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Show ..y.yA " PACE Tuesday, April 5 14, 1. 2009 J ,! ,s,s. ,..ew,,,. A,J,. M,,,.. EDITOR v Anna Cole, 586-548- 8 aid require Life is often unpredictable and some might say that its unpredictability is part of lifes appeal. However, in its adventures, upturns and downturns, life often puts us in harms way. Illnesses, accidents and even the wear and tear that ones body accumulates over the years are all part of the adventure. Most would agree that when an illness or an accident ' .crosses our paths, seeking medical attention would be the wisest course of action. However, as medical attention is often one of the costliest expenses in life, it is understandable if not that many conditions that could be easily are corrected ignored. cheaply Health insurance, though often costly in itself, is an excellent asset when a medical necessity appears. Especially when one is responsible for the medical care of a spouse or children as well as oneself, a lack of health insurance can be devastating. Though many people cant afford health insurance, those who can should make purchasing insurance a priority. Those who cant afford it should also research and acquaint themselves with alternative options such as Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program. If one cannot afford insurance, it is an excellent idea to know exactly which medical aid programs for which one qualifies. Such information could be helpful in the event of an emergency. Especially in the event of an emergency, one should not allow a lack of insurance or funds prevent him or her from seeking medical attention. Hospitals and emergency rooms often have a system of financial assistance for those who cannot afford help. Even though other helpful resources are available for some, insurance companies must realize how much of the population depends on health insurance for medical care. Few enough people receive medical care through their work that private purchase of health insurance becomes inevitable. Therefore, insurance companies should make every effort to make their services affordable and effective. If they do, they will see how much more business and support they receive from the general populace. As more and more people participate in in insurance programs, the more costs go down. But the fewer people involved in health insurance, the more costs rise and increase the burden on taxpayers. The opinions expressed above are the collective perspective of the University Journal Editorial Board. The editorial board meets every Monday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m. in room 176C of the Sharwan Smith Center. Readers are also welcome to comment online at suunews.com. aid terrorism revenues Piracy With the rescue of American Richard Phillips from the hands felons are allowed to have guns, and the laws of many other nations of pirates Sunday, there was a blip of good news from the Indian also permit such ownership. Even if owners dont want everyone Ocean, but it remains a scandal that Somali pirates continue to aboard their ships to be carrying weapons, dont they trust the crews? Why couldnt they at least arm routinely defeat the worlds naval powers. And worse than this senior members of their the captain and place two experienced and reliable police officers ongoing demonstration of cowardice is the financing of terrorists that results from the huge ransom payments these pirates are on board? When these pitifully unarmed crews watch pirates climb allowed to collect. aboard their vessels, they can do little to fight back. And while It is naive to assume that the millions paid annually in ransom to the United States and many other naval powers pirates merely enables them to purchase villas and keep warships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden fancy automobiles. Somalia is a country without and the Indian Ocean deployments that cost is where is naive by being exploited anarchy government, these ships cannot keep millions of dollars terrorist organizations. Although the threat that pirates from boarding commercial ships that pirates pose to commercial ships is increasingly have unarmed crews. it. we And to combat is done known, little being millions would The international right of must consider the bigger picture: Terrorists are also justify an inspection and quarantine regime far more brutal than pirates and can easily force off tne coast of Somalia to seize and destroy all to share petty thieves in comparison pirates vessels that are found to be engaged in piracy. their ransom money. These inspections could reduce the likelihood So why do we keep rewarding Somali pirates? that any government will find itself engaged in a How is this march of folly possible? hostage situation such as the one that played out Start by blaming the timorous lawyers who in recent days. Furthermore, the U.N. Security advise the governments attempting to cope with Fred C. Ikle Council should piohibit all ransom payments. If the pirates such as those vho had been engaged in the crew of an attacked ship were held hostage, a standoff with U.S. hostage negotiaiors in recent the Security Council could authorize a military the Law of the days. These lawyers misinterpret blockade of Somalia until the host ices were released. Sea Treaty and the Geneva Conventions and fail to apply the nor will it stop the Somali Cowardice wil1 not defeat terrori-.m- , powerful international laws that exist against piracy. The right oi law' a principle of international justifies killing pirates. If anjthmg, continuing to meet the pirates demands only acts as an incentive for more piraev pirates as they try to board a ship. sail that the on are unarmed crews ships Nonetheless, entire Fred C. IUe i. the author of Annihilation From Within" and through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Shipowners pretend E en War Must End. This piece appeared in The Washington that they cannot trust their crews with weapons, but the facts dont Post Monday. add up. For one thing, in the United States most adults except to It assume that the paid ... to pirates merely enables them to purchase ... fancy automobiles ..." self-defen- Life celebration not yet finished the after-partI was on the final approach to 50, having just convinced myself The survey asked if I found discussing death (select all that half a century isnt really so old, when the inevitable envelope frightening, embarrassing, unnecessary, arrived from the AARP, formerly the American Association of that apply): Retired Persons. Unfortunately, mine landed alongside a letter interesting, responsible, depressing, joyous. The rest of the questions were mostly about from the Neptune Society extolling the virtues of final arrangements and which of its services cremation. Do these people simply work off the cremation and green (including When life same Social Security list, or were they coordinating funerals) I might want. their efforts to nudge me out the door? Honestly, I knew that some people planned The Neptune Society hasnt given up on me either. their own funerals, but I had never understood This year, it sent a survey with a cover letter about why. Now I see its a way to have the last word. facing the truth. The truth, accoiding to Neptune, The survey asked whether I would consider is that death is what makes our lives so precious, a photo message, writing a speech, building exquisite and magnificent. I always thought that I making a recording or preparing a multimedia life was what made our lives magnificent and that show andor Web site for my end of life death was the turd in the punch bowl. celebration. For a moment, I contemplated the Dear Marjorie, the Neptune letter began. I was a possibilities for airbrushing the blemishes out of taken aback at the assumption that death and I were by No e but basis my own history and adding a few flourishes, say, continued reading. on a Marjorie Miller a Nobel Prize. I began to consider the invite list doubt, I had given thought to matters of death and tor my Facebook page. had ideas about my final arrangements. Actually, But then I remembered: I dont want to I hadnt. Id given a lot ol thought to all the terrible end of my life, t want to keep on living. the celebrate and die biain one can sometimes, tumors, earthquakes ways when life had scented truly exquisite, Id looked around to make Marjorie Miller is a Los Angeles Times editorial writer. This sure I wasnt about to get hit by a bus. But I hadnt planned what should happen next, let alone picked out mood music for piece appeared in the Times Monday. "... Assistant Sports Editor Preston Heaton 586-548- 8 Copy Chief Tim Chappell Assistant Copy Chief McKenzie Romero Art Editor Eric Poole Photographers Kelsey Murdock, Megan Anderson Reporters Ashley Leavitt, Justine Pruitt, Kayla Sweeten, Carter Williams 586-775- 7 ly had seemed truly exquisite, I'd looked around to make sure wasn't about to bus." get hit first-nam- Editor-'m-ChiJosh Smith 586-775- 0 SuuNEws.com Editor McKenzie Romero 586-775- 7 Associate Editor Campus News Ashley Bush 586-548- 8 586-548- 8 Associate Editor City News Dana Bell Accent Editor Angie Smith 586-548- 8 586-548- 8 Opinion Editor Anna Cole Sports Editor Joey Beck 586-548- 8 self-defen- tfeilEl 586-775- 7 BEl Do you think health insurance is necessary? 586-775- 9 586-775- 9 s v 586-775- 9 Advertising Lindsey Torres Ad Designer Frank Imler Office Manager Whitney Barlow Operations Manager John S. Gholdston 586-775- 586-775- 8 865-822- 6 586-775- 1 The University Journal is published every Monday and Thursday of the academic year by and for the student body of Southern Utah University It is advised by professional faculty and stalf in the universitys Communication Department The views and opinions expressed in the Join nal are those oi individual writers and do not necessarily rel lect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student body m general The University Journal is designated a public forum and is free from external censorship or advance approval ot content The Journal is Iree to develop editorial policies and news coverage with the understanding that students and student organizations speak only lor themselves Administrators, faculty, stall or other agents shall not consider the student medias content when making decisions regarding the medias funding Grievances Any individual with a grievance against the Journal should direct such the problem first to the editor If unresolved, that grievance should then be directed to relerred to the Media operations manager Any gnevance not resolved at that level is Advisory Committee The Journal is distributed fiee of charge to individuals for the first copy Additional copies may be purchased for 25 cents each University Journal SUU Sharwan Smith Center, Room 176C Mail address Unnerutv Journal, 351 W University Blvd , Cedar City, Utah 84720 FAX (435) address journalsuu edu PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER PLEASE RECYCLE THIS COPY 2009 SUU Unnenits Journal Mandi Clark Freshman Marci Waters Communication Biology Richfield Kendra Nelson Freshman Political Science Cedar City The price of getting taken care of is very pricey so Of course. You never think you need it... until you do. St. George I personally believe that we as SUU students should all obtain y health insurance. high-qualit- Junior Yes I do. any help you can get is great. Sophomore Nursing Richfield Yes I do. Last week I slipped in the shower and split my head ... Wish I could have had health insurance then. Share your response at suunews.com. Ashley Ottley Freshman Undeclared Syracuse Yes. Just when you think you dont need it something always happens. |