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Wednesday, March 22, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
LETTERS
Continued from page 2
coincidence that these were the states that put Trump over the
top in the Electoral College numbers. The voters there were,
understandably, desperate, looking for someone to save them
and someone to blame.
Another reason I’m unconcerned about fascism (yet) is that
our democracy was much stronger than Germany’s was at the
time (they voted for Hitler while we voted for FDR) and is
strong still. The majority of the voters (regardless of what he
tweets) didn’t choose President Trump and are speaking out,
acting out, and watching out.
As far as Mr. Mackey’s recommended reading, we should
all familiarize ourselves with our Constitution, one of the great-
est documents in world history. I recommend a German-made
film, “The Wave.” It’s about an American teacher who taught
a high school class on fascism and how easily a dictatorship
can form.
Someone said “When fascism comes to America it will be
wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.”
Bruce Campbell
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To the Editor:
The March 15 front-page story about the airport did a dis-
service to our efforts to have meaningful community discus-
sion about the future of our soundscape over Sisters.
I’ve attended meetings and followed the airport controversy
and I have never heard anyone mention fear of “F-18 fighter
jets and Blackhawk helicopters flying in and out of Sisters.” Or
any of the other hyperbolic statements quoted by The Nugget,
absurdities that were pulled out of a hat and seem only intended
to make one group look ridiculous in the eyes of the other.
Why would The Nugget choose to print such demeaning and
divisive fabrications? These quoted misrepresentations serve
only to distract attention from valid concerns about current and
possible future airport developments such as the impact of heli-
tours on the quality of life in and around our town.
Such press coverage, while colorful and emotionally
charged, does little to encourage respect among those with dif-
fering viewpoints. Exaggeration and reporting what’s not true,
these are dangerous trends that are tearing our country apart.
Susanna DeFazio
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To the Editor:
I’m writing regarding Jeff Mackey’s March 15 letter to the
editor.
First of all, Mr. Mackey, you’ve got to be careful when
referring to anything the Trump administration says because
it just might not be true. When they said the travel ban only
“inconvenienced” 109 individuals, that only included those
people in transit when the ban was announced, but even
that number is wrong. That was the initial number, but as
more flights came in the number swelled to 746 people.
The ban also revoked over 1,200 legal permanent residents
who tried to board flights to the U.S. and more than 60,000
refugees based on their nationality, according to the State
Department.
One of those refugees was in the final step of a 10-year-
long application process to obtain a visa to the United States
when he was told he was banned from entering the U.S.
because he was from Somalia, one of the seven countries on
the travel ban. He was to be sent back to the refugee camp,
a seven-hour drive, where he had given up everything: fam-
ily, friends, his job, his home, all his possessions and was
told to wait. But if the temporary ban is lifted after 120 days,
all clearances and applications by then would have expired,
requiring him to start the process all over again. The 40 refu-
gees at this particular transit center were put on extra secu-
rity as officials were afraid some of them would try to kill
themselves.
Of the 746 people who were in transit, one was an Iraqi
whose wife had worked for an American contractor in
Baghdad, and because of that their lives were threatened.
She and their son made it to Houston and for 3 years she
worked to get her husband a visa. He had escaped to Sweden
1-1/2 years ago, but the authorities told him repeatedly over
his 10-hour interrogation that they were sending him to
Baghdad, where he said as soon as he arrived there he would
be killed. Fortunately, lawyers intervened and he was released
into the U.S.
As far as the travel ban making us safer, if that was true
Saudi Arabia would be one of the banned countries on the list.
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on September 11 were citizens of
Saudi Arabia.
Obviously, the travel ban is all about discriminating against
Muslims and will only make us less safe as homegrown extrem-
ists are emboldened. And I’m not talking just about Muslims
either but white nationalists looking for any excuse to hate.
You hear stories of Hispanics being harassed and bullied, ICE
arrests and families being torn apart. A guy in Bend Safeway
recently asked a young girl in the checkout line in front of him,
“So when are you being deported?”
Yes, I am outraged. The way we treat immigrants to our
United States is cruel and un-American, and it just breaks my
heart.
Terry Weygandt
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To the Editor:
My husband and I have been planning a move to Sisters in
the coming months — we are tired of the hustle, bustle, traffic,
and noise where we live. Sisters seemed like an ideal place to
settle.
I say “seemed,” because the thought of a droning aircraft
circling over the town day in and day out gives me pause.
My heart goes out to all those citizens of your fair city who
have loved the quiet of Sisters only to see it sacrificed on the
altar of financial gain.
Donna Manion
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To the Editor:
The Science Fair on Saturday, March 18, was a very suc-
cessful event and enjoyed by about 450 visitors who were
interested in and inquisitive about the science illustrated in the
displays.
I want to thank the Sisters School District for their support
and the science teachers for their time and encouragement of
students to participate. The students who volunteered to set
up the Fair, explain the science behind exhibits, and compete
in the mousetrap car, chucker, and airplane competition were
conscientious, competent, and enthusiastic. That attitude was
infectious for the rest of us.
Once again, the outside businesses and non-profits provided
very fine interactive exhibits. The Science Club members and
other community volunteers gave wonderful support in orga-
nizing, setting up the exhibits, and manning various exhibits
throughout the day. Especially I want to thank the Kiwanis
Club of Sisters, our sole sponsor this year, for their financial
support and for providing a large number of volunteers.
It is very gratifying to live and volunteer in a community
where people of all ages come together to make this event such
a success.
Thanks to all of you.
Cal Allen
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To the Editor:
After retiring in 2000 I began volunteering for the Habitat
for Humanity Thrift store here in Sisters. As I am now 93 years
old it is time to retire again. Of course this makes me think
back over the many years and I am sure that meeting and work-
ing with all the busy, friendly people there has helped keep me
healthy and happy for so long.
Habitat for Humanity is a fantastic concept. What can be
better than helping people help themselves? Wherever Habitat
establishes themselves, they grow — not unlike here in Sisters
— and therefore they need more and more volunteers.
If you have extra time, do not sit on the fence but jump in
and help. You will not regret it. I guarantee it.
Gudrun Kibak
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Sisters
Oregon
G u i d e Sells
Sisters!
Just ask Sue...
“Advertising in Th e Nug-
get and the Sisters Or-
egon Guide works! Th e
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tion in the Sisters Or-
egon Guide resulted in
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ists know that we carry
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get is simply a wealth of
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and visitors alike, along
with Th e Nugget’s Sis-
ters Oregon Guide. I
have found both to be
the ideal way for me to
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— Sue Leek, Proprietor,
Mackenzie Creek
Mercantile
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To the Editor:
In response to Julie Benson’s comment that the Sisters
Airport will be like it has been since 1933:
The former owner, Cliff Clemens, out of courtesy to the air-
port neighbors, enforced the rule of no take-offs or landings
between sundown and sunrise, with the exception of emer-
gency responders. He would not have tolerated screaming sky-
divers with the incumbent noisy aircraft.
The Bensons develop the airport under the guise of expand-
ing their “other” business, ENERGYneering, and bring in
money at the expense of the airport neighbors.
Perhaps it is time to relocate the Sisters Airport, inasmuch as
the town has grown up around it since George Wakefield first
built it in 1935 with the help of the Forest Service. Maintain an
emergency helipad for emergency services and stop ignoring
the hundreds of airport neighbors.
Emma McEwan
Advertising
in Th e Sisters
Oregon Guide
and
Th e Nugget
works!
Call Karen at
541-549-9941