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Show f PAGE 34 THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1992 There are many men and women of "good will" in this country. There are decent and "rules" as set forth or strongly implied by the compassionate people who do not agree with the new moral crusade. Rules and laws come and go. Many are useful, some are petty, and some are dangerous and must be resisted. To define "American" by the rules, and by implication, the soon to new laws desired by the participants in this "moral crusade" is to polarize the country into an "us and them" mentality. People like me or who substantially in any way agree with me are told you are undesirables, degenerates; criminals. To say the least, this does not set at all well with me, and I know for a fact that it does not set well with many others decent and caring people alL "Ethnic Cleansing" is a phrase that comes to mind. We are all in this together; in this country, in this world and in tills life. Only by understanding, respect and good will can we hope to make a decent world, one of freedom and opportunity. The Golden Rule states "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." As I observe the unrest in the many countries tom by cultural and religious hatred, it comes to me that the Golden Rule can be rephrased, not as standard of conduct, but as a predictor of human affaire. "Do unto others and they will most certainly do it bade to you." The very last thing we need now or ever is further division. It is quite certain that increasing government enforcement of this new "Official Morality" will accomplish disastrous division of this country. We "unacceptable" people do not consider ourselves without virtue and lacking in morality. We do not consider ourselves criminals, and it will be ultimately disastrous for all concerned if an attempt is made to "purge" us from this society. Andrew F. Pltaz, Jr. feedback the readers respond - Dear Zephyr, Consider me just one more redneck, radical Abbey addict who discovered Moab through his books and just had to see die place. Being from the southern portion ofdie U&AV I can only make it into town a couple of times a year thus making me one more scumbag tourist, I I Yet accommodations if would the come were a blanket on die ground and die only suppose. from that could be which the muddy waters of the river itself. only eatery pulled Die intense development Moab has undergone just in the past few years is an absolute horror. I can't believe die blame can be laid on the lowly travelers. There are towns that attract tourists that refuse all franchises. Kemville, California, is one excellent example. Mom and Pop seem to be doing very well, thank you. Anyway, I do love the spirit and tone of the Zephyr and fed you are at heart a defender of die defenseless land. As the Bard so often sakU someone has to do id - - Sincerely, Paul Shell - ' Dear Jim, The other night I had a little talk with my daughter about family values, or at least what pass for family values in our house. I've never watched a political convention before, but as a concerned citizen felt I should watch this year's Republican convention. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat I try to decide who makes the most sense and vote accordingly. Often, neither one makes much sense, as many of us have noticed. The issue of "family values and the context in which this is being discussed had begun to make me very uneasy. I watched the convention not so much to leam what they planned to do for me as to leam what they planned to do to me. I am now extremely nervous; perhaps frightened is a better word. After the many stirring speeches, balkxms, and patriotic songs has ended, I felt a great need to talk to my 10 year old daughter about our family values. I felt a need to reaffirm my own values? Justify my existence? Check my drivers license to see if I was indeed an American? And so we spoke, my 10 year old girl and L We spoke of many things. We spoke of racial prejudde, of religious prejudice, of cultural prejudice. We spoke of fear and hate and misunderstanding. We spoke of obedience to the law, and why we should obey the laws. The subject of civil rights came up and I explained why we MUST, sometimes, disobey the law when the law is morally wrong as it was concerning Blade rights until relatively recently. I explained the phrase "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's;" that we owe the state certain duties and have certain obligations, but that we do not owe the state control of our bodies, minds, or spiritual consciousness. Ultimately we boiled things down to this, from me, on the subject of family values. I believe that EVERYONE deserves respect, decency, and, potentially, love until they demonstrate otherwise. Even then they are not deserving of hate, but of compassion, even if we must avoid them. I cannot decide what is right for another person, except to say harm no other. Lyla contributed, very simply, that we are all sparks from the Eternal Fire, and that she was . here to love and help when she could; this was her calling. Somewhat vague in certain areas, it could be said. True, but this vagueness is built in; uncertainty is a part of life. Like all great and worthy creations, the details of a moral life must be hammered out in the living of it. These are our family values, and with or without your kind permission I call myself a Christian. You may call yourself whatever you like. There are those who would disagree. This is their sacred right, and I am pleased that they exercise it. After watching the Republican convention I was forced to come to a disturbing condusion. Family values were rather dearly defined, and in a way I do not care for. According to their rhetoric; homosexuals, New Agers, old hippies, "uppity women," anyone who wishes to keep the Government out of their bedrooms, bodies, and minds is an enemy. An image conservative morals as defined by "that old time religion" emerges for me. White, (whether I or many others agree with it or not). In other words, a sort of mean spirited and judgmental Ozzie and Harriet. I do not pattern my life around die Bible. My choice erf (adult) sex partners is my own business. I choose what I put into my body and what I do not. My thoughts and my definitions of life and love are my own. Jesus said "Love one another." To get up every day and honestly try to live that way, sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing (in other words, being human) is my goaL I am what I call a man of good wilL ..Moab flag-wavi- ng Dear Jim, At this time, I vicariously see the world and its wonders and diversities through the eyes, tales, and experiences of my children. We, bom in the roaring twenties, are the visionaries who survived the results of "the War to end all Wars," the depression, endured the "Big One," as we worked in the arms industries to free and raised our children to the men for battle, were swept back to the kitchens and fight more Wars. Today the women of this nation stand shoulder to shoulder in all Adds of endeavor contributing their minds and talents for the enrichment of all in this diverse and changing world. Though many of us have gleaned the precious gifts of gold through family and friends, few have discovered the wealth of the "Mother-Lode- ." I tasted the elixer of Southern Utah's beauty while working at Zion. December 7, 1941 laid that vision to rest Late in the 1950s, I again entered the magical world of arches, and these hooked on gifts. spires getting The lure of the area calls many to see -- 1 ask that only faint footsteps are there when they - baby-chor- es red-roc- k, rare-natur- al leave. - have been to Moab several times in the past eleven years. Each visit enhanced by expanding my exploration and awe of the wonders of nature. I believe Jim Stiles was the first "Ute" that I met. I enjoy both the glib and altruistic way he can paint pictures in words yet be cantankerous, controversial, informative or literary as the need might be. The dailies are most oft boring and contrite, but there runs a If you doubt my observation read the current challenge in the torrents and white-wate- r. August issue of the Zephyr. 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