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Letters to the Editor

Honoring our military

Editor:

I’ve teamed up with NaVee Vernon, who works in the Summit County Historical Office, in an effort to collect the names of all our young men and women who are serving in our nation’s Armed Forces, including the Guard and Reserves.

After we have collected all the names, ranks, units, job descriptions, dates of entry into the military, and a 5×7-inch photo (I know, that sounds like a lot) we’re going to do two things: 1) NaVee is going to construct a display panel over in the Courthouse in Coalville and 2) I’m going to construct a prayer list, which will be placed in churches all around our county.

If you have a family member or close friend who is currently serving, please pass along the above information (including a 5×7-inch photo, please) to either: NaVee Vernon, Summit County, 60 N. Main, Coalville, Utah 84017; or Mike Geisler, P.O. Box 673, Oakley, Utah 84055.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Mike Geisler

Oakley

Video game hazards

Editor:

Every time you turn on your TV or game console you strengthen your chances of having aggressive behavior, poor academic performance, obesity and usage of drugs and alcohol. An average child watches TV or plays video games three to five hours a day! Your chances of suffering from the things listed above are very high if you are one of these people. It is important to know all the harmful consequences of TV and video games.

Studies in Japan concluded that video games are bad for your health. After playing for a long period of time your brain activity decreases so you stop thinking as usual. When you stop playing or viewing, your brain activity does not return to normal. Another part of the brain you can damage by playing video games is the frontal lobe. That is the area of the brain where you learn, remember and have emotions. As you can see, it doesn’t affect your physical body. It affects your brain, the most important part of your body.

Games are becoming an addiction. In 2002, $9.8 billion dollars were spent on video games in the U.S. alone. Studies show 10 percent of all kids in America use their gaming system or computers at night even when their parents tell them not to. Kids are now playing video games so much, they skip doing activities with their families.

Game systems have made worse things happen than missing a family event. They have killed people! For example, Ronnie Zamora murdered a person and said it was because of watching TV. Some teenagers tried to live the popular game "Grand Theft Auto" and ended up killing each other.

Playing video games and watching TV is a choice. It can really harm you if you aren’t informed about the effects. I am rethinking how much I play video games and watch shows that aren’t appropriate. As a family, we decided to give all of our electronics a rest. Although I still love to play video games, I like spending time with my family even more.

Mitchell Morrison, sixth grade

Ecker Hill Middle School

Preserving individual rights

Editor:

We now live in a day and age where some professions in our society do not want to be held accountable or responsible for their actions. Our society is happy to portray injured malpractice victims as sue happy and "lottery" winners.

Going into the legislative session, injured patients had three strikes against them: 1. Immunity granted for doctors who offered apologies for their negligence, 2. Immunity for physicians working in emergency rooms and 3. Immunity for charity health care centers.

Luckily, only the first has prevailed and it has run into legal problems. SB 41, which would prevent physicians’ apologies and explanations about medical mistakes from being used as evidence in court passed easily over objections of injured patients.

Richard Schwermer, an assistant state court administrator and the courts’ legislative liaison warned the bill might not be upheld before its passage. The bill changes rules of evidence, which are generally under the Utah Supreme Court’s control. The courts say it would be risky for physicians to rely on the bill’s passage.

The American Medical Association’s Web site suggests that all physicians attend a full-day seminar to learn apology techniques.

During the House floor debate, it was stated that the medical profession needs this carved-out protection over your house painter or carpenter because it’s a different situation when a doctor comes at you with his rubber gloves on!

LaRee Miller, Executive director

Utah Citizens Alliance

Park City

Letters

School district must lead

Park City School District is being investigated by the federal Office of Civil Rights for persistent and ongoing violations. It’s a very big deal that has a lot of our community on edge.



See more

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