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Show Web site: letters ' ' ff i K, i Davis J Mrww.clippertoday.com lettersclippertoday.com County Qjppek Davis County may never be the same after Thursday night It was the shot heard round and it began county a thunderous boom. Literally. Some 730 guests were seated at their tables in anticipation of the opening gala for the brand-ne- Davis formed from a raw construction zone to an enchanted evening in less than tw;o weeks. We watched the frantic effort of the final tw'o or three days as builders, designers and organizers pushed themselves to make each day more complete than the one before. Despite the amazing pace and marvelous results achieved in the Conference Center when the drums began their roar. As the performers from Dm is High School's drum line beat out their final days, this colcadences, dozens of umn isn't really dressed snappily about the change to servers came the center's appearbounding in. lofting ance. however. trays filled with the The real story first course of what is the change to proved to be a ROLF KOECHER Davis County. As magnificent repast. Executive Editor It was a rousing the drums rolled and auspicious Thursday their cadence marked more than a beginning to the conference dramatic opening to an center's splashy opening, and evening's event. In a very real organizers had left nothing to chance: sense, the drum beats marked a Tables had already been lavchanging of the guard that has ished with dining finery and permanently altered Davis dramatic centerpieces. The County and will eventually touch almost every home. front stage was glowing with airs cloud patterns, in keeping Layton already the counwith the center's atmospheric ty's growing economic hub also became the county's heart. theme. Lach diner was preTo those who weren't theie to sented with elegantly designed witness the transformation. this booklets that recounted the realization mav come little bv night's menu and entertainlittle. ment - along with the history and description of the dynamic Shops, restauiants and relatnew center. Even a specially ed businesses are booming in struck commemorative coin Liston. Weber State's dynamic was set at each place setting new campus is in its second What's more, somehow the yeai ol operation. And now a v ast number of the event oiganizers lound a wav county 's to serve the hundreds gathered major events will emanate with dinners that were on time from Layton. and still hot. despite the mamYou'll soon be reading more moth undertaking of preparing Clipper stories with Layton and distributing a dizzying datelines as mountain ot meals on this tirst events take place there. In this issue alone, there are stories big night. When it came time lor the about the opening gala and the that have United Way kick-oentertainment, noted singer and recording artist Peabo already been held at the Conference Center. And there Bryson put on a superb performance. lad he been a contesare hundreds more to come within just the next year or so. tant on American Idol, he The Dav is School District would hav e clearly outclassed Foundation (Jala winners Ruben Stoddard. Clay long held will come in Salt Lake City Aiken or Kelly Clarkson. home to Layton. News conferEven during the reception ences. seminars on v ital issues, prior to the gala, ev ent organizers had left no stone unturned. key business conferences and all will The Conference Center was major public events emanate from the new dressed up to the max, and Conference Center in a way attendees could tour the ample that we've never seen before. facilities with various rooms The county has changed. decorated in pirate. Paris News coming from South cabaret and wedding motifs. Dav is, and especially the counEvery' detail had been considered. and it vv as hard to imagty seat in Farmington, will continue. of course, but w ill no ine an opening night going more smoothly. longer be quite as dominant as in the past. Which is all the more amazNo matter where we live, ing, considering that we have w'e'll all be taking part at events been dropping by the center in the Conference Center and regularly over the previous week or two. What we saw hearing about key events there. All this may take a few looked like organized chaos in months to settle into our colleca seemingly impossible effort tive conscious. But Peabo to beat the clock. I wish we could Bryson sang it best in his hit adequately song from the move. Aladdin: convey in words how the It's a whole new world...." Conference Center was trans news-makin- g ff in nil iis pirn E Amendment 3 is years of our we have to that document to the 200-plu- In s 1 1 Clipper Publishing Co., Inc. P.O. Box 267 Circulation Department: 295-225- 1 Subscriptions: 50 Bountiful, Utah 84011-026- 7 ext. 119 or 120 per copy. Home delivery: $25year. Mailed: $35year, in county; $45year, out of county. on Publication No. (USPS published Tuesdays and Thursdays at Bountiful, Utah. Periodical postage paid at Bountiful, Utah. Address all correspondence to P. O. Box 267, Bountiful, Utah 84011-026ISSN: 1061-122- 149-18- tion. The last time our lawmakers were in session. Rep. Chris Bullars Jordan), who (R-We- st coincidentally helped draft Amendment 3, had the audacity to voice his opinion that rape victims should carry a pregnancy to term to "help childless couples!' Does anyone honestly think lawmakers like a first this will have the sensiaway rights visincluding hospital tivity to care about itation, emergency anyone's rights? By Dawn medical decisions, famIliere are those Brandvold who argue that the ily and bereavement leav e. inheritance amendment strengthens the institution of rights. and even the right to carry out a partner's marriage, but if your own wishes for funeral arrangesacred union is threatened by ments. denying the basic human rights All three of the candidates of others, I would question the for attorney general oppose the bond you share with your amendment and with good reaspouse. For a society that touts free son. It contains overly broad and denies even the language agency' on every corner, it is most basic partnership rights to bewildering that this amendunmarried couples. Part of ment is ev en being considered. the amendment is unnecessary. Writer James Fenimore Cooper said it best. It is a vice of a Utah currently defines marriage as between a man and a democracy to substitute public woman in three separate poliopinion as law. This is the usual cies. Part two is vague, poorly form in which masses of men exhibit tyranny!' drafted, and hurtful. C urrentlv This state has some real, only one other state has a similar amendment and guess pressing issues facing it: educawhich state is currently in a tion. health care, the bankruptlong, expensive legal battle? cy rate. These are issues that Jon luntsman, who supimpact families. No constitutional amendment can make us ports the amendment, believes that the rights being taken be more responsible, less quick to judge, or increase our moraliaway from taxpaying citizens can be addressed by special legty. islative dispensation. Who is he Raised in Davis County, kidding? Tire state legislature can't even pass a clear-cu- t hate Brandvold is employed in the crimes bill for fear of appearing financial industry and proud to be a Utah Democrat. sympathetic to the gay popula ensure the rights Americans take for granted. The constitution doesn't take away rights, but rather grants them. However. Amendment 3. currently on the November ballot, seeks to change that, taking Davis County Clipper 1370 South 500 West wrong - headed semi-weekl- y 2 Citizens right to set moral standards Sen. William Fulbright, one to mince or avoid a contromore than 50 remarked versy, years ago, A democracy can recover quickly from physical or economic disaster, but when its moral convictions weaken it becomes easy prey!' He wasnt speaking marabout same-se- x riage. but his drift resonates in today's conBy Lee troversy about Ernst Amendment 3 to be decided by Utah voters in November. In the states LDS environment, the amendment should easily pass even though the church has not tacitly endorsed the amendment and state Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has warned the language could pose legal problems. So the question is not whether the amendment will pass but whether it should pass. I believe it should, although not necessarily for the same reasons conservative lawmakers arc voicing. The general argument by conservatives is that the sporadic court rulings legalizing gay marriage devalues the institution of marriage. One Utah County legislator recently told KUTV viewers that marriage might disappear unless same-se- x nuptials were nipped in the bud. This argument may well be the basis upon which most voters cast their ballot, but most rational people will admit a gay ample marrying has no direct impact on the vitality of a heterosexual marriage. A good marriage will remain strong, a bad marriage will still be bad. The reason to support Amendment Three is two-folFirst, the aiurt decisions make il important that individ ual states and indeed the federal government provide a unified front. Allowing individual jurisdictions to validate same-se- x unions creates a legal nightmare for states and cities not recognizing those marriages. The citizens of Utah have a right to make a stand. Secondly, the citizens have a right to set a moral standard. Jh is does not mean gay men and women should be vilified or marginalized, and companies seeking talented employees should extend benefits equally to married couples and same-se- x partners. But that doesnt mean states have to bend over backwards to the wishes of every request by a minority. The vast majority of Americans and Utahns don l hate homosexuals, but the wot majority understand that the definition of marriage by tradition is the union of a man and a woman. Utahns have a right to engrave il in state law. Arriving in Davis County from the Midwest, Ernst is employed in the technology sector and prefers to be surrounded by Republicans. |