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Tolerance Cuts Both Ways
Editor:
I would like to respond to only one sentence in Mr. (Bill S.) Lee's
letter in the Dec. 23 issue. He states: "I only wish some of us
could see that a 'need' for a religious holiday greeting is indicative
of the problem with religion in general."
The "need" for a religious holiday greeting at this time of year
is based on the fact, which cannot be avoided, that regardless of
which holiday is celebrated, whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah,
Kwaanza or Saturnalia, that holiday is a religious holiday. Without
any of those religions, there would simply be no reason for the
holidays. If Mr. Lee were truly as tolerant of others as he wishes
we would be of those, such as himself, who subscribe to no organized
religion, he would not take umbrage at those of us who do belong
to one or another religion greeting each other in accordance with
our beliefs. Tolerance cuts both ways.
-- Steve Chambers
Make Parkway a Toll road?
Editor:
The reader response on highway funding was right on point. When people make claims about the great benefits of state spending they fail to ask what would have been done with the state's revenue if they had not been spent on that project. Maybe the money could have been spent on other projects or left in taxpayers' pockets. Either way, the money would have been spent or invested in other ways. These foregone opportunities are the true costs of funding highways, or schools or whatever the proposed project.
Although I completely support extensive road construction in Utah, let’s not
be fooled by fallacious arguments about the benefits to the state
economy from spending on construction. The roads will be seen but
the opportunity costs will not be seen. We will have positive and
negative multipliers. And while we are talking about roads, why
is no one talking about making the Legacy Highway/Parkway a toll
road? We now have ample information about how such roads operate.
With read-on-the-fly technology there are no lines to wait in. Congestion
pricing can ration use. It can even be built with private money.
--Randy Simmons
Presidential Inaugural
Most of us won’t be going to the presidential inaugural on Jan. 20, but for
those interested, here’s what will happen (thanks to David County
GOP Chair Todd Weiler for sending this in): President George W. Bush will be sworn in to a second term
on January 20, 2005, at noon on the west front of the U.S. Capitol
overlooking the National monuments. Joining him will be his family,
members of the Cabinet and Administration, members of the U.S. Senate
and House of Representatives, U.S. Supreme Court Justices and invited
guests. A minister chosen by the president will deliver an invocation,
and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist is
expected to administer the oath. Once the oath is taken, the military
will render a 21-gun salute, the Army Herald Trumpets will play
“Ruffles and Flourishes” and the U.S. Marine Band will launch “Hail
to the Chief.” The president will then deliver his inaugural address.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, the President will sign his cabinet nominations
and join invited guests in Statuary Hall for the Congressional luncheon.
After lunch, the President will be escorted by U.S. Army Major General
Galen Jackman to the east side of the U.S. Capitol for the
pass in review, then onto the presidential motorcade for the inaugural
parade.
The language of the presidential oath is specified in the Constitution. The vice-president takes the same oath as other high-ranking federal employees.
Presidential Oath: I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully
execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will
to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution
of the United States.
Vice-Presidential Oath: I do solemnly swear that I will
support and defend the Constitution of the United States against
all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without
any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and I will well and
faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about
to enter. So help me God.
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