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Show "We are dedicated to the public interest, to fairness and accuracy, to innovation and growth, and to the restless pursuit of excellence." Pulitzer mission statement EDITOR: DONALD W. MEYERS OPINIONS 4 THE DAILY HERALD Loft's MY TURN v down in history. The Olympic scandal has cast a pall over the event that has forever linked the words "Salt Lake City" and "bribery." Even Mitt Romney, president and chief executive officer of if Mona Charen Politics makes bedfellows of Clinton, Sharpton Imagine that you are a lawyer working for the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., and you are planning a conference on relations. Whom do you invite? The mayor of Washington, D.C.? Criminologists? Community leaders? Suppose someone suggested that you invite race hustler Rev. Al the mountebank who Sharpton came to national prominence on the strength of a vicious and highly inflammatory libel he helped Tawana Brawley broadcast to the world. You would laugh, right? You would say, That's like inviting Wilt Chamberlain to a conference on chastity." Well, if you are a lawyer in President Clinton's Justice Department, you apparently don't laugh at such a suggestion. You get right on it, which is exactly what happened a few weeks ago. Sharpton wound up sharing the stage with the president himself. Now this is rich. Here you have a charlatan, a convicted liar (Sharpton was successfully sued for defamation by former District Attorney Stephen Pagones, whom Sharpton had accused of raping Brawley, smearing her body with feces and leaving her in a paper bag marked "KKK"), offering his views on police brutality! Goodness. What must Pagones, and the four police officers similarly accused, make of this? police-communit- y BUT THE Clinton administration wasn't finished paying homage to Sharpton. The following day, Rev. Al showed up at the White House ceremony held to honor the New York Yankees fur their victory in the World Series., The press, which begins to twitch uncontrollably at the mere mention of David Duke, has been quite tame regarding the Clintons' new friend. There has been hardly a peep. Following the Brawley introduction, Sharpton continued his malicious career by involving himself in the Crown Heights tragedy of 1991. A car driven by a Hasidic Jew had accidentalblack ly struck and killed a lxiy. Sharpton showed up at the funeral, denouncing "diamond merchants" and the false rumor that a Jewish-owneambulance refused to treat the boy as he lay dying. A gang of black hoodlums then surrounded and stabbed to death a young seminarian named Yankel Rosenbaum, shouting. "Get the Jew." d IN 1995, Sharpton incited a mob that had been picketing Freddy's store Fashion Mart, a Jewish-ownein Harlem. The Mart had some sort of conflict over its lease. Sharpton saw an opportunity and began to refer to the owner as a "white interloper," and one of Sharpton's lieutenants promised to "make this cracker suffer." Someone did, by torching the place. The fire killed seven innocent people, including a black security guard who was trapped inside. And yet, he has run for mayor of New York in the Democratic primary and been the toast of New York. "The president of the United States invites me to a round table," Sharpton complained, "but I can't talk to the police chief of New York." Hats ofif to the New York police chief d Mona Charen is Creators Syndicate. a columnist with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, admits that the bribery scandal is part of Utah's Olympic legacy, but it won't be the only thing. "I don't think we will ever completely erase the scandal, but it won't be what we are known for," Romney said during a meeting with The Daily Herald's editorial board. Instead, Romney, brought in to restore integrity to the per- g formances, spectacular scenery at the outdoor events and Utah's unique brand of hospitality. COMt! UHATA NGESURPttSe! home field. I'm 22 bord we call Utah. Making the 2002 Games the best ever may not completely erase the stain of the bribery scandal, but it will show the world that Utahns can rise above such things and set an example of how to deal with such problems. Instead, Romney, brought in to restore integrity to the Games, said people will remember 2002 for record-settinperformances, spectacular scenery at the outdoor events and Utah's unique brand of hospitality. BUT SLOC can't do this SLOC has taken steps to root alone. The committee needs our out the corruption that led to the scandal, including rules on help. conflict of interest and efforts Granted, a lot of us have been soured on the Olympics to conduct more business in the by the scandal. open. With SLOC taking steps to Many of you told us you wanted to give back the Games clean up its act, we should be in a call-iThe Daily Herald willing to meet them at least ran in January. halfway. But ditching the games There are plenty of opportubecause of the corruption of a nities to participate with the few people in the movement is Olympics. a bad idea. SLOC is looking for volunteers to help in a variety of Members of The Daily Herald ediFirst, we've sunk millions into the Olympic venues, torial board are Publisher Kirk ways, including with interpretrebuilding highways and Parkinson, Editor Mike Patrick, ing for the thousands of forinstalling light rail to handle eign guests who will be comOpinions Page Editor Donald W. the Olympic events. Meyers, City Editor Sharon ing. There are also cultural proGholdston, Regional Editor Amy SECOND, AND probably Cragun, Orem resident Phyllis grams that either need volunmost important, dropping the teers or participants to give the Hansen and Mapleton resident Daryl Tucker. games would be a disservice to world a taste of this smorgas g Amendment won't hurt free speech I disagree with a June 29 Daily Herald column opposing a constitutional amendment. "Amendment plan desecrates ideals flag represents." The amendment, passed by the House and facing a Senate vote will change not one word of the First Amendment. The amendment, which 49 state legislatures support by resolution, would allow the people, instead of the courts, to determine the status of Old Glory. Prior to a Supreme Court ruling in 1989, which protected flag desecration as free speech, our nation regarded flag desecration as exactly what it is: reprehensible conduct, unworthy of protection and banned by the laws of 48 states and the District of Columbia. From the adoption of Old Glory as our national symbol in 1777 to the Supreme Court's ruling in 1989, flag protection was considered compatible with free speech by the courts and the American people. One swing vote on the Supreme Court will not convince the American people that they should be denied a protective right they exercised for 200 years. Although I appreciate the paper's acknowledgment of "restrictions on speech, such as libel and obscenity." "We the People." not "we the editors" must determine whether flag desecration should be returned to restricted status. member American My Legion, and our 27 million partners 2.8-milli- in the Citizens' Flag Alliance, stand with the people, 80 percent of whom, according to numerous polls, want their flag protected. 140-grou- p Butch Miller National Commander American Legion Others deserve credit, too In the July 4th Sunday edition, the Herald included a guest editorial discussing Utah County's successful efforts to ensure clean air without a "one size fits all" emissions testing approach. The editorial gave me too much credit in this regard. Although I was instrumental, credit should be given to Senator Bennett, Commissioner Herbert and Commissioner Gardner. In addition, Ralph Clegg, Terry Beebe, Tom Moore, Mace Gubler and all staff persons of Utah County who worked hard on the project, were invaluable in its success. The members of the Clean Air Commission also gave important input. Proper thanks and credit is in order for these individuals. Jerry D. Grover Provo Traffic islands not a big hit When Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton sang the song Islands in the Stream I thought it was beautiful. It was a hit. Provo City has now decided to try and make a hit. They have decided to put concrete islands in the middle of intersections, like the one at UVSC. They have built two such, "Islands in the Street," in a subdivision in the Grandview hill area. I believe this is not going to be a hit. I believe people will end up hitting it! I for one don't want to drive around the island. I would much prefer to drive straight down the road like I usually do. I believe it is a accident waiting to happen and a law suit waiting to be filed. The city should reconsider their effort to make a hit out of islands in the street. Doesn't the city have anything better to do with their money and time? Dwight Barrett Orem THE DAILY I IZTLUD LETTERS POLICY The Daily Herald welcomes your letters to the editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and phone number where you can be reached. Only your name and the city in which you live will be published. All other information will be kept confidential. Anonymous letters will be discarded. Letters that are typed, double spaced and contain 250 or fewer words are more likely to be published. Your letter will be better read if it concerns one central theme or idea. All letters will be edited for length, accuracy and clarity. By Garry Trudeau N6H0UT the athletes who have spent their time preparing to represent the United States on the HERALD EDITORIAL Jl'I.Y 7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Doonesbury JHAMKf.MtKr SURBW odd n Games, said people will remem- ber 2002 for record-settin- WEDNESDAY. vjmh ftfgfiBoir There's no question that the 2002 Winter Games will go -- B7 NOTAT AUT TAKING I HCCL.IJUST I TO BE HONHOU PLANS fCH ounooNcm - IHAWT lazmx? Att&AK! UHAVg L2ih3tea HGNON- - SKPONtty new CP. ! f HEY.mtr 1W96Uy wtm. amm, XMOH TALKTO youn The Herald encourages community discussion of issues in a responsible manner. Please send your letters to: Editor, The Daily Herald P.O. Box 717 1555 N. Freedom Blvd. Provo, UT. 84603 Letters may also be faxed or The fax number is The address is: 373-548- ldeangher-aldextra.co- If you have questions, call Opinions Page Editor Donald W. or Editor Mike Meyers at Patrick at 344-254- Mallard Fillmore ft: by Bruce Tinsley J. yoo Got- E siS7a-- J I II vw Amy flrm AO 4 344-254- (Ul. CHE. |