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Show DheSaltLakeTribune OPINION THURSDAY, JANUARY31, 2002 OURVIEW A Warning In his State of the Union address, President Bush gave the American people a sobering and timely re- minderthat they are at war. He appeared to be steeling them fortrouble ahead, and he warnedthat the United States will take action to destroy terrorist training camps wherever they are andto preventstates that sponsor terrorism from threatening America andits allies with weapons of mass destruction. acquired in Afghanistan from terrorist compoundsincluded “diagramsof American nuclear power plants and public waterfacilities, detailed instructions for making chemical weapons, surveillance maps of American cities and thorough descriptiens of landmarks in America ge} schooled in the methods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes, Though the president did not use the words“pre-emptive action,” his are nowspread throughout the world warning was clear. He named names. North Korea, Iran andIraq arethenationshecited as threats. “States like these,” the presidentsaid,“constitute an axis of evil, arming to threatenthe peace of. the world. By seeking weapons of without warning,”the presidentsaid. It has been unclear where the war on terrorism might take the United States after Afghanistan. Now the president has been more specific. Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Jaish-e-Muhammad are the terrorist massdestruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In anyofthese cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic.” So, the enemies of the United States are explicitly on notice. This is good policy for two reasons. First, it leaves no doubt in the minds of the leaders opposed to the United States that they could face a pre-emptive attack at any time. This may deter them like ticking time bombs, set to go off organizations he singled out. They operate in Lebanon,Syria, Iran, Yemen, and in theIsraeli-occupied territories of Palestine, among other ces. President Bush’s messagealso is a reminderthat. although noterrorist attack has occurred on American soil since Sept. 11, a grave threat of further attacks remains. While this is been so explicit if he did not believe in the wake of Afghanistan, they that sucha threatexists. The conclusion that must be know that this president will act. drawn from the president's speech is Second, it prepares Americans inadvance if such anattack is necessary. Thepresident also warned Ameri- mustbe emotionally prepared for action. The president has reminded ev- from taking foolish decisions, since, cans that evidence the United States that Americans must be watchful and eryonethatthis nation is at war. Groundless George Van Komen should know evidence, not evena scintilla ofit, to better than to make allegations with- back his assertions. His only rationale, the only excuse heoffers for his provocative allegations is what he calls “a strong conviction.” This is laughable. Louis Napoleon hada bet- out facts to back themup. Alas, he does not and even admits that he does not while proceeding full speed ahead. In hislatest effort to protect Utah young people — presumably adults, too — from exposureto alcoholor ad- vertising of same, Van Komenclaims that Olympic sponsor Anheuser- Busch somehow wasbehindthe 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision last year striking down Utah’s ban on alcohol advertising. Perhaps the brewers judges? Perhaps it used Clydesdale horses and wagon to somehow hypnotize the court or otherwise make its members amenable to subliminal suggestion to strike down Utah’s banon alcohol advertising. Van Komen does not say. Only silence emanateson suchparticulars as to just how the brewer wasable to exercise its baleful influence over a THE PUBLIC FORUM not particularly reassuring on theeve ofthe opening ofthe Winter Olympics in Salt LakeCity,it must be presumed that the president would not have ter excuse than this when he declared war on Prussia over a perceived slight of honor. This notion of injured pride may actually figure in Van Komen’s animus to Anheuser-Busch, despite the euphoric quality of his “strong con- viction.” He hints that the brewerrefused to meet with him and his Utah AlcoholPolicy Coalition, a slight for any man ofextraordinary sensitivity equivalent to denying him and his We WelcomeLetters Potential Lightning Rod I would like to address the pro- posed legislation mandating the phrase “In God We Trust”to be posted in our public schools, known as House Bill 79. As a Christian I don’t have any problem with the phrase and endeavorto live up to it and encourage others to do the same. Cur- rently, Utah lawstipulates that effective study of American history and government be carried out in our schools. This includes study of historical documents including the national motto. Wecannotdenythatin our history our nation has beenlargely built on individual and communal religious faith. This religious milieu touches virtually every aspect of our culture and government in some way. To protect freedom ofreligious expres- sion and to ensure that there would be thefirst of 10 original amendments to the U.S. Constitution. In this document, and others so dear to our heritage, religion has played a large part. Thus,on the surface the proposal to havethe national motto “In God We Trust” posted in our schools has legislative and historical precedent in cause the legitimacy and recognition he craves. For a man unusually worried aboutthe effects of a beer ad on the whichreligious symbols and generic references to deity have been protected and promoted. minds and hearts of young people, Van Komen'sallegations — and fee- Currentstate law, as already noted, provides for the objective study of ble justification of them — represent the national motto. Yet, the proposed ANOTHER VIEW $379 Billion in Perspective system. This could be a lightning rod for a lawsuit that could do away entirely with a law that is otherwise Indeed,hefreely admits he has no President Bush was to ask Congress to approve a plan toincrease U.S. military spending to $379 billion next year — a boostof$48 billion.It would represent the biggest one-year rise since the Reagan buildup two decades ago and asuspension of “the peace dividend.” Just how much moneyis $379 billion? Wit is the size ofthe entire economyof Australia or the Netherlands, and bigger than the Russian economy. @It matches the combined military spending ofthe15 countries with the next biggest defense budgets.(The proposed increase aloneis about the sameas the entire defense budget of the next biggest spender Japan.) @ Bush’stotal request would equal an even worse example for young people to emulate. John W.Gallivan (1960-1983) Jerry O'Brien (1983-1994) Religious Liberty Director Nevada-Utah C fense budget in 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War. But the adminis- of Seventh-day Adventists tration says it’s $70 billion Jess than the inflation-adjusted figure for defense spending in 1985, a period of peace before the Cold War ended. @ The request would cometo only Qa Ogden More Deserving Candidates 3.5 percentof expected U.S. gross do- mestic product. While that would be at the highest level since 1996, it wouldstill be smaller than the share of economic outputthe United States devoted to defense in any year from 1941 (before Pearl Harbor was attacked) through the end of President Clinton'sfirst administration. The Washington Post UTAH’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1871 John F. Fitzpatrick (1924-1960) and KEVIN JAMES It would roughly match, in inflation adjusted terms, the U.S. de- The Salt LakeTribune PAST PUBLISHERS sound reasonable. can corporation. the marketcapitalization of General Electric Corp., which has the biggest not, seems to betray the desire to promotereligion in the public school constitutionally marketcapitalization of any Ameri- PUBLISHER Dominic Welch EDITOR | James BE.Shelledy EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR RandyC,Frisch THESALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 143 S, MAIN ST. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84111 full name, signature, address and daytimetelephone numbers. Informa- tion other than your name and the city in which you live are kept confidential. @ Keep it short. Concise letters developing a single theme are more likely to be published. Please type and double space. @ Letters are condensed and edited. @ 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 § Ourfax numberis (801) 257-8950. @ Our e-mail address is letters@ sitrib.com. They made war on us in September, were defeated in December, and by January, the U.S., Europe and Japan pledged to rehabilitate Afghanistan beyond its wildest dreams. Bangladesh is one of the poorest countriesin the world but has always been friendly toward us. What have we donefor them lately? El Salvador is the most densely populated country in the Western Hemisphere, is desperately poor, and like stan, recently experienced a decade-long civil war. Despite their troubles they have remained steadfast allies, but they won't be getting $2.6 billion this Insulting Sculpture It was with more than a little dismaythatI read (Tribune, Jan.26) that the city of Provo is planning on erecting a sculpture of “. . . John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson knelt in prayer.” All three men would have been angered at the proposal, and at least one of them (John Adams), given his temperament, would have been livid with rage. All three Would consider such a sculpture to be a gross personal in. sult. ‘All three would also be angered at the attempt by somepolitical pontiffs over the past 30 years to rewrite history, rewrite what these men ac- tually said, wrote, and believed, and turn them into Bible-believing, praying sycophants. John Adams (a Deist) and Thomas Jefferson (a Deist) would probably no governmental establishment of faith our Founding Fathers drew up amendmentto the current law mandating the posting of the national motto could infringe upon parental rights and individual beliefs and choices. Thefact that this motto is being required to be posted, whereas other portions of documents that are part ofour governinental heritage are duly constituted courtof the land. @ When submittingletters to the Public Forum, please include your haverefused to pray even ifa gun had been held to their heads. Adams Quit Highway Spending wouldcertainly have “demanded sat- Gov. Mike Leavitt has required state agencies and programsto significantly cut their budgets in this time ofrecession. I have a suggestion for Gov. Leavitt and the Utah Legislature: Instead of pouring more moneyinto the Legacy Highway, use that moneyto reduce cuts in the budgets for state programs such as education and health and humanservic- pistols) anyone so insolent and insulting as to create a sculpture show- es, The overwhelming success of TRAX and the fact that mostcities surrounding Salt Lake City are clamoringto build similar systems should be evidence enough thatthe people of Utah want sustainable living areas and transportation options. Don’t spend any more ofour tax dollars on construction of the Legacy Highway orits accompanyinglawsuits. BECKY RAMBO Park City Q Product Retrenchment Tt seems thatretail industry has not its di of “downsizing” its packages. The most recent example being Kellogg's CinnamonCrispToast.I have been using it for monthsand considerit one of thebestavailable. Recently, they changed the packaging in size only. They changed the contents from 18.5 ouncesto 14 ounces in weight, then placed the product “on sale”at $2 per package.I will see if the regular per ounce price stays the same. Obviously the price will increase or it would not have been necessary to go through this whole procedure. Do you remember when tuna fish packaging wentfrom 8.5 ounces percan to 6 1/4 ounces,to 6 1/8 ounces, to 6 ounces even? CONRAD CAPRIN: Salt Lake City isfaction (i.e., call out for a duel with ing him praying. While there are historians who also place Benjamin Franklin in the Deist camp, most believe he was “an unchurched Christian” who considered prayer to be unnecessary. Franklin’s friend George Whitefield expressed concern to Franklin about thelatter’s refusal to pray or attend church. Noneofthese three men have ever “knelt in prayer.” Why, then, was a sculpture depicting them doing that commissioned? DAVID RICE San Clemente,Calif. Qa Arrogant Statement It was with muchinterest that I read, “Eagle Forum Urged to Stay Loyal to GOP” (Tribune, Jan. 13). 1 think that for State Republican Chairman Joe Cannonto say that any “even less-worthy Republicans are better than a Democrat” is rather arrogant and irresponsible. Throughout the article it sounded as though he was desperate and begging people to stick with the Republican Party. As for “even less-worthy Republicans are better than a Democrat,” I think we in Utah already have more than our fair share of “less-worthy” Republicans in office. PAUL HART Sandy Masterful Work streets. Utah's schools sure could use another$296 million this year, Money to Afghanistan isn’t charity,it's the old protection racket. President Bush was outraged whenthe shipmentoflow-tech arms the P was i Would our endless shipments ofarms to Israel along with unlimited financial support, by any chance, be the cause of outrage displayed throughout the Arab countries? 1 must say I was certainly impressed to read James E. Sawyer’s academic analysis of the LDS corporate culture (op-ed commentary, Tribune, Jan. 27). It was a masterful work of scholarship worthyof any professor of political economy. and it stirred my soul as though I were listening to an engineer describe a sunset — except for one thing. The engineer would have had enough sense not to suggest how he could makeit better. CLARK LARSEN Holladay DON L. LAWSON Brigham City CONNIE ANDERSON South Salt Lake year. Closer to home, many Navajo people live in dirt-floored hogans, and homeless people sleep on grates within sightof the White House, Our jails and prisons are and hardened ctininals prowl the l Similar Arab Outrage? |
