the Dartman has been little more than a news squib. Even The New York Times has virtually ignored him, since he has not done anything politically or socially significant. Since I began newspapering when it was still an uncouth craft, I still find oddballs like the Manhattan Dartman worth noting. I mean, you can't go through life pondering S&L swindles, the trade imbalance, deficit spending and NATO cuts, or eventually you find yourself saying: "Blahhhh!" If you aren't familiar with the Dartman, which you probably aren't, I'll familiarize you. For several weeks, he has been roaming midtown Manhattan, armed with tiny little darts made from pins, and a straw through which to blow them at the hind ends of women. well-dress- Before he was caught, he had scored direct hits on the bottoms of at least 55 women. I don't know if this qualifies the Dartman for the Guinness Book of World Records, but until someone claims otherwise, it sounds like a world mark to me. And the count could be even higher, since some women might ,not have told the police they had been pinged. The tiny darts did not inflict serious wounds and were not contaminated. And the pain, according to the victims, was not any greater than if they had been pinched or tweaked. However, several of the women said they were "unnerved" by the experience. And many others who had not been darted said toes without the young lady knowing it. Like the Dartman, when the Toe Nail Man was caught, he couldn't give a plausible explanation for his behavior. As I recall, he said something like: "A man's got to do what a man's got to do." If he didn't, he should have. MEDIA Nor had my young heard of the El Platform Flasher. Admittedly, flashers are not uncommon. But most show little imagination. A fast zip-zi- p and away they run. But some put considerable thought into what they do. In their own weird way, they have style. A few years ago, for example, there was the Painted Jogger. At a distance, he looked like any other jogger in his shorts, and sneakers. er SERVICES they had developed cricks in their necks from looking over their shoulders in fear that the Dartman would plink their rumps. But the threat to female bottoms ended when the cops caught the Dartman the other day. It would have been a livelier story if he were a Wall Street financier or a politician. As it turns out, though, there is However, when he drew near, shocked something typically New Yorkish about females saw that what appeared at a him. He's a face in the crowd, a young distance to be jogging shorts was nothing mailroom clerk and messenger. Sort of a more than a light coating of vegetable dye. less menacing Robert De Niro in "Taxi Some cops rated him tops on the weird Driver" or "King of Comedy." flasher scale. But I still give that ranking The police say he hasn't given them a to the El Platform Flasher. motive for darting women's bottoms. Of A middle-age- d course he hasn't. And he probably never fellow, he would appear will. People who commit dippy acts com- on the elevated or subway platform, neatly dressed in fedora, tweed topcoat, suit, tie, mit them because they are dippy. When I mentioned the Manhattan Dart- shiny shoes. He looked like the other man to a young he said: "Boy, commuters. But he wouldn't board the train. And as that's the weirdest guy I've ever heard it slowly pulled away, he would break into of." a big grin and throw open his topcoat. Which showed that he is not really a The gawking passengers would see that student of weird guys. the shirt was only a bib front. And his As strange as the Manhattan Dartman trouser legs covered only his shins and is, I rate his strangeness below that of the ended at the knees, where they were held Toe Nail Man. by garters. up The Toe Nail Man, as you probably don't By the time the police came, he had know, was a Chicagoan who lurked about dashed to another platform. But from time of one the university campus libraries. to time, they would catch him. A shrink Actually, he lurked under the library would ask him why he went to so much tables. bother displaying himself to strangers. He He would look for young women who would just smile and shrug. sought comfort by kicking off their shoes As the song went in "South Pacific": as they read. "Who can explain it, who can tell you When he found one without stockings, he why? Fools give you reasons, wise men would paint her toenails. He had so deft a never try." How true. touch that he would sometimes paint all 10 Industry, U.S. balk at safety device - WASHINGTON C.J. Abraham of N.Y., has an invention that could make him some money. But his fight to get that invention accepted by the federal government has taken him beyond money to principle. He would not be the only one to benefit if the government forced the auto industry to use Abraham's patented shield that protects people from exploding car batteries. Abraham's story could be echoed by scores of inventors and researchers who have something that will ease pain and suffering, but not enough pain and suffering to justify the cost. Abraham estimates that there are upward of 7,000 injuries from exploding auto batteries every year. The federal government puts the number at 5,000, but only about 120 of them require hospitalization, and that, apparently, is not enough to warrant mandatory battery shields. No one seems interested in Abraham's shield that would be attached to car batteries. He approached major batt'ry manufacturers, but none wanted it. So he went to Washington, hoping that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrathere has been to Finally, open speculation tion would require the shield or a similar so many other financial matters in Harmer's life that they are too numerous to state. precaution. The agency turned him down last year. They are as hideous as they are erroenous. It's not that the government doesn't We live in a society wherein we openly the problem or the value of recognize disapprove of persons that circulate rumors, Abraham's solution. But NHTSA says the but, disapprove though we may, we still amount and degree of the injuries from continue to believe. U is time to stop car batteries don't justify the exploding to and rumors in listening propagating if it works. even shield, to reference John Harmer. "Here we found a problem that was not The truth is that he is a man that has real big in the grand scheme of things," suffered some of the same frailties that Barry Felrice, NHTSA's chief most of us have suffered. But, unlike most told our associate Dan Njegomir. A bitter and wiser Abraham people Harmer has risen above his difficulties and progressed beyond them. That is "Blindness, to them, is not severe."counters, the kind of man we need representing us in Thanks in part to a letter of support the United States House of Representatives. from Rep. Thomas Luken, AbraRichard E. Haskell ham got another shot at tightening safety American Fork regulations. NHTSA reopened the issue and rule-mak- er 3 Jack V&C Mi . Anderson & Dale Van Atta UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE will rule on it this summer after taking public comment. Most of the responses are coming from battery makers opposed to Abraham's invention and any rule that would require it. The federal regulators insist that if the problem were widespread enough and the solution effective enough, they might consider requiring battery shields. But instead NHTSA points to what it says is a gradual decline in the number of injuries. Relatively few of the spontaneous explosions are serious, the government says. And NHTSA believes the addition of Abraham's shield would make batteries harder to service. The bottom line is that NHTSA thinks the shields cost too much for the benefit. The agency estimates consumers would spend $94 million a year on the shields if they were required. Felrice called that "way out of scale for our given the limited return. Yet Felrice admitted that the invention would make a difference. "Some of these injuries can be severe," he said. "You might reduce several hundred, a thousand if this thing worked, for $94 million a NHTSA. Like many inventors stymied by the system, he half suspects there is a conspiracy to keep his product off the market. At the very least, there is numbing bureaucratic indifference. When NHTSA ruled against him last year, it gave him the same explanation as it did in 1981. That was the year that NHTSA declined to set new rules after the Consumer Product Safety Commission asked for an inquiry into battery safety. Abraham said he wouldn't be surprised if he saw the same ruling again this time around. LIMITING LIABILITY The Bush ad- - ministration has belatedly given some credence to the idea of House Banking Committee Chairman Henry Gonzalez, to lower the threshold of federal insurance on savings and loan deposits. Gonzalez doesn't believe that the current $100,000 insurance guarantee is a "divine right of the American people." Some Treasury Department officials are now talking of a $50,000 cap, to limit the damage to the federal coffers from future S&L debacles The National Institutes of Health is a fine government agency that disseminates helpful information on health problems of people. Make that, health problems of men. The General Accounting Office recently chided NIH for focusing too much of its research on men and not using enough women in disease studies. Women are significantly in NIH medical research. NIH was defensive about the criticism. Its numbers of women are adequate, it says. But that can only be a guess, since NIH year." does not keep track of how many men vs Abraham thinks the cost would be much women are used in federally funded rts lower. He says he and his partner would search. Sure, it takes more time to study a get the price down to 39 cents per shield. specific disease or condition in both men But he is skeptical that he will have the and women. We understand the need to chance. He doesn't expect a favorable choose to focus on one or the other. But ruling, much less a fair hearing, from NIH too often chooses men over women. L - rule-makin- g" under-represent- |