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Show pr5 (W ln 8 i v 4niw'7 opinion ri Violence; do we really hate it? One of the nations most notorious killers was executed early Tuesday after being administered a lethal dose of drugs as 34 witnesses and 10 prison officials stood by. John Wayne Gacy, 52, was convicted 14 years ago in the sex slayings of 33 young men and boys. Some thought he got off easy Tuesday. One victims father said he thought of the simplicity of Gacys death when compared with the torture of his son and the fact that Gacy was killed with just one prick of a needle. He thought his punishment should be more severe. More severe than death? In a nation obsessed with ridding society of violence, many of the voices betray their penchant for rage. A call-i- n radio program solicited remarks from the listening audience on their views of the sentencing of an Ogden dentist accused of sexual misconduct with his patients. The man was ordered to pay resti- - tution by giving free dental treatment to community groups. One caller suggested if the dentist had been beaten with a belt as a child he would not have misbehaved as an punishment to children will deter criminal behavior. In the recent caning of U.S. teen Michael Fay for his part in spray painting cars in Singapore, the majority of the American public approved of adult. The caller said the problem with society is that the harsh sentence. Fay too few parents use the belt to became a symbol for every resolve problems at home. He admitted he had been belted while he was a child and he is now a normal adult. His suggestion was that capital teen who has ever misbehaved and gotten off with a slap on the wrist in the U.S. He was that teen. He deserved to be beaten for his crime. Cant fix Bosnia, but can help at home She cant be more than three years old. And yet there is a lifetime d of hurt etched on her face as she lays on a stretcher in a Bosnian emergency medical unit. Perhaps you saw her photograph in the newspaper, too. And perhaps blood-staine- you have been haunted, as I was, by her tousled hair, the hollow, vacant look in her eyes and the I.V. drip- ping life into her tiny, bandaged arm. Its a helpless feeling, isnt it, to know that there are thousands of including innocent chilpeople dren suffering and dying, and that for all of our military might and technological superiority, we dont seem to be able to change that. At least, not yet. I know. I checked. I called several relief agencies and service organizations to see what could be done to help ease the ongoing agony in Bosnia. Everywhere I called, people expressed concern. But no one could provide anything more substantive than saying, Were doing everything we can. Look, I said to the last one, my exasperation clearly showing through, a few years ago we were involved in a war in which hundreds of planes dropped tons of bombs day after day after day. Why cant we just send the planes out again, only this time lets drop food and medicine and clothing and blankets instead of explosives? Were already doing as much as we can, I was told, and it isnt as simple as it sounds. Besides, there are procedures... Im sorry, I interrupted, but do you really think these wounded children care whether or not you follow the book? I was losing it a litOK, OK tle. But I was frustrated. And so was the woman on the other end of the line. Thankfully, she was able to maintain her composure a little better than I was. I understand your I do. concern, she said. Really If youd like to help, we can always use more money, itll help us help them and itll make you feel better. So I wrote a check. But I didnt feel any better. I needed to actually do something. I just didnt know what. I was still feeling a little depressed as I walked home from the bus stop that evening I almost didnt notice the little girl from down the street, or the soft whimpering that was coming from her as she sat on the curb in front of my neighbors house. Then I saw her tousled blond hair, dirty face, bare feet and all. Instinctively, I went to her. Whats the I asked. matter, sweetheart? Oweee! was all the old could say between sobs, which were much more intense now that someone was paying attention. She was looking at her foot, and so I figured I should probably look there, too. those ridiculous. Throwing spit beating are Fays like the caller who claims wads, and reporting a teacher for throwing a piano bench in being beaten as a child has not left him with emotional scars. Does anyone really ever forget the face of the father or mother as the punishment is being delivered? Has anyone ever been beaten and developed a respect for the person administering the blows? Corporal punishment is still being used in some schools. Many men and women can still remember, decades later, a How of many demanding fit of rage are two actual cases which resulted in being beaten with a wooden paddle for the guilty students. Do they respect those teachers? How can we continue to blame television for the violence in todays society when we administer it, and condone it so freely as individuals? We claim to abhor violence, yet we revere Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, and even John Wayne Gacy as cult heroes. Americans have scrambled to buy Dahmers forks, Gacys and Manson memorabilia. the effects of the paddling they received as a child from teacher deteran order in his maintain mined to over-zealo- us self-portrai- classroom. Some of the infractions for which the punishment was meted out were ts What is the message? Before too long we found the stick- er that had penetrated her heel, extracted it and carried her carefully home. Walking from her house to mine, it occurred to me that I was somehow feeling much better. Not that my small service to a little girl in the neighborhood did anything to alleviate the suffering of the Bosnia girl I saw in the photograph. But it had alleviated a little suffering in my own comer of the world. And for now, that was the best I could do semi-week- ly I j 1892-195- 1954-198- 4 ISSN. 1061-122- 3 on No. Publication published (USPS Tuesday and Fnday except the week of Chnstmas and New Years at Bountiful, Utah. Second class postage paid at Bountitul, Utah. Address all correspondence to P.O. Box 267, Bountiful, Utah Subscnption rate: 50c per copy. $20.00 per year, Mailed. $30 00 per year. semi-weekl- y 149-18- 84011-026- Wnrch is not to say that we should give up on doing anything about the human tragedy unfolding in another part of the world. Not by a long shot. Its our moral obligation to do all that we can to help ease pain and suffering wherever we see it. But as long as were feeling benevolent, lets not forget those who are hurting in our own backyard. Our neighbors plight may not be as dramatic as the Bosnians, but to them it is every bit as real and oppressive, And the healing balm of service is as soothing to our souls whether we apply it locally by Clipper Publishing Co., Inc. 9 John stahle, Jr. publisher R. Gail Stahle publisher Judy Jensen managing editor 1 370 South 500 West, Bountiful, Utah 8401 0 Published John stahle, Sr. publisher or long distance. News Advertising Circulation Classified FAX 295-225- 1 292-205- 8 292-202- 2 295-304- 4 Office Houfis 8 30-- 5 30 Mon thru Fra DEADUNES TUESDAY PAPER Classified Ads Display Advertising It Proof Required and Color News Articles & Photos Obituaries Public Notices Monday Noon Thurs. 5pm 24 Hours In Advance .Wed. 5pm Accepted Until 11am Mon. 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