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Show "Facts are stupid things." Ronald Reagarh 11 Wednesday, Jan. 31,2007 797-1762 statesman@cc.usu.edu! www.utahstatesman.com' Utah Statesman It's time to make your mark at USU Staff j Editor in Chief What mark will you leave feel student government is just a popularity contest, but on USU? As a student, you are a I feel this is a view simply member of the Associated carried over from dealing Students of USU. Since with high school elections. I 1969, this body has been think anyone who takes the the student's liaison to the time to really learn about administration and state gov- ASUSU will change his or ernment. Unlike other uni- her mind. I would invite versities around the nation, anyone that is at all interestUSU is unique in that ^^mm ^ ^ ^ _ ed to visit the third council members U'Sd Wdtk'MS floor of the TSC and meet with the hardeach sit on at least working individutwo (if not more) unials that are serving versity-wide committhe students this tees. The members year. They can tell work closely with you all about what faculty and administhey've done so far tration to address stuand dent concerns and - - , . • — . . . » • "<>v. what **..u.. you can issues. A S U S U V i e w do to help. Why does this --^<-wdu it's easy for matter? It's time anyone to sit back again for ASUSU elections. and criticize, but it takes a I'm sure you have prob- true leader to stand up and ably thought of something make changes. We aren't you would like to change looking for people who about your college experi- look at something and ask ence. Whether it is academ- "Why?" We're looking for ic advising, a new tradition, people who have a vision student fees or a fun activ- and ask "Why not?" ity you would like to see, !s the system perfect? you have the opportunity to Probably not. But we are conmake a difference. stantly working to improve It is time for those who it, and that's where we need want to lead to stand up. It's your help. What will your time to announce your can- contribution to the USU be? didacy for any of the nine If you haven't thought about offices available to you. It it, maybe you should. We doesn't matter if you are would love to discuss it with interested in athletics, activ- you. ities, service or legislating; See you on the third there is something you can floor. do. Last year 40 students ran Lisa Watkins is the elections for office in ASUSU eleccommitte chair for ASUSU. tions. That's down from 65 Comments can be sent to the previous year. I underlwatkins@cc.usu.edu. stand there are students who The State of the Union, progessive style Our president spoke high- servatives and progressives ly of bipartisanship, securing has always been tnere. democracy and protecting If only bipartisan coopAmerican values during the eration were discussed back State of the Union address when Republicans controlled last week. Conversely, he all three branches of governstrongly condemned isola- ment instead of now with a tionism, growing tyranny in Democratically led Congress the world and Iran, where he and an ever-unpopular adminclaims the clerical elite isolate istration... I wish I could credit and repress their people. The this administration with the only thing I could disagree bipartisan cooperation idea witn the man on is his claim instead of the Democrats that by abandoning Iraq, we Congress who boldly would be abandoning ^—^— in _ announced it as soon our values and would as they took control bring the conflict to Matthew (we might be sore losBlac ' our shores. ers, but we are ultiI don't like the word mately gracious win"abandon". When you ners). put it in such simple But I'll move on. terms, it makes it sound ; Fighting against tyrlike dumping an infant anny for the cause of in the dumpster and Liberalism democracy is a meritorious goal, and I am walking away. A few inescapable conclu•a.u^duP*6 j t P,laVed such , a huge role in Bush s sions: Iraq was preaddress. But I think emptively invaded for reasons tnat never panned out you'll all agree that before (aka lies), and people want us going the extra mile (invading gone, and by people I mean and overthrowing a despotic Iraq, America and the global government), we should work community. There is probably on democracy and human only one group that is happy rights at home. Roll back the witn our presence, and it is misnamed Patriot Act and all the leadership behind terror- of its civil rights violations-no ist organizations who've hit more spying on the law-abidrecruitment pay dirt. Also, we ing American citizenry withabandoned our values when out due process of law. The clerical elite Bush we invaded the country under false pretenses. As a misled accused of repressing citizens, populace, the fault of that lies while a concern, can be found mostly upon our nation's lead- outside of Iran too. In recent ership, but that doesn't make years a different breed of relius any less responsible to put gious fundamentalism has taken a firm grip on American an end to it. But back to our president's politics that also meddles in statements I agreed with, the personal lives of people bipartisan cooperation is a who fanatical faith croups diswonderful thing. No one per- like. son should entirely align them- And if Bush wants to justify selves exclusively with one invading Iraq by calling his party. Ideas can come from opponents isolationists, he's both sides, and it's important going to have to try selling that to not reject proposals simply elsewhere, because it's getting out of party loyalties. While harder and harder to buy into I will sing the endless praise his lies, of progressives, Democrats do The irony behind trying not have a clean record by any to spread democracy tyranmeans. I'll say it again: Parties nically doesn't escape me. are born and parties eventu- There are ways to encourally die, and over their lifetime their ideologies, values and intentions evolve rapidly, but • STATEOFTHE UNION the dichotomy between consee page 13 Elizabeth Lawyer News Editor Di Lewifc Assistant News Editor . Arie Kir(; Features Editor ' Holly Mitchell t Assistant Features Editor ; Manette Newbold Sports Editor J Seth Hawkin* Assistant Sports Editor ' Samuel Hislofl: Diversions Editor Copy Editor Letters to the Editor Public Forum Rebekah Bradway Photo Editor " 22 nd. The writer quoted several founding fathers to convince readers that the founding fathers were "deists and To the editor: radical visionaries," and not practicing Christians. It is true 1 was sorry to read Monday's that many were not members letter about Gen Ed courses of organized religions. Many, being a waste of students' however, were. In response time. It seems by "waste of to the anti-organized religion time" the writer means "any- and anti-Christianity quotes thing that doesn't help me be that he gave, I found a few an engineer." The weird thing that support the argument that is that a university education many were at least believis something different from a ing and devoted Christians, if vocational program. We all not practicing members of an like to pretend we are turning organized religion, and that out educated human beings -- our country and constitution who, incidentally, have a spe- are very Christian. cific expertise in engineering, Let's start with Patrick or business, or whatever. But Henry: "It cannot be emphaif he's been through the Gen Ed program, and he doesn't sized too strongly or too often see this, then I guess that in that this great nation was the end he is right after all: the founded not by religionists but Gen Ed program hasn't done by Christians, not on religion, much for him. USU has failed but on the Gospel of Jesus him, and we should do bet- Christ." Two quotes from George ter. Washington: "It is impossible Charlie Huenemann to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible," So said the and "Let us indulge with the supposition that Founding Fathers caution morality can be maintained without religion... Reason and To the editor: experience both forbid us to expect that national morality 1 am writing in response to can prevail to the exclusion of a letter of Wednesday January religious principle." There's a point to Gen Ed From President James Madison: "We have staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us...to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God. The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded." Two from President Thomas Jefferson: "The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the neart." And "Of all systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to be so pure as that of Jesus." And lastly, President John Adams: 'The highest story of the American Revolution is this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." Don't let anyone tell you that our nation was not founded on Christian principles! Ben Nilson Who really has family values? With the elections use protection. Then Mikaylie approaching, there they tell them why Kartcnner they don't think they is consistent harping about family values. should do it at all Sadly, I think we are and send them out less concerned with hoping they make what they really are the right choice. and more worried Now who's about who we think right? Ifs time again has them. to pick up the cenOn the conserva- the Fence tury-old debate, and tive side, family val- mikoyiiek@cc.uw.edu I'm not sure where ues, simply defined, to cast my vote. means the ability to tell your While my conservative kids no—no sex, no drugs, no side assures me I don't supbooze, no abortions. Enough port behaviors like premarital said. sex or drugs and alcohol, I Liberally speaking, family also find myself thinking, "As values are more of a system. a future parent, how likely is They start by telling kids how it that I will be able to control to be safer when indulging in everything my children do? Is risky behavior. They say things it realistic to think no one else like don't drink and drive. If in my child's life will have an you are going to have sex, influence?" • Steve Shinney In times like these, my first inclination is to turn to God, something I know many conservative souls do. We get down on our knees and pray that the people we love will be protected from what we consider "the evils of the world." We ask God to guide our choices and direct our paths that we, and our families, can live the happiest life possible. But then what do we do? We fight. We stand up and fight to rid the world or every evil thing. We publicly say no to abortion, no to any kind of sex education other than abstinence, no to gay marriage and no to legalizing drugs. We say j Jamie Cran^ Assistant Photo Editor Tyler Larser Editorial Board Elizabeth Lawyer Di Lewis Seth Hawkins Steve Shinney Holly Mitchell About letters • Letters should be limited tc 350 words. • All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of similar letters. • Letters must be topic oriented. They may not be directed toward individuals. Any letter directed to a specific individual may be. edited or not printed. • No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or e-mail address as well as a student identification number (none of which is published). Letters will not be printed without this verification. • Letters representing groups — or more than one individual — must have a singular representative clearly stated, with all necessary identification information. • Writers must wait 21 days before submitting successive letters — no exceptions. • Letters can be hand delivered or mailed tc^The Statesman in the fSC, Room 105, or can; be efnailed to V " "' statesman@cc.usuiedu or click on \\ www.utahstatesmari.com for more letter \ v guidelines and a bpx to sumbit letters. Online poll > • FAMILY VALUES see page 13 What do you think about the cheering in the ; .-._ Spectrum? I .-ji •:'/) "" . '.o \ - • • It's gone way too far/ • It occasionally gets too 1; rough. . • It's fine if it goes no fur ther. » • • " • ':'• V ^ H ; £ • We could push it a little further. ^ \ • We need to be a lot i :j. louder. Visit us on the Web at www.utahstatesman.com to cast your vote. UTILIZING N / W TEUPSHHIC TtCttMOUBt NOW H/W/ ASPECT OF Check out these links on www.utahstatesman.com: Archives Dining Guide C O M I N d Comics Activities and events Classifieds Wedding/Engagements |