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Show ., .' '· THE THUNDERBIROOSOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITYOTHURSOAY FEBRUARY 6, 1992DPAGE 4 ~--------------------...................................................................i..iiiiiiiiiii.ii.i.........iiiiii......................................._ HATE CRIME BILL SHOULD BE EQUAL cccntly the Utah Legislature's House Judiciary Committee hedged on effort! to set up laws regarding what have been termed hate crimes. These crimes arc typified by violence, hatred, and intimidation, and arc usually perpetuated against homosexuals, African Americans, Jcws, Mexican Americans, and those of a religious minority. The legislation consists of two bills introduced by Democratic Rep. Frank Pignanelli. One bill proposes harsher penalties for crimes motivated by hate . Another would require Utah's law enforcement agencies to keep a record of hate crimes. As a society. we arc disturbed whenever crimes or class hatred arc committed against those in a minority. It is not a matter of what one's skin color is, or whether a particular lifestyle is appropriate. Instead, it is a matter of civil rights. Nevertheless, there exists a segment of society which is prone to \fiolence and any number of shameful acts. It is almost unavoidable for a quantity, however small, of the general populace to guard a degree of prejudice. In the nation as a whole, especially in large metropolitan and urban centers, racial tensions are on the rise. Cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago each battle to stop the increasing intolerance for people based on ethnicity or sexual preference. There are regular crimes of so-called gay bashing. In Chicago a gang of Mexican Americans assaulted a gay man within the past several months. It's not only a problem of the majority persecuting the minority anymore. In the backdrop of-America's history, it is easy to wonder what happened to the great American melting pot. Utah, for many, has been known as a sheltered environment, but in the Salt Lake Valley gangs in schools are entrenched. Even here in Cedar City and Enoch, gang graffiti is appearing on elementary school walls and on the streets. K As these kinds of crimes are continuing, the House committee has stalled the bill proposing harsher penalties, and has altered the bill requiring statistical records of hate crimes. In fact, the legislation no longer says acts of violence against homosexuals are to be considered hate crimes. The Thunderbird is concerned about this rise in crime and hatred and believe we need to have a legislature watching out for all of its constituents. SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY O CEDAR CITY, UTAH Editor Kath.leen CloYe Managing Id.it.or Natalie Coombe Opinion Dircdor David Johmon Copy Editor Jennifer Money Photo Editor Eric Rodcridt Sparta Editor Jay Hinton Atta Id.it.or Cberia Tucker Pmcludion Managu R.achdle Mullcnnax Adw:rtiaing Bcpe Jef Andenon Ben Blaclr.bum Su.ff Procluc:tion Head Lynn Dennen faculty Mvuer Larry Baur cbc academic )QI' by and for the auden1 body of Southern Utah UniYoenity and is not affi)ja1ed wilh the U 0Mniry' 1 c:lepenmcnt of communiation.. The views and opinions c:,cpta.d in n, .,.,,,..,,;,,/ are it.... of individual wri1en and do not -=-ari1y rdleCI the views al the irutitution, £acuity, stall' or IWdcnt body in ~ The unsigned edi!orial ciret11y llbo,e ii the opWon al 77w T1wttlttbitr/ • a tingle entity. Letten to the editor mutt be typed and include the name and phone nwnbei: Only the name wil be prinlt:d. Nama will not be wilhhdd under _, circwntlanca and the ediror reoerw:I editing privilep. Lettcr1 mUll be tubmitted by noon Friday,, for Monday ediriont; 5 p.m. Tucttlays locThunday editiono. GrinaMa: Any individu.J with a grievance -saintt 77,, r,,,,,,,Ja1,i,r thou.Id dinct such probiem lint to the cdil.OI'. lf u nauo!Ycd, that grievan<z lhould then be directed to the adviRr. lf IC.ill uruac,l,m;!, the grievance lhould be directed IO cbc SUU Publications Council, ~7710. Tit, ~ · ol'fica in SUU Technology Building 003. Mail 1t SUU Box 9384, c.cdar City, 77,, Tlwttlnl,i,d is pubfuhed each Monday and Thunday of UT 84720. PhoM (801} S86-7757, 586-7758, S86-7750, S86-5'f88. FAX 586-5487. be-;,ou. .better- off now Yes. than you we.re a3eai, ~ ? ACC~ Americans are living the easy life 'Acce.ss' is a recurring column through which members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of amarn and interest. Today's column is by Julia Shochat, a publications specialist at SUU. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. If you haven't heard this before, please step to the back of the class. No, on second thought, just step out in the hall where we can have a little chat. One of my college professors onc:c pulled me aside to remark that I seemed to be an intelligent person who was capable of performing the wo~k he expected of his students; but he also felt that I Wil-5 coasting, not performing up to capability. His .terminology was, " You're spinning your wheels." More than 10 years later, a respected associate has made the same assessment of me: I'm spinning my wheels. Life i.s good- too cushy, in fact. I cat, breathe, and sleep in perfect comfort. Living is remote, a thing sort of happening to me as I go along. I may be one of a fortunate few-not hungry, homeless or ill. But I believe that what ails me i.s a twin to what is ailing the United States of America in general. We lack challenge. Life for many of us is too good, too easy to take for granted, too easy to let pass by. Even with an ailing economy, we seem to cry foul. It's not our fault-it's all those foreignen who have been making better products at cheaper prices. This i.s not about us, we seem to think, not about accepting challenges in the way that once made this country great. We arc acting as though the economy-the life of this country-is passing us by through no fault of ours. Let me suggest something, America: You're spinning your wheels. You're perfectly capable of performing excellent work, but a too-easy life full of goods and possibilities ( that most of the world is still trying to emulate) has got you coasting. Let me challenge you, America: Before the world passes you by, get up off the couch, push back from the video, and get to work. That rut may be comfortable now, but it will be less so as life goes on, 'We are acting as though the economy-the life of this country is passing us by through no fault of ours. Let me suggest something, America: You 're spinning your wheels.' if you don't become at least as much produccn as consumers. I once prided myself on being self-supporting. Lately, I let someone else provide most of my support. What a great deal! I consume and consume with very little output of my own. But it's turning out to be not as fun as I once thought that would be. I need to be productive, but am not meeting that need. My penonal challenge is to stop complaining and get to work. My goal i.s to become a producer as well as consumer. Will anyone else take up this challenge? |