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Show 6 . Monday, March 3,2008 OPINION www.dailyutahchronide.com New media robs us of our privacy A PHIL CAHNON/lhc Daily Utah Chronkle The United States is a republic I had the unfortunate experience of having my post-workout hottub time interrupted by a group of supposed intellectuals who, like TIARA C. the "enlightened" lemmings that AUXIER frequent Starbucks trying to find the answers to world peace and "global warming," felt the urge to rail against guns, the election, President Bush and of course, the war on pulpit. No wonder parents want terror. to get their children out of public As the conversation turned to schools and into private when this Iraq, an individual in the group is the caliber of teachers being of(who happened to be a high school fered. teacher) remarked on how lucky I wanted to yell the Pledge of Althe Iraqis are because we are trylegiance at him. Here's a review for ing to give them democracy. For anyone else who's been conditioned a second, I was stunned. Could a by society to forget it. selfrdescribed liberal really rec"I pledge allegiance to the flag of ognize what America is doing in the United States of America, and the Middle East and appreciate it? to the Republic for which it stands, But then he sunk even lower in my one Nation under God, indivisible, esteem when he went on to say how with liberty and justice for all." unlucky Americans are because we Obviously there are some valuaren't given the same rights by our able truths within this that are beso-called democratic government. ing lost to society because we can't He brought up the Electoral Coloffend anyone by saying that this lege, that it should be abolished benation was formed under God. cause it isn't a democracy.I looked America is a republic. "Did I around flabbergasted, wondering if say 'republic?' By God, yes, I said anyone was going to say anything to 'republic!1 Long live the glorious the contrary, but instead his group republic of the United States of sat there and nodded their heads America. Damn democracy. It is in mindless agreement, saying, a fraudulent term used, often by "Yeah, America isn't a democracy ignorant persons but no less often anymore. We should take our tax by intellectual fakers, to describe stimulus refund and buy a one-way an infamous mixture of socialism, ticket to Australia or Canada where graft, confiscation of property and they have true democracy." denial of personal rights to individuals whose virtuous principles Believe me, if I had the money, make them offensive." I'd buy them all a one-way ticket to leave the country they so evidently These words by Pulitzer Prizedespise. winning columnist James WestThis guy is a school teacher who brook Pegler aptly apply to this thinks America is a democracy! "intellectual faker" of a school One who is charged with the duty teacher—one who thinks he is so of shaping the education of Utah's educated when in actuality doesn't children doesn't even know the his- know the first thing about history. tory of his country. I'd like to know Regrettably, though, this teacher what else this guy is teaching his is not alone in thinking that classes from his ill-informed bully America is a democracy. Invariably, when people are asked the type of government America has, they will say that we live under a democracy. America's founding fathers studied every form of government to determine the best solution. They chose to found America as a republic, a democratic republic, but a republic first and foremost. The Founding Fathers considered democracy in ancient Greece and wanted our government to be isolated from the whims of society that were the eventual downfall of that country. They were afraid that citizens could gather out in the streets, whipped up in a frenzy, and go vote whether it was based on studied deliberation or upon their impulses without any thought for the consequences. That is why we have a republic. By the time an issue gets to a representative, hopefully there has been enough time to consider the facts logically and not just be embroiled with passion. Article IV of the United States Constitution states that "The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government." Alexander Hamilton is quoted as saying, "If it be asked, what is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be an inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws." Too many now say that our Constitution is a "living, breathing document" made to change with the times. They are wrong. The people who think this way have an agenda with no respect for our Constitution or our way of government. When we lose the principles upon which our great country was founded, we will see the downfall of America. letters@ chronicle.utah.edu ndy Warhol said, "In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes." This will mostly be accomplished by Google Maps' Street View option. Many people want to be famous; whether it be* the hordes RYAN of people auditioning SHATTUCK for "American Idol" or Cher, whose desperate attempts at clinging to fame are marked by the fact that she's had more farewell tours than most people have teeth. Even I have to admit that while I happen to be more comfortable writing than I am in front of a camera, I probably wouldn't have too much of a problem if "Fame" were to show up at my door with a bouquet of balloons screaming "Congratulations Ryan, I'm here to make you famous!" Of course by "Fame," I mean the abstract notion of being known or talked about by many people. If "Fame," the 1982 television show, were to show up at my door, I'd probably call the police. As anyone who's ever become famous will agree, the quid pro quo for fame is privacy. Those who seek out fame understand that an erosion of privacy will occur. The starlet whose every rehab-ilicious mistake is splashed across the tabloids accepts her life, for thus is the price of repute. The housewife whose life may be uneventful but filled with fulfilling relationships and a fulfilling career accepts her life, for thus is the price of privacy. Famous people generally choose to be famous, private people generally choose to be private and life overall is pretty good. Then Google stepped in and changed the rules. Not too long ago, a person could become famous by doing absolutely nothing—then upload that nothing to YouT\ibe. Now all that one needs to do in order to become famous is to continue doing absolutely nothing—while being outside. Google Maps, one of the leading online map websites, made headlines last May when they released a new and innovative way to view maps with Street View. Google drives up and down the streets of a particular city in an unmarked van and uses a panoramic camera to take 360-degree pictures of the actual street. The Street View option then presents a visitor to Google Maps with a 360-degree view of the street as if they were actually visiting that particular city. Soon after introducing this Street View, Google began to attract a small but surprising amount of controversy. A number of people became frustrated at being caught on camera by the unmarked Google van, thus inciting the claim that Street View infringed on the privacy of average citizens. When I first learned of this controversy last summer, I assumed that these people were simply being paranoid. Only five cities originally had this Street View option available—San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas, Denver and Miami—and it didn't really concern me. ThenI learned that as of Feb. 12, Salt Lake City had been added to the Street View option on Google Maps. Then I learned that my apartment is visible on the Street View option on Google Maps. Then I saw myself on the Street View option on Google Maps. I never thought my 15 minutes of fame would be this blurry. I emailed Google's press department concerning the recent addition of Salt Lake City and received a response from Elaine Filadelfo with Google, Inc. According to Ms. Fildelfo, "the imagery [of Salt Lake City] is typically between a couple of months and a year old at the time of the launch." She also wrote that "our users have told us this ability to view a location as if they were actually there helps them understand and find information about the places they live and visit" While it was definitely unsettling to see my apartment—and my blurry self—on Google Maps, I personally don't have that much of an issue with this invasion of privacy. It does raise some interesting questions however, concerning where one draws this line. On one hand, it is an astounding breakthrough that allows anyone to view 360-degree images of nearly 30 cities. On the other hand, it creates a precedent for unsolicited pictures of average citizens to be uploaded online for millions to see. On the third hand, most people lead such innocuous lives that they aren't that concerned whether a Google van catches them taking out the trash or picking their nose. On the fourth hand, it puts the anonymity of those who simply wish to lead private lives at risk. What can we make from this, aside from the fact that I clearly have four hands? Most people don't live in Salt Lake City because they want to be famous—they want to lead regular, private lives. It may be easier for those who desire fame to find it because of this increasingly connected world in which we find ourselves, but conversely, it is much more difficult for those who wish to remain private to do so. Cell phone cameras, Facebook, blogs, YouTube and Google Maps' Street View play only a small part in this. Andy Warhol most likely didn't anticipate the digital age when he conceived his 1968 hypothesis regarding fame. Nevertheless, I truly believe that everyone will have their 15 minutes of fame—whether they like it or not. letteh@chronicle.utah.edu LETTER TO THE EDITOR There should be no discrimination in higher education Editor: wasn't a sound policy decision, I'd like to thank Rochelle Mctltah is one of 10 states granting Conkie for her in-depth continu- ' in-state tuition for undocumented ing coverage of immigration and students. In Utah, approximately other legislative issues. It's good to 200 students qualify for in-state see our school newspaper putting tuition under HB 144. forth so much original coverage of Arguments offered against HB 1 what s occuring on the Hill. I'd like 144 include; to offer a response to her article 1. The state of Utah may face "Utah divided: Should undoculegal action based on a violation q£ mented students continue to pay the 1996 Illegal Immigration Rein-state tuition?" featured on the • form and Immigrant Responsibilfront page of the Feb. 22 issue of ity Act which states that "An alien The Daily Utah Chronicle. who is not lawfully present in the The lastitwo years of the Utah United States shall not be eligible State Legislature, Rep. Donnelson on. the basis of residence within a * R-North Ogden has attempted to Statc.for any postsecondary benrepeal the provisions of House Bill efit unless a citizen or nation of the 144, passed in 2002, which estabUnited States is eligible for such lished that any person who has a benefit." Legal actions brought attended three years of high school against states with similar proviin Utah and graduated or received sions have either been dismissed the equivalent of-a high school or overruled. The reasoning is diploma would be eligible for insimple: HB 144 applies to everystate tuition. This allowed several one, citizens and non-citizens, groups of students who other•and therefore does not violate the wise may have been forced to pay IIRIRA. non-resident tuition, such as the 2. Rep. Donnelson routinely tries children of foreign ambassadors to sell his repeal as a humanitarian and undocumented immigrants, to action stating that we are offering qualify for an exemption. false hope to undocumented stuThe rush to repeal this law is un- dents since they will not be able to founded, and no logical argument work legally after graduation. Forhas been offered as to. why.HB 144. tunately for these students, this is not true. They are required to sign an affidavit in order to qualify for the exemption that obliges them to seek legal status, which is a possibility. Additionally, anyone who is paying attention to the presidential race knows that immigration reform is a hot issue and will almost certainly be dealt with in the next few years. The likelihood of the 15 million undocumented immigrants In fhe U.S. being deported is nonexistent. More likely the reform will provide some form of recognition allowing them to work legally. 3. Another argument urges the repeal of HB 144 in an effort to punish law-breaking immigrants and remove an incentive for immigration. The fact that every student must have spent three years in a Utah high school means that they immigrated as children, almost certainly due to the will of their parents and not then- own. No child should be punished based on the actions of their parents, and no rational and fair person would argue as such. No one denies that immigrants come to this country in search of jobs. The availability of higher- education likely has little to no effect on an immigrant's decision to emigrate as their needs are much more immediate. 4. Some believe that in-state tuition is a discount or benefit and therefore should not be available to undocumented immigrants. Gut-of-state tuition is much more of a tax and revenue boost for schools. The goal is to recover the cost of a non-resident student's education as the student's family has not contributed state tax revenues used to fund higher education. Any student qualifying under HB 144 has lived in Utah for at least three years and therefore his or her family has contributed tax dollars, just as any other resident. Higher education receives funding through the Uniform School Fund and the General Fund from a mix of sales, beer, tobacco and income tax. Only the last is possible to shirk and the evidence that • undocumented immigrants shirk % significant enough portion to justify such a sanction of out-ofstate tuition is sparse.? 5. Even someone only concerned with the fiscal impact cannot oppose HB'144. HB 241 and every other attempt to repeal the in-state tuition benefits have carried a negative fiscal note. Yes, the legislature knows that these students .'...•-•I would not attend otherwise, and since the legislature allocates ^ funds—not on a per student basis • but in lump sums—it would actually mean a loss of revenue for our schools and government. Anyone who is Interested in their own self-interest would not logically desire to repeal HB 144. These immigrants will not be leaving, so we have a choice between having more educated members of our community, the positive externalities of which, such as greater productivity and lower crime, are proven or less educated members, nearly ensuring the continued poverty, marginalized status of the undocumented and all of the individual and societal problems associated with these. ; Now that we have the facts, let's ;let our representatives know that HB 241 is bad for every Utahn. With all of the arguments in sup- : port of it being dispelled, it is obvious that the bill is nothing more than a discriminatory and mean- | spirited attack on 200 easy targets L, carried out due to frustrations over! a larger issue. JaredKubly 2 ;' ; Senior, International Studies ••'•=•,'•. ' andEconoml |