Show - V muon V Sunday ily ' 7 2002 y: V I ' 1 x' ' A4 The Herald Journal - t Our view case Sex-abus-e hit close to home report on page 3 What has prompted editors to move some stories to the front page is multifaceted but it usually involves a judgment about “newsworthiness" Of course people often don’t agree with our call on what is and what isn’t newsworthy When a crime story appears on Page 3 victims sometimes complain that we are “burying” the news to protect the perpetrator Conversely when a crime story appears on the Page 1 friends of the accused often complain we are singling this person out for unjust public A guilty pica last week in a local child case held interest than at The more passing Herald Journal because the perpetrator was one of us Paul Allen had worked not only as a reporter for The Herald Journal but also as an employee in the newspaper’s mailroom some years ago He was and liked throughout the building Why then some readers have asked did the newspaper seem to go out of its way to report the case? The truth is we didn’t go out of our way But neither did we step out of the way Editors and reporters tried to apply the same news judgment to the Paul Allen case that is used in other local stories Could a organization justifiably do any different and expect to preserve a level of credibility? This newspaper has been aggressive in reporting child cases in Cache Valley for several years so when police released informationon Paul’s arrest there was not a moment’s hesitation about whether or not it should go in the newspaper But the question of where to play the story did involve quite a bit of discussion If you have been reading this newspaper for very long you have probably noticed that articles on most local child cases appear in the “Bridged and” sex-abu- se well-kno- ridicule It’s difficult to weigh all the factors fairly but in child cases we believe we have been consistent Our primary guideline is this: If this alleged perpetrator in the case is in posi- tion of trust in the community especially a position of trust involving children we believe the story belongs on the front page Was Paul Allen in aposition of public trust? We determined that he was as were a local gymnastics instructor a local police officer and a local chiropractor accused of sexual misconduct in other cases of recent memory All woe reported on the front page It’s not pleasant bringing cases like this to the public’s attention but it is our job — even when the subject happens to be a or personal friend July brings out patriotism sex-abu- se news-gatheri- ng sex-abu- se ‘ sex-abu- se By Bruce Smith passion continues with celebrations in almost every community I often wonder what one has to do to be called a patriot When I was a volunteer at the Winter Olympics I heard chants of To the' editor I would like to comment on the let- ter from Jeff (JD) Ricks where he tries to make the assumption that the world would be betteroff without 7 religion (or at least organized reli- gion) I agree that throughout history there have been some terrible things done in the name of God and reli- gion but let me tell 1he rest of die ' -- Religion gave us the Ten Christ would not have ‘ said to love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself Why? Because if there was no reli- gion there would have beCnno Christ Most religions have a code of Uw that tells them how to worship God and how to treat other people ' Com-mandme- ’ : and Stripes flying over the airport showof Alan Mortensen Paris Idaho Lawmakers Here is a list of addresses and phone' numbers for some of Cache vafley’s representatives in government' IDAHO SENATE Senate District 32 (includes Franklin County) — Robert L Geddes 370 Mountain View Drive Soda IDAHO ’ To call your Idaho Springs ID 83276 Springs senator at the IDAHO HOUSE Senate or your representative at the House: cal and ask ? House District 28 (Includes Franklin for the person by name County)'— Robert C Geddes To write your senator The Honorable 7235N 2600 West Preston ID 83283 Home and business phone 852: John Doe Idaho Senate Statehouse V 1378 Boise ID 63720 : To District write House : 32 (includes FranMn your representative: The Honorable John Doe Idaho House of County)— John Tippets 65 E Center Representatives Statehouse Boise ID "SL BenMngton ID 83254 Home 7 83720 phone 847-287- ’ vr Comical Cache 6 nationalism at the Olympics made these people patriots Does placing your hand over your heart arid reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at die Rotary Gub make you a patriot? Was Bill inton a patriot? Can a true patriot carry a sign and protest the aetjonsof government? Can a Democrat be a iblicans patriots? Is George W Bush a patriot? Was Mohammed Alia patriot? Are tax ' protesters patriots? Are people who express Unpopular opinions patriots? Am I a patriot? I don’t know the answer to any of the above but here are some of the times when I have felt a bit patriotic On September 11 of last year I was in Pku high in die Andes Mountains On September 12 our group began ' " hearing rumors of some disaster in the United States At first we didn’t believe what we were hearing How- -' ever when we returned to civilization a few days later we found out that ' there had been a terrorist attack-iV New York and Washington DG One of my first thoughts was how anil ever going to get home The patriotic moment came when the touched down in Dallas Texas a week later and I saw familiar things knew I could drink the water without the fear of becoming sick and most importantly I saw die Stars ! ' Another patriotic moment came a few years ago when I arrived at the San Diego Harbor aboard the war ship die USS Denver I was a guest of the UJS Navy and boarded the ship a week earlier in Hawaii As we approached San Diego all the Sailors mid Marines who were finishing their tour of duty dressed in formal attire and took their place along the rails of the ship as we were escorted into the harbor The whole experience was very patriotic but when I saw wives and children standing on the dock waiting to be reunited with their husbands' who they hadn’t seen for six months I was overcome with emotion The Marines and Sailors were 'returning to their home base and were being treated and greeted 8s heroes I saw lots of smiles and lots of tears Before I boarded the USS Denver I some time at Pearl Harbor I spent ‘ did the usual tours of fee USS Arizona memorial and other significant World War II sites in the harbof But fee patriotic moment came when I saw the USS Missouri docked across theharbot I realized that in 1943 7 aboard that huge ship a treaty was 7 : signed ending fee war wife Japan and endinc World War IL A visit to the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg Pennsylvania provided me wifeanother patriotic moment lb stand where Pickett’s ‘ charge actually took place and then discover how many soldiers from both sides lost theu lives in that bat- tie caught my attention The inspire: tional feadenhip of Lawrence Chamberlain as he led fee bayonet charge against the Confederate army to keep control of Devil’s Den and 7 'yX ‘ y” 4 ' j ic- - Broca Smife te The Herald Journal's publisher His column appears on the Opinion page every other Sunday He can be readied by at 7 bamHhOhjnewscom - j v Sm Thiscolumn and other personal criumnainthe Herald Journal may express opin-lonathat-do noit ! : align exactly with your own If you d agree please respond with a letter to 7 the edtor or contact adRor Charles McCotUm about a poasMe guest com' Ext 3020 mentary (Phone: 752-21Sm cmcoo8um0hjnewscom) Information box at bottom of page for r ' mote defatts 21 ' : 'M The J H9 i IIm HanU Joumsi wsIooitim IMbti to Vw ItdtaPMirtffllvKNiiQUBoroRinilvtMliiB L nasnss ttw right to adR al Man 'The Opinion pans Is Msndsdto acquaint rsadsfuiiahs wiser of vfswpoMs on fflattsrs dptMcknportsncssndpnvidsmsmbsnof M9nMiV 01 VW 0dKm D0W1E i ' CNjyYUtmVMurassdHw BRUCE SMITHpubMisr ' ’ (?HARLt8Mo(XXlJUIIlnaqaflfciQador ! k‘ nmniunRy wkh tonim for Ihsir vWwi PoioimI Odums cartoons and tsdsn froni Who mors tun 450 words In Isnglh rssdsre isHscl tw opinions of Mr wrilsis and ' v ontaors Edkxials undsrtw hdolng i0ur AddrssisdsndlncludsdByttiisphons U9M 01 ) I Mil JOUnW JtiintosrtorpuipooMatmriflcaioa 0AK£LL EHRUCXcty sdNor ' ' oonlonn toltslingttiandslytoiquliinisnlBoftN " ” LMwi should bs:r s aiiaJlftaa aaJ lannneji lypSWnWI Vn QDUDIVpmiN Vw 7 i -- : air-pla- ne ' “D-Da- JfrHifeoiigh I was still several hun- dredmiks from my house I was ' home and I was thankful 1” ' ! and loyal or zealous support of hisher country So am I a patriot? I’m just like everyone else some: times I am and sometimes I’m not A! when American athletes were competing for a medal and often wondered if this When there is a crisis famine poverty etc religious groups throughout the world try to organize relief for these people Religion even organized religion can be a very positive force throughout the world ' Here are a few things that happened because of the lack of religion: the conquest of Alexander the Great the Roman conquest World War I World War II die Holocaust the Korean War the Vietnam War These wars and conquests killed millions and had nothing to do with religion If you want to know what a world ’ without religion would be like just think about the former Soviet Union In fact Lenin outlawed religion for some of the same reasons Mr Ricks used that must demonstrate love ’ : fee Civil War I bought and read fee books “Battle Cry of Freedom” and “The Killer Angels” and was provided with more patriotic moments as I read more about the Civil War Occasionally there are movies that provide me wife patriotic moments Two movies about World War II “Saving Private Ryan" and “Schindler’s List” come to mind Because of seeing “Saving Private Ryan” I became interested in and have read most of Stephen Ambrose’s books about World War II “The Victors" “Citizen Soldiers” and others Each time I finish one 1 am overcome wife a tremendous sense of gratitude far those soldiers who fought in fee last world war Music can also get fee patriotic juices flowing During fee Winter Olympics Karen and I attended several cultural events in Salt Lake The most patriotic and inspiring was a Tabernacle Choir performance on Temple Square which included “Battle Hymn of the Republic” As the choir sang fireworks exploded outside giving emphasis to fee message of the choir's performance The dictionary says feat to be a patriot one must demonstrate love 7 and loyal or zealous support of hisher country So am I a patriot? ' I’m just like everyone else some- times I am and sometimes I’m not Thankfully July conies around each summer first of all to help me remember how lucky I am to live in fee USAjmd second to teach me important lessons bout being patriot- - to be a patriot one U-- S- “U-S-- A! History shows religion’s value story” The dictionary says uly is a red white and blue patriotic month It begins with a national holiday July 4th Independence Day Parades rodeos fireworks displays and Boy Scout breakfasts and other events help us celebrate American flags are abun- dant in the neighborhoods throughout the valley Then near the end of the month comes July 24th Pioneer Day It’s a state holiday in Utah and some parts of Idaho so the patriotic Your view ' M J co-wor- Little Round Top Mountain motivated me to want to know more about vw8lgiodlvtosauHiofc'')li-- ' ' il 1 y I’ l - v - ' IndMduals ars Imltod to ons piMshad M-- j tor whln any 38dsy psriod Addrsss Ewnal Mtornto hPattortHnswarom-Ousstoom- V - msntorissarsalwwsioomsandarsnmat:'1 ths sdabrlB dtocradoa ’ J t j i J' 1 W 77 v |