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Show Separation of Church and State, Please By Lee Roszczynskl , In looking back at the past three years retribution (and probably with some measure of temporal concern as well), did I've lived in Utah, Ive come to believe that even if it meant to no government or the Church's bidding without question, church could have designed a plan more without regard for due process. To add insult to injury, Church devastating to this states economy than this latest event in a history of liquor-laspokesmen felt compelled to note for the annoyances. Here we sit, in the midst of a media that they did not call Frances Farley recession, grabbing at evciy conceivable because it would have been a waste of time. C h u rch - manda ted This way to resolve underemployment, and our once of a legitimate bill has a fall legislators a' sobriety test again It under the influence of Temple Square. has cost several bus companies and price. limo owners Utahs economic developers substantial business. Also, bear witness to the fact that whole companies arc perhaps more costly, LDS officials have abandoning our state because the economy been allowed publicly, with impunity, and w is weak and because their employees of whom were transferred in from - arc just plain unhappy. Utah delegations make expensive trips nationwide competing to bring to our g communities new firms with And the state still, jobs. government, at the beck and call of the LI)S Church, legislates us out of contention. Those few companies which do relocate to Utah come here for our celebrated low wage-basand quite readily admit to that fact a dubious honor in the media. When I first came here, Ezra Taft Benson had been recently named to lead the Church. He stated then that his divine mandate was to "return Utah to the Mormons." In the wake of that statement, and taking a hard look at the demographics of emigration, it would appear that he may be succeeding. Even those who approve of his purpose must ask at what cost they are willing to rid Utah of its "gentiles." Every time legislators pass laws prohibiting what many of its citizens believe to be basic liberties, every time our elected officials choose to ignore an issue at the request of LDS representatives, another annoyance bears down on the backs of those who make their lives here and as far as outside perceptions are concerned the appeal of the state erodes all the more. There comes a point when no slogan -- - no matter how clever and is going to undo the damage. The LDS Church's official position on liquor in funbusscs and limosincs was that it needed more consideration. out-of-sta- -- te good-payin- e, without challenge to undermine the legislative process. Listening to a commentary shortly after these events, I was intrigued to hear one speaker so outraged that he was challenging the FBI to Investigate the operations of the Church to establish whether or not its habitual interference a violation of the U. S. constitutes Constitutional mandate regarding the separation of church and state. I wonder how many years this state will suffer from a recession and hard times before Utahns wake up and realize that LDS leaders may not be our state's best economic Tower? An Insult Secretary Nomination was an outrageous payback developers. When will the economically By Dot Archibald depressed constituency understand that if we are to lure big ticket, cosmopolitan Its over. The Tower nomination is no companies and higher wages to Utah outside longer an issue. In the wake of the spectacle of gossip, innuendo and perceptions have to be changed? politics, The elimination of theocratic what were the real issues? partisan intrusion into state government is not There can only be two explanations for merely desirable, it is absolutely necessary the political furor surrounding Tower's if we desire growth and expansion for future nomination. On the surface, it would appear that nobody in Washington, D.C. has any generations. The recent media blitz touts Utah's understanding of addiction and the unsavory quality of life, but neglects to mention certain sexual activities that sometimes accompany specifics: quality for whom? For minorities? it. More likely, the "moral" issues were red For the economically disadvantaged? For herring, a cover-u- p for Tower's more children desiring a good education? For culpable bedroom activities with defense those with more orthodox religious andor contractors. In either case, the position is political visions? There is a remedy for this theocratic indefensible. intrusion. Our legislators need to grow some Alcoholism is drug addiction: it is a backbone and tell LDS leaders to mind the disease. It is possible to evaluate, diagnose spiritual store and leave the management of and treat any person suffering from government to those elected and obligated to alcoholism. represent all the people, not just the chosen. Thousands of ordinary people are That unsolicited opinion aside. Perhaps our legislators could consider chemically addicted. They discover one day Church workers then began calling the following, nearly d that either they have lost everything or they legislators both at their homes and in their suggestion: "Render unto Caesar those are on the verge of losing it; their jobs are in offices; and we all know what happened: things which are Caesar's, and render unto jeopardy, their families are broken, their Legislators, ostensibly in fear of eternal God those things which are God's." reputations are suffering and their lives are unmanageable. They seek help, make amends to family, friends and employers, restore their credibility, and return to the RESERVE TRAINING CORPS mainstream of life. In spite of the large amount of publicity generated by the alcoholism of Betty Ford, Kitty Dukakis and many other public figures, alcohol abuse is still a moral issue, for this is a country that is avidly concerned with morality while practicing self-promoti- self-impos- ed evaluated, diagnosed, treated, if necessary; so he can get on with the business of helping me run this country." Instead, the nation's entire leadership, the senate, the house and the president, its investigative resource, the FBI, indulged themselves in what amounts to back fence gossip, rather than addressing the issue: Does this man have a serious problem with alcohol; is he an alcoholic? Is he too sick to - L do a good job for us? ' John Tower is possibly a social drinker; most Americans are. If however, there is even the possibility that he is an alcoholic, that possibility needs to be addressed. Instead, the president of the United States has ignored the drug problem in his own back yard, considering someone who is possibly a practicing drug addict for a position of highest authority, while shouting threats at other drug addicts. At best this is a postion of ignorance. Integrity is an odd bird, an endangered species, not often seen in political environs. Its natural habitat is not the halls of Congress, or the rooms of the White House. When loud cries about immorality are raised, it is not likely we will catch a glimpse of integrity. The clumsy maneuvers of the Tower nominations were an insult to the intelligence of the American public. In the future a little subtlety would be a pleasant change. very little of it. Instead of a jester, there was a tired President Bush, who spent the week of clown; instead of champagne, there was the the Tower debates in New York being top smell of stale booze. In the smoke-fille- d cop, threatening drug dealers, and talking room of political chaos, there was just about drug issues, appears to have only a enough booze and sex so that graft and "good ole boy" understanding of addiction. and strange corruption, political pay-off- s he didnt Why say, "Let's get to the bedfellows could scurry out the back door, bottom of this. If John Tower has a serious one more time. - 2000-year-ol- . OFFICERS' Apply now for six weeks of Army ROTC leadership training. With pay, without obligation. Youll develop the discipline, confidence and decisiveness it takes to succeed in any career. And youll qualify to earn Army officer credentials while youre completing your college studies. Find out more. Contact Lawrence Sansone at 581-671- 6. Don't Blame Brockmeyer, Slam Salt Lake City To the Editor: ARMY ROTC PROGRAM TIE SMARTEST COLLEGE COURSE TOO CAS TAKE. 6 Forum ' . , First of all, Lysia and I would like to tender our apologies to Mr. Richard Brockmeyer and his staff. We went off d on this business about taking out the ramp in Shaw ("Forum" March 14th issue). We never realized that the City was so uptight about the specifications that deal with handicap access. Mr. Brockmeyer has been kind enough to point out the error of our ways. He showed us the form letter the City gave to him, and he also showed us copies of the citation given the college for violating the rules. He was also kind enough not to get angry at us after all the nasty language we used against him. half-cocke- TWO-YEA- R problem with alcohol, let's get him to the best people in the country, have him However, our opinion still stands. II has just shifted over to the City. If the Citj knew about the plans for the handicap lift, why didn't the City just let the ramp be unti the lift was. finished? 'Some under-pai- d public official taking out his frustrations or a prestigious private college, perhaps? Once again, our apologies and thanks , to Mr. Brockmeyer for taking the time to us appraised with what is going on withkeep the . ramp in Shaw. . Lysia Hand Tony Herrig Issue 1 9 March 21,1 989 |