OPINION
4A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015
No more thoughts and prayers
mosque, kindly and de-
gone mad.
vout. Oh, we never sus-
But what about San
pected a thing, the imam
Bernardino? A young
STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher
says. The explanation is
e never had enough man and his wife drop off
tiresome, and increasingly
their
6-month-old
baby
at
LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor
time to rationalize, in
implausible.
Grandma’s, and then go
the uniquely American way, mow down a room full of
BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager
What religion would
why that middle-aged white people at a workplace hol-
direct a young married
CARL EARL, Systems Manager
couple to shoot up a room
man killed a cop, a mother of iday luncheon. His work-
JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager
that would include mem-
place.
With
their
assault
two and an Iraq War veteran
DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager
bers of their own faith?
ULÀHV WKH\ NLOOHG SHR
Timothy
in Colorado Springs, when ple in several minutes, left
Farook was “radicalized,”
HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager
Egan
we are told. And his wife,
the latest slaughter of human another 21 injured. Makes
RI¿
FLDOVVD\KDGSOHGJHGDOOHJLDQFH
no
sense.
life intruded. He was — what,
initially, this had to to the barbarians of the Islamic State.
pro-life? Screaming something be I an thought,
anti-government wacko. You With that information, it made sense.
about “baby parts” while he un- know, getting revenge against the Once a radical, no longer a human
ORDGHGLQD3ODQQHG3DUHQWKRRG system, as represented by all those being.
The village of victims, their best
county workers at a facility for
clinic?
people with disabilities. A Timothy friends, the children who lost par-
Slow down, slow down, the mind McVeigh type. Except, the co-work- ents, the parents who lost adult chil-
wants to say — one absurd mass ers were known to one of the shoot- GUHQWKH\FDQFOHQFKWKHLU¿VWVDQG
murder at a time. They all “make ers. The victims were friends with cry. We all know the ritual by now.
LG \RX NQRZ WKDW ODQJXDJHV DUH VSRNHQ DW 3RUWODQG¶V sense,” eventually. Don’t they?
lives and families of their own, not 3ROLWLFLDQVRIRQHFRZDUGO\W\SHZLOO
just targets. That makes no sense ei- say their “thoughts and prayers” are
David Douglas High School? That is an aspect of the large
In Colorado Springs, the man ar- ther.
with you. What garbage. Better to
LPPLJUDQWSRSXODWLRQLQRXWHUVRXWKHDVW3RUWODQG
rested in the killings, Robert L. Dear
So, workplace violence? A per- say nothing at all.
Willamette Week described that David Douglas High School was -U ¿W D SUR¿OH +HUH ZDV DQRWKHU sonal slight that became a seething
And politicians of another cow-
ardly
type will refuse to see that
bearded
introvert
who
lived
at
the
that
metastasized
into
a
comman-
aspect of David Douglas nearly twofold. Her article gave human
edge of modernity, his head stuffed do-style raid at the Inland Regional hundreds, maybe thousands of the
three years ago. In last week’s proportion to immigrant students full of hate and half-truths. “He Center. It happens all the time.
ZRUOG¶VELOOLRQ0XVOLPV¿QGMXV
edition of WW, Beth Slovic paid — a dimension that political dem- claims to be a Christian
On the surface, the WL¿FDWLRQ IRU PDVV PXUGHU RI LQQR
homicidal couple were cent people in their holy book.
DQRWKHU FDOO DQG HQJDJHG ¿YH agogues don’t want to know. And and is extremely evange-
Once
a
“Your ‘thoughts’ should be about
listic,”
his
ex-wife
wrote
living the American
students in a conversation about it described how creative admin-
in a court document. “He
dream. One, the son of steps to take to stop this carnage,”
their journey to America, the istrators are dealing with such an is obsessed with the world radical, immigrants, with a de- tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy of Con-
process of assimilation and the LQÀX[RIQRQ(QJOLVKVSHDNHUV
coming to an end.” And of
gree from a California necticut. “Your ‘prayers’ should be
no
state college, the other, his for forgiveness if you do nothing —
process of learning English. The
It is important to remember that course, he had a semi-au-
WRPDWLFULÀ
HWRJRZLWKKLV
bride from overseas. Had again.”
longer
a
students were from China, Cuba America has done this before. If
A day after the California car-
delusions.
a good job. But this sub-
and Somalia.
you could time-travel to Astoria’s
human urban couple was making nage, the Senate decided to do noth-
How did this malcon-
Slovic reported that instead of schools in the last decade of the tent become a domestic
bombs and assem- ing, again, voting down a measure
being pipe
bling an arsenal to murder WKDWZRXOGKDYHPDGHLWPRUHGLI¿
treating immigrants differently 19th century, you would see a terrorist? We’ll never
for sure if his with-
people in the country that cult for people on the terror watch
in its elementary grades English- large number of immigrant chil- know
drawal — to a shack in the South, took them both in, educated one of list, felons and the mentally ill to
language program, all students dren from Scandinavian coun- then a trailer in Colorado — led him them, provided him with a good job. buy guns.
By next week, with the profes-
are put into the same track. “Now, tries, principally Finland. As further down the path to savagery. The surface life was a mirage.
When we heard the identity of sional football playoff picture start-
all children from kindergarten :DOO\ 3DOPEHUJ GHVFULEHV LQ KLV But we do know that isolation can
breed ignorance. And when people the homicidal couple, Syed Rizwan ing to take shape, and the holiday
WR ¿IWK JUDGH ² QR PDWWHU WKHLU 1993 book Toward One Flag, with abhorrent views are not chal- Farook, and his wife, Tashfeen Ma- festivities in full swing, we’ll have
native language — spend blocks there was rivalry among Astoria’s lenged, their hatred only hardens.
lik, another explanation immediately WKLV 6DQ %HUQDUGLQR WKLQJ ¿JXUHG
Well, that’s the Colorado Springs came to mind. They’re Muslim. Too out. And we’ll hope that it doesn’t
of time in English-language in- immigrant populations. Some
struction grouped by ability,” she staffers of Astoria’s Finnish lan- story. Got it. The Unabomber, the much of the most deadly, inexplica- happen again tomorrow. But it will
$WODQWD2O\PSLF3DUNNLOOHUWKDWJX\ ble violence in the world today is happen tomorrow — on average,
reported.
guage newspaper Toveri were in Tennessee who shot up a church committed in the name of this reli- one multiple-victim shooting a day.
The larger context of WW’s deported for their political beliefs. while kids performed a musical — gion, and its strain of radical Islam. Every day. It will make sense in the
visit to David Douglas is the
Donald Trump and those who they were domestic crazies of a cer- The shooters are people like Farook, only country where mass killings
tain type, the rugged individualist kneeling at prayer in the back of the make sense.
Founded in 1873
By TIMOTHY EGAN
New York Times News Service
W
Refugees have come
before; we’ll survive
D
discussion of immigrants and
refugees in the Republican pres-
idential primary campaign. The
practical effect of Slovic’s win-
dow on the challenge faced by
defer to him would like us to
believe America is incapable of
assimilating immigrant popula-
tions. Trading on fear, they sell
this nation short.
The not-so-bad economy
book The Courage to Act,
ly driven by conservative
Ben Bernanke, the former
state governments, partly
Fed chairman, celebrates
imposed by Republicans
in Congress via blackmail
ccording to the economist his institution’s willingness
WRVWHSLQDQGUHVFXHWKH¿
over the federal debt ceil-
Kevin O’Rourke, who has
nancial system, which was
ing. But the Obama ad-
been doing a running comparison indeed the right thing to do.
ministration at least tried
between the Great Depression But everyone did that.
to limit the damage.
The result of these not-
7KHUHDOSUR¿
OHLQFRXU
should plan to have to make up that began in 1929 and the Great
so-bad
policies is today’s
age
was
the
Fed’s
behavior
the difference between the essen- Recession that began almost in 2010-11, when it stood
not-so-bad
economy. It’s
Paul
tials that residents have on hand eight years ago, the world has fast in the face of demands
not a great economy, by
Krugman
any measure: Unemploy-
that it tighten policy despite
and what they actually must have just passed a sad landmark.
ment
is
low,
but that has a lot to do
high
unemployment.
The
pressure
While
the
initial
slump
this
time
following a disaster.
with
a
decline
in the fraction of the
was
intense,
with
leading
Republicans
For more frequent small- around wasn’t nearly as bad as the LQFOXGLQJ3DXO5\DQQRZWKHVSHDNHU population looking for work, and
scale crises, such as coastal wind collapse from 1929 to 1933, the re- of the House, accusing Bernanke of the weakness of wages ensures that
storms and associated power out- covery has been much weaker — and “debasing” the dollar and suggesting it doesn’t feel like prosperity. Still,
ages, residents have learned to at this point world industrial produc- WKDW KH ZDV FRUUXSWO\ DLGLQJ 3UHVL things could be worse.
And they may indeed get worse,
tion is doing worse than it did at the dent Barack Obama. Hard-money
better monitor weather forecasts
which
is why the Fed’s likely rate
advocates
seized
on
a
rise
in
headline
same point in the 1930s. A remark-
and warnings. The relatively able achievement!
consumer prices, claiming that it was hike will be a mistake.
)HG RI¿FLDOV EHOLHYH WKDW WKH
DKDUELQJHURIKLJKLQÀDWLRQWRFRPH
new Doppler radar on the south
But the bad news is unevenly
But the Fed stuck to its, um, print- solid job growth of the past cou-
Washington coast has greatly distributed. In particular, Europe ing presses, arguing that the rise in ple of years — which happened,
improved the accuracy and time- has done very badly, while America LQÀDWLRQ ZDV D RQHWLPH EOLS GULYHQ by the way, as Obamacare, which
liness of these warnings. When has done relatively well. True, U.S. mainly by oil prices — and it was conservatives assured us would be
a job killer, went into full effect —
we know a big storm is coming, it performance looks good only if you proved right.
grade on a curve. Still, unemployment
Meanwhile, on the other side will continue even if rates go up.
EHKRRYHVXVWR¿OORXUJDVWDQNV has been cut in half, and the Federal of the Atlantic, the European Cen- I’m among those who believe that
get some cash out of the bank, Reserve is getting ready to raise in- WUDO %DQN JDYH LQ WR LQÀDWLRQ SDQLF America is facing growing drag
raising interest rates from the weakness of other econ-
stock up on easy-to-prepare foods terest rates at a time
when
its
counterpart,
twice in 2011 — and omies, especially because a rising
DQGGULQNLQJZDWHU¿UHZRRGDQG
U.S.
the European Central
in so doing helped dollar is making U.S. manufactur-
cooking fuel, and make sure we Bank, is still desper-
push the euro area ing less competitive. But those of-
have warm clothes and blankets ately seeking ways to performance into a double-dip re- ¿FLDOVFRXOGEHULJKWLQZKLFKFDVH
waiting to raise rates could mean
in case the power is out for long. boost spending.
looks good cession.
Now, I believe that
What about the VRPHDFFHOHUDWLRQRILQÀDWLRQ
Keep extra batteries on hand and the Fed is making a
only if you White House? Some On the other hand, they could
make sure you have some way to mistake. But the fact
of us warned from be wrong, in which case a rate hike
grade on a the beginning that could end the run of good econom-
recharge cellphones from car bat- that hiking rates is
even halfway defen-
the 2009 stimulus ic news. And this would be much
teries or some other way.
curve.
sible is a sign that the
was too small and more serious than a modest uptick
The 2007 storm taught much U.S. economy isn’t
would fade out too LQ LQÀDWLRQ EHFDXVH LW¶V QRW DW DOO
about how we depend on one an- doing too badly. So what did we do fast, a warning vindicated by events. FOHDU ZKDW WKH )HG FRXOG GR WR ¿[
But it was much better than nothing, its mistake.
other, reminding us of the need right?
I’m not sure why this argument,
The
answer,
basically,
is
that
the
and was enacted over scorched-earth
to check on neighbors and fami-
Fed and the White House have mostly opposition from Republicans claim- which a number of economists are
ly members to make sure they’re worried about the right things. (Con- ing that it would cause soaring inter- making, isn’t getting much traction
safe and have what they need to gress, not so much.) Their actions fell HVWUDWHVDQGD¿VFDOFULVLV$JDLQWKLV at the Fed. I suspect, however, that
JHW E\ ,Q 3DFL¿F &RXQW\ WKLV far short of what should have been is in strong contrast to Europe, which RI¿FLDOV KDYH EHHQ ZRUQ GRZQ E\
unemployment should have never did much stimulus and turned incessant criticism of their policies,
led to creation of Community done;
come down much faster than it did. quickly to savage austerity in debtor and want to throw the critics a bone.
Emergency Response Teams who But at least they avoided taking de- nations.
But those critics have been wrong
Unfortunately, the U.S. ended up every step of the way. Why start tak-
do things like check vacant hous- VWUXFWLYHVWHSVWR¿JKWSKDQWRPV
Start with the Fed. In his recent doing a fair bit of austerity too, part- ing them seriously now?
es following cold snaps to make
By PAUL KRUGMAN
New York Times News Service
Storm’s anniversary is A
a good planning tool
E
ight years isn’t ordinarily con-
sidered a notable anniversary,
but a high-wind warning last week
sparked memories of the histo-
ry-making December 2007 storm
that crippled the coast for days.
Though we all can hope it was
a 100-year storm — a once-in-a-
century event — such catastro-
phes appear to be happening with
greater frequency now than in the
past. The start of another winter
is a good time to review some of
what we learned from the 2007
typhoon and its aftermath.
One of the most fundamen-
tal lessons was that the coast is
largely on its own during and
immediately following a major
disaster. Although inland areas
weren’t as impacted by the hours
of hurricane-strength winds as we
were, thousands of downed trees
blocked every access highway
along which emergency person-
nel and supplies would travel. In
2007, these routes were partially
cleared in fairly short order. After
a future subduction zone earth-
quake and tsunami, they will be
blocked far longer and inland ar-
eas will be preoccupied with their
own problems.
Coastal agencies and families
must plan on getting by for a pro-
tracted period. Three days used to
be the recommendation, and this
was about right in 2007, but three
weeks is a more likely scenario
after a subduction event.
Keeping three weeks-worth of
food, gasoline, money and vital
prescriptions on hand is close to
impossible for many coastal res-
idents, but we all should do our
best to prepare in light of our own
¿QDQFLDO ZKHUHZLWKDO 3XEOLF
agencies and private charities
sure pipes haven’t burst. Citizen
ham radio operators have placed
equipment in key locations to fa-
cilitate emergency communica-
tions during and after a disaster.
Surviving is both an individual
responsibility and a social obliga-
WLRQ3ODQQLQJIRUHPHUJHQFLHVRQ
the coast has to be an automatic
part of living here.
Where to write
• U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
(D): 2338 Rayburn HOB, Washing-
WRQ '& 3KRQH
)D[ 'LVWULFW
RI¿FH 6: 0LOOLNDQ :D\
Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 97005.
3KRQH)D[
5066. Web: bonamici.house. gov/
• U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D):
+DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ
:DVKLQJWRQ '& 3KRQH
:HE ZZZPHUNOH\
senate.gov
• U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D):
'LUNVHQ6HQDWH2I¿FH%XLOGLQJ
:DVKLQJWRQ '& 3KRQH
:HE ZZZZ\GHQ
senate.gov
• State Rep. Brad Witt (D):
State Capitol, 900 Court Street N.E.,
+ 6DOHP 25 3KRQH
:HE ZZZOHJVWDWH
or.us/witt/ Email: rep.bradwitt@
state.or.us
