| Show -- jtr ti-- Standard-Examin- it ay Ite ‘"r - — — — "" — '— — 7' — i —— —— - Letters & Columns To our Readers MAIL Standard-Examin- pwwii p— Coming up in the: er POBox 951 Ogden UT 84402-095- 1 Please keep letters to 300 words or less and include your name address and daytime phone for verification Letters must be signed and may be edited and condensed — g Saturday May 27 2000 11A Opinion er — FAX Opinion pages L (801)625-450- 8 Georgs W Bush is embracing the largest social program of all SUNDAY: Ironically Lettersstandardnet I J Community must unite so healing can begin Allow silk flowers to remain at grave bad not realizing that they were in my opinion desecrating the There are events that happen graves of all those who we love' in an individual’s life that someso dearly times affect communities as a Some of these flowers have whole For example the break in Canal last sumbeen there for many years be- the cause the loved ones who placed mer This not only immediately families but it them there couldn’t care for affected them they had passed away or continued to affect many other moved from the area No matter communities in the watering of our lawns how they looked the flowers were placed there with love and This spring another crisis affected our community of South respect for their dearly departed This Memorial Day my sister Weber This crisis has caused and I along with some of my friends and neighbors to take sides and snub some of the indicousins aunts and uncles will reviduals involved place the flowers in the appropriate vases It is hoped that manOn March 29 an infant who agement will realize their error was in the care of a competent and leave them alone e provider was injured Elwood Doxey The effects of these injuries Ogden proved to be deadly This crisis has caused a range Reader questions church’s moral judgments of emotions that has created more pain for everyone involved Congratulations to the writer gay Scoutmaster can be “morally the time for the comof the May 22 letter titled “Gay straight” There are many more This is not itself and take divide to officials munity officials church public lifestyle is not a voluntary tof unite totime is the sides It the choice” The author wrote just (including the president of as a Uniting community gether Scoutmasters and United was States) that he bom short of saying as a community will help to ease charway which is what I believe I in all religions facing moral crisis has had on cannot speak with authority on ges than there are gay Scoutmas- the pain this were who those immediately inmind in that ters Keep this issue whether some people just being that lost a the volved: family homosexual in itself does not are bom with a hormone imbala a a child or grandchild sibling constitute wrongful ance and no one has yet anything e friend the a nephew sinful this who lost her livelihood If there is a ban on gay Scout- provider I agree with the writer’s quesand parents who and courage tion “Who would want to masters then it follows that there lost a e provider for their on a ban when be choose a gay lifestyle gay Boy children gays should Scouts Who would like to cast are ostracized beaten or killed It is with concern that I say and ridiculed?” On the contrary the first stone against gay Boy it’s time to unite and not divide Scouts? Polygamy was practiced any male heterosexual would prethat so everyone can heal This is not date church to it the fer a macho image by to each other with means talking considered rather immoral but There are several points not and accusing each empathy illegal Utah’s ban on beer advermissed by the LDS Church’s opwhat one person may or of other and moral a considered tisement position of the gay Scout master issue was changed may not have done issue There are many church family-valu- e A child cannot be replaced lose $50 million to than rather leaders and public officials who but with love and understanding are homosexuals in positions Budweiser’s Olympics sponsorfrom the community the family ship more critical than a Scoutmaster Conclusion: to change morals can grieve and heal from this I believe there is a certain pertragic event in their lives and so centage of humans bom male or costs $50 million in Utah and can the community of South Weconsidimmorality is sometimes female and some homosexual ber It’s time to be Christians ered moral free of charge Homosexuality cannot be detectCarol Nance Bob Montanez ed in a newborn How can a perSyracuse North Ogden son be bom immoral? Thus a An Ogden mortuary recently removed all the flowers from one of its cemetery areas This included my parents my grandfather and grandmother my aunt and uncle and a few friends I can understand them removing fresh flowers at any time which includes Memorial Day when the flowers die But our flowers were silk and always well attended by my sister myself or someone in the family and were put there with love appreciation and respect for our loved ones I was told by the management that several people had complained that the old imitation flowers were an eyesore It was management’s decision to remove eveiy flower from that area whether in good condition or Davis-Web- er 70-pl- us day-car- con-fum- ed day-car- day-car- Keephas noisland the sanctuary it is place Hunting on this unique piece of Utah real estate By RICK MAYFIELD Guest Commentary I oppose any proposed action that would allow hunting on Antelope Island and would like to see the current annual bison hunt be discontinued Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake have always been a part of my life I was raised in Gearfield and remember as a young boy looking across the lake to Fremont and Antelope islands dreaming of some day being able to visit both I knew of the buffalo on Antelope Island and dreamed of being a great hunter stalk- ing my prey and shooting one of the great archs of the plains In some regards the dreams continue today My first trip to Antelope Island was by foot I so desperately wanted to visit the island that I decided to hike across the salt flats to get there In 1964 when low the lake was at an all-tithere was little water between the mainland of Davis County and the island One evening about 4 pm with Jack Stewart and Kenny my brother-in-laHome a friend I headed from West Kaysville across 13 miles of salt flats to Antelope Island We arrived on the island early the next morning We spent most of the day hiking and enjoying the island and were thrilled when we happened on the small herd of buffalo In the late afternoon we began our trek back to the mainland well satisfied Several years later I was employed as a planner by Davis County In that capacity I followed the construction of the first causeway to the island I was thrilled when the state purchased the north 2000 acres of the island for a state park After graduation I left the state and moved to Montana I returned 14 years later - the same year the floods began and the lake rose to an historical high Eventually the causeway was destroyed and the island was once again closed to visitors For several years I worked with the Davis County Commissioners and others lobbying the Legislature for money to reconstruct the causeway I did a great amount of research on the fluctuations of the lake and cost projects in helping the county commit to taking money offered by then Gov Norman Bangerter and the Legislature to reconstruct die causeway I do not oppose hunting only hunting on Antelope Island I am a hunter and have hunted mon-Mayfie- ld w le Letter expressed vicious generalizations Let me get this straight According to the May 9 letter “Homosexuals strive to annihilate ethics” homosexuals want to wipe out religion morals and ethical behavior as well as annihilate all that is good in the world Additionally they don’t obey the laws and their lifestyle is a dead end to society Wow The myopic viewpoints expressed in this letter illustrate all that is endemic in the anti-ga- y agenda (Yes agendas are held y by all types of people especially if you are gay and the “agenda” you are promoting is eradication of the kind of vicious hateful and vitriolic intolerance that is being propagated by the author) The writer’s insistence that the Mormon Church should continue to associate with the Boy Scouts of America in order to provide a watchdog role with regards to homosexuals illustrates a belief sys- me that they were gay I would continue to love and nurture that child so they could become the best human being possible I would resist exposing them to any person or religion that promotes an attitude of exclusion and intolerance against any group of human beings whose only “crime” is believing differently than those people or that church Now regarding her encouraging words that gays should “start their own” Scout troop or organization that was already attempted in this state by a certain high school that had the audacity to start a support club for gay students Let’s ask Sen Hatch how that one went! I find it ironic that you say homosexuals shouldn’t stuff their beliefs down other people’s throats I agree I also think homophobic heterosexuals should avoid the practice as well Gener- tem built upon a foundation of alizations are usually unwarrantignorance and hate under the ed but these are dangerous umbrella of religious activism Brad Schroeder South Ogden If I were to have a child tell Objectives of two groups differ greatly I have seen and heard people compare what Mothers Against Drunk Driving did and what the Million Mom March supporters are trying to do as if they were comparable MADD went after the criminals they wanted tougher penalties for people who chose to drive drunk They did not go after the people who make the alcohol or people who make the vehicles They went after the people responsible for drunken driving - the drivers who chose to drive drunk So how can you compare that to going after everyone except the criminal who uses guns to do wrong? We already have thousands of gun laws many of which are nbt always enforced Why don’t we enforce those laws first? Just as MADD did not go af- ter the sober driver no one should go after the gun owner or the people who manufacture and sell guns law-abidi- Lee B Rasmussen North Ogden - Courtesy Utah Division ct Widlife Resources various kinds of game in both Utah and Montana I know the thrill of the hunt Although I don’t hunt much any more I still enjoy the thrill of seeing wildlife in their natural habitat I’m extremely grateful for our visionary forefathers who fought for the Lacey Act of 1872 setting aside Yellowstone as our first national park and game sanctuary But let me remind you it was almost 30 years later that hunting - illegal hunting -was eliminated from the park In 1902 30 years after passage of the Lacey Act the once vast bison herd had been reduced to about 30 animals largely because of illegal trophy hunters and poachers To me Antelope Island is our Yellowstone Park It is home to the second oldest bison herd in America as well as some remarkable trophy specimens of mule deer The island needs to be preserved in the most natural state possible The island should be a place where Utah residents and visitors to our great state can go for the enjoyment of seeing wildlife roam free in their natural habitat It should be a place of serenity and contemplation and not a place of gun shots and killing Members of the State Parks and Recreation Board must be shepherds of the island not only for today but for future generations It is a tremendously unique piece of real estate The island is a natural place within an urban setting It provides an opportunity for us to escape the hustle and bustle of our hectic schedules by stepping back in time to enjoy the serenity of nature We can hunt in countless places across the state but there is only one chance of a public game sanctuary so close to yet isolated from our urban society My professional life is economic development With my staff and others across the state I work at enhancing our tax base -- and facilitating increased em- ployment opportunities Yet in this capacity I worry that in our society we overemphasize the almighty dollar and seem to forget those things cherished by our forefathers The pilgrims and patriots of this great country and the pioneers of this unique state did not reduce every decision to dollars and cents They looked to future generations They fought for principles regardless of cost I work within a budget allocated by the state Legislature Each year I appear before a legcomislative mittee to show how I have used taxpayer dollars and to ask for sufficient dollars for the coming year to cany out my legislated responsibilities I understand the difficulty of securing an adequate budget to properly operate our state parks I salute the State Parks and Recreation staff for the marvelous job they do for the benefit of the citizens of the state I realize the task is not an easy one Staff and resources are so often stretched beyond belief Every dollar is precious I know the request to hunt trophy deer on the island is presented as a financial opportunity In my opinion it is not I seriously doubt the net financial gain will amount to enough to offset the additional costs to manage the hunts In my opinion the decision before the State Parks and Recreation Board is not a financial decision It is a decision of maintaining Antelope Island as a wildlife sanctuary for the benefit of all - regardless of financial position or of allowing a few rich andor famous people to hunt a few trophy animalsRick Mayfield a resident of Fruit Heights is state director of the Division of Business and Economic Development He was a founder of Friends ofAntelope Is- land Inc and continues to serve on its board - There’s more to Huntsmans’ gift to WSU - like a lifetime of service Generous Utah couple a true model of philanthropy By PAUL H THOMPSON Guest Commentary Earlier this month we held our spring commencement ceremonies to honor more than 2000 graduates of Weber State University It was a special day for our students and their families But even those unable to attend may have heard about the noteworthy turn of events In one of the shortest speeches on re- industrialist d cord Salt Lake Huntsman Jon and philanthropist shared some personal advice with the City-base- Doonesbury Gass of 2000: “No exercise is better for the human heart than reaching down to lift up another” Graduates stood to repeat the sentence after Mr Huntsman then joined the audience in a standing ovation when he illustrated his message by announcing he and his wife Karen would give WSU $1 million for student scholarships CBS news correspondent Bob Schief- - fer who was the University of Utah’s commencement speaker commented on the television program “Face the Nation”: “If there had been a commencement speech contest in Utah last week I wouldn’t have stood a chance The winner - hands down - would have been a Utah businessman named Jon Hunts- man” However what was most surprising and interesting to me was the untold story - the speech Mr Huntsman prepared but never gave because of his impromptu philanthropic gift planned to relate an agreement he and his wife made when they were first married 40 years ago They decided as a couple to always set aside a certain sum of money to help others Their initial salary was only $322 per month Fifty dollars of that was donated to help the poor 10 percent was paid in tithing to their church and they lived modestly on the remainder Throughout their married life the Huntsmans have continually committed both personal time and financial resources to help others - even when they had very little In comments he had titled “Service Above Self” Mr Huntsman had BY GARRY TRUDEAU I wanted to share the rest of the story because I believe the Huntsmans’ donation although extremely generous is not what’s most impressive It’s their ongoing acts of kindness and genuine efforts to serve and lift others that stand as an example of true philanthropy PauIH Thompson serves as president of Weber State University a position he has held since 1990 He is an alumnus of WSU Ifyou would like a copy of the prepared speech Mr Huntsman didn ’t give please 1 or call Thompson's office at (801) him at pthompsonfa webercdu 626-600- To hear the CBS commentary in its entirety visit the following Web site: http: lcbsnewscbscomnowlstory 01597192 784-- 4 1200shtml By Bruce Tinsley allard Fillmore MMPy-wz-A&xr- e iOtfbftikr ZeHp&r&J Foe v&te&z- - 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