Salt Lake Tribune | 1999-12-25 | Page 16

Page A16 Ghe Salt LakeTribune OPINION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1999 OUR VIEW The Salt Lake Tribune’s Editorial Position Christmas Reflections On this Christmas Day 1999, the sense of time passing, a century turnling, heightens the yuletide tendency to Ipause with family and friends and reflect on people and places that have ‘passed into memory. No, this may notofficially be the last ‘Christmas ofthe 20th centuryor of the ‘Second Millennium, but it is the last one ffor a year beginning with the digit ‘1' land that qualifies it as a landmark of sufficient significance. No, this is not tthe 2,000th birthday of Jesus Christ —a ‘Rutgers astronomer, tracking the Siar f Bethlehem that guided the Magi, has iplaced the actual birth date at April 17,6 B.C. — butitis the last Christmasofthe 1900s, which are the only years mostof. jus have known. A year is passing, a century, a milllennium, and this Christmas Day, perjhaps more than others, is for remembering what has passed. It was in that imore sober spirit of the Christmas seaison, the season of light conquering idarkness, that manypeoplevisited Waisatch Lawn and Valley View cemeteries last weekend, whenthousandsof lumi- marieslit the night and sparked thevis- itors’ memories of loved onespast, the people who helped build Utah inits first century, in the American century. to ride TRAXinto a new era. Such reverie is not a byproduct solely of a fin-de-siecle Christmas.It is for every Christmas, only perhaps more amplified today. Forty-five years ago, in a Christmas essay for The New Yorker, the elegant writer E.B. White conveyed a morsel of Christmastime wisdom that had been imparted by his 92-year-old Aunt Caroline: “A few weeks ago, she said something socloseto the theme ofChristmas that weshall quoteit here. We were sitting with her at lunch in the country, and we apologized for not having taken herfor a motor ride that morningto see once again the bright colors in the changing woods. ‘Why, my dear,’ she said without hesitating, ‘remembrance is sufficientofthe beauty we haveseen.’ “The sentence startled us — as though bird had flown into the room. . it suggests the beauty that surrounds the day, the sufficiency of re- membrance, the nostalgia that is the source oftears. We are in perfect agreement with the professor at this joyous season; men weepfor beauty,for things remembered, for the partridge in the pear tree — theonethattheir true love brought them and that somehow got This is a day to remember those who no longer gather around the Christmas mislaid.” Merry Christmas to all who take a tree, and to remembertoo theplaces, the iphysical touchstonesof ourlives, that moment,or perhapsa few, to dote on the sweet memories of bygone times and have passed into memory justin the last year — the ZCMI store, Memory Grove (at least the grove), Main Street between {North and South Temple,Bill and Na\da’s. Good-bye, Charlie Brown;it’s time decade, or century. The sense of this Christmasis oneof time passing, almost palpably, and we rememberali the beauty we haveseenanditis sufficient. THE PUBLIC FORUM Letters from The Tribune’s readers people and places of the past year, or Keep Watch Constitutional Threat Public Forum,please include yourfull Kirkland says “the Ten Commandments youlive are kept confidential. can’t take myfaith,” (Tribune, Nov. 13). developing a single theme are more Unified School District trustee Marla r are the law of the land,” and“... they God rest, ye merry travelers, Let nothing you dismay, It’s seems as thoughstrip searches Might await you Christmas Day. Forget the normal hassles of moving from onecity to another by air — answering questions about your luggage, passing through security monitors and the frustration of gate changes — this holiday season.This is the millennium and the nutcases are abroadin this land and others where Americans plan to small amounts of explosives will be used in airports. Even U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohensaid that the threat of terrorism worldwideis being carefully monitored. “AN of our intelligence communities are cooperating worldwide with their counterparts, andso there is a sharing of intelligence to makesure we have the latest possible information to make sure wecan deter and detect and discourage any attempts on American lives any- celebrate either Christmasorthe turn where in the world,” he said. What that of the century. elaborate ongoing sentence means is this: American intelligence resources are talking to other intelligence workers acrossthe globe to get tips on which nut jobs will try to kill Americans — whom manybelieve to be responsible for every world problem. Ofcourse, America is not responsible for all the problems in the world, but Americans are the easiest target — just That means — in addition to warn- ings from the U.S. State Department on terrorism andthe arrest of several persons with ties to explosives trying to enter this country from Canada — apparently anything goes. A White House spokesman con- firmed there was “credible informa- tion” about potential terrorist threats abroad and urged Americans to stay in touch with U.S. embassies and consulates. The Federal Aviation Administration warned thattravelers should expect tightened security, including stricter enforcementof parking regulations. More bomb-sniffing dogs, uniformed patrols and devices to check for Jess Bushmanvilifies secular humanists and says because of them“. . . Prayer is not allowed in many schools, displays of the Ten Commandments,etc. are not allowed,” (Forum, July 30). Sen. Orrin Hatch says, “I've never seen it worse than this, where the Constitutionliterally is hanging by a thread.” (Tribune, Nov. 11). I agree with Sen. Hatch that a very importantpart of the Constitution is underperilousthreat. It is indeed “literally hanging by a thread.” But Sen. Hatch andall of those “thousands”are not the Constitution’s saviors. He, along with the religious right-influenced Republican Congress are the unwitting instru- mentsofits destruction. Meanwhile Jess Bushman is free to pray wherever(evenin school, so long as he is not disruptive) and whenever he because we value our freedoms so much, wants. He can place the Ten Command- But the warning is clear: There are noactivities too importantfor travelers to ignore the need to keep a watchful eye for unusual incidents or suspicious persons. A timely report to police — no matter what country is visited — could of personal comfort and can worshiphis one and only “true God”of flesh and bones without fear. Similarly Baptists can worship their “true God” having no body parts or passions. The state could not care less whetherLDSorBaptists are savelives. ments in his homeor church as a source true Christians. name, signature, address and daytime telephone numbers. Information other than your name andthecity in which § Keep it short. Concise letters cane,smile at my dad’s camera and then go home. So you could understand my anger when my wife, three children and I braved through the holiday traffic to go see Santa and his reindeer at the Quilted received, not all submissions are published, ™ Mail to Public Forum, The Salt Lake Tribune, P.O. Box 867,Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 ‘@ Ourfax numberis [phone]. From The Roswell (N.M.) Daily Record Allies Against Drugs Maybe it will take something as hor- rific as a mass grave outside of Ciudad Juarez to breachthe wall ofdistrust and nationalism that stymies full cooperation between the United States and Mexico on the problem of drug tre . Recently, as dozens of FBI and Mexican anti-drug agents worked side-by- side digging for graves, FBI Director Louis Freeh and Mexican Attorney General Jorge Madrazo held a press conference on the joint effort on Mexican soil, Although the probe is far from complete, authorities fear they have uncovered the mass graves of poten- tially scores of victims of Mexico's drug violence. Mexi ld cont ng under a wave of drug-fueled violence, becoming every day more like Colombia, even though Bogota finally has realized that working with the United States is far better than allowing the drug traffickers to take over. ‘ Madrazo apparently sees Mexico fac- ing the same danger. At the press con- ference, he loudly defended working with the FBI: “Cooperation does not harm sovereignty. Whathurts it is drug trafficking.” It's time for all Mexicans to acknowledge that their nation stands at the edge of an abyss of violence and corruption spawned by savage drug last dollar defending her and all of the Gov. George W. Bush was thetarget of debate. Alan Keyes, the only minority, stood outas a favorite. Sen. John McCain was the winner. Whenpeoplevote, they will know in their hearts who is for America. The four losers — Gary Bauer, Orrin Hatch, Steve Forbes, Keyes — should bow outfor the sakeof unity and a McCain-Bushvictory. You knowin your heart, McCain's for America. He's the kind of crazy American weall like. We need another crazy American veteran. KENL. ENGLISH Q As a longtime reader, I thought chickens would swim before anyone ac- Thank youfor sharing it with us. The state should not ritual, but rather, it should act as the KENT M. FORD Clemsen,S.C. neutral guarantorof that process toall of its citizens. Placing the Ten Command- ments in a public school violates the impartiality/neutrality principle by showing preference for the Judeo- Christian conviction. GRANT SIMONS: Kaysville Q Patently False The article, “Bid Leaders Discussed Q Boorish Letter I take umbrage with the remarks of George M. Wagner (Forum,Dec. 10). My disgust is not so much directed to Wag- ner’s impudence butto the insensitivity of The Tribune by publishing his comments, To allow someone to taunt a groupofpeople, in such an offensive way in the Public Forum, serves to the dismal state ofnewspaper options the residents of this city have to choose, Had Wagner's comments been di- UTAH'S INDEPENDENTVOICE SINCE1871 PUBLISHER Dominic Welch EDITOR James BE, Shelledy the only attended. I tol them to not become “complacent,” since there were stil! two malign my reputation for integrity. ANITAL. DEFRANTZ TOC Vice President Los Angeles y { — KEARNS-TRIBUNE CORPORATION, 143 5, MAIN ST. SALT LAKE CITY,84111 ANNE ALBAUGH Salt Lake City Humorous Allegation participate in religious expression or She Salt LakeTribune PAST PUBLISHERS John F, Fitzpatrick (1924-1960) John W. Gallivan (1960-1983) Jerry O'Brien (1983-1994) Congratulations to us! The City Cor approved light rail to the University of Utah (Tribune, Dec. 15). Now,during this brief period of wakefulness — perhaps we should consider light rail from Ogden to Salt Lake. We can get rid ofthe stupid Legacy Highway and opt for the very smart lightrail. Helper cused The Salt Lake Tribune of being the “mouthpiece of the [LDS] Church.” The Tribune staff must have iaughed themselves to tears whenthey received that letter (“Too Biased," Forum, Dec. 17), traffickers. The way out is to work two nations on many other issues; whynoton this? Light-Rail Victory Q that the state is constitutionally obligated to serveall of its citizens impartially. All Americans, religious or otherwise, have a rightto feel equal in mat- waging war againstthe cartels. Our JASON TULIN North Salt Lake the other five candidates in an unfair Intolerant Prayer Thesacred principle that all of these constitutional enemies cannot grasp is shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans ra. As I began What? Five dollars to use my own aboveconstitutional rights. ters of state. out my: to film, Mrs. Clause stood infront of me and said, “If you want to video tape or take pictures, you will have to pay $5.” Christmas spirit. Hey Santa, bah humbug. her “faith” will be taken. The American Civil Liberties Union would spend their as I camera. I think Santa needs a lesson in Crazy Veteran Even though Marla Kirkland is wrong “law of the land”), as long as the Constitution is in place she need neverfear that It has gotten so bad thateven thejolly old man himself is just out for a buck, WhenI was little boy things were simple. I would go to the mall, sit on Santa’s lap, ask for some toys, get myfree candy likely to be published. @ Please type and double space. '® Letters are condensed andedited. @ Because of the volume of mail (the Ten Commandments are not the ANOTHER VIEW Avaricious Spirit Where to Write @ When submitting letters to the “ThousandsRally for Ten Commandments” says the Associated Press (Tribune; Nov. 15). Val Verde California Whythe selectivity? MICHAEL RAY OLSEN Sandy lam really confused aboutthis prayer thing (prayer in school, prayer in the Legislature, separation of church and state, etc.). I can see the need for the separation of church and state in its purest sense. Thatis, the state does not tell the church who God is and vice ver-