Who deserves praise, criticism in Northern Utah this week?

THUMBS UP: The Ogden Greek Festival is a gift to this community. So much good, good food. We were happy to see so many people turning out in support. 

Thank you to the members of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church for all the time and preparation spent on feeding Weber residents and the volunteers who assist them. If you haven’t stopped at the festival yet, you still have time Saturday — if they haven’t sold out of food. And welcome, Father Patrick O’Rourke, the new priest and pastor at the church. We hope you enjoy this community as much as we do.

THUMBS DOWN: If you’ve been glued to the TV screen this week, as the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings unfolded as part of the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, then surely you too are tired of the bitter back and forth. Perhaps more than ever, our nation has been extremely divided this week, with both Republicans and Democrats failing to listen to each other, much less listen to accuser Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh’s emotional claims. With the chaos that ensued, we think it was a rational decision by President Donald Trump to allow time for the FBI to conduct a deeper investigation given the allegations of sexual assault made by multiple women. At the very least, the information from the investigation can help ease or confirm some small portion of the concerns of many in the nation. 

Utah’s own Sen. Orrin Hatch was reported by the Associated Press as having said, “I think it’s overkill. But they have a right to request it.” We do not agree with Sen. Hatch, as vetting someone as important and lasting as a Supreme Court justice should require more in-depth questioning than any other position, other than perhaps the president. 

THUMBS UP: Bill Cosby finally got his comeuppance this week as he was sentenced to prison after years of claiming he was blameless to a host of sexual assaults. While he should have been found accountable by the justice system decades earlier, Cosby, now 81, will spend the last of his days in prison, where he deserves to be after drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2004. This assault he was convicted of is only one of many — 60 or so — occasions of women coming forward alleging Cosby violated them.

To say that Cosby was subjected to the “most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States,” as spokesman Andrew Wyatt has stated, is sickening. Clearly he deserves his sentence as he holds steadfast to no lack of remorse for the lives he damaged. 

THUMBS UP: While there is still much ground to be gained, we hope survivors of sexual assault will continue to report their abusers in increased numbers, bolstered by the #MeToo movement. Sometimes justice might be allusive, and it’s still not as fair as it should be. But our society will not change and improve until we break that uncomfortable barrier. You will always find support and resources available to you, because there are those who will reach out with a helping hand. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) if you need help and you will be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in our region.

THUMBS DOWN: Facebook continues to deceive its users as it downplays disasters, as yet another security breech was made public Friday. 

According to The Associated Press, attackers gained the ability to “seize control” of 50 million Facebook accounts, the social media giant said, by stealing digital keys the company uses to keep people logged in. Facebook has logged out owners of the 50 million affected accounts — plus another 40 million who were vulnerable to the attack. Users don’t need to change their Facebook passwords, it said. However, the hack has possibly affected users connected to Facebook through third-party applications and websites like Instagram.

When the staff at the Standard-Examiner first tried to share this news on Facebook to readers on Friday, Facebook initially blocked the ability to post about this breech, saying “Our security systems have detected that a lot of people are posting about the same content, which could mean that it’s spam. Please try a different post.” Facebook blatantly tried to censor posting about its breech on its own platform. This should have Facebook users very concerned, if you weren’t already.

THUMBS DOWN: It was reported that the CDC estimates more than 80,000 people died across the U.S. last year from influenza — the highest death toll in at least 40 years. This new information was surprising, and creates a greater sense of urgency to be more prepared heading into this winter’s cold season. Officials say this year’s vaccination is reportedly a better match for the flu strain expected to hit.

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