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Show i Page T - November W. MtW OPINION tJihtah Basin Standard Curb the Blight of Litter ment officials and file a complaint. Vigorously urge the county attorneys office to prosecute such cases. I f we can hurt offenders in their pocketbooks, they may change their ways. For children, steadfast education is appropriate. Parents are the best teachers. They must set a proper example. Then the schools need to step in with lessons, and with time cleaning up around the schools. By the time students reach high school, they should have enough pride to keep school corridors and grounds clean. Everyone should work daily to keep their school environment litter-fre- e. Offenders should be sentenced to supervised cleanup duty. Heres hoping we can take some serious steps to curb the blight of litter. How nice it would be to take a drive without the glint of cans and bottles along the roads and plastic dangling from shrubs and fences. Do we have the will power to do it? Who likes living in a garbage dump? The answer is surely no one. Yet we are rapidly creating dump conditions around us by trashing the roadsides, parking lots, and other open spaces. Who is doing it? If we knew, we could have them arrested, fined and set to work cleaning up their mess. We live in an attractive landscape. Why then, do we have to put up with dirty diapers, mountains ofbeer cans and bottles, ugly fast food containers, fi Ithy old appl ianccs, blowing plastic sacks and other debris along our roads? Haven't some people learned that littering is a crime against society? We suggest that most people are not dirty birds. Hut what can we do about those who are? For adults, we need to impose serious punishment. That means we need to take down license plate numbers, vehicle descriptions and location descriptions whenever we witness littering. Call law enforce Thank You, Harry Potter! life to be eagerly embraced or fearfully The Harry Potter hooks, by depicting a world in which good triumphs over evil, give us strength to face real enemies. war in progress and With a long-terthreats of further terrorist attacks on American soil, is it mere escapism to go to movies such as Harry Potter1? Not atU; such mov- skirted? Can the good succeed or does evil ultimately win? The Harry Potter series appeals to so many children (and, incidentally, adults) because the answers it gives to these questions are overwhelmingly positive. It shows a world in which happiness can be achieved, villains can be defeated, and the means of It is a storys success can be learned. abstract meaning, not its physical setting, that influences the reader. The Wizard of Oz, for example, is set in a land inhabited by witches, Munchkins and talking trees but it really is about the determination of Dorothy and her friends to attain difficult goals. Little Lord Fauntleroy is not a manual for how to inherit an earldom, but a portrayal of a child whose honesty and integrity see him through adversity. What crucial need does the Harry Potter series fill? In a culture where fear and cynicism are too often dominant, it provides a reminder that life is good that it is challenging and full of exciting possibilities. The books are, in short, fuel for a childs maturing mind. As vitamins and minerals are essential to a childs healthy physical development, so literature with this view of the world is essential to a childs healthy mental development. So take your child to see the Harry Potter movie, or curl up and read the books. Its not mere escapism. Wars arent won only by superior weapons or brute physical force, but by the belief that one can win and deserves to win. By Dr. Dianne L. Durante is a senior writer for the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, California. m ies provide something just as essential to winning a war as weapons and soldiers. Hany Potter lives in a world where hats and paintings speak, broomsticks fly and goblins run banks but these are details. The essential element is the inspiring depiction of a boy's triumphant struggles. The series tells the story of an orphan, despised by the relatives he lives with, who discovers he has a rare talent and works hard to develop it. In the course of his education he learns to think for himself, to be honest and to be He finds friends who share his values and he earns the respect of his teachers. 1 le battles the class bully as well as the most evi wizard on earth, and we rejoice when, with considerable effort and courage, Harry prevails. What is the educational value of this? A child needs to learn concrete facts, ofcourse, but that is not enough. In order to organize and utilize such facts, a child urgently needs as a framework a basic, abstract view of life and he needs it in the form, not of an abstruse treatise, but of a concise, easily graspable presentation. This is what literature provides. By means of the theme, plot and characterization particularly as they in vol ve the hero every children's story implicitly addresses such broad questions as: Is the world fundamentally a benevolent or a malevolent place? Can one rely on one's own mind or not? Is non-essent- clcven-ycar-o- ial ld self-confide- nt. 1 Uintah Basin Standard Inc. (IISPS 646-90Published Periodml posUgc paid M Roosevelt and Duchesne, Utah eekl rt 26M S. 200 E Roosevelt. Utah 84066-310- 9 POSTMASTER: EDITOR'S NOTE: The Uintah Batin Standard welcome and encourage opinions firm reader in the form of letters to the editor. Letter may tie Send address changes to the Uintah Basin Standard at 26K S. 200 Roosevelt. Utah 84066-310-9 OFFICE HOURS: 8:00 a.m. to I :00 p m. Monday. 9:00 am to p.m. Tuesday thru Friday. Phone Fax: DEADLINES: For all News. I egal Nonces. Classifieds A Advertising, the Deadline is Thursday at 5 p.m. PUBLISHER: Craig Ashhy EDITOR: Lezlee E. Whiting ADVERTISING: Matthew Evans OFFICE MANAGER: Bonnie Parrish utilized to express opinions or comments, to highlight outstanding service ofan individual or organization, or any other worthwhile purpose. Letters may not he used to replace Cards of Thanks, or to list sponsors, participants or contributors to a particular event or purpose. LETTERS PRODUCTION: Writers: Aldon Rathclc. Thercna Morrill, Sue Collier, Angles Eddington Production: Colette Ashhy, Andrea Harper, Julie Nazer and Doris Bettoch CORRESPONDENTS: ROOSEVELT - Teresa Harmston 8; ALTAMONT -- ; BLUEBEI.L - Shana Lee 6: Locrtschcr HANNA Tracy Roberts 848-541- 7; LAPOINT Marlene McClure 247-237- 5; MONTWELL - Nola Nelson 353-454MYTON -- ; 353-4753; TRIDELL; NEOLA - Mondi Taylor WHITEROCKS; DUCHESNE Orinda 4. Gee www.ubstandard.com ubsnewsubUnet.com Subscription Rates: I Clip and Send to: I Uintah Basin Standard I 268 S. 200 E. I Roosevelt, Utah I I Adding. I Chy 84066-310- 9 In the Uintah Basin 1 Yr.$24-2Yr.S- 37 J 1 Out of the Uintah Basin I I Yr.S36-2Yr.S- S6 I I Zif4 Cash or Check only. Sony No Charges f MUST. CONTAIN 400 WORDS OR LESS. BE TYPED OR WRITTEN LEGIBLY. SIGNED. AND INCLUDE NAME. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE AUTHOR. Letters will be published unless they contain libelous or defamatory statements. We reserve the right to edit letters and to withhold a name by request if the nature of the letter is positive. Letters may be submitted to the Standard office at 268 S. 200 E. Roosevelt, Utah, 84066 by the published deadline (normally Thursdays at 5:00 p.m.) Alt tetters become property of the Uintah Basin Standard. Abortion nothing more than American Holocaust Dear Editor, Holocaust, a word that means the mass slaughter of people. What then awwarrysoatoon&com is abortion? Eleven yean ago I stood on line withanumber ofdifferent women. It was like an assembly line each of us waiting to enter the infirmary. I remember the girl behind me. She must have been at least six months pregnant because her belly was very large. I kept saying why did she wait so late, she is killing her baby? Not realizing that though my stomach was flat, I was doing the same. I remember a women smiling in my face after I woke up and taking me to a room where I eat and had a cup of tea and two Tylenol. She said it would help with my pain. Today I ask myself which pain ? The emotional pain I have suffered once I realized I took my baby to be slaughtered or the physical pain I have suffered from infertility and now breast cancer. Funny how I have lost a baby, an ovary and now abreast. Abortion has nothing to do with womens health, power or choice. It ia a complete lose of humanity. We pride ourselves on a Constitution that vowa everyone has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness yet allow our laws to protect the same acts and cruelty of Hitler. Every time you see an advertisement for abortion, know that ia an advertisement for the slaughter of people. If there ia any question that a child in the womb is not yet a person look at the evidence, look at yourself. Thank you, Charnette Mease 5th grader seeks information on Utah Dear Edita1, I em in the fifth grade at School in Mondesto California. I have adopted your state as a class prqject I will be doing a report and making a display about Utah. In May, my class will be having a state fair." I will be displaying everything I have learned about your state to the visitors from our school and our community. It would be helpftil to me if you would print my letter, asking your readers to help me by sending postcards of your states attractions, maps, brochures, information about wildlife, industry, neat places to visit, statistics, sports teams, and aqy other information and items your readers might feel would be helpful. I hope that your readers can help me with my project. I promise to send thank yous to everyone who sends packages. Iam so exdted about learning about your state and hearing from the people who live there! Thank you from California Katie E. Ibarra Mrs. Unnihs Class Hart- - Ransom School 3930 Shoemake Ave. Modesto, C A 95358 Hart-Ranso- m t Remembering when ... and advice on mailing newspapers! Dear Editor, I thoroughly eqjoy receiving my weekly subscription copy to the Standard. Its great to keep up on the home town events. It seems like it was only yesterday when Lynn Snow put a frog down the bed of CoUeen Shields drees as we set on the beck row in Sacrament meeting. Without the electronic technology we have today, we had to manufacture our own entertainment usually with the help ofKelly Sprouse and Howard Andrews who would transport the aooute out of town in the back ofKelfyi International pickup to camp, fish, cut Christmas trees and sleigh ride down Farm Creek mountain. AH they had to do was get ua there and we were able to create endless hours of activity. I find todqye scouts different in that regard. Ive spent over 20 years at various times as a scoutmaster and increasingly find the emits see the scoutmaster as the "chairman of the entertainment committee. Their worst fear is that they will be 2. Fold it in half (so it is about the size of an 8 12 X 11" piece of paper) 3. Put a hefty staple in the upper left hand comer, so the paper cant unfold. address 4. Put a either side, it label over the staple docent matter. 5. Now take the staple out, so you can read the paper. 6. nuff said. Thanks again, Ronald Walker Sandy, Utah (Editas Note: You are right, the staples are a pain! However, we received more complainte from our subscribers when we didn't have the staple in place and the second section oftheir newspaper never arrived in their mail box, because it was lost in the mail!) le out-of-ar- TMli&Ing Out Loud I recently took a second job, a janitorial position. "You wont like it, my husband announced. "Why?" .. Becauseyou're cleaning up after people. My eyes went sort of aquinky when he said that - he was certainly venturing out in dangerous territory -first, a man should never tellawoman will not like, fa the what she will simple feet that ha opinion can change hourly, and secondly, I was well qualified for the job considering my years of experience cleaning up after people." Maybe the man noticed my lip beginning to curl when he vaulted from the room. Im not sure. But something in the air sure made him exit in a hurry. Whatever it was allowed me the solitude to stew in my own juices. Opinions! Opinions are like armpits ...everyone has them and they all stink! But ... what if hes right? What if I didnt bks it? We really did need the extra money. The hours fit into my day perfectly. But ... whet if? There was nothing to do but just do it try my hand at janitorial work. I had worked in a video store, newspaper, school lunch kitchen, Paylees Shoe store and sold Avon. I liked all those jobs - so why not this one? The typical first-da-y were subdued when I recognised Christmas music ploying in the workroom (in early September! ). The familiar soothing sounds soothed my spirit, my fellow employees were friendly, the equipment waked well and I was off end running. The first two weeks I came home bushed. It was physically demanding to say the least, but I didn't mind it With my mind at ease my body could work and work hard. And ...I discovered a love for damp mopping. Or maybe, the public's response to a newly mopped floa - they are timid. I Ve found that moat require an invi ay a Groton, Connecticut Calif. bored, and on camping trips they are at a kies to come up with activities on their own except to take a generator and a VCR and watch a movie I dont know if thats a difference between Roosevelt and Sandy OT the difference between 1962 and 2002. 1 suspect the latter. And finally, on a totally different subject ... for the last 20 years I have worked for an engineering company and have taught Manufacturing Engineering part time at the university. Like everyone else who takes their job entirely too seriously, Im always alert to products or processes that are just plain dumb: Heres an example of a process you can tiy for yourself. 1. Take a medium sized newspa-- r one about the size ofthe Uintah in Standard. -- -- tation. "Come on in! They are apologetic. "I dont want totrack your floa, is a common response. They tip toe in, past the Caution Wet Floa signs, expressing their regrets fat intruding. But, I dont mind, because I don't take it personal Not like at home. My momma taught me that dirt and mess ia acceptable from others, but not from those living in your home -which is why she wouldn't allow my brother myself to sit on the living room furniture. AuntJen could spill ha tea on the living room carpet and it was a little thing, easily dabbed up with a paper towel. But, just spin a little Koolaid in the kitchen and she was personally affronted. "Oh! For Heavens sake! Cant you be more careful? Alter a day spent playing we were swept off withabroom at the threshold, and dirty shoes never made it through the front door, while others could leave a trail of cookie crumbs, soiled napkins and street debrie. And, it's the same at my house. I will not beckon, "Come on in," while mopping at home. No, when my children approach the front porch I yell, "Come in and you're deed! While cm official janitorial duty if I see someone looking around fin: a trash bin I'll offer, "Here, let me dispoae ofthat for you," and at home its, "You better take care of that IMMEDIATELY mister! I figure that its a territorial issue when one is on neutral territory one is gracious, but ... when one is on her home turf she fights likeaHoness to keep ha den clean. a rs Cemetery is scene of apparent suicide The death of a Myton man whose body was discovered in the Myton Cemetery last Thursday afternoon is being ruled as a suicide, according to Duchesne County Sheriff reports. Salvada Vseequex, 64, was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound. According to Sgt. Dave Boren, self-inflict- Vaseques was found by his girlfriend, who went to look fa him when be failed return from a visit to the cemetery around 2 p.m. on Nov. 14. Vasequa was suffering from depression, said Boren. He was reportedly found lying beside his late wifes grave. 9 |