W-b Woman Jailed In Alleged Shouting Of Obscenities 
Debbie Thurston Was 
Previously Fined After Being 
Found Guilty Of Harassment And 
Disorderly Conduct

Abortion Protesters From Area Rallying

Friday, January 23, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 5B 





I vote that Kennedys should not sue ski company over Michael's death &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If there is any truth to the rumor that family members are considering
suing over Michael Kennedy's accidental death, then someone needs to get their
bindings checkedThe rumor is that Aspen Ski Company may be sued for allowing
the Kennedy clan to play some kind of football game on its slopes. Kennedy was
killed when he caught an edge while snaring a pass and slammed into a tree. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But anyone who thinks the ski area was at fault is seriously out of touch
with reality. Even if reports are true that Aspen management looked the other
way while the Kennedys played, you can't blame the accident on the ski area. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Then again, in today's suit-crazy society, lawyers are willing to go to
court concerning anything. And you can't totally blame them. How many millions
did that old lady get because she toasted her tootsies on some too-hot coffee? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A fatal collision with a tree is certainly more serious than a scalding
java bath. But who is really at fault here, the ski area or the skiers? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Is Aspen management supposed to have someone on the slopes to catch every
falling skier? Is it expected to pad every tree with a bone-cushioning cradle
of foam? Or maybe, even more unrealistically, the people who run the place
should have approached the Kennedys and told them to just cut it out? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yeah, right. You're a ski patroller from some tiny Colorado mining town,
and you're going to tell members of one of America's richest and most powerful
families to cool it. This is a family that, according to one participant, has
been visiting Aspen and playing the same game for 20 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At first, I was a little disturbed about claims that an Aspen ski patroller
and an instructor participated in similar football games earlier in the week.
But then I realized such participation- if it's even true- only proves that
the activity itself is probably not inherently dangerous. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Especially on the slopes of Aspen. I skied there once and found it
infinitely easier than skiing in the Northeast. The trails were wide and
uncrowded and the snow texture and consistency extremely forgiving (no ice or
"marbles"). Also, the Kennedys reportedly waited until the trails were
deserted before beginning their game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That doesn't mean I would have joined them. When I'm on the slopes, I worry
about falling, not catching a football. I think it's silly- and obviously
dangerous- not to be in total control and concentrating 100 percent on where
you're going when you're headed downhill on skis or a snowboard. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But that's me. Other skiers obviously have a different sense of
responsibility. And that's fine, as long as they don't endanger anyone else. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The point is that when you're skiing or participating in any other
activity, you should be responsible for yourself. And if something goes wrong,
don't look for a scapegoat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Anyone who thinks Aspen management is to blame for Kennedy's mishap must
also believe that someone at General Motors should call every car buyer and
warn them not to speed, run redl ights or drive drunk. Or that appliance
manufacturers should station employees in every kitchen to make sure nobody
ever sticks a butter knife in one of their toasters to retrieve a slab of
bread. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And who knows what they expect hunting rifle manufacturers to do? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The world seems to be filling up with people just looking for a reason to
blame their problems on someone else. And too many lawyers are lining up to
take their sides- for a few bucks, of course. Then there are the judges who
are willing to waste the taxpayer's money listening to them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I don't blame Kennedy's death on

I Vote That Kennedys Should Not Sue Ski Company Over Michael's Death 
If There Is Any Truth To The Rumor That Family Members Are Considering Suing 
Over Michael Kennedy's Accidental Death, Then Someone Needs To Get Their 
Bindings Checked.

I Vote That Kennedys Should Not Sue Ski Company Over Michael's Death If There Is Any Truth To The Rumor That Family Members Are Considering Suing Over Michael Kennedy's Accidental Death, Then Someone Needs To Get Their Bindings Checked.