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Show OPINION Page 5 Friday, February 2,2007 Liberals use all the wrong arguments EDITORIAL * Utah vs. Lawmakers mindlessly target abortion abortion ban for Utah in the ith the anniversary of Roe v. Wade early 1990s. It was found unconstitunearly three weeks tional then, as it will be now, behind them/Utah lawmakers decided Tuesday that it's but that won't stop Rep. time to clean up the celebra- Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, from sponsoring his bill that will tory confetti and ban aborunnecessarily cost taxpayers tions. another milIf passed, lion dollars,: House Bill ; at least. 235 would If you're make /' LINDSEY wondering illegal for where the reasoning anaborDlJNr. is in all of tion to be ->, this, Ray performed >_ explained to except in The Salt Lake Tribune that, cases where a woman's life or major bodily functions "We're known for our family values and' our children. We are at risk, or when there have the opportunity to lead is an incidence of incest or the nation." rape that has been reported to the law. Ray is either ironically Not only is the bill legally unaware that the president unsound, but it is insulting is already leading the nation to women,fiscallyirrespon- in a losing battle, or he has sible and nothing more than a demented notion that this an expensive and temporary bill will be deemed constitusoapbox for its sponsors to tional. rest their laurels on. Really, where is the logic? The Supreme Court deciIf people sincerely wanted sion in Roe v. Wade has to rid the nation of aborserved as precedent in the tions, they would put the United States for just more millions they spend on than 34 years. Thus far, it has unnecessary litigation into been ironclad. further subsidizing forms Legislative attorneys— of preventative birth conknowing the steadfast nature trol, as well as making it of the historical case—have mandatory for schools to warned that the new bill teach a real sexual educawill likely be found uncontion class—not this abstistitutional. But, as they have nence stuff that flies out in the past, lawmakers are the window when natural throwing the cautions of hormones walk through the history and knowledgeable door. people—not to mention taxBut still, in the face of payer money—to the wind. . common sense, Ray and his This isn't the first time a cronies are at the altar ready bill like this has been proto behead the sacrificial lamb posed. More than $1 million that is the taxpayers and dollars in taxpayer money their money. -was spent fighting for an W Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily Utah Chronicle Editorial Board. Signed editorials, editorial columns and letters to the editor are strictly the opinions of the author. The forum created on the Opinion Page is one based on vigorous debate, whilc-at the same time demanding tolerance and respect. Material defamatory to an individual or group because of race, ethnic background, religion, creed, gender, appearance or sexual orientation will be edited or will not be published. All letters to the editor will now be published online at www.dailyutahchronkle.com. Letters that the editor deems best represent those received will be printed in the newspaper as well as online. House Bill 236 needs the right kind of support C hris Buttars is at it again. The twice-elected ninny famous for disavowing evolution because he's never seen a "dat" (for more info, Google "Buttars, Dat") has started another attack on gay rights. House Bill 236, presented by Rep. Aaron Tilton, R-Springville, has been thrown to the House. This bill would ban high school clubs centered on human sexuality, and Sen. Buttars, R-Salt Lake City, supports it. Schools somehow will still allow cheerleading—a high school staple wholly centered around sex and skirts—but I digress. This is not my point. Chris Buttars is not my point, either. I could put a big sock on his head and call him Mush Mouth, but Buttars will always be Buttars. The bill is not my point, either. Numerous bills with the same homophobic feelings have passed, only to be shot down later by the Supreme Court. The judges have read something called the Constitution. If this bill passes, it will not last. They never do. No, this column is about liberals. Anyone who reads the papers knows about HB 236, and lately the opinion columns have become riddled with the usual cave-dwelling conservatives and haloed liberal saints. I hate them both—but the liberals more (yes, I'm liberal, but mostly for the NICHOLAS PAPPAS beer and women). The liberal saints want to give everyone a hug. They think all gay people are dandy. Nothing could be more insulting. If you currently feel like jumping out of your Subaru and sitting down at your Mac, please at least refrain from saying the following: 1. "Gay people are nice." What is that? There is nothing worse than reading an opinion column and hearing a liberal praise the one gay person he or she knows and extol on how nice, polite and fashion-conscious he or she is. Gay people are not nice; some are, some aren't. Gay people are people. 2. "I have a lot of gay friends." Thank you for letting us know that you have friends! And gay people, no less! You must be such a kind, open-minded person. Note: Praising yourself is even worse than praising homosexuals. 3. "Although I'm not gay myself..." Why have you taken the time to write an open-minded paragraph on the value of free think- ing only to ruin it with this line? I have seen it constantly. We do not need the disclaimer. All this shows is that you are worried that someone will read your words and assume you must be gay. You're open-minded, but heaven forbid anybody think that. You are quite happy with your loveless marriage. 4. "They were born that way." This is the absolute worst, and has become every liberal saint's favorite mantra. Now, don't get me wrong. Homosexuality may very well be genetic. But again, we are missing the point. By using this phrase, you are giving our slower Republican brothers and sisters their out. They can simply stand by the belief that it is not genetic, that the Big Man wouldn't do such a thing. Sticking to the opinion that homosexuality is OK because they were born that way is also broadcasting the opinion that if they weren't born that way, you would be against it. It doesn't matter if a gay man or lesbian were born homosexual or not. What matters is that they seek love, do not hurt anyone else and find a way to live their lives in the most truthful way they can. HB 236 should be voted down hot because homosexuals were born that way, but simply because they were born. letters@chronicle.utah.edu LETTERS TO T H E EDITOR Life Center would have been a waste Editor: • - ">' ••'•"• " " Thank God somebody at the legislature had the good sense to stop the massive ASUU ego trip that masquerades as a new student center. Having a "24Hour Fitness" gym makes great sense for gym rats—which make up about 2 percent of the student population. The "Fitness Center" sounds like a great idea to the Associated Students of the University of Utah for two reasons: 1) demonstration of own importance, and 2) Positive response on the student survey. Being made up of overachievers and future politicians, the reason for the first is obvious. But let me explain the second. People like the idea of a fitness center because they think, "Oh, yeah, I could totally exercise more." Never mind the thousands of new gym memberships each January that get used exactly twice. If ASUU wants to make an enduring addition to campus, they would be better off adding some of the capsule''' motels Spencer Young talked about (in Feb. I'S article, "At rest in translation"). Visit the couches on the sec- . ond floor of the Union at noon . and you'll find them filled with unconscious students catching a few precious minutes of sleep. It would be nice if ASUU would spend some money on the things people actually use instead of expensive toys. Matt Miller Graduate Student, Urban Planning ASUU executives are doing a fantastic job Editor: May I just congratulate Jake ' Kirkham and Toby Collett on doing an amazing job this year? This past week The Chronicle has been focusing on unfulfilled campaign promises, but how about we take just a second to look at the ones they have fulfilled. 1. Giving money back to the students: Jake and Toby gave much more than the percentage required by Redbobk to the Finance Board and the Associated Students of the University of Utah Assembly—both organizations that give funding to student groups. 2. Creating the Rock the U dance competition: This has taken an amazing amount of work, and for being a new event, they have done an awesome job with advertising and organization. It will take years to build this competition to the level of the University of Pennsylvania or the University of Texas in Dallas, but they have gotten it off to a great start. So what if they had to lower the amount they wanted to raise? It is still money going to help a great cause! 3. Lobbying for the Student Life Center: Ingrid Price has dedicated the last year of her life to working with legislators to try and get this passed. We should recognize this hard work and appreciate all that she has done on our behalf. 4. Reinstating the Non-TVadi.tional Students Board: Why have we not heard anything about this? The Non-Traditional Students Board has been working hard this year providing programming and activities to the married and returning students. Did you know that about 40 percent of the U's population is married? Jake and Toby's idea that the Non-Trad Board needed to separate from the Diversity Board was right, and they have well-served a large population of students by doing so. I admire Jake Kirkham and Toby Collett's willingness to even try, because no matter how hard they work it seems that they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. All those students who are complaining that Jake and Toby have not done enough for the U, I would like to ask them what have they done lately to serve the U population? Until you are working hard to provide programming, new scholarships and various opportunities for a diverse group of students, then how about you stop whining about the people who are trying? Cara Winegar Owen Senior, Political Science YfhaVsthe point of having annual ASUU elections? JENNI Z A L K J N D m * Daily Utah Chronicle KURT FRANCOM/ The Daily Utah Chronicle |
