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Show 5 Friday, March 28,2008 OPINION www.dallyutahchronide.com It's time for a change in our energy do X do? New oil technology still isn 't the answer JEREMIAH DAHAIS/ftf Oally Uloh ChratKte LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Virtual violence does no harm Editor: When was the last time anyone drove around aimlessly stealing other cars, picking up prostitutes and attacking strangers ("Virtual violence still wrong," Ben Bailey, March 26)? It might be easy to describe a video game that an 8-year-old is playing, be disgusted with the imagery of a young mind being corrupted and simply blame the ' video game. But if you blame the media for the output of such material without first looking at the parents who allow these games to enter their homes, then the whole argument about getting rid of violent video games goes out the window. Two years ago, I worked with violent offenders. Not a single one of them ever played a violent video game unless you count an Italian guy named Mario jumping on someone's head as violent. Every violent person I've known personally has never played a violent game but had "real" violence happen to them in their past. In fact, every person can agree—they've seen more grown men imitating some fantasy movie and/or game than they've seen children and men combined pretending to be criminals. Blaming video games for influencing people to be violent makes about as much sense as blaming higher education for turning young minds into liberals. In the end, it comes down to parents to prepare their children on how to handle the different views and opinions they'll come across in life. If you want to blame video games, it's just a cop-out for parents who are powerless to do anything responsible. Among many of my friends and past friends from high school, none of us have done anything violent. I love "Grand Theft Auto," first-person shooter and realtime strategy games. But I never want to run someone over, take their wallet, punch a prostitute in the gut or run around with a gun and shoot people in the face, or even click on people from a birds-eye view and have them do things. Neither do my friends or any of the countless video game nerds I've ever played with. You can take almost anything, put it in the hands of someone irrational and he or she can corrupt it and use it in some harmful way. In the end, blame the parents, not the media. Virtual violence is virtually awesome. Michael Whltaker Sophomore, Mathematics Editor: Oil shales and tar sands are not the solution. ("USTAR conference looks at shale oil mining in Utah," March 25). While scientists and politicians in Utah might be excited about new technologies, it's time to change the source of energy if we are to keep a somewhat balanced earth and society. Oil is not sustainable and it is not limitless. Ninety-five percent of all oil in the world has been discovered, according to Colin Campbell and other geologists, and the United States reached the peak of its oil production in the 1970s. Oil production in the world is in decline, and there isn't that much left anymore ' (only about two-thirds, considering the growing demand), thus the high prices. Canada's Alberta province produces 14 million barrels of oil a day from tar sands and oil shales, barely 7 percent of the United States' current oil needs. The attempt to obtain oil through these difficult, expensive, polluting ways is just going to slow the inevitable. Lester Brown, presiderit of the Earth Policy Institute, in his book Plan B 3.0, explains why it is urgent that we find a new energy source. As we get close to the end of oil "production," taking into account other countries, such as China, which will also have the same needs for oil as the United States in a few years and even double it, countries will be able to satisfy their needs for oil only if they take it away from other countries. Now, if in your selfishness you say you don't care that other people don't have it, think of the consequences this will bring to you: social, economic and political instability in other countries will create mass migration, refugees and wars. The price of food will keep going up. Yes, it will reach us. To trust in new oil technologies as a way to survive the oil crises is not the smartest move. It's time to leave the old, flawed ways. Alejandro L. Moya Art, Junior THE CHRONICLE'S VIEW Thank you, Steve Smith The U's athletic scholarship resources just got $250,000 wealthier Wednesday when Steve Smith, a former U football player and current Carolina Panthers wide receiver, donated a lump sum to establish a scholarship for wide receivers at the U. 4 ' Smith, who had a troubled past, transferred to the U after two years at Santa Monica College to play football after being offered a scholarship opportunity by someone who saw the promise in him. While at the U, he established him*self as a player to watch, and now he wants to be able to give other young players the same chance he received in his youth. It's quite remarkable that the U had such an impression on Smith that he felt the need to be so charitable. It's a testament to the football program he went through and the education he received that Smith would want to make it easier for young athletes to attend the U. Thanks to Smith, the decision for talented athletes to come to the U will be easier without haying to worry about financial situations. Hopefully, one of those players will make football more enjoyable for the campus as a whole, just as Smith did. '',•"'''. Unsigned editorials reflect tne 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, while 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.daayutahchronicle.com. Letters that the editor deems best represent those received will be printed in the newspaper. How much is a degree really worth? F our years ago, I started college with high hopes. I was sold the dream of a brighter world where future potential employers fought over the promising college graduates, offering high salaries, flexible work environments and important responsibilities. I paid my penance. My days were filled with demanding classes and extra curricular activities, and my nights were filled with long projects and study sessions. Every year, every pointless assignment, every late night of my Top-Ramen, basement-apartment life was bringing me closer to a decent living environment. I dreamt of a future filled with reliable cars, furnished apartments and well-rounded meals. The four years have passed, and graduation is near. But today, instead of the life I dreamt of, I find my future strongly resembles my past—full of hard work and substandard living. In this less-than-friendly economic environment, I am beginning to realize the promises of a hot job market were just a bag of hot air. The post-graduation world is less than was promised. Instead of opportunity, the eco- nomic situation is giving us fewer jobs, lower pay and greater competition, with recent college graduates feeling the brunt of the economic pressure. The deflating economy is proving to have JANICE KOPAUNIK little room for us. We are left helpless against the skyrocketing unemployment rates, growing consumer prices and plummeting wages as we fight our way into the working world. Many well-qualified people are jobless. Just two years ago, the economy was at the peak of growth, and anyone could get a decent paying job. Now the well runs dry, and we are at the bottom of the hiring pack. How is the recent college graduate supposed to compete against more experienced candidates?The only option is to take a job for far less than you are worth, a job that looks higher on four years of company involvement than a four-year degree. Your friends who decided not to go to college will probably make more money than you. Even if you can get the demeaning job, don't say goodbye to the college lifestyle yet. The all-time high in rising consumer costs continue to keep a cozy lifestyle out of reach. Everything is too expensive—gas, food and housing. You might have a job, but you will still ride the bus, thrive off of Ramen and live in your mom's basement. Life doesn't seem like it is going to change too much for students. The failing economy proves that the hopes of a decent post-graduation life were in vain and are not going to become a reality in the near future. The good and bad news is that this recession might last four years. There is a light at the end of the long tunneL With anything, time will improve situations. Now there is nothing to do but wait. letters@ chronicle.utah.edu RYAN SHATTUCK Everyone has a few skeletons M y family moved to a new home the summer before my freshman year of high school. Being an inquisitive 14-year-old, I thought it would be a good idea to visit the new empty house a few weeks before my family was to move in. A group of friends and I sneaked into the backyard and, realizing that the kitchen window was undamaged, threw a brick at it, thus remedying that problem. Unfortunately for us, our neighbor was a cop. He heard the noise of glass breaking, did whatever it is that cops do, and 24 hours later my parents scolded me on the evils of "windows" and "throwing bricks." On the, * upside, I quickly learned my lesson>On the downside, I'm still grounded. Everyone has something in their past of which they're not proud. Some of our past mistakes we happily make public, so that others don't follow in our treacherous, mistake-ridden footsteps. However, many of our past mistakes and skeletons we bury deep in a closet, never to be revealed. I personally have so many skeletons in my closet that the skeletons have rotating shifts. I realize that I'm not alone in having made plenty of mistakes. Although it's understood that no one is infallible (with the exception of religious figures, such as Jesus Christ or Barack Obama), we also understand that everyone has his or her own personal secrets and mistakes. Sometimes this understanding and sympathy isn't applied toward politicians, though. If someone had said to me several weeks ago "name the governor of New York," I would have responded with "what's in it for me?" After being offered a free coupon to Applebee's, I probably would have responded, "I still don't know the name of the governor of New York. But thanks for the coupon." Today, however, I not only know that New York's former governor is Eliot Spitzer, but I also know everything about his sex scandal, ranging from how much he spent on his prostitute C$4,300) and how much she weighed (105 pounds). Spitzer, who spent his political career enforcing "morality" on others, is now seeing his political future disintegrate because of his involvement with a prostitution ring. The airing of a politician's dalliance in such a public manner is such a common occurrence these days that Congress is considering National Sex Scandal Day as a new federal holiday, so that all scandals can be revealed at the same time. Larry Craig, Bill Clinton, Mark Foley, Jim McGreevey, David Vitter and now Spitzer have all provided fodder for late night comedians' monologues. Each of these politicians, as well as thousands more, have had the skeletons in their closet escape against their will, thus paving the way for everything from personal agony to countless pop culture jokes. Sure, Clinton's affaire de coeur might be a decade old, but it will be quite some time before the words "cigar" and "intern" will be used in the same sentence again without encouraging suppressed giggles. Do such politicians deserve the harsh penance that often greets them in the morning like a cup of day-old coffee? Might they warrant more sympathy than they are usually afforded? Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has skeletons in their closet, and everyone has something in their past they wish could be undone. The Ford Motor Company had the Edsel. John F. Kennedy had the Bay of Pigs Invasion. John Travolta had "Battlefield Earth." Coca-Cola had Tab Clear. Britney Spears had the years 2006 to 2008. However, the difference between these public catastrophes and politicians' private catastrophes is their intent. No one faults Sen. Ted Kennedy for drunkenly stumbling into a meeting at 10 a.m., for he puts forward no pretense of not being an alcoholic. On the contrary, a governor who spent his former career as an attorney general by reining in Wall Street and prostitution rings—only to become involved himself in the same prostitution rings—deserves the full burnt of the opprobrium that usually comes. The intent of a person defines whether that person will later be labeled as a hypocrite or simply as a person who's made a mistake. No one enjoys having the skeletons in their closet being made public. If we learn anything from Spitzer other than that cheating on one's spouse with a prostitute is not a good idea, it's that a person who condemns others for a sin ought to be free of that sin themselves. Fortunately, we can limit suchevents from happening in our personal lives by focusing more on our own mistakes and shortcomings, instead of judging the mistakes and shortcomings of others. This doesn't apply to people who throw bricks through windows. Only a moron does that. letters@chronicle.utah.edu |