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Show 5 Monday, March 24,2008 OPINION www.daHyutahchronicle.com DAVID SERVATIUS I just can't see the magic of Barack Obama I My point? On the whole, our society has lost the meaning behind holidays—you know, the reason we decided to celebrate them in the first place—and we've rilled that void with stuff we buy at stores. This is not only a departure from the values most of us claim to hold so dear but unhealthy for our waistlines and pocketbooks. For example, four Peeps will run you about 130 calories, which requires 20 minutes of jogging to burn the fluffy concoctions off if you weigh 120 pounds. This all seems to beg the question of whether we could return to a simpler way of celebrating holidays. Are we so stuck in our ways, so obsessed over acquiring material possessions, that such a change is even possible? Could we all just stop spending money to celebrate holidays and just feel like the guy who's staring at the ultrasound and seeing nothing but fuzzy blobs while everyone else is squealing about little toes and noses. I want to feel the magic of Barack Obama. I do. It looks so exhilarating. I want an American hero as much as anyone else, and I'll be the first to admit that the frenzy surrounding the Illinois senator has-a whiff of something historic about it. The problem is that it also has a whiff of something rotten about it. I try and try to fall under the Obama spell, but time after time, the behavior of his surrogates and supporters is just more repellent to me than the candidate himself is appealing. In my experience to date, these people have been dishonest, pushy, mean-spirited, eager to scream, "Racist!" at you and, frankly, a little bit creepy and cultish. A perfect example is retired Air Force Gen. Merrill McPeak, an Obama campaign co-chairman whose brain has obviously been subjected to one sonic boom too many. Last weekend, McPeak blasted Bill Clinton for comments in a speech to a group of veterans by comparing the former president to 1950s U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Yes, that Joe McCarthy— the man responsible for the 20th century equivalent of the Salem witch hunts. At a campaign rally while Obama stood by laughing and waving, McPeak ranted about living through the years when McCarthy "was accusing good Americans of being traitors" and said he'd "had enough of it." OK, this is, word for word, what Bill Clinton said that gave the retired general the vapors: "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country and people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics." I want someone—anyone—to show me where in that statement he accused Obama of being a traitor to his country. He didn't. Those words simply aren't there, and regardless, his main point had nothing to do with acceptable levels of love for your country. His point was about the dirty nature of modern politics and how it distracts us from having a serious discussion about serious issues. He was, ironically, decrying exactly the type of thing that McPeak subsequently did. But, really, no matter what Bill Clinton said, does anything justify equating him with Joseph McCarthy, one of the most sinister figures in this country's history? Bill Clinton is not one of the bad guys in the American story. He was himself the victim of one of the most un-American political witch hunts of modern times. McPeak's unwarranted and over-the-top at- See NlEDRICH Page 6 See SERVATIUS Page 7 Spitzer was so close... JEREMIAH DAR AiS/JIfc 0*7/Waft flwswfc Stop celebrating consumerism America needs to remember actual holidays and what they mean D id the Easter Bunny (or in my family's case, the Easter Squirrel) bring you anything this year? Chances are it did. Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars to purchase decorations, sweets, gifts and other items to celebrate the holidays. According to the National Retail Federation, the average American spends between $no and $140 on Easter each year. In total, the U.S. spends about $12 billion each year on the Easter holiday alone. Easter is the fourth-highest holiday for expenditures each year, after Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, respectively. Although Easter expenditure figures pale in comparison to those for Christmas, even for "college-aged" people, Easter spending amounts are still remarkably high—an average of $65 per person each year. I don't know about all of you, but I did not spend $65 on Easter this year. Admittedly, my lack of Easter spending could be partially attributed to college costs and a lack of disposable ANASTASIA NlEDRICH income. But more so, the reason that I didn't blow the average $65 on Easter is that I don't support commercialized celebrations of holidays—especially religious ones. I have never understood why our society seems to think it's necessary to buy non-essential material possessions and confectionery goods for others in supposed commemoration of holidays. Last time I checked, "Thou shalt buy junk for your family to celebrate Christmas" and "Thou shalt buy animal-shaped marshmallows to commemorate Easter" were not in the Ten Commandments. Correct me if I'm wrong, thoughAlthough the loss of meaning behind holidays and the corresponding increase in holiday commercialization upsets me, I don't know that I would go as far as claim that greeting card companies invented some U.S. holidays in order to make mon ey. I mean, throughout human history, even during the feudal system, haven't we always celebrated National Bosses Day (Oct. 16)? I bought my bosses cards last year— didn't you? Getting back to religious holidays— specifically Easter—how many people who are Christian know why we celebrate Easter? Or the significance of Passover (or Ramadan, or any other religious holiday)? I would wager a very small number of Americans in general know these things, but I would bet almost everyone knows what a Peep is and which color they like best. I would even go so far as to bet that some of you have at least once irreverently eaten a chocolate cross. Sure, I can run a marathon! I 've accepted the fact that April 19 will probably be the day I die. "Why is Ryan dying at such a young age?" a few readers might ask. "Will it be a slow and painful death as he deserves?" most readers will hope. I believe I will soon die, for April 19 is the day of the Salt Lake City Half Marathon. For some reason, I've deluded myself into thinking that running a half marathon is something within my realm of possibility. Unaware of my physical limitations, I apparently have never actually met Ryan Shattuck. He does not run half marathons, he does not have the capability of running a half marathon and he certainly does not refer to himself in the third person when writing about running a half marathon. Regardless of this obvious and painful fact, I obviously must have had a shot or two of something intoxicating ("Hey bartender, forget the Jack Daniels—I'll just have barbiturates on the rocks.") the day I registered to run the half marathon. I don't know why I think I'll last 13 miles when most days I try not to exert more physical energy than is needed to breathe. Rather, I subscribe. to the Phyllis Diller philosophy of exercise: "My idea of exercise is a good, brisk sit." I find solace in knowing that my aversion to exercise is not uncommon. About 6 percent of Americans exercise 30 minutes a day while 22 percent of Americans exercise three to four times a week. Some people do eat correctly and exercise regularly, but unfortunately these people generally find themselves in the minority. Many of us desire to stay in shape, but many of us—including myself— also lack the time, energy and motivation that is required. In fact, it's been statistically proven (i.e., I'm making this up) that if the same percentage of expensive treadmill, but that pile of laundry has spent more time on the treadmill than have my feet. According to last year's fourth anRYAN nual report from the TYust for AmerSHATTUCK ica's Health, two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. The report also points out that Mississippi ranked the highest with percentages of physical inactivity and adult hypertension. It goes on to say that physipeople exercised as watched Americal activity reduces the chances one can Idol, then Coke would begin has of dying prematurely. From this product placements in gyms. Just report one can ascertain that physical make sure the Coke cups always face fitness is not as much a good idea as the camera. it's something on which our longevity Struggling to stay physically fit has long plagued modern society. We buy depends. ab machines, go on fad diets, attend Fortunately, there's hope—or at wellness seminars, buy health books, least, there is here in Utah. We can take nutritional supplements, go to be proud of the fact that, according yoga classes and count food points. to the United Health Foundation, of Some even go as far as to buy workthe 50 states in the U.S., Utah ranked out videos with titles that include sixth for the healthiest state in 2006. "Richard Simmons" and "Sweating Our state might have our beehive's To." There's no quesshare of problems, but tion that we desire to • no one can accuse us be in better s h a p e of not being happy and health and fitness is a Despite this $14.1 billion industry or some reason, healthy. achievement, we should while nutrition and wary of resting on our I've deluded myself be weight loss are a statistical laurels. Like a $44 billion industry. broken elliptical machine, into thinking We certainly have our ranking can go up or the best intentions down without any warnthat running a when we buy these ing at all. billions of dollars half marathon is As residents of one of worth of abercisers, the healthiest states in Atkins diet books something within my the nation, perhaps we and "Dancing With can resolve to raise our the Stars" cardio ^ ^possibility. ^ realm of ranking to fifth place. We dance videos, which I can exercise more, we promise I've probably can find time to workout never used. Despite such financial and we can eat healthier. We can be investments in the exercise industry, encouraged by the fact that we can is something being lost in translation change our habits at any point in along the way? If so much money is our life. We can continue to strive to spent, why do so many of us continue be physically fit well into our older to be overweight and out of shape? In other words, I may have an See SHATTUCK Page 7 F. i It's time to face the reality of today's reality television "T* ouis I William m iConradt NICHOLAS Jr. was many things. He was PAPPAS a successful assistant district : attorney in -' Texas. He was a brother and friend. He also solicited children for sex. Some would call him a monster. Others would say he needed help. Regardless, he is dead. In November 2006, the press and the police raided his house to seek justice and, more importantly, to humiliate the man. According to the officers' accounts, Conradt said, "I'm not going to hurt anyone," then put a gun to his head and hurt himself. Rather than face the villagers with torches, he chose to die a monster created by the science of tabloid journalism. The raid was set up by Dateline NBC and a group called Perverted Justice to air as an episode in the controversial series "To Catch a Predator." Now, Conradt's sister has filed a $100 million lawsuit against NBC, and, earlier this month, a New York judge ruled that the suit would go forward. Even after the suicide, Dateline NBC aired a segment telling the tale. At the end of the episode, Conradt's sister called the incident the "reckless actions of a self-appointed group acting as judge, jury and executioner." She is right. While there may be no defending a man who would wilfully have sex with an innocent, Dateline NBC did not air these shows to make the world #\ a better place. They did it simply for the almighty ratings. They have gotten their hands dirty for the sole purpose of selling more ads for Ivory soap. It is a shame there are people like Conradt in the world who engage in these activities, but it is a greater shame that the general public is so mesmerized by their capture. Yes, he was a man who needed to be brought to justice, but he was also a citizen with the same rights as any of us. He deserved privacy. He deserved to be treated as innocent until he was proven guilty. He is dead because of our voyeurism. "To Catch a Predator" is one of a long line of shows meant purely to humiliate and throw stones. The most popular is "American Idol," the FOX talent competition which bases the first half of the season on filming a . young person's dream and then pummeling it with personal jabs in a British accent. FOX has now created a solid gold line-up of humiliation with the addition of the game show "Moment of TVuth." Cash is awarded for truthful answers to personal questions that could change your life and the lives of See PAPPAS Page 6 ~ |