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Show heHaltLakeGribune Page A18 OPINIO FRIDAY, AUGUST25, 2000 OUR VIEW The Salt Lake Tribune’s Editorial Position Sharing the Land After three years of cooperative planning, officials from the Bureau of Land Management and state parks have drawn up a managementplan that separates Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) users designated areas are bound to fail, as they have in the San Rafael Swell. Every dune, washbottom and hillside athikers in a scenic swath of southern in the Swell that can be reached by OHVs is crisserossed by their tracks, including those behind the Wilderness Study Area Ifonly all the parties in the San Rafael Swell dispute could be so reasonable. The plan for the Coral Pink Sand haverefused to consider plans to share the Swell, many OHVriders have been Dunes area limits OHVs mainly to BLM lands adjacent to the state park, which long ago was set up as a playground for motorized vehicles. It reserves about 95 percent of the adjacent Moquith Mountain Wilderness Study Area for hikers, and while 10 miles of vehicletrails will be open, OHVs won't be allowed to leave them. Hikers might complain that since OHV users already had thestate park, they didn’t need more BLM land, but only the federal land was really ever on the bargaining table. While the state participated in the planningprocess,re- moving someofits land from OHV use was notconsidered. The plan has a good chance to work because OHV groups support it and have promised to help persuade other motorized users to comply. Without that cooperation, attempts to keep OHVsin signsthat wilds fans count on to protect the region. Because environmentalists inclined to ignore the signs. Some undoubtedly still would evenifrestrictions were agreed upon, but gaining the coop- eration of local OHV clubsis the area's best hope since the Bureau of Land Management doesn’t have the manpower to regularly patrol such a vast area. The sameis true for Moquith Mesa, a stunning expanse of sand, cliffs and wind-sculpted pillars of stone southeast of the state park. Environmentalists complain about the intrusiveness of OHVnoise, but with 14,000 of the 14,830 acres off-limits to vehicles — about 21 square miles — there will be plenty of opportunity to findsolitude. If wilds proponents would drop their oppositionto sharing the land with OHV users, the same mightbe said for the San Rafael Swell. Cor heatreeten ENTHUSIASE on BOARD THE LEcACY HGHWaAy : Neety MUCH Done: THE PUBLIC FORUM English by Immersion Lettersfrom The Tribune’s readers However,it has proven benign only in the sense that it has imposed little if any Invalid Comparison expectation upon students, who can be enrolled in bilingual education classes Therecent editorial comparing evolutionists and creationists (Tribune, (Aug. fornia test scores,alas, indicate that it for years, only to emerge all too often with only a slightly improved grasp of may,in fact, be a pernicious program English. into the American polity. Recent Cali- that robs youngsters of much of any incentive to learn English or excel in school. Two years ago, California voters ap- proved Proposition 227, a voterinitiative toscale backbilingual education in favor of immersion programs, where students with limited English proficiency speak nothing but English.It is the equivalent of learning how to swim bygetting fully in the water, as opposed to a toe, gradually a foot, a leg andso forth. Recenttest scores show that immersion is more efficacious than bilingual education. According to The New York Times, the average readingscores ofsecond graders classified as limited in English rose 9 percentage points over the Cynics mightsay it has been designed expressly for that; a program whose carefully dissembled goal is to maintain dependency while discouraging any individual propensity to break free of the herd and excel, even if its weapon has been a loving nurturing of limited En- glish speakers’ linguistic and academic status quo. What.the California scores are most clear about is that bilingual education . adversely affects not only the ability of last two years,to the 28th percentile from students to improve their English language skills, but also their entire academic work. The test score improvements represent real achievement for manyof that state’s students with limited English the 19th in national rankings. In mathe- proficiency. If they do nothingelse, these centage points, to the 4ist percentile from the 27th. scores should send resonantsignal that bilingual educationis notnecessarily all thatit is cracked up to be and,in fact, Bilingual education sounded promis- may be a major contributor of academic matics, the average score rose 14 per- ing and benign in its early days. mediocrity — andfailure. ANOTHERVIEW From The Washington Post Reno Gets It Right — Again Attorney General Janet Renowill un- doubtedly take heatfor her decision, announced Wednesday, not to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Vice President Gore. She has again rejected the advice of her campaign finance task force chief, in this case prosecutor Robert Conrad,leaving herself vulnerable to a charge ofshielding Gore from a truly independent inquiry. Yet once again, Reno is correct, and her explanation is persuasive, Atissuein the currentroundof independentcounselfever is Gore’s truthfulness in a deposition taken by Conrad in April. The prosecutor asked about White House coffees and the Hsi Lai Temple incident and was dissatisfied with Gore's answers. Conrad wanted an independent counsel to investigate whether Gore perjured himself. Reno concluded that “the transcript reflects neither false statements nor perjury” but, rather, a “disagreementaboutlabels.” Gore may have disputed that the temple event was a “fundraiser.” But Reno points out that in his actual description of the incident and the coffees, “there's no ifs, ands or buts about it”; they were intended to “build a relationship so thatlater, you mightgo out and ask for a contribution.” However such events are best tagged, Renosaid, “I reached the conclusion that the vice presidenthad not, based on this record, failed to describe what (their) role in fundraising was.” Rena concluded that nothingin the record would support a conceivable prosecution and that, therefore, there is no basis for continued investigation of the statements — let alonebya special prosecutor. This seemsrightat a political as well as legal level — though Renoinsists that politics plays no role in her law enforcement decisions. The allegations concerning the Hsi Lai Temple incident have been hanging around for four years. To wait this long and then — in the midst ofanelection campaign — loose an independent counsel on such an improbable charge would constitute an unwarranted interference in the presidential campaign. Both sides trashed previously accepted norms of campaign finance in 1996, with the Clinton-Gore campaign in the lead and Dole-Kempnotfar behind. This year both parties are greedier than ever. The problem will not be solved in court, nor by special prosecutors. A president and Congress will have to step up,andvoters in this election year will have to decide which candidates are likeliest to do so. The Salt LakeTribune UTAH’S INDEPENDENT VOICESINCE 1871 PAST PUBLISHERS PUBLISHER John F. Fitzpatrick (1924-1960) Dominic Welch John W, Gallivan (1960-1983) EDITOR James E, Shelledy Jerry O'Brien (1983-1994) KEARNS-TRIBUNE CORPORATION, 143 §, MAIN ST. SALT LAKE CITY, #4111 7 Matter of Choice Where to Write @ When submitting letters to the 7) was evidently written by someone who isnot very scientifically oriented and who Public Forum, please includeyour full name,signature, address and daytime is biased toward creationism. The evolutionists that I know are mostly educated people who understand the basic principles of mathematics, physics and chemistry. Thecreationists that I know are mostly less educated and were taughtto doubtscientific education. The editorial compared the twofactions by using words like “blind faith” and “closedmindedness.” The only people I am aware of who use “blind faith”are almost always creationists. That is one of the reasons can’tfollow their logic. Ionly believe things that are shown to have a basis in science.It is the same reason I don’t believein “life after death.” There is not a shred ofscientific evidence to prove telephone numbers. Information other than your nameandthe city in which you live are kept confidential. @ Keep it short. Concise letters developing a single theme are more likelyto be published. '@ Please type and doublespace. @ Letters are condensed andedited. @ Because of the volume of mail received, not all submissions are published. @ Mail to Public Forum, The Salt Lake Tribune, P.O. Box 867, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 @ Our fax numberis (801) 257-8950. thatit exists. “Closedmindedness” is also usually reserved for the creationists. Most evolutionists are willing to listen to any new ideas. Creationists, on the other hand, will usually pull out their Bibles and refer to something that has been translated many times by “biblical scholars.” A friend of mine refers to these ancient writings as evolving when mankindstill used “square wheels.” Religion throughout history has persecuted anyone whodared to question the’ teachings of the church.It has only been within the last hundred years or so that scientists have been free to explore and study new ideas withoutthe fear of being persecuted or evenkilled.If creationism is true, then whydid society (read religion) persecute the likes of Galileo and John Scopes? I must say that The Tribune's editorial content has definitely taken a backward turn whenthis kind ofdrivel is espoused, especially in this day and age. STEPHEN J. DECARIA Bountiful Q Good Samaritans Mercenary Values Jam a Utah transplant and after four years I am finally getting a firsthand education on what “family values” means. Gov. Mike Leavitt is willing to build his Legacy Highwayat anycost, including displacing hundreds ofhomeson the west side. But wait, that’s not all. Upon reviewing the proposals drawn up by Horrock Engineering, one would see that the highwayis slated to pass directly by three elementary schools, two junior high schools and Hunter High (Utah teachers should be enraged). Salt Lake City was already named oneof the most dangerous cities for pedestrians. Are wetrying to top thelist? Finally, Joseph Moore, West Valley City director ofcommunity and economic development, made a public statement (Tribune, Aug. 6) implying that tax revenue and commerce should take precedence over the rights and wishes of the citizens. I urge Utah voters to take a good look at these “values” and consider making somechanges in November. It is with little interest that Iha,e been following the saga of the cutr little Brigham Young University student and her attempt to establish her ow1/set of rules (or at the very least, fudge </few of the university’s) so she can haveler cake andeatit too. I fully agree that sh¢is free to opt for education as a BYU coed, or as an MTV groupie. I also agree her parents that she probably learhed as much from herstintin th asshe would in the It some might find the material to bep little questionable). However, along with her choicgs come a few rules that even she,in her aivete, must be compelled to follow. Sqe, she was monitored on national televgion 24hours per day, 7-days per week, }nd I’m sure still remains pure as the|driven snow,even by BYU standards. Bul isn’t it a little like hanging out in bars jecause everyoneelse aroundyoulikest! sphere, but don’t drink or smike; or sleeping in the samebed with thecpposite sex, but not “going all the way”. oj smoking dope because everyoneelse {round youis, but“not inhaling”? Our little wanna-be and/or het mom and dad mayfeel thatsheis perfe¢tly innocent of any misdeeds, which i1| truth, she probably is. But, I think tiat it’s merely the “appearance of improjriety” thatis at issue here, not how muc} temp- tation she successfully resisted ay how pure and spotless she remains. Tis, the university’s point is well taken. fust as she has every rightto establish anfollow her own set of standards, BYU a$o has that same right, no matter how/much others may (and do) disagree. | Sheisa big girl now (butt out, injmand dad) and,needs to decide ifshe warts to be little Miss Mormon,orlittle Mis:/Movie Star, and then live with the choic}. Get a life, honey,like the rest of us hav4 had to do. JAN NELSEN Sandy Q On Aug.4, I was at Media Play on Redwood Road with my 6-year-old son and 3 year-old daughter. We were standing in line whenI realized something was wrong with my son. He was having seizure. I tried to carry him outside while also trying to guide my daughter out. A man and womancame overto help me. As I called 911, the man checked my son's breathing andhis pulse. The woman told me that they would stay with meuntil help arrived. She also mentioned that her husband is a medical student. They stayed with meand kepttalking tomy son and checking his vitals until the paramedics arrived. As they walked off I thanked them and told the man he will make a great doctor. I never found out their names. The man the woman by her name,but in the confusionI can't rememberwhatit was. I wantto express mygratitude to these strangers for their concern for my son and for staying with me during this incredibly horrifying ordeal. It was very comforting to have them stay with me. Mysonis doing just fine. The doctors still aren't quite sure whyhe had this seizure butall the tests have shown there was no damage andthat he is normal and healthy. Again, thank you to these two good Samaritans. You are great people. Please know how grateful I am and that youare in my prayers. I read with interest your recent editorial that advanced the notion (as a reasonable compromise) of teaching creationism along with evolution in our public schools, I assume you mean the Christian version of creation. Evolution is science, while creationism is religion. Given our Constitution and Bill ofRights, government maynot officially favor one religion over others. We cannot legally advance the Christian version to the exclusion ofothers. To make your suggestion constitutional (and fair), we would have to advance all versions of creation. I am for this in concept, but it doesn’t seem very practical. There are probably 60 different American Indian versions alone. How fascinating it would be for students to hear the difference between Paiute and Cheyenne;to listen to someone speaking in tongues about creation or watch someone handle snakes during a presentation. There must be over 100 religions (versions of creation) in the U.S.A. alone. Worldwide, the number may be over a thousand. Do we really wantto go there? LISA BLYCKER West Jordan GIL NICOLA. St. George Kearns u Too ManyBeliefs | | Man Is God Here — LYNN MILLER Gregory Hansen (Forum, Aug. }) views the coverage of the TV celebrity whoallegedly had sex with a minoras “:/war on masculinity.” WhenI first relogited to Zion from the Midwest, I had an epportunity to chaperonea teen-age party. I witnessed some of the boys standijg in a narrow hallway ritualistically groping the derrieres of each and every girl who passed by. The female chaperonevo was born andraised here claims she'knows the culture inside and out andtold me that the girls viewed the behavior as @ compliment. “Man is God here,” shebtated. “Whatkind of man/god would treat their women that way?”I asked. She didn’t believe me whenI told her that wherel come from, this sort of “masculine” behavior would get you a punch in the mouth. I don’t knowifthe TV celebrity is from this culture, butif so, 1 am not surprised at his behavior. In my dating dayshere,I dated six women. All were from this culture. All were abused by their former husbands. Every one!It seems to me this culture promotes the degradation and abuse of their women for reasons only masculinity” is made as Mr. Hansen sug. And yeah, I know. . . “if you don’t it here, why don’t you just leave.” DENNIS KOSTECKI Holladay, ee Bilingual education is one of those feel-good programs designed to gently help non-English speakers slowly — very slowly — learn English and assimilate |
