Salt Lake Tribune | 1989-09-03 | Page 20

1 2QA The Salt Lake Tribune 3 1989 September Sunday 4' :4 4i Common Carrier I Ik Don't Trivialize the Constitution With hysterical Rhetoric Wanda Snow Peterson For 200 years the Constitution of the United States has stood strong and sensible with a Bill of Rights pruteeting all citizens from the demagoguery of rhetoric Now fear it is In danger of being amended to a state of no meaning The Constitution was written by James Madison a man of cool judgment and basic understanding of the foibles of mankind a man who valued personal freedom of speech: a man who knew that people must be pasprotected from super-zealou- s sionate oratory and fuzzy thinking of a man who said that any' emotion must not hold captive the reasoning of a cool mind By Todays Common Carrier author is Petersen 156 W300 North American Fork Utah 81003 Mrs Petersen is a retired school leacher who taught for 36 Jears in Carbon and Alpine school Wanda SIIOW e writer districts She is a mho has published four books She is a member of the National League of 41nerican Pen Women well as the League or Utah Writers The riot s expressed in the article are the personal t let s of the author free-lanc- Since the Bill of Rights was added the Constitution in 1791 this great document has been amended only 26 tones The Constitution ‘vas framed to and worded carefully that it might be understood by all while protecting each individuals right to express his ideas freely It was written in a way that makes amending it a difficult and process which is as it should be Nov there has arisen a great hue and cry to amend the Constitution again And fur what? To make it a crime to desecrate the flag I fear something far more serious could be in the making Now I am not in favor of burning the flag not as an expression of free speech not as a legal expression of individualism or an exhibition of ideas To me that is offensive as I dare say it is offensive to a great majority of Americans But neither am 1 in favor of amending our great Constitution for trivial reasons To me the American flag is not just a piece of cloth It is not just a beautiful blending of red white and blue nor an appealing arrangement of stars and stripes To me the American flag is a symbol of our country but that is not all: It stands for freedom and it stands for home When I was in Athens in the late 60s or when was in China on the Fourth of July five years ago I felt protected when saw it flying or when I stood under it in front of the US Embassy in Beijing love our flag I am proud to stand with my hand over my heart when the color guard bears it along To me ' 7 ' i ' tli'll511‘?'''''' '': 1 ::?:'r'i-- ' V4-- 'ii ' 4: tAk::R!:7 Iltrte :' :'!'tate ::'i"tit'i : ::':'- '':!t Aw::::::::!::': t5r t::::i::!:::-:- ' : i''''''":::Hl":':'''' r44 :: l''' 1:::4: r:: 7 P17:1''''!'::!:::: A v "!': ' N: ::J: ti :!:iir4t ' '''!3: !:':t7:77r'':::: 15 ' 1:::::::!::: - f-4- ::!'!:til:':ii:r:Jr:(- ::: :: -: l! :::: vH:::::i ::i!1::: - : ::::::!i::::::: :::::n::::Ii:!::::::' ' 1 t !::::::: 4 :''' 4t4777!::4-?::N''::: 4 :!::::: ::'::' ::-- )::o: :: :: :::: -- a ''':' '1 ''::'''''' 2'1 A' Vi: ::::: ::44$:':: NVanda Snow 1 Peterson I I there percentages of patriotism? find intolerable? We must try' Now I hear a hysterical cry to amend the Constitution This is a reaction to the emotion engendered by the decision of the Supreme Court This cry is not a serious judgmental thought process It is emotion and nothing else George Bush seems to be in favor of tampering with the Constitution He says he loves it and yet he cries out for an amendment forbidding burning or desecrating the flag That's not all He also asks for an amendment to balance the budget and another to outlaw abortions He even seems to favor writing a line-iteveto privilege into the Constitution And some people are demanding an amendment telling children to pray in school Ellen Goodman writing in a Boston newspaper said "His Bush's proposal in effect pits the flag against the Constitution freedom of speech and the right to dissent is against the very - values it supposed to representI don't believe those Marines risked their lives to raise the flag on Iwo Jima in order to furnish a backopportunidrop for a picture-takinty for Bush to pose suggesting he is more patriotic than Democrats or anyone else whose ideas differ from But as Jack Kilpatrick wrote from ' Washington DC on July 16 freedom Do we believe in it? Really deeply believe in it Do we believe in freedom sufficiently to tolerate the expression of political opinions we his What is patriotism anyway? Can it be measured in yards or inches? Weighed in pounds or ounces? Are The Public Forum In July the taxes on my vehicle were due When I received the renewal in the mail I was very surprised to see my vehicle was valued about $800 more than it was really worth (based on NADA hook value) Although this doesn't sound like much this happens every year with every vehicle I own Some of my vehicks have been valued as much as $1500 more than they are worth When I went to the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) I found out they are using an October 1988 NADA book This doesn't make much sense The taxes were due in July of 1989 so shouldn't I be paying for the value of toy vehicle in July of 1989 not in October of 1988? Every year when the taxes are due on my vehicles I have to go down and complain about the value assessed If I could sell my vehicle for what I paid for it new I would have no complaints but the minute I drove my vehicle off the car lot it depreciated at least $2000 Why doesn't the MVD depreciate the value of the vehicles every year? don't think it's just me they are singling out My family and friends that I've talked to have the same complaint The NIVD gives us the convenience of mailing our renewals In but it is no convenience at all They are charging us much more than market value which in the long run makes us go down and coin Those people who just mail their renewals in are most likely paying too much tax on their vehicle because of inflated market value This inflated market value is what makes people go out of state or out of their district to register their vehicles GARY R MERRICK Sandy Forum Rules Public Forum letters must be submitted exclush ely to The Tribune and bear writer's full name signature and address Names must-bprinted on political letters but may be m ithheld for good reason on others Writers are limited to one letter every 10 days Preference will be given to short typewritten (double spaced) letters permitting use of the writer's true name letters are subject to condensation Mail to the Public Forum The Salt Lake Tribune PO Box 867 Salt Lake City Utah 84110 Hastings-on-Hudso- Proud of Work In contemplation of my retirement In all the horror stories of drunk drivers and accidents on and off the freeways I have yet to hear one word Utah I have been reading this paper for the last month or so I picked Utah as Ihe ideal place after mach in Doctunents Can Be Legal Without Using Legalese Too often the hallmark of legal - that writing seems to be "legalese- strane tongue of arcane words and e simple-languag- ing works like this It Etharti practicing Mc in Dont) ugh is a laNyer Salt Lake Edward ? 11 McDonough 114111 "What does it mean?" LaMar asked ''l think it means that you and Dr and Mrs Cash are making an agreemnt" Carruthers said "Dr Cash has bought into Fish Professional Plaza my building on Main Street and is giving me an option for one year to buy him out if I change my mind about having him as a partner" LaMar said thought Mrs Fish was a joint ner of the building ' Carruthers said Lit notice that - shes not a party to this agreement -By gully you're right" LaMar said didn't notice that —That's the trouble with this kind Carof legal garbage writing ruthers said "The syntax is so con voluted and there is so much redun dancy that its terribly hard to read and that makes it very easy to miss the essentials" "How do we fix it?" LaMar asked "I suggest we start over write a simple option agreement in plain English and present it to Dr Cash for his approval" Carruthers took a fresh yellow "legal pad- - from his desk drawer and began writing -Suppose we say: 'Dr Sterling A Cash and Wanda Lu Cash give to LaMar Fish and Ermaline Fish an op lion to purchase their interest in the Fish Professional Plaa on the fol I need your legal expertise in interpreting this contract for Me ILIdVV LaMar Fish said Ile was in the office of his lawyer friend l' "Judge- Carruthers last 'Tuesday inorning Ile handed Carruthers a document I labeled "Partnership BuySell Agreement" This was ritten by my partner's lawyer who says it has all the proper legal words to make it binding" LaMar said "but can't I understand it -- Von dont need any magic 'legal Nords to make an agreement bind- Carruthers said The parties to this agreement" tirruthers began reading out loud shall be defined for all purposes berem as LaMar Fish the party of the First Part hereinafter referred Uptionee$ and Dr Sterhng A i'ti 7t1 D and ‘Vanda Lu Cash In !ro! !he lakkrul spouse of Dr sterling tieing collectively the l'tirt thr Part and ho sh111 ing -- 1!1 oitcvhHy he hereafter relcri'd lo ololotior and the !oictoloi thillowoil the collectik plural in h retetetives hereinafter Thai I ing Is that legal"' LaMar asked (Point of La is published fur in 'Urination purposes tad Mud 8houlti ftin br used legal ado lee Vou should see uur uoi to lati$er fur spy rifir legal ttpinimtt Utahns who refuse to use their blinkers or it missed its mark altogether by simply suggesting that it's the car manufacturers' fault that car blinkers don't turn themselves on and off She recalled how when she was younger blinkers worked just as they were supposed to (Possibly the drivers worked as they were supposed to far more courteous then) It is a courtesy to let others on the road know your intentions This is an increasing problem and an extremely dangerous one too Out of curiosity if we had an "awareness day' to observe the daily travelers just from work to home each of us would see a minimum of 20 ‘iolaters These offenders either give a fast two short blinks or start signaling three miles before the turn Most offenders are not aware that signaling is required to change lanes pass cars or make right hand turns The others don't even give a due of their intentions HAL R MILLER Murray ? I t amending our revered over ('onstitution members of Congress keel) your hands off the FirA Amendment and the rest of Please i j : 1 t State AFL-CIO- : and Dr Sanford Baum a professor of industrial engineering at the University of Utah The board seeks articles from all segments of the community rticles need not be professionally prepared but should be between 950 and 1200 words long and be typed and double spaced They should pertain to the ecu nomie political and social wellbeing of the Intermountain Area 4 rticles should be tiinely have a basic idea promote dialogue and be challenging "open letters" are not acceptable Opinions expressed in Com mon Carrier do 110 t necessarily reflect those of The Salt Lake Tribune or the Common Carrier Board of Lag Editors Articles in this department are selected by the lay board of editors which operates independently of The Tribune editorial and reportorial policies Common Carrier board represent i ug a cross sect ion Of the coin man ity is composed of Joyce M Gray principal Arcadia Elementary School Granite School District: Ted A mow retired Utah district chief in charge of water operationss for the US Geological Survey: lean Kelly a Bounti ful and Utuh State League of It'o men Voters member Wayne G Holland Jr director of community services department Utah Material should be mailed to Carrier 'The Salt Lake 'tribune l'0 Box 867 Salt Lake Common City Utah Nt io tr! 0 it i 4 :l 'o ' 't - 1 choice Your - :::: i 11 - :'Z'7:::isli :: - -- ':::: : :::1 !!: : f :z : ::! ':'t "'4 '' : ':: ' 4 ' - 17 :' A4 a k7::1 tz::::! 11C::::::':!4 r‘!1t 2'''1 ti: :'4''r1:!!':::'- 04:'g'VJ& $:::i?: iy:i::F 1) 1 " -aratismtholt!!!!( iii41:1- :J :::?1 - i y' VS''-:''-''7'- ':: :: riii- fii4111-::- ' ::- i:::::: - " ''- "' - " Ikr i- f:::iil:71X1: 4 :::::: '''' :i ' A: :i t:!!§ss4 :? 17:'':'fiiCar - : t':4'1 -: ' ' :"'' A t ' :kvAvw4kftsk"?: ':i:!?i$:::: ::: : t 4 :J: ''!J z :::z ''' :4'i )::!::-! - :g 77::::::i4-: - - Special collection of ladies' and men's Citizen watches in sport and dress designs many with added features such as day and date sweep second hand and more Sale priced in Fine Jewell) through Saturday Not at Cache Valley We offer professional jewelry and watch repair k Shop special hours: Monday ---t ''W a Clue t- letter Aug ::1 i football program attendant the past year's arrests of a number of Lite team members During the same time dozens of Utah police officers were fired charted convicted andor impris- oned'owing to criminal conduct yet the hundreds of honest cops have not been painted with the same broad brush More than 200 members of the Reagan administration were accused of crimes but Reagan enjoys a popular legacy with the public ve not heard a hue and cry to depose the First Presidency of the LDS Church in the wake of the many highly placed church members' involvement in white collar crime in the recent past The criminal misadventures of a few should not be imputed to Coach Fassel and his staff or his program should not reflect upon the school: should not taint the football team nor the character of the snores of thereto and young men who belong hose most serious -- crinies' have been penalties DelAND 10NI 'Hie $ Board of Lay Editors S4 Much has been unfairly said about the taint on the University of Utah rim e7 0 Don't Impute All 11 John Hartvigsen a well known vexillologist says that the issue of an amendment is so complex that it would present even newer problems than state laws have faced It is difficult for al: parties to agree on appropriate penalties and he fears that an amendment would trigger legislation for other things such as state symbols flowers birds trees and songs know that's he said but you really don't know where all this could lead It's the opening the door for all kinds of possibilities" In calling for an amendment it seems to me that President Bush is placing a higher priority on protecting the flag which is a symbol of our rights than he is on protecting the rights it represents I shudder when contemplate the damage that 100 senators and 435 representatives could do in a hassle CITIZEN WATCHES 1 t 1131e 1 - appended- 1 of respect or praise for one vital person — the tow truck driver I have heard him described as a with dollar signs for dirty low-lif- e eyes a scavenger and worse Just like the mail he goes out in all kinds of weather to help stranded clear accident scenes motorists haul off drunk drivers vehicles or Pull some one out of a ditch He crawls in and around or under all kinds of vehicles from breakdowns to mangled wrecks to clear the road for traffic or to remove them from danger then clears the debris with the traffic whizzing by on all sides Every time he steps out of his wrecker to hook up a vehicle I wonder if this will be the time he gets squashed between theta as happened to a friend of mine or run over as he sweeps up the glass from an accident or even his own truck may roll over him as happened to another friend He risks his life 24 hours a day in his job This man is very proud of the He's my work he does and so am father Some say he charges too much How much is your life worth? TOM PISTONE West Jordan ion 1 o1 NY n Have It Lucky Here Point of Law complex syntax whose only purpose seems to he to disguise the obvious and make the simple complex to the end that you cannot understand what is being said A legal document written in plain simple English however may be more readily enforceable than one replete with "whereasesand "aforesaids" The document is less likely to be ambiguous If a contract is capable of being interpreted In more than one way it will be Legalese should be rewritten for simplicity and clarity so that everyone understands exactly what he is sign- searching and thought I find it somewhat amusing to read about the complaints that appear concerning the government of the state the LDS Church liquor laws and disputes over the name of a school My only comment as an outsider is that I do not think most of the readers know just how lucky they are to live in Utah All of your problems pale beside what we have here in New York — rampant drug use murder horrible child abuse derelicts and degenerates living all over the streets and subways and uery variety of abomination that the human mind can conceive of taxes that eat you alive filthy air water land and people whose only desire seems to be to go faster and faster chasing some impossible dream of greed and power hile being as nasty as possible Be happy where you are and for Gods sake do not change anything New York City has a charm from 40000 feet up but do not tread its streets The ultra liberal social controllers who run my poor state have turned it into a real hell on earth LEONAltD R MEIN The answer meaning the use of words is the slue qua lion of reasoning and persuasion and hence of democratic government Democracy is after ail the point of the Constitn bon to which the amendment is is that speech How to Submit Articles To Common Carrier Tribune Readers' Opinions Pays rioo Much rather than 'expression one be a little bit patriotic say 12 inches worth? Conversely cal one be a little bit unpatriotic? I think not President Bush says his call for a constitutional amendment is not a partisan issue not a political issue Yet that is exactly what he is doing with it Under the tutorage of Lee Atwater he is trying to paintall of us who don't see through his eyes with the same brush he used on Michael Dukakis during his campaign last year Ile is implying that we are unpatriotic I'm reminded of what Jay Leno said "No wonder Bush doesn't want us to burn the flag He has wrapped himself completely in it If an infinitesimal percentage of the American people (say one person) burns the flag are the rest of us supposed to put him in jail? This idea is treading on the First Amendment which gives all of us the right of free expression of speech or of ideas That is what the Supreme Court said: A person has the right to express his ideas publicly George F Will wrote in Washing- ton on July 4 "After a century of misconstruction the First Amendment cannot be helped by a piddling-fiddlinamendment about the flag It needs more serious thought about why the amendment framers who used words more carefully than the court does used the word 'speech' g it is a symbol of freedom Can 41 Atl by Shauna Norton iFo18) ‘c as either a satire on ORDER BY PHONE: WITH ' 77 CD-L-A YOUR ZCMI CHARGE ACCOUNT SALT LAKE ttN11 321-666- 6 L) UTAH 10-- 7 I 7 1 E AND THE UNITED STATES o 460 4 0 Aok tk mw 'ft 4 - ?WM9!!ny