Salt Lake Tribune | 1999-12-26 | Page 26

has The Salt Lake Tribune OPINION iTribune Readers Find Simpsons Sunday, December 26, 1999 IPBRANINAaero Holiday Comic Strip ‘Tasteless’ sounds of the season may “ingen but Sait Lake Tribune readooaga ae be taking hoy fen ext juing their newspaper. What was the present «movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Groen-csing’s version, called “It's a Wonderful nogie,” had cartoon characters in the tional world of “The Simpsons” sinvolved in gratuitous violence and ex“plicit acts of self-mutilation. ‘Some Tribune readers were aghast. ~'“Shocking” and “sickening” were two of _-the words they used in expressing their concern. “, “This is the mostviolentstrip I have .seen [in The Tribune],” said Glenda ‘Pruemper.“If kids start cutting off fingers and putting sticks down cats’ « throats, we know where it is coming . from. Please don’t run a comic strip with . this much violence.” “] freely admit I am nota fan of ‘The Simpsons’ comics to start with and usually don’t read it, but [last week’s] car- toon was gross and offensive,” wrote Amy Buckley. “Please, please don’t tell me I now must hide the Sunday comics from my children because of subject matter.” I, too, found the comica bit much. Ido not watch “The Simpsons” TV show or read that comic strip, so I got a rude awakening when these readers expressed their concerns. On Sept. 9, Tribune Editor James E. Shelledy told readers that Universal -.. Press Syndicate had struck a deal with Groening to produce a Sunday-only . “Simpsons” comic strip for newspapers, » but for 52 weeks only. “Loyal audiences ofall ages will find the usual biting social andpolitical satire that made ‘The Simpsons’thetelevision hitit is. If you are a fan of the show,dig in. Ifyou are not, join mein ignoring this latest addition to the comics page,” wrote Shelledy. Undoubtedly,last week’s version was too horrific for some to ignore. My colleagues at The Orange County Register and the Detroit Free Press also heard nu“ merous concerns from their readers. The Chicago Sun-Times canceled the strip on the grounds that it was “tasteless and excessively violent.” In conversation with several Tribune employees who are familiar with “The Simpsons” TV program, I learned the cartoon is indicative of the warped Sim- psons’ world. Therefore, they were not , troubled by the comic strip. They argue : + » that “The Simpsons” will always get under the skin of some people because its genre is to be absurd. : If that is the gist of the surprisingly } popular TV show, then Groening has managed to carry his brand of odious READER ADVOCATE SHINIKA SYKES humor into another medium, newspapers. But his combining the Christmas theme with non-stop violence was the ultimate offense. Shelledy now is keeping a close eye onthis strip. Q concerns last week Other included: @ Patrick Wiggins, astronomer at the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City, havesaid the last full moonofthe 1900s. @ Reader Jim Geertsen said the paper missed the boat when Thursday’s “On This Date” did not includethe fact that LDS Church founder Joseph Smith was born on Dec. 23, 1805. “It may notbe that, important anywhere else in the country, but with the number of Mormons in this state,it’s an importantdate.’ Salt Lake City reader Gary Eastin was confused by Pat Bagley’s Dec.19 editorial cartoon which depicted presidential contenders John McCain andBill Bradley stepping on the coattails of GOP front-runner George W. Bush and the Democratheir apparent Al Gore. “Bagley should print an explanation ofwhatheis tryingto say.Ifthe odds are nowless than 99 to 1 that both Bush and Gore will be the candidates, The Tribune has failed to say anything aboutthis.” I was unable to find any announce- raised, Bush and Gore lead the pack in their respective parties. Therefore, I do not believe a response is required to Bagley’s satirical view that the road to the White House is not going to be a cakewalk for either Bush or Gore. The Reader Advocate’s phone number is [phone]. Write to the Reader Ad- vocate, The Salt Lake Tribune, P.O. Box 867, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110. E-mail: [e-mail] a E i |tof e towards the reforms needed to restore citizen. that the and @ Keep it short. Concise letters developing a single theme are more likely to be published. @ Please type anddouble space. & Letter and edited. @ Because of the volume of mail received, not all submissions are sweet setup. Lake Tribune, P.O. Box 967, Salt Lake byists don’t wantto change; they know a > KATHY VAN DAME Salt Lake City published. @ Mail to Public Forum, The Salt over crowded classrooms in Utah is all about. I, for one, love the fact that I am barely able to get to my classes on time. Granted, I'm not running through the halls elbowing people and mimicking what seems like an epi: the WWF Wrestling show. It makes me feel safe and enclosed in this hectic world. I find it quite exciting, actually, to go to school every day, not knowing whether my teacher has come up with a new andinventive way to rearrange the desks so we can squeeze one more exchange student I am not noticeable, and the teacher therefore has noreal recollection ofwho I am or what my name mightpossibly be. I am thenleft free to take my after-morning nap. Whoneeds space to mnove, severe, discover and learn new 3? Not I. the momentI am happy being a ee on the wall of the overcrowded, undereducated school system of this lovely state of Utah, which I call home. LINDSAY MARSHALL Salt Lake City EDWARD McDONOUGH Divisive Critic note with amusement Eleonora Shpigel’s cous (Forum, . 4) pertaining to Sen. Orrin Hatch. ‘Theletter said that Orrin Hatch doesn’t know arith- metic, that he divides all Americans into two unequal groups — Mormons and Gentiles. This shows howlittle is known about the real Sen. Orrin Hatch. Herespects Americans and le of the world.It is those who write to the Forum, as Eleonora Shpigel did, who showan attitude that divides Mormons and others. Why do people need to be 80 inconsiderate? LORNASNARR MILES Taylorsville City, Utah 84110 Our fax rrumber is [phone]. Sound Policy I was troubled to hear of the recent Loves Those Big Classes I really don't know what the concern makes the decision to acknowledge me, I have a surefire way of making it through the year without being bothered. You see, POINT OF LAW Where to Write @ When submitting letters to the Public Forum, please include your full name, signature, address and daytime telephone numbers. Information other than your name and the city in which youlive are kept confidential. executive portions of our state governmentare not giving disproportionate attention to big money. Of course, Utah lob- back of the classroom before the ae ters are your commission and evidence ueTh reports on time and to have interested parties notified when they are careless enough to lose their licenses will never pinch. These are really puny baby steps into the room. As personal representative, you will estate is “closed” whenthe final papers are filed with the court, saying thatbills are paid, assets have been distributed, and everything is in order. As soon as you are appointed, a Notice of, intmentis sent by the court clerk to those interested in the estate, such simple requirementsto be licensed, to file T also findit exhilarating. I've come to find that going to schoolis like being on a mystery spy show. If I learn to make myself invisible, moving stealth-like to the be issued “letters” from the court, saying that you have been appointed. These let- If you are named the personal repre- Methinks Gary Thorup doth protest too much voble Lobbyists Squawking Over Proposed Rules,” Tribune, Dec. 13). IfUtah lobbyists are 80 squeaky clean, the tial candidates. This paper, like other media outlets, has reported that, according to polls and the amount of money ern term for the person named to carry out the wishes of the decedent regarding distribution ofhis assets, and to complete the decedent’s business, such as paying bills and filing tax returns. sentativeofan estate, you will have these specific duties: You must take an inventory of assets of the estate, and be sure these are protected during the time of your administration; you must manage Letters from The Tribune’s readers Innocuous Reforms ment by The Tribune as to who will be the Republican or Democratic presiden- “Personal representative” is the mod- that you have authority to act on behalf of the estate. You will need to show them to banks, brokers and insurance companies, when youare administering the estate. THE PUBLIC FORUM nium.” Pointtaken. The caption ought to Being Personal Representative For an Estate Is Responsibility A person named to administer an estate used to be called an “executor” or “administrator.” IF WE TAUGHT DRIVER'S ED the WAY WE TEACH SEX ED..... was taken aback whena front-page photo of a full moonrising above the Wasatch range had a caption touting it as “the last full moonof the millennium.” “Not so,” said Wiggins.“There are 12 more to go before the endof this millen- Lobbyist Rules In “Utah Lobbyists Squawking Over Proposed Rules” (Tribune, Dec. 13), lobbyist Frank Pignanelli says that the new rules to regulate lobbying do not mean anything. But enforcement of lobbyist registration andfinancial disclosure laws protect government accountability and help to guarantee that our representa- have access to complete and timely information about who is lobbying and pro- viding our legislators with meals, tickets and gifts, DEBBIE ABRAMS-COHEN Salt Lake City court challenge involving two homosex- ual men who desire to adopt a child. The news article said they had “wanted child for years.” How I wish an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union had sat down with them to explain the difference between needs and wants. He then could have gone on to explain that when one becomes a parent, even a necessary per- sonal need of an adult is placed down the list below the child's needs. The ability to place a child’s needs before an peahaha ahem‘amature adult. m both personal experience and Sevens national studies, everything I know reaffirms that for the best chance for success,a child needs both a mother and a father. Men and wenaes each provide very different and very necessary skills to rear a child. A ‘child of either gender models both parents as a pattern of future behavior and relationships. Simply because our society ooaiaine 80 many single-parent homes is not a reason we should cease to acknowledge thebetter situation — a home with both a mother Shortsighted Bureaucrats and father. thasBiceoOatcee pant a home with no hope of roles is criminal. The Division“ofCcna Recently I decided to get out and about our beautiful valley.eine Soa ene Wasatch an added“fence? Tne mentpillars. Were these for ra?As ao closer, I realized how solidly real they were, and that they could only be some kind of sound barrier. It was hard to equate the extended man-made viewwith sufficient and Family Services hasa wise policy that meets the true needs of the child and not the selfish wants ofan adult, whichis just a8 it should be. Q MARY E. SEAMAN Salt Lake City Appropriate Curbs Qa published, if creditors don’t send you a bill within four months after first publication,the claim is forever barred. If you don't publish a notice, the time for unknown creditors to make a claim against theestate is extended to a year. If you disagree with a claim, you have 60 days to tell the claimant in writing. thay fe, Bae 0 ye0 ame nevcent ings to enforce the claim. Generally, estate assets are paid in this order:1, assets held by the decedent as a trustee or other fiduciary; 2, allowances provided by law for the decedent's Contemptible Citizens Is it just me or has anybody else noticed the continued alienation that our state Legislature has with the electorate? The latest proof comes from Rep. Matthew orton of Springville, who feels it is his duty to go so far to protect the right to bear arms that, if he gets his way, no one in the state of Utah could sue gun companies (Tribune, Dec. family while the estate is being administered; 3, of ; funeral federal law; 6, amounts expended by Utah under Medicaid; 7, expenses of last illLeqribipeee 7 here sped: pal t may in fact be constitu- tionally safe, and a nearly collective voice both cee Distribution doesn’t have to wait until the estate is closed. But remember, as personal representative, you are responsible ifyou distribute assets and then find you need the assets to pay claims. Your compensation as P.R. and that of “reasontions by revelation the voice of those they hold in such low esteem? Where are the revolutionaries when ‘we need them? Bdward McDonough is ‘a Salt Lake City attorney and a member ofthe Utah Bar, 4 ates GREGGORY WOOD Salt Lake City woe LakeCity’s lobbyists are fighting requiring them to sub-