Common Sense Prevails

(Photo by Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)

The Utah Supreme Court ruled sensibly in an ongoing issue about a Pleasant Grove City public park's long-standing monument displaying the Ten Commandments. Another group (who believe in the "big bang" theory) believed they needed to be allowed equal space for their own monument in the name of free speech. The court has upheld that the city does not have to oblige and can choose what they allow to be added to the park space. A contrary ruling could have resulted in all kinds of junk monuments being forced in the name of free speech.

We should be able to preserve our heritage, the foundations of our nation and communities, even when public sentiment shifts and opposition raises its head, trying to make everything "equal." Can you imagine opening up the parks to anyone wanting to erect any monument because at one time, a religious or historical marker was placed there? What would happen to our historic sites if we had to go in and alter them to fit today's opinions and political climate. When we visit Boston and see the sites of the Witch Trials and the stocks where public humiliation occurred, would this need to be replaced to reflect the way things are today? Do we need to allow modern-day Nazis equal time to display their beliefs alongside our monuments in Washington D.C.?

I have a problem with people trying to change history - even in history books. It was what it was and regardless of how it is now, it shaped who we are now and should not be colored by current political correctness. Did we as a nation mistreat African Americans - of course we did. We should be ashamed of it and people should know it happened and learn from it. Likewise we should remember those in concentration (death) camps in WWII and learn from them.

I believe these monuments in the park also tell our story and this history should be preserved. I know some communities have caved to public pressure and removed anything with reference to God, which has become the new four-letter word, unless it's used in vain - then it is socially acceptable along with other now popular and embraced profanity. TV and movies are full of it but you won't hear much mention of God in a reverent way because that just wouldn't be right. Have we ever deteriorated as a society. Many parents aren't even teaching their children to avoid swearing - I guess they're afraid of looking like hypocrites. There are many children who would not even understand the "soap in the mouth" scene of A Christmas Story. I shudder to think what the future holds in this regard. Respect is hard to come by anyway - how will the children learn to respect others and to be respectable?