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Show Davis County Clipper Tuesday, July 1 1, 1995 page A5 in Our Opinion c Too bad we need it, but flag burning law should be passed The controversy over whether or not Congress should pass a Jaw making burning the American Flag a criminal act is surprising. Who would have thought there would be those who did not agree that it should be unlawful to burn the American Flag? Numerous news stories and syndicated columnists have railed against Washington considering the amendment to the Constitution which would make burning the flag a crime. Why shouldnt it be a crime? Is there nothing we as Americans agree should be saved from desecration? Some have made the point that this issue is not important enough to warrant the waste of time by Congress to debate. They correctly refer to the other issues such as tight money, rising crime, growing numbers of guns on the streets and deadbeat (Lads as important issues facing lawmakers. They are right, but that does not diminish the importance of preserving and revering some symbol of our heritage. The American Flag has long stood as a reminder of who we are and what we stand for as a country. All that weve stood for for 200 years is woven into the fabric of our banner. To desecrate the flag desecrates those values and those years of patriotism. The heroism of all the men and women who have fought to protect this symbol is diminished by those who would destroy it in an act of anger or an attempt to make a statement about their personal problems with the system. Immigrants from all over the world have fought and struggled to attain the freedom for which our flag stands. Some claim that refusing a citizen the right to burn the flag is refusing his freedom of speech. What else should we then be allowed to destroy to protect a radicals freedom of speech? Would destroying a federal building fall into the category of freedom of speech? After all, those who committed the crime in Oklahoma City were just making a statement against the establishment. Its time for us to take a stand. For too long this country has shortened it list of what behavior should be enforced for the common good. Is there no longer a common man? Do we no longer agree that there are a few things that Will nofbd'iolerated by this society? There is a story told of an army commander who called ahead to a young soldier bearing the American flag to bring the standard back to the men. The young soldier replied bring the men up to the standard. And this should be our watchword. Through the years we have lowered Americas accepted standards of behavior, lets not let our countrys symbolic standard be desecrated, -- star-spangl- ed Human touch being traded for software I've been having this dream lately. and 1 wake up sweating. In this dream I am driving through a neighborhood a pleasant one with big houses, wide lawns, inviting trees. messy dogs contributing their natural dogginess to their community. Where is everyone? They are busy. They are all inside the technolo- gically-fitted modern shut-in- front of their s, homes. They are propped up in VCRs and personal computers where the only thing thats real But its empty. There are no joggers attached by ear to a Sony. There are no children selling lemonade from rickety card clad tables, no overweight husbands sprinkling their lawns from garden hoses, no sun-soak- is what appears on their monitor. They still experience life, but the experiences are vicarious. The people dont suffer from a lack of information. They really only lack one important ingredient of life: living. Its only a dream, of course. When I wake up I realize that Im being foolish. People are too intelligent to trade human interaction for new software. But then I read my morning newspaper where Im informed that grocery shopping is now available through computer in certain areas of Boston. Thanks to the efforts of the techno-nerdcomputer users can now sit in front of their monitors, browse through the electronic produce section, select from ripe, near-rip- e or green bananas, have the cost tallied in their computerized shopping cart and then, with a subtle click of their mouse, arrange for next-da- y delivery. The techno-ner- d inventors call this Smart Food. They also call it a s, wonderful and modern service, another lane on the Information Highway allowing people to travel without ever leaving their rumpus room. How modern and efficient, they say. How dull, I respond. There will be no more driving to the bank where friendly tellers hand out strawberry-flavore- d suckers to children. ..There will be no more trips to library where one can lounge amid the pleasant smell of old books and leather binding. Need to visit the mall? No, silly, just turn your TV to big-scre- QVC and let the UPS driver do all the work. Want to dine out? Avoid the waiter by ordering Chinese from participating restaurants on the Internet. Thanks to the techno-nerd- s, one cannot only avoid people. One can also avoid life. That dream is returning. Theres a neighborhood with no people. And now I see a street address, too. But I dont warn to live there. Id rather be human than have a big mortgage on Microsoft Drive. m Your opinion i Concerned citizens don t represent all of Centerville Centerville elected officials deserve praise, not criticism Editor, Editor, on Centerville s After reading your front page article of July own chapter our have we that know it to is very government, comforting of CAVE (Citizens Against Virtually Everything!). Without these concerned citizens how could we voters possibly be represented? After studying the issues raised by CAVE I am sure that the electorate would much rather travel to surrounding cities to spend their sales tax feet of catdollars especially knowing that we would be saving 900-100-0 tails. Ill bet that the Attorney Generals office is locking their chops to save us from those whom we elect! ' T-sh- Don S. Barton Centerville Bruce Powell Centerville Published DAVIS COUNTY by. y ClipperSouthPublishing Co., Inc Bo 500 West 1370 P.0 Bountiful, Utah Telephone (801) 267 84011-026- FAX (801) messages too much for public view irt thought it was going to be an elegant day. I had seen My Fair Lady. I knew how people dressed I at the horse races. At least I them. There was not a sunbonnet in sight. Now, I have heard the com- plaints about the violence on television, the taboo subjects on Picket of Fences, and the soft-por- n Baywatch. I have not seen anything on these shows that rivaled what at the race appeared on the track. I have e listened to sportsmen on Sunday afternoon television tout the necessity of love them and leave them, referring to returning fish back to the streams and lakes In fact, I was somewhat hesitant to go to Wyoming Downs on the spur of the moment because I was wearing slacks. But, we were in Wyoming and it was a beautiful day and I had never seen the track. My day at Wyoming Downs shattered my fashion innocence. It turned out that I would like to comment on your front page news article of July 4th entitled Centerville Citizens ask attorney general to investigate mayor. Having just completed a three year term this week on the Centerville Planning Commission, I believe I have a better perspective on the issues mentioned than what was reported. During the past year there have been thousands of hours spent by the Mayor, City Council, and the Planning Commission carefully researching and reviewing the Master Plan, the city ordinances and anything that could be a potential concern to the citizen of Centerville with regards to the Centerville Market Place development. The twelve points that were reported as the basis for the requested investigation by the attorney general are completely groundless. To see that such dribble is given any print space at all let alone front page attention is really concerning to me. Last week the planning commission had six items advertised for public hearings. Not a single person showed up for those hearing other than the commission. If the Citizens of Centerville want to know whats going on dont think you can seat in your easy chair and read the Clipper and get a report from the four individuals that make up the Concerned Citizens of Centerville. I am angry that good and honest elected and voluntary officials reputations and tremendous efforts could be questioned without one fraction of the slightest impropriety. Disagreement with an action does not mean that action was illegal or improper or was not given due consideration. The so called Concerned Citizens of Centerville do not represent this informed Citizen of Centerville nor should the hogwash they are spreading be believed for face value. The public record is clear. We should be proud to have such good people at the head of our city. I have not always agreed with the mayors or the city councils actions but to questions their intentions on those items would be as ludicrous as the request you have reported on! I was over- dressed and underprepared for the attire of the track. Nearly everyone, from elderly ladies, to young babies, were in with messages printed on after the thrill of the catch. Obviously the person I saw at Wyoming Downs had a different perspective. His shirt had a picture of a large fish with a hook stuck firmly in its mouth. It read, Rip Their Lips. Perhaps he should leave the wilds and become a couch potato. Nature would be a safer place. I have heard the plea of sports-castefor good sportsmanship and fair play in football, basketball and baseball. The lad I saw, who could rs not have been more than had a shirt that said, No blood, no foul. Imagine the horror of a mother as she sends her innocent basketball enthusiast onto the sport court to play with someone with that mentality. made me feel threatOne ened, partly because of my age and partly because I have not kept up with my exercising. The shirt said, Im tougher, stronger and better than you and I practice at night while you are sleeping. Not only did I feel hopelessly inadequate, but, I am loosing ground while I sleep. As I tried to returned my attention to one race where I had actually made a bet, I was quickly distracted, and somewhat embarrassed by the shirt that appeared on the bench in front of me. It had a picture of a bum, (and I dont mean a tramp). It read Scratch and Sniff. I dont even want to touch this one. Incidentally, the horse I bet on was scratched from the race. I did sniff a little at the thought of my N wasted money, but I doubt the shirt was referring to any problem I may have been having. As the clouds rolled in and the rain began, I figured Id seen enough. As we were walking toward the gate, I saw a smiling young lass of perhaps three years of age. I could make out the images of Dopey, Grumpy and the boys, but I could not read the writing. 1 didnt even try. I had been disappointed enough for one day and did not think I could handle anything slanderous about Snow White. I know I am sounding old fashioned. I do believe in free speech. Perhaps what is really bothering me that is that there were some I didnt understand at all. One shirt had three words, Young, White, Stupid. What does it all mean? When I got home from the races, It reads, I dug out my own In heaven, chocolate has no calories and is served as the main part of the meal. This I understand. This is a fashion statement. DEADLINES IjJEiPAY.,PAPS6 laaaxfflrfi ' Monday 10 am Classified Ads Thursday 5 pin Display Advertising If Proof Required and color: 24 hours in advance) News Articles ft Photos Thursday noon Classified Ads Thursday Display Advertising , Tuesday $ pa ft Proof PtqJrtd and . 24 hours fa td&nfj New ArbdM ft Photos T, " Obituaries AowpietfOnt Public Notices , WewaaCiS Obituaries Accepted Until Mon. 1 1 am Friday 5 am Public Notices ? 108 ) $25.00 per year. Mailed: $35.00 per year. Subscription rats: 504 per copy. 1061-122) Publication No. (USPS on published Tuesday and Friday except the week of Christmas and New Years at Bountiful, Utah. 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