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Show OPINION TheSalt LakeTribune Page A8 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER1, 1998 OUR VIEW ml The Salt Lake Tribune’s Editorial Position Kremlin Watching However, the meeting is important if only becauseit coincides with an economic and politicalcrisis in Russia, For that reason, the American side should tread lightly, speak softly and listen carefully. Many Russians are despondent about thecollapse of the ruble and the outbreakof political infighting that exploded on national television Sund night. The last thing they would wel- come is a lecture from a scandalplagued American president about howthey should run their country. So, President Clinton should offer the Russians kind words of moral support, together with expressionsof confidence that the Russian nation will find its way out of the current economic and political dilemmas. And while the president should applaud Russia’s continued commitment to democratic government and market economics, Clinton should avoid any specific prescriptions. In private, the Clinton administration can be more open about the need for Russia to take the final plunge into a market economy, abandoning once andfor all the system of subsidies that b keeps huge, inefficient state enterprises on life support. And, the Rus- time is building toward a magnificent crescendo — the captivating chase of the single-season home run record by Mark McGwire and SammySosa. The conventional wisdom is that anyplayer whohas designs on 60 home runs in a seasonbetter have 50 by the first of September, McGwire, of the St. Louis Cardinals, and Sosa, of the Chicago Cubs, had 55 and 54 respectively, through Sunday's games — whichis to saytheir designs are deadlyserious. By comparison, Roger Maris had 51 home runs onthe first day of September in 1961, as he pursued the record of60, set in 1927 by Babe Ruth. Maris finally hit his 61st on the last day of that season, and in doing so, saved future sluggers like MeGwire and Sosa the added pressureof having to chase the game's greatest icon, the Babe. The remarkable home run exploits of McGwire and Sosa, who have remainedlikable figures throughout the season, is re-energizing baseball, as the sport limps back fromtheill effects of the 1994 strike. But, given baseball's recent track record, it is not surprising that the home run chaseis not purely joyful. It is tarnished bythe admission that the muscular McGwire takes a forceable tax system plus the legal institutions to guarantee private prop- This is the same old song that the West has been singing since before the fall of the Soviet Union.It’s an old message, but it remains the right one. More important than what Clinton tells Yeltsin is what other Russians tell the Americans. Russianpolitics are in crisis. There is no public consensus on which direction to take the country. So, the Americans should devote most of their effort to learning what is going on tin Luther King Jr. was a compromise that would have been difficult to avoid ‘There's no new hard evidencebut just enough in the wayof newallegations to keep old suspicions of a wider plotalive. Almost everyone who has studied the case agrees that the late James Earl Ray pulied the trigger and probably acted alone. But among the skeptics is the slain civil rights leader's family, which was a mammoth obstacle to overcome for those who wanted to avoid reopening the probe The Justice Department will limit its investigation to new witnesses who have surfaced, alleging a wider conspiracy. They are Lloyd Jowers, a former Mem- phis restaurant owner. who claimed in 1993 that he recruited someone other than Rayto kill King, and Donald Wilson, a former FBI employee who claims THE PUBLIC FORUM response. Nowis a time for careful watching in Russia. For the next couple of days, Letters from The Tribune’s readers the American president will have a front-row seat. Enforce Law or Quit substance called androstenedione, a testosterone-producing supplement outlawed by the NFL, the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee. The record-watchers don't want to hear about McGwire'spills; they claim “andro” can't help a batter hit a base- ball. But that’s too much ofa rationalization; obviously, McGwire thinks it helps his batting power, or else he wouldn’t use it. The real problem here is that youngsters will make the simple correlation that McGwire takes this stuff and hits long home runs, and so theywill follow his example. McGwire should not be faulted, since androstenedione is a legal supplement and is not outlawed by his sport. But baseball's hierarchy should be mindful that taking this substance puts McGwire and otherusers in a category with the discredited East German athletes of the ‘80s; it should use this controversyas an impetus to study the effects of this and other supplements used byplayers to “bulk up. That's for later, though. In the meantime, baseball has bumbled into an exhilarating September, thanks to the home run prowess of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, in determined pursuit of one of the most cher- ished records in Americansport. he found a note with the name “Raul” written onit. Ray had claimed he wasset up by a gunrunner named Therecent spate of publicity concerning polygamy certainly has the politicians burying their heads in the sand. I am not an attorney ora judge, but when! read the Utah Constitution, it appearsto be written in very simple language. Article III states: “The following ordinance shall be irrevocable without the consent of the United States and the people of the State. First, perfect toleration ofreligious sentiment is guaranteed. No inhab- itantof this state shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode ofreligious worship; but polygamists or plural marriages are forev- er prohibited.” There is anotherarticle that is most interesting and that is Article IV Section 10 (Oath of Office). It state: Il officers made elective or appointive by this Constitution or by laws made in pursuance thereof, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: I do solemnly swear(or affirm) that I will support, obey and de- fend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution ofthis State, and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity It seems every “public official elected or appointed wants to shove Article III back in the closet as quickly as possible, but there is not one of you that will acknowledge Article IV, That includesall public officials, from the governor down to the lowest deputysheriffin the state. I also believe our U.S. senators and repre- sentatives take the same or a similar oath. Did all of you cross your fingers or say King’s X when you took the oath? ‘That just doesn’t cut it. You have three choices: Probing Martin Luther King’s Death openthe Justice Department's investiga- i inside the political battles that soon could reshape the Russian government. Then,once the Russians haveresolved thecrisis, the United States will be in a better position to shape its From The Chicago Tribune tion of the assassination of the Rev. Mar- eo @ sians must create a revamped and en- ANOTHER VIEW Atty. Gen. Janet Reno’s decision to re- RRA, erty rights and settle disputes. Clinton should reiterate that until these reformscometo fruition, foreign capital never will flow to Russia. Without that investment, Russia will continue its economicdeathspiralinto Third World status. Loans from the International Monetary Fund cannot substitute for private investment. The Great Home Run Chase Septemberis the climactic month of any baseball season, and as September ofthis season dawns, the national pas- NA se > Q or pee fees The Moscowmeeting between Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin is barely worthy of the title “summit.” Both leaders’ presidencies and powerare at low ebbs, and Russia does not even have a government in place. 2M RE ALL o “Raoul.” Thirty years after King’s death in Memphis, one wonders how many, if any, investigations it will take to satisfy skep- ties. Tennessee authorities have discred- ited Jowers’ story, saying he has changed it several times. The FBI similarly has called Wilson's story a “total fabrica- tion. Nonetheless, there are just enough un- 1) Discharge your duties with fidelity. 2) Change the law. (Can you imagine whatthe rest of U.S. will say when you tell them: “We havea little problem in Utah with polygamy, and we would like all of you to help in sweeping it back underthe rug.”’) 3) You can do what has been donein the past and ignoreit. To me, that is dereliction of duty and malfeasance in of- fice. Toall you elected and appointed officials, whatis it going to be? The rest of the nation, oris it the world, is watching and laughing. RUSSELL D. WILLIAMS it Lake City a Moneyand Fame UTAH'S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1871 John F. Fitzpatrick (1924-1960) John W. Gaillivan (1960-1983) Jerry O'Brien (1983-1994) PUBLISHER Dominic Welch EDITOR James E. Shelledy [REARNS-TRIBUNE CORPORATION, 143 S, MAIN ST. SALT LAKE CITY, S411 s ¢ ceived,not all submissions are published. As a responsible consumer of alcohol, I wonder howanyonecan justify denying a liquor license to the South Mountain Please type and double space. M Letters are condensed andedited @ Because of the volume of mail re- | Mail to Public Forum, TheSalt Lake Tribune, P.O. Box 867, Salt Lake City, ; Utah 84110 great physical shape and I believe in and love Jesus (don’t make metell you what He drank at the last supper). I like a I'm golfing. Golf Club. The minute you drive to Albertson’s from South Mountain, you are @ Our fax number is (801) 237-2316. at risk of being mowed over by someone who drank too much wine with dinner at Film Honors Veterans Panache — because they are located smack dab in Draper and they have a liquorlicense. Are you going to petition to have the I suggest the readers ask themselves what they did last Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. If they did not at least spare a thought for our veterans, living and dead, I urge them to see the film “Saving Private Ryan,” whileit is still in the theaters. It is a carefully crafted work andwill lose much impact on video. I have heard people say that despite hearing thatit is a fine film, they choose notto seeit, as it would be hardto watch. It is a graphic and powerful film, but sitting in a theater is nothing compared with the arena in which our combatvet- erans have lived and died. For mostofus, the experience of war and combat thankfully remain abstractions. This film, more than any other I have seen or history I have read, brings some understanding of the experience of combat. Through this minimal knowledge and glimpse into their experience, we can begin to understand the debt we owe ourveteransofall wars. A few hours spentlearning about their sacrifice may honor them in some small way. MARK FRUIN Centerville a Busy Prosecutors We were delighted to read the article “Justice for All” (7ribune, Aug. 9) about Assistant Atty. Gen. Rob Parrish. Rob has been a championfor the abused children of Utah for a long time and we were pleased to learn that his expertise is being extended outside of our state. Rob deserved the recognition of his tireless liquorlicensespulled from TGIFriday’s, Carvers, Chili's (ete.) because the momentyou drive over to Sandyall the sup- posed drunkspouringout of those places are going to get you? Maybe we should close the mall; it’s too unsafe overthere. Irresponsible people are everywhere — many of my non-drinking neighbors put their children’s lives in danger every day, but I’m notgoing to petition to take away their right to ride motorized toys. A recent Reader’s Digestarticle stated that reckless driving is killing teen-agers in this country. Do we petition to stop teen-agers from getting licenses, espe- cially here in Utah where we have such a high birthrate? While we're atit, let's just make Prozacandother prescription drugs completelyillegal here; ask a cop howoften those non-drinkers are pulled overafter weaving their way home from soecer practice. When some peoplestop eating for a day, they get lightheaded and silly . . . should we stop all LDS people from driving on Fast Sunday? Where does it stop? Making a whole community conform is not the way to control the few addle-brained idiots whose chosen irresponsibility puts us all at risk. J. MARIE SALMON Draper o Witch Hunts Stop these attacks against polyga- mists. I fear how for the sake of sensationalism, the news m« are challenging our governmental agencies to harass a small segment ofoursociety. As a stu- about the Utah Jaz is that they are not County District Attorney's Office. The all about glamour. They are about fundamentals, the pick androll, the team concept, etc. They are all our heros, and we ture, but seen the results of pogroms against these minorities. has five attorneys whoprosecuteall felo- numberof years. The thing I have liked cheered them all. Now, I read how Karl Maloneis demanding more money and will probably leave Utah. I enjoyed watching the old Karl Malone, the basketball purist who was upset by Kobe Bryant’s showmanship. The new and improved Karl is changing his tune and I am sorry that he TheSalt Lake Tribune glass of wine with dinneror a beer while drunk. I don’t abuse my child, I'm in dent of new religious sects and their money Ray may have received to keep alive widespread skepticism about the government's willingness to find the PAST PUBLISHERS of alcohol, yet I have never driven However,wetotallyfail to understand why such an outstanding article disinte- Thave beena fan of the Utah Jazz fora truth. Punish the Irresponsible Thedistinction needs to be made in Utah between “alcohol availability” versus alcohol abuse.I've been a consumer numbers, Information other than your nameand thecity in which you live are kept confidential. @ Keepit short. Conciseletters developing a single theme are morelikely to be published. commitment and enormoussuccesses. answered questions aboutassistance and Martin Luther King was important enough to historythat the government is obliged to leave no reasonable stone unturned in pursuing the truth about his death. Unfortunately, the probes are beginning to stretch the definition of “reasonable” beyond reason. , Where to Write @ When submittingletters to the Public Forum,please include your full name,signature, address and daytime telephone will probably leave us, But who can stop him? He wants more money and fame. Hewill probably end his career somewhere with people who can pay him big bucks, because that is where we find our true worth, in a paycheck. Right? Not with the fans whocheered him on when grated into criticism of the Salt Lake Special Victim Team ofthe D.A.’s office ny sexual assaults against adults and children,felonyphysical child abuse and felony domestic violence cases that occur in Salt Lake County. Weeach carry caseloads of 50 to 100 (or more)atalltimes. We do not have unlimited time to expend on each case to ensure a successful jury verdict, as does Mr. Parrish, whose caseload is extremely small in comparison TheD.A.’soffice is committed to “balancing” the need to sentence a perpetrator appropriately and sparing a child victim from having to testify in front of strangers about the atrocities that adults commit upon them. We know these cases are important and we strive extremely hard to do as good a job on each one as does Rob Parrish. neighbors, I've not only read the litera- A commontactic is to arouse public emotions through charges of child hb “brainwashing”(known by most scholars simply as socialization), and imprison- ment. Usually charges are generated by disgruntled apostates, which then justifies those with different religious beliefs to take action in their ongoing battle against their interpretation of evil. Laws could be enforced against actions of statutory rape and incest. Some individuals may have moved outside the boundaries of these laws. While these individuals may happen to belong to a polygamous group, their actions should not be blamed on the group, and I wonder if John Stockton will get greedy and leave us too. Nah! Stockton loves the game and not the money and fame. (We hope.) LORI MERRITT Orem S.L. County District Atty.’s Office GRETCHEN SIEGLER Salt Lake City POOR C |
