OCR Text |
Show 4 Tuesday February 26, 2002 G R IS 8 1 col BUIS Opposes In God We Trust legislation of telling people what to believe. In fact the worst way to try to get someone to believe something is to shove it down their throat By RICHARD DAVIS BYU political science professor The Utah Legislature is considering legislation that would post the sign "In God We Trust in a prominent place in Utah public schools. At first dance, this legislation may sound like a good idea. But let's examine the matter . The result then, will be counterproductive. There are more effective mechanisms for religious believers to seek converts than to use the levers of government power. For example, I spent two years as a fulltime missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of more closely. What is the purpose of this legislation? Proponents might argue it is designed to promote belief in God. If that is Die case, then it is Latter-da- y Saints seeking converts. But never once did I consider using the power of the state to get people to believe. Proponents may argue that the social problems of our society require that we assert trust clearly unconstitutional. The First Amendment declares that the government should make no law regarding the establishment of religion. Also, it is the wrong approach. You cannot legislate belief in God. Religious belief or the absence thereof are personal matters. Government should not be in the business in God. But the use of the word "we would suggest the whole of the American public. However, in this case, it does not There are Americans and Utahns who do not believe in God. Are they then not part of us because their beliefs are different? It seems patently to exclude people on the basis of religious beliefs. If religious freedom is part of our national heritage, then it has to include the freedom to not believe. Therefore, those who do not believe should be part of us as much as those who do. We should emphasize the commonality of our beliefs - which include American values But the approach should be to fix the social problems, not to attempt to legislate belief in God, which is impossible and, again, a such as liberty, justice, equality - and not ticular religious belief or even religious violation of the United States Constitution. liefs will They also may suggest that these signs state a fact - the nation - "we - trust in at parbe- all. The proponents of the legislation, then, may that the minority are dictating the complain God. (Continued on page 5) Guest cell iin IHaKRMOKliniB P I Smooth stones challenge UEA Goliath DRUGS the By PAUL.MERO Sutherland Institute The Utah Education Association is Goliath of Utah politics. Arrogant and the belligerent and battle entrenched as the leader of an army of government education warriors and seemingly invulnerable. Seemingly. As fate would have it no one is invulnerable in the world of politics, including the UEA. Reeling on its heels' from passage of last year's Vbluntary Contributions Act the UEA is in court now anxiously .and wildly trying to pre- vent its enactment Certainly, losing its lawsuit would be a political deathblow to the UEA. Its political power would wane over time in exact proportion to its declining political action committee (PAQ contributions. Without the taxpayer-providmechanism of the state payroll system to collect automatic deductions from among its partisans, ed have to convince its members to write a check to its PAC. Given time to think about it, many teachers may choose not to contribute. the Goliath-lik- e arrogance of its , Perhaps current leaders has brought the UEA to the brink of disaster. All that it might take now to alter its future is one carefully placed blow to its body politic. What fell Goliath of old? One of David's five smooth stones. And any one of the following five smooth stones of educational truth might eventually be the downfall of the UEA Goliath. Smooth stone number one - True educe- -, tion is much more thaA factory schooling. Arty government can throw its youth into factory schools and indoctrinate them, ignore them or manipulate them. True education is lifelong. People learn best from people they love and admire and who also have definite skills to share. Each of those three qualities is often lacking in factory schools. UEA would is an acronym for illegal dumping our town's surroundings. injuring I, along with many other Carbon residents, use the land surrounding Price, our county land, lor recreational use Many citizens enjoy biking, walking, crosscountry skiing, four wheeling, running their dogs, or just taking the family for a drive amidst our scenic hills and cliffs. IDIOTS . Last Sunday while walking east of 800 North on a short dirt road that leads to a gas wen in !l I tl II self-relia- t self-relia- people; not some system that shamelessly claims to produce them. And yet the restrictive and monopolistic' I :-- our current government schooling system penalizes families who attempt to be nature-o- self-relia- f i nt Yea Smooth stone number three - Parents are the engine of good education. Ask anyone, including the UEA leadership, what is the most important factor 3I I I . in producing Another site features dozens of oil bottles, froni IDIOTS who drain their car and truck oil bullet riddled and speak volumes of how a few Other illegal dumpers have abandoned yard bags filled with deer or elk carcasses on the (Continued on pege 5) linpMK ,1 of Dealer Associates ! educated on pege 5) the Price area, I found an illegal dump site. : The site I found is, unfortunately one of many illegal dumps created by some local idi- -. ots. Sound offensive? The filthy mattress and the ripped up sofas dumped on an otherwise pretty stretch of road are equally offensive. On the same road, closer to town, some of our citizens have dumped tables,' old stereos and washing machines. The discarded household items are now local residents disrespect our land, their neighbors and the community in which we live. I Actually, the moral basis of government schooling is to provide equal opportunity for all American children to grow up to become nt independent productive citizens. nt The greater public good is Method il of dealing: 1 of dealing . I II I I I I Drug(i) being dealt: List any other suspected illegal activities: May we contact you? YES Acronym describes illegal dumping Guest columnist J I Guest colniDR HARBER j public education is the highest public good and that an other concerns are secondary. Location By MARILYN j The information gathered as a result of the following TIPS fonn a strictly confidential and will not be divulged to any-The law poeoutskleoftheCaibonMetroDruglkskFbrK. enforcement officials will evaluate flic informatiop and place the facto into a composite file. Action will be taken on all Factory schools, like the outdated models idealized and defended by UEA leaders, are very poor pedagogical models. Smooth stone number two - In defense of government schooling, the UEA insists that i TURN IN A PUSHER, NO . If yes, how I When I I MaQ completed forms to: TIPS, Carbon Metro Drug Thsk Force 91 East 100 North, Price, UT 84501. directly into the soil, as if our lands were their private garbage disposal.. il I If you are a witness to the illegal practice or know people in our community who do this, you can contact the Utah Division of Water Quality. The state agency is interested prosecuting the individuals who commit the federal of- fense. The voice of Carbon County since 1892 ' ADMWBTEATHIN AddTHK .845 East Main, Price, Utah. Telephones (435) y 6. Fax : (435) ; 1. I r ;, . , fk btUhfr. Km Lanon t APvrrnsrofi . . - Advertising Director ' SUricy Stubbs i Calff Lynaette IHnr Qasdfitds, ' : lagab Lynda Barnet! ' : r $40 in Utah and SS4 outride of Utah per maH. -- V,. . . ' Publication 'No, (USPS haued twice a week at Price, Utah. Periodical pottage paid at Price, Utah, end at addt tional nailing office PO Boa 589, Ceric Dale, Utah 84511 . . Internet; httpewwjdneicom 174-96- 0) . : - . k Office Manager Linda Thayn Ractpdoeiat at ' Lynda Barnet! ; Ckculatitm ' Daria Lee : boiim 'j; am lo 5 pm ' . ; Monday - Friday 830 cent! per copy, $37 yearty - nmn SO , . - .. latec per year in Chiton and Emery counties, . . . Subscription - EMTQEML Editor Luanda Johnson Reporter Richard Shaw East Main Street, Price, Utah 84501. 'Claanfiede deadline: Monday 10 am for Tbeidayb publication and Wedqeaday at 10 am. for Thundajfr pnbHcation. . CMia KMwhuH Jcmt FitUn - PraftnMfreStrhnpirf.AWfIfrrfl45 . -- W Entire cantanta wpyrtgh! C2M18na Advecatc Inc. AM tigUa named. Na part af the pUbticadan aay be npradeead la aey Am with sat the apma eanacnt at : .I. ' V, rv, . 4 |