| OCR Text |
Show www.dailyutohchronicle.com 5 OPINION Thursday, January 15,2009 R ;••:%< IftHr'"":? THE CHRONICLEINICLE'SVIEW ; f : ^ ^ > ^ f $ v V ^ f • ^ ^ ^ ^ " ^ S ^ U student's protest ihspiringl S tudents looking for inspiration should look no further than a guy in their economics class. Living proof that one person can make a difference, U economics major Tim DeChristopher was a thorn in the side of the Bureau of Land Management by bidding $i.8 million he didn't have to win 22,000 acres of land in Southern Utah recently opened for drilling. The land was rushed through the system under the Bush administration in an effort to auction it off before President-elect Barack Obama takes office Tuesday. Frustrated with the situation and his fruitless - efforts to protest through legal and political channels, DeChristopher went to the Dec. 19 auction with a disruptive purpose but no planned course of action. ' "They said, 'Are you here for the auction?"' DeChristopher said. "I said, *Yes I am.yiTiey said, 'Are you here as a bidder?' and I said, 'Why, yes I am."" < DeChrisppher said that after gaining access to the auction and attaining bidding paddle No. 70, "I thought I could make a speech, or throw a shoe...then I realized I • could have a major effect just by bidding." In an effort to drive nip auction prices and possibly win some land, DeChristopher attained 13 lease parcels before he was escorted out of the room by BLM agents. DeChristopher's actions might not be strictly legal, but surely I'he backhanded government that justified ramming land through an auction for oil extraction before Bush leaves office can't fault him for using a little deception. In fact, the hope that the bogus bidding might at least stall the land from being auctioned off until Obama takes office is almost the same strategy . the BLM used. ? : ^; ,' DeChristopher didn't chain himself to the doors, start a car fire or riot in the streets. His action is a perfect example of peaceful civil disobedience and one can't help but admire his courage. The Sugar House resident now faces a maximum penalty offiveyears in prison, afine,or both, "It would have been harder living with the guilt...than going to jail,".. he said. If officials throw the book at jv him, DeChristopher will become '\\ a political prisoner and a martyr.^ DeChristopher is right when he ;|= says methods of protest haven't ^ been working. They certainly weren't affecting the BLM auction, which was pulling lands that have been protected for a century out from under Utahns before they knew what hit them. The law might not justify DeChristopher, but if the law doesn't, then morality and conscience do. Today's hometown hero might * rd&v have sat in the seat next to you, but one hopes DeChristopher's protest has inspired U students tofillhis . seat tomorrow. ;s : ,., .; fa fetters@ • ' chronicle.utah.edu Unsigned u'ditorials reflect the majority opinion of The Daily Utah Chronicle Editorial Board. Signed editorials, editorial columns jrtid 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 grou£ 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 wili now be published online at www.dailyutahchronicle.com. Letters that the editor deems best represent those received will be printed in the newspaper. f '•--J A ; l A www.dailyutahchro On "Whit named top cdach" (Tony Pizza, 1/14/08) News Claudia ScalFey posted 1/14/08 @ 11:00 a.m. MST No one was ever more deserving! There are few men I with the integrity of Kyle Whittingham. What a great men| tor, role model and coach. He's the hero I want my son to emulate in every way. Oh "Tap-off program not catching on" (Isabella Bravo, 1/14/08) News TRAX rider posted 1/14/08 @ 10:14 a.m. MST I agree with Dennise Nava that the tapping off part is a bit ridiculous. I understandwhy they are doing it, but it's just not at all efficient and very inconvenient for the riders. People don't generally all arrive at the TRAX stations at the same time, so I have yet to see a line at a kiosk for tapping off. But people get off in large crowds at the stations I use, so we all have to wait to tap off just to leave TRAX. It's a big pain. ¥ On "UTA tap system flawed" (House editorial, 1/14/08) Opinion Your name posted 1/14/08 @ 4:26 p.m. MST Love the article and I agree with most of your points. Their system for transportation research clearly needs some work before everybody buys into it, but UTA's intentions are in the right place. However, I fervently disagree with the editorial's notion that, "The new system is a hindrance to riders who have already gone out of their way to use public transit." Such a perspective is short sighted and harmfully focused on the self. The intimation here is that riders are doing society a favor by riding TRAX, and that riders should not be burdened by this research/enforcement technique. While society and the greater environment clearly benefit from decreased automobiles and their carbon wastes, individual riders greatly benefit from the TRAX service. Our student fees pay for transportation, but they are heavily subsidized by the university and the city. The rate we pay does not fully cover the services we receive. We should be appreciative of this service and work to comply with UTA's requests as best possible."v ''-v •''*•*?:> -1 On "Band needs funds for DC" (Katie Valentine, 1/13/08) News Susan Daglian posted 1/13/08 @ 10:11 a.m. MST j I am very proud of our school and the marching band. I | am incredibly happy to see the U band again prove that I they are the best marching band in the country!!!!!!!!!!!! \ VtlLLVS BRAHHAMf The Daily Utakamlde Bar smoking ban Sundance rooted in truth has flawed logic Festival began with political dialogue I E 'm going to let you all in on a little-known secret. I'm not supposed to say this, but I like you people, so...here it goes: Ross Not all bars used to allow smoking before the Jan. i smoking ban. SOLOMON That's right, chums. Did you want to go to a bar before 2009, but just absolutely hated the smell of burning cigarettes all around you? Why more? But that's all I havel didn't you just take your smug little According to the National Cancer behind to a bar that had already Institute, approximately 3,000 nonbanned smoking? This new law, a smokers in the United States die modification of the long-standing every year from lung cancer as a Utah Indoor Clean Air Act, is just result of secondhand smoke. Three another example of whiny Utahns thousand! What a big number! But forcing their beliefs onto everyone while we're talking about deaths, around them. let's look at some other statistics, shall we? "B-but.-.think of the children!" some might scream. Sorry, folks, The Center for Disease Conbut kids haven't been allowed in trol and Prevention says that over pubs or taverns for as long as I've 35,000 deaths occur annually from been alive. gunshot wounds. Seems like an aw"I...but! It's, um,..smoking is a fully big number, considering how hazard to your health/' Yes, exceladamant most Utahns are about lent detective work there, genius. keeping their "God-given right" to Unfortunately, throwing the book bear arms. at smokers isn't goinj, to make Even better than that, want to them stop smoking. Can't smoke in know how many people die from their favorite bar? They'll go smoke obesity? According to the Obesity somewhere else. Nextl Research Center at the Columbia "Ah...um...I don't li— My, um... University College of Physicians well, my clothes always smelled like and Surgeons, there are more than smoke when I went to bars!" As I 280,000 obesity-related deaths said before, Why didn't you just go every year. Seems like that numsomewhere else? Did anyone force ber kind of puts that secondhand you to go to Piper Down or Saints smoke-related deaths statistic to and Sinners? No? Then you might shame. want to stop talking, because you're OopsI Looks like all of you who making yourself look like an idiot. supported this law's enactment "Gah. Well, I...ooh, oh goodness. didn't really care about everyone Haven't you, um, heard how danelse's health. You were obviously gerous secondhand smoke is?" Yes, just in it for your own selfish gains. yes...dangerous. Why don't you try That doesn't really matter anymore, that argument after you finish your right? As long as you get to comcheeseburger? Sure, I can wait. fortably go to your bar of choice, Would you like some more Baconeverything is peaches and cream. aise for your McNuggets? You want letters@chronicle.utah.edu very year, Utah plays host to one of the world's most respected film festivals. It's a global phenomenon found in the mountains of Utah that is easily accessible to locals across the Wasatch Front. The Sundance Film Festival starts today in Park City and runs until Jan. 25. Viewers can go and enjoy cutting-edge cinematography, compelling stories and hours of entertainment, both on the screen and on Main Street. Last year, more than 45,000 people visited the festival, spending an estimated $63.3 million. Jill Miller, the institute's general manager, said Sundance ticket sales are "on par with last year." The Sundance Film Festival was founded in 1981 and has enjoyed tremendous success and growth ever since. Festival founder Robert Redford created the festival with a unique vision. "I want Sundance to be a forum for cultural exchange and for po- themselves as to whether or not they find truth at this year's festival. Not only are so many competing ideologies presented to viewers, Liz with a common goal for filmmakers to sell their material to willing CARLSTON buyers and gain financial success, but the culture wars are also fully engaged with Hollywood types striving to swat the viewpoint of litical dialogue," Redford said in an interview with The Daily Insider, the the averagefilmgoer.One has to wonder whether the viewer will acfestival's news service. "We're not tually find truth, a peddler hawking hearing the truth about a lot of issues and I'm worried that people are his wares or an agitator's vision of cultural correctness. giving up and getting numb and not even bothering to look for the truth." The truth is interpreted to mean Some Sundance films such as a lot of different things by different "Super Size Me" accurately portray people. Like all things Hollywood, it truth, at least from the consumer's comes down to the money, the poliperspective. In this instance, one tics and the celebrity sightings. It'd will never look at a Big Mac the be great if Sundance could return to same way after seeing Morgan Spur- its roots and put the focus back on inlock slam down dozens of burgers spiring and revealing documentaries and watching how dilapidated he and compelling nonfiction stories. became. Today, McDonald's has As tofindingtruth, people should abandoned marketing its signature go and see for themselves whether sandwiches and is advertising unRedford's stated vision is materialized processed foods. at this year's Sundance Film Festival. letters@chronicle.utah.edu Sundance viewers can judge for w.dailyutahchrordcle.;d)m |
