A century of violence ought to turn us more toward kindness
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Many of us have ancestors who gave us an emotional claim to those who are suffering around the world, and therefore an obligation to their memory. Maybe kindness seems like a naïve solution to complicated problems. But maybe it should at least be on the table.
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How do we encourage more people to cast informed ballots?
Utah is toying with the idea of Internet voting. This comes at the same time Norway has abandoned its three-year experiment with it, saying it isn't secure and isn't increasing voter turnout.
The age old debate between making voting easy and encouraging intelligent voting continues. Click to read more Children at the border present cruelty's many sides
It's easy to call people cruel and heartless for suggesting solutions to the crisis involving children from Central America coming to the southern border of the U.S. But the situation is more complicated, and more cruel, than that.
Click to read more Airport expansions are fine, but they won't make travel any nicer
Salt Lake City has begun construction on a new airport, right where the old one is. If this sounds familiar, it is because the project first was discussed publicly 18 years ago.
Airports are slow to expand. That's because airlines pay the tab, and they won't do that unless it's absolutely necessary. That's a good thing, but it doesn't make flying any more fun. Click to read more Could Massachusetts voters begin a nationwide trend away from gambling?
Legal gambling seems to be everywhere in the United States, except in Hawaii and Utah. But in November, Massachusetts voters get a chance to repeal their casino law, and polls show it might happen.
Click to read more A rare summer-time forum on daylight saving
Utah lawmakers will hold a forum in Salt Lake City on July 10 and in rural areas in August, trying to decide whether to opt out of daylight saving time, just like Arizona.
Click to read more Obama goes after for-profit colleges; is it fair?
The administration wants to impose tough new standards on the performance of for-profit colleges and programs.
Accountability should be praised, but what about the same standards for public and private non-profit schools? Click to read more 
Obama is saying a lot by not nominating a new religion ambassador
The last ambassador at-large for international religious liberty resigned in October. In February, President Obama said finding a replacement was a priority. Now it is June, and still no nominee.
Click to read more Utah's UTOPIA remains a scheme without a happy ending
For more than a decade, UTOPIA has been promising fiber optic cable to every home in the 11 cities that agreed to join the service. Instead, only some residents get the service, while everyone in those cities pays taxes to support the system.
Now UTOPIA may be taken over by an Australian group. But, as usual, there is a catch. Click to read more 11 years later, mission in Iraq is still not accomplished
George W. Bush took a lot of ridicule for landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2003 under the banner, "Mission Accomplished." The U.S. mission in Iraq from far from done at that point.
But what Barack Obama did was worse. He declared the mission accomplished in 2011 and withdrew all troops, leaving the U.S. nearly helpless today as terrorists ravage Iraq. Click to read more Obama's record on press freedom is abysmal
In a rare move, the House included language in a recent appropriations bill that would protect reporters from being forced to divulge their sources. This wouldn't be necessary if President Obama hadn't launched a war against the media.
Click to read more Utah's smart decision to withdraw from 2016 Democratic convention race
Local boosters tend to overstate the benefits of hosting major events in a city, whether it's a Super Bowl, the Olympics or a political convention.
Economists tell a different story. There is little to gain. Click to read more Utah needs to get radical when choosing new schools superintendent
The state has a goal of having 66 percent of its adults with a higher degree or certificate by 2020. It won't get there by just plodding along the same path.
Click to read more New EPA rules will spell higher electricity rates
President Obama says rates will fall, but that would be virtually impossible. With a new goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, the government has assured that coal-fired plants will close and costs will rise.
Healthy air may also increase, however. Click to read more Michelle Obama should worry more about P.E. than school lunches
School lunches have been politically controversial from the start. The first lady stirred that pot a bit more this week in response to a Republican proposal to back away a bit from expensive nutrition reforms.
So why not emphasize physical education, instead? A sports-obsessed nation ought to go for that. Click to read more It's time to rethink the Antiquities Act of 1906
 Devil's Tower in Wyoming
For more than 100 years, presidents have had the power to declare national monuments on publicly owned land without any say from Congress.
However, Wyoming is exempt from this power, and it is severely limited in Alaska. Why do these unfair rules apply to this unfair law? Click to read more Target, Neiman Marcus, eBay — it's a den of cyber thievery out there
Consumers always have accepted some level of risk. In the old days someone might steal your cash or rob the bank where you kept your savings.
But today thieves are stealing the personal data of millions, and we seem to be OK with that. Click to read more On firing squads, smart cars and irrelevant state fairs
Utah's attempt to re-institute firing squads as a method of execution is nutty and counter-productive; and who attends state fairs any more?
Click to read more Putin and Ukraine may re-energize the U.S. space program
America gathered the energy it needed to get to the moon because of the Soviet threat. This was, above all, a military motivation.
However, the space program spun off many non-military benefits that have made modern life possible, from smartphones to medical devices. With the space program languishing, Russia's re-emergence as a world agitator may give Congress and the president the motivation they need to get back into the space race with both feet. Click to read more Utah's tough new anti-texting law aims to change behavior
About three-fourths of young people admit to texting, or to reading texts, while driving. A new law in Utah is trying to change that, but it has some flaws.
Click to read more Why kidnapped girls in Nigeria matter to us
The best defense against the spread of terrorism is to educate the boys and girls of Third World countries.
It is especially important to educate the girls. Terrorists know this, which is why little girls who read and write are such a threat to them. Click to read more Why die when you could come to Utah instead?
Utah has made it to the top of another list. It is among the best states in the union for preventing untimely deaths. That doesn't mean some people aren't still dying to leave.
Click to read more For child porn victims, real restitution is elusive but important
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the law doesn't allow child porn victims to receive total compensation from each person who viewed images of them.
This means Congress has work to do, because while the victims will never receive enough to make up for the harm, the perpetrators have got to pay. Click to read more Thanks to Cliven Bundy, Western lands issues are harder than ever to solve
His showdown with federal authorities in Nevada made for dramatic video and a great news story, but Cliven Bundy has become associated with BLM land issues in ways that will make it harder to find a rational solution to lingering problems.
Click to read more Trying to make sense of a Utah mother killing six of her children as babies
Megan Huntsman has admitted to killing six of her own babies soon after they were born and disposing of them, plus a seventh who was stillborn, in cardboard boxes in her garage.
As disturbing as this is, it's not an unheard of crime, and that makes it even harder to come to grips with. Click to read more Could it get any worse than the current income tax system in the U.S.?
Just about anyone can advertise themselves as qualified to help you file your income taxes, and just about 60 percent of them will make a mistake.
But then, just about half of those who do it themselves make mistakes, too. Click to read more Ignorance and conspiracy theories may bring back old diseases
In 1963, 4 million Americans contracted measles. While only 400 of them died, many others suffered serious side effects.
That was the year vaccines were approved. Parents were relieved. But now the disease is a problem again. Click to read more A little cigarette smuggling is worth it to reduce smoking rates
Four years ago, some Utah lawmakers warned that an increase in the state's cigarette tax would lead people to smuggle smokes in from other states.
Advocates of the tax said it would reduce the numbers of smokers in the state. They both were right. Click here to read more Why doesn't Ed Snowden start snooping on the Russians?
Ed Snowden just dropped another attention-grabber. Turns out the NSA can collect every phone call made in a foreign country and rewind them at its leisure.
That's interesting, but so is the fact he's living in a country that not only suppresses its people, it has aggressively occupied part of Ukraine. Click here to read more Still saving lives with loans
 Muhammad Yunus (Deseret News photo)
Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus came by the office again this week, still preaching the virtues of solving poverty through entrepreneurial enterprise. His words about profit motives, however, may make Westerners uncomfortable.
Click here to read more |
The Mormon Moment
 Brigham Young on Temple Square (J. Evensen photo)
The "Mormon Moment" may have ended with the defeat of GOP candidate Mitt Romney, but interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues. Here are links to some recent media stories of interest:
Athletes and missions
Why did Jabari Parker not serve a mission? And why didn't Danny Ainge, Steve Young or other high profile LDS athletes serve, either? The New York Times examines this.
Link: Pro sports or missionary work? Internet missionaries
The Huffington Post reports on the stunning success of missionaries who serve full-time online.
Link: Hook of Mormon LGBT boycott in Oregon
A Mormon woman who is opening a natural foods store in Oregon faces a boycott because of comments she made on Facebook in defense of traditional marriage.
Link: Gay activists aim to shut down health food store Fascinated by dress rules
Business Insider Australia reports on dress and grooming standards suggested for young members of the Mormon Church and for missionaries.
Link: Here's how Mormons are supposed to dress Let us clear up confusions
The "Book of Mormon" musical hit Durham, N.C., and Mormons there told the Herald Sun what it's like to really be a missionary.
Link: In reality, being a missionary is hard The viral anti-porn video
Time Magazine did what other online publications haven't done. It contacted BYU-Idaho's president to ask questions about the video that has gone viral, producing silly over-reactions by people who ignore pornography's destructive powers.
Link: University president explains WWI anti-porn video An ex-Mormon's lark
In England, a former church member is trying to charge President Thomas S. Monson with fraud, claiming parts of the Mormon faith are demonstrably false. Legal scholars say the claims have no chance.
Link: Mormon Church president charged with fraud Missionary work expands
Lucky Severson reports on the expansion of Missionary work since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lowered the minimum age for serving.
Link: Mormon Missionary Expansion Watch video below (hit full-screen for best experience). School choirs and church
The ACLU is complaining that it is wrong for Montana public school choirs to sing in a community Christmas celebration to be held at a Mormon church. Even though the schools have said singing in the event is voluntary, the ACLU says it gives the appearance that the schools are endorsing a religion.
Link: ACLU complains HS choir to sing in concert Navajos and Mormons
The New York Times reports on how many Navajo tribal members are joining the LDS Church, seeing it as a link to true Navajo values.
Link: For some, path to Navajo values weaves through the Mormon Church. Women and priesthood
The Pew Research Center says Mormons overwhelmingly oppose women in their church being ordained to the priesthood. Interestingly, women oppose it to a larger degree than men.
Link: Big majority of Mormons oppose women in priesthood Are religion jokes funny?
Bob Fischbach of the Omaha World Herald explores religious humor and "The Book of Mormon" musical.
Link: Are religion jokes funny or offensive? 'Lois Lane' still feels guilt
Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane in the new Superman Man of Steel movie, was raised in the LDS Church. She no longer attends church but told The Sun she still can't have a good time without feeling guilty.
Link: Mormon values still with me Good, clean, animated fun
The New York Times reports on BYU's computer-animation program, which has won several awards and has caught Hollywood's attention.
Link: When Hollywood wants good clean fun An unusual conversion
If Liza Hemingway of Boston hadn't gone to see "The Book of Mormon" musical, she might not have become curious enough to investigate the church she now has joined.
Link: Made me want to know more Undocumented missionaries
The website Fronteras reports on the church's struggles with sending out missionaries who are undocumented U.S. citizens.
Link: Mormon missionaries without papers Church ads in Britain
The "Book of Mormon" musical has hit Britain, and so have ads the church has bought to capitalize on the attention. The ads are similar to the ones that have followed the show in the United States, and they are getting media attention abroad, as well.
Link: Book of Mormon sparks church activity Now read the book
Lewis Lazare of the Chicago Business Journal writes about the LDS Church's marketing campaign involving ads in the playbill for the Book of Mormon musical.
Link: Mormons see marketing opportunity |
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This is the Web site where you'll find everything written and published by Jay Evensen, as well as links to interesting things. Look around. If you have comments, drop me an email at even@desnews.com
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The Author
Jay Evensen is the Associate Editorial Page Editor of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has 33 years experience as a reporter, editor and editorial writer in Oklahoma, New York City, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He also has been an adjunct professor of journalism at Brigham Young and Weber State universities.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Everyone likes to laugh, or to occasionally groan from a painful pun. On Second Thought is a feature published every Monday in the Deseret News. Go to the Second Thoughts page and read the lighter side of current events. Then submit your own. They might end up in print.
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