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Show DAILY HERALD DailuSHerald EDITORIAL BOARD Albert J. Manzi, President & Publisher Randy Wright, Executive Editor Donald W. Mevers. Editorial nage editor Ken Baldridge; Publieadviser Barbara Curtis, Public adviser IN OUR VIEW Defending Martin’s Cove lhe LDS Churchis again embroiled in a lawsuit over public access. This time,it isn’t the Main Street Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City but an empty piece ofland lined by granite cliffs on the Mormon Trail in Wyoming. In June,the church joined a lawsuit on the side of the Interior Department and Bureau of Land on the National Register.of Histor- ic Sites. You can avoid a missionaypitch if you really want to. ore broadly, we simply refuse toa on board with the ACLU as it pretends that em played no role in history. The sole basis for the Mormon migration was religion, and Martin's Cove has little significance without it. What makes the place historically inter- esting is what motivated the people and what guided their actions un- has challenged the church's pa ‘on Martin's Cove. The ACLUfiled the suit on behalf of the Western Land Ex. change Project and four Wy: residents who claim the cata lease allows it to promotea religious message on public land. Oneofthe plaintiffs, Susan Woznyof Laramie,claimed that LDS guides at the cove repeat- edly asked her about her religion and forbade her from going into certain parts of the cove because it was “sacred” ground. The cove is where members of the ill-fated 1856 Martin handcart companysought refuge from win- ter storms while awaiting rescue parties from Salt Lake . Many of the handcart emigrants, suffering from exposure and starvation, died and wereburied in the cove. The churchattempted to purchase the cove fromghe BLM,but because of a lack of support in Congress,it settled for a lease at $17,000 a year. The church owns a visitors center on private property, which serves as a gatewayto the area. Martin's Covelies near a junction of several major western trails, derduress. Without that, all you've got is the mesesequivalent of a random car wreck. Guides at the cove should not be telling visitors that certain parts areoff-limits because they're sacred. Sacredness andpublic land don’t mix very well; on this we can agree with the ACLU.Afterall, people died in many places and at manytimes throughout American history, often in much larger num- LETTERS bers — Civil War or Revolutionary battlefields are good examples. Visitors generally have free access to all areas of commemorative parks. (Wesay generally, because Domestic violence includes men and women access is never absolute. All the parkshaverules.) Thereare plenty of good rea- sons for keepingvisitors on designated trails. At a battlefield park, Domestic violence awareness has certainly grownin our communities, for example,large numbersof tourists tromping anywhere they choose would quickly degrade the beauty and serene atmosphere of the place. And that runs counter to thanks to awareness campaigns and community action programs. Unfortunately, domestic violence continues to the purpose for which a memorial trails. Countless emigrants passed safety concerns. Rattlesnakes Rock and Martin's Cove over many manyvisitors are city-bred tourists esthis bias against men by changing including the Oregon and California decades of national growth. The church's operation at Martin's Cove does not diminish history — it enhances it. The Mormon experience was a major componentof America’s western expansion.Visitors to the cove learn not only about Mormons but about other emigrants who passed through. Of course, the Martin and Willie handcart companies get extra attention for obvious reasons. This was the site of a major tragedy. The handcart disaster — an anomaly in the highly successful, low-cost approachto overland travel — ranks with the DonnerReed Party amonghigh-profile disasters of the 19th century, and somedecent respect for the dead is appropriate. The Martin company is distinguished fromits Sierra Nevada counterpart in that the people did not turn to barbarism in their struggleto survive, unlike the Donnerparty andits infamous cannibalism. Would the ACLUshout religious discrimination when a tour guide at DonnerPass, Gettysburg, Pearl Harboror the World Trade Center site suggestsa little restraint? Probably not. The ACLUtends to get excited only whenit has an opportunity to kick religion in the teeth. And wehope a responsible judgein this case tells the liberal lawyers to take a hike (we suggest to Martin's Covein mid-winter, barefoot). Visitors are not forced to enter the LDS Church’svisitor’s center to visit the coveitself. Anyoneis free to park a car and hike a short distance to the place wherethe Martin Company camped,which is In addition, wesee legitimate Huntsman’s administration endors- aboundat Martin's Cove, and the nameofthe “ Domestic Violence Against Families” committee to the “Governor's Committee on Domestic Violence Against Womenand Families unaccustomed to roughterrain. Admonitions from tour guides are absolutely fitting and proper, if for no other reason than to protect people from themselves and es ventlawsuits. Rules requiring visitorsto stay ontrails also protect ACLU does not fall into this category) understand that in a public place, whether it’s city street, an immigrants? (via our schools supported by our tax dollars) responsibility to educateillegal sameresults as California and Texas. ust whenI thought the fight over evolution couldn't get any more LDS Church'slease, most people political, the president of the United areglad the churchis elping'tthe federal governmentin the creation of something that serves the public States weighs in with an apparent en- dorsementof teaching “intelligent de- interest. The BLM does not have the resources to maintain all the property in its inventory, espe- sign” in public schools. “Both sides ought to be properly taught,” President Bushtold a reporter on Aug.2, “so people can understand whatthe debateis all about.” Withone offhand remark,the presi- cially the historic sites. At Martin's Cove the LDS Churchis taking that burdenoff the federal govern- ment, and payingfor the privilege. That allows the BLM touse its resources in otherplaces. The church a shownitself to be a wise stewardin the field of dent managed to give intelligent design (the view that the complexity oflife can be explained only by the existence of an intelligent designer) a newlevelof political clout and respectability that no amount of PR can buy. historical preservation, as demon- strated in Nauvoo,Ill; Kirtland, Ohio; and Palmyra, N.Y., toname a few ofits interests. Its projects are alwaysofthe highest Politicizing science, of course,is nothing new in America. Beginning with the Scopes trial of 1925,politics andreli| gion,not science, havedriventhe fight The governmentcouldnot ask for overthe teaching ofevolutionin public schools. a better partnerin maintaining a federally owned historical site. That's why some textbooks still skim overevolution, and teachersin certain partsof the country look overtheir The New York Times that “evolution is the cornerstone of modern biology” the 1970s because they mainly tory for creationists (thanks to the withering wit of attorney Clarence Darrow),so this growingpolitical support for ID may well doom the ID movement. for prime timein the science cur- national peers. standards werefirst imposed in Scopes turned outto be a pyrrhicvic- Here's why. tried to reassure science groups,telling and “ intelligent design is not a scientific concept.” But conservative Christian groups Start with the fact that ID isn't ready riculum. To countas “science” in the public schoolsetting, a theory must be adequately supported by scientific research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. [D has no such support, although ID advocates contendthat's because the mainstream scientific community has frozen them out. for all light trucks, which also in- clude pickups, vans and minivans. local schools to act: “I would hope that fuelbburned on U.S. highways. thescience classroom.ID isn’tall they want(since it isn’t full-blown creationism),but it does point to God. Best ofall, would step upto the plate now andsay, tte a eps Suchvehicles account for half the The necessary technology al- ready is available. In 2001, the National Academy of Sciences found that the average gas mileagefor cars and i truckscould be increased by about a third without compromising Higher fuel-efficiency standards for light trucks — without a huge for monster SUVs — is a good place tostart. | already wereoff and runig. “Bush WantsIntelligent Design Taught in Pub- sey Congressman Scott Garrett urged first and foremost that the school boards ‘Look,ourpresident has saidthis; this is what weshould be teaching in our local schools.’ " The president's comments comeat a heady time forthe intelligent-design movement. Some 20 states are now considering changing their science standards to ensure that “alternative theories” be taught in science classes. Just last week,the Kansas Board of Education voted to include greater criticism of evolution in the state’s science courses. really two scientific sides in this debate? Evolutionis the prevailing scientific theory long accepted by the vast majority of scientists. ID, the proposed “scientific alternative,” is a concept with no substantial research base andnotestable hypotheses. No matter how muchreligious supporters of ID wishit wereso, IDisn't ready to be placed on equal sci- entific footing with evolutionarytheory That's whythe Kansasstrategyis far more worrisometo sciencegroups. Ratherthan pushing for ID, conserve tive membersof the state board w. schools to “teach the controversy” byincluding morecriticism of evolution. This Butjust as the conviction of John can high school students don't fare well in science when compared totheir inter- dential science adviser John Marburger heaviest light trucks were conceptwith no substantial research baseandnotestable hypotheses. No matter how muchreligious supportersof ID wishit wereso,ID isn’t ready to be placed on equal scientific footing with evolutionary theory. shoulders whenever they mention the “e" word. And we wonder why Ameri- serveto be taken seriously. Atfirst blush, Bush’s advice to teach “both sides” maystrike people as reaIntelligent design, the proposed sonable andfair. Butif he's talking about the science curriculum,are there “scientific alternative,” is a ID as the latest Trojan horse toride into tosave unpublished letters. Unintelligent debate overintelligent design pushy Hare Krishnas or born-again Christians or Mormons, but they are the exception and should not be used as a basis for publicpolicy. Rather than condemning the cus on the Family's Website. New Jer- reportedly is backing away from a plan to include the heaviest SUVs —roadhogs such as Hummers includetheir occupation and CHARLES C. HAYNES sion with anyone. All you need to do is say you're not interested. End of story. There may be some extra- lic Schools” declares the headline on Fo- auto ioe sonnet‘ion daytime phone number. » Letters become the property of-the Daily Herald. of abuse from receiving recognition Big fuel savings could be achieved by raising the standards to revampsuch standards. now, underpressure from teUS. author's full name, address and “Of the people, by the people and for the people”is no longer. Polls show that the vast majority of U.S.citizens want the illegal immigration to stop and yet only perpetrators of domestic violence. This only further alienates male victims upward pressure on prices. A key part ofthat strategy is raising fuel- working since 2003 on a peopcetl Provo, UT 84603. ) Letters mustinclude the other personal information. » Becauseof the volumeofletters, we cannot acknowledge were used for commercial purposes. But today, faancirediof of thousands are on the road as SUVsfor use. efficiency standards for light trucks, including sport utility vehicles. The administration has been || humans will accept it if brought about Had Mexico invaded the United States, we would fended off the invasion. But the old communist philosophy enoughto reduce fuel deman: over the long term and ease me but his administrationisn’t ome | Fax to 344-2985 || Mail to P.O. Box 717, gradual enough.” Weare seeing that philosophyin action. Illegals are invading ournation. Utah will quickly see the haveto engagein religious discus- exempted when fuel-efficiency have a magic wandto lower soaring gasoline prices, thanthe national language of English ? Whendid it become our government's that “no matter how drastic the change, The dayafter Bush's statement, presi- resident Bush says he doesn't duty to offer services in languages other | E-mail letters to l| dhletters@heraldextra.com Committee” in April. This exclusion of and support in ourpolitical and social Going easy on SUVsis a mistake From the Orlando(Fla.,) Sentinel, Whendid it becomethe United States’ | How to comment airport or Martin's Cove, you don't MEDIAVOICES ‘Aug. 18, 2005 ing,” to say the least » Tom Chapman, Las Vegas i the stigmathat victims of domestic vio- lence donot include men,and worse, | strengthens the stigma that menare the | Normal people (apparently the ger ties with Mexicoandpass legislation that enhances their ability to create a wider deficit margin. b We prefershorterletters, 100 and 200 words. Letters maybe edited for length. » Writers are encouraged to menin the committee's namefurthers the investmentthat has been made in the property in accordance with the terms ofthe lease. U.S. shouldn't cater our government thumbs its nose to our wishes and continues to establish stron- toillegal immigrants as The Associated Press regarding immigrants andtheirinability to communicate effectively in our society “interest- matization of men through controlled funding requirements dictated by the “Violence Against Women Act.” In our ownback yard, GovernorJon the Devil's Gate, Independence Ogden ness, males as a population have been the de facto abuser. Interest groups and legislation perpetuatethis bias and stig- dramatic human story behindit. D Jeff D. SG I find the articles being written by the Daily Herald, The Daily Universe as well abuse andinstitutionally stigmatized as It's no different at Martin’s Cove or any otherhistorical site with a abuseforall? be societal ill that affects communities nationwide.In the midst of this awareoverlooked and ignored as victims of is set up in the first place. Rules that help maintain serenity and beauty are completely justifiable. services system. Isn'tit time to stop Manyofthe groundtroops pushing ID in local communities don’t know if ID is good science, and they don't seem to care. They are part of the anything-butevolution movement that has jumped on to them,ID isn’t evolution. These are the folks who helped persuade'the Dover, Pa., school board to mandate that kids hear a statement about ID andlearn wheretofind out more. Since the board members who voted for this policy appearto be largely motivated by religious convictions,it’s likely that courtswill strike downthis practice as a violation of the First Amendment's establishment clause. When that happens, the effort to get ID into the curriculum will suffer a serious set! translates into teachingID,since the ID attack on evolutionis the “scientific critique” board membershavein mind. But sincethereis little debate among. biologists about core evolutionaryprinciples, anyattemptto bring intelligent designinto the biologyclassroom will face strongresistance from the science community. It may be less heavy-handed, but the actions of the Kansas board are just as political, and no more based in science,than the tactics of the Dover school board. With all due respect to our elected officials, including the president, decisions about whatcounts as good sciencein public schools must be made by Scientists,not politicians. In science, as in a democracy, conflict and debateare healthy and should be welcome.Intelligent-design advocates, some of whom arescientists, have every right to make the case against evolution and for an alternative theory. But that case should be madein research univer- sities andscientific journals. Public schools aren't a proving ground for untested theories. And students shouldn't become guinea pigs (or monkeys, for that matter)in the culture-war debate overevolution. That's badfor sci- ence education,and forthe nation. » Charles C. Haynes is senior scholar at the First Amendment Center, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22209. Contact him at firstamendmentcenter.org or chaynes@freedomforum.org. |