Printing the Western legend

In this era of revisionist history, historians spend great chunks of time rethinking the Old West. The late Wallace Stegner, for instance, claimed the modern glamorized version of the cowboy was simply a public relations stunt by cattlemen to give their greed a romantic air. In fact, most of the Old West was a myth -- the only real "American myth," according to film director John Huston.

"They stay up for weeks until someone finally takes them down or they blow away," she said Thursday.Early in life, his factory worker father told him: "I don't know how many degrees are available, but you're going to get them all." Hamid almost took him at his word, enrolling for course after course in his attempt to fit into France.The tutor was reluctant to take him on board. "He told me: 'Look, your application is great, but I'm not going to take you. Next year, you'll be a black spot on my statistics, nobody will offer you a job. I'm sorry for being honest, but that is the reality.'" Still he persisted, thinking it wasn't the system that was wrong, it must be him. He went to Sweden and acquired an MBA degree and worked with the telecom giant Ericsson. After five years, he returned to the French labour market thinking, surely now.A proposal the Shawnee County Commission will consider Monday would define a temporary sign as "any sign, sign device, banner, pennant, valance, flag, balloon or advertising display constructed of cardboard, paper, plastic, rubber, cloth, metal, wood or other material, with or without frames, that is designed, intended or used for the advertisement and/or announcement of an event, sale or business for less than 30 days." The resolution gives examples of temporary signs that include but are not limited to "for sale," "garage sale," "yard sale" and event announcement signs.Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy last week toughened up his hard- man act by imposing curfew laws on the suburbs that were brought into force during the Algerian uprising.Hamid graduated with three degrees in economics but still couldn't find work. As the only non-white student on one course, he even struggled to find a unpaid work placement that was a degree requirement. Still feeling responsible for his lack of achievement, he applied for an elite degree.Those in attendance listened as Miller softly sang: "Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind. Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign."County Commissioner Marice Kane uses the term "visual trash" to describe the many temporary advertising signs she sees tacked to utility poles in rural Shawnee County.

For 72 hours in Cache Valley, the truth of the legend lives on.

Author: Deseret Morning News editorial