Columnist Susan Snyder: Mormons, Venetian unite!

Friday, April 25, 2003 | 9:22 a.m.

Susan Snyder's column appears Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at snyder@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4082.

In the city of drive-through nuptials and a 24-hour wedding license office, odd couplings are just another part of our weird landscape.

Most recently added to Las Vegas' list of strange bedfellows is The Venetian and the Mormon church, which have joined forces in lawsuits over censoring free speech on city streets.

The Associated Press reported this week that the Strip casino has filed a lawsuit in support of one the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has filed. The church wants to control speech on a chunk of Main Street it bought in downtown Salt Lake City a few years ago.

The LDS church is appealing a 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the plaza they created on the once-public street is a public forum open to free-speech activities -- i.e., picketing.

Anyone who has lived in the Las Vegas Valley even a few years might recall a similar U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said the sidewalk in front of The Venetian is a public forum, and therefore open to such activities as ongoing labor union picketing.

Earlier this month Venetian officials filed a brief in the U.S. court's 9th Circuit, appealing that ruling. And a group of 13 religious organizations have joined in by filing a brief that supports the ban of protests on property purchased from government agencies.

As it happens, the church is more comfortable with The Venetian's briefs than Bellagio's art. You might remember a group of Utah high school students was not allowed to visit the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art for an arts field trip in January. Utah school officials feared Las Vegas would prove a bad influence.

However, any partner suffices in a losing court battle. Not sure what, exactly, the LDS church wants to prohibit on its public-street-turned-plaza. I'm thinkin' the missionaries aren't going to be handing out the kinds of "informational" fliers Las Vegas workers dole out to tourists in front of The Venetian.

Earlier this week a coworker brought in a publication designed to help children cope with issues surrounding the war in Iraq.

The tabloid, titled "First Aid for Feelings," is written by Denise Daniels, founder of the National Childhood Grief Institute. It is available at Toys R Us stores (displayed away from G.I. Joe dolls, I assume).

I am the first to admit I know nothing about explaining to children why adults do the stupid things we do. However, I am thinking sometimes the less said, the better.

For instance, on Page 9 it says, "Terrorists usually come from far away places. Some countries have a lot of terrorists, but not the United States."

Yes, groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nations are merely clubs for grouchy people. And which country bombed the federal building in Oklahoma City?

Also on Page 9, the booklet says, "At times the news can be pretty scary -- especially for kids! Seeing or hearing scary things can sometimes cause bad dreams or even nightmares. Here are some ideas to help you make your bad dreams go away:

"Turn off the television."

Hmm. The less said, the better.

I am looking for mothers -- specifically those who have raised more than one set of twins. If you have accomplished such a feat, please call or send an e-mail.