I
Chinese puzzle
The state of Oregon is caught on a Chinese puzzle
and much like the straw-device that catches fingers, it’s a
problem that isn’t easily extracted.
The bind began last week when Gov. Vic Atiyeh
issued a proclamation that adopted Taiwan as a sister
state to Oregon. Atiyeh said he had a “strong reason to
believe” that this move was the “will and pleasure of the
people of Oregon.”
Whether it was the “will and pleasure” was never
gauged by Atiyeh or his office. But that’s not the point.
That the sister state was Taiwan is the point.
It seems that Atiyeh in his benevolence toward the
tiny wayward Chinese island failed to notify the
Legislature over the announcement. While at approx
imately the same time, the Legislature approved a resolu
tion to adopt Fujian, a coastal province in the People’s
Republic of China, as Oregon’s sister state. Fujian is
across the Straits of Formosa from Taiwan.
Oops — the state now has twin Chinese sister states.
The Legislature’s idea was that Oregonians would
want to improve trade and carry out “numerous
economic, educational, cultural programs and other rela
tions” with China. That’s a good idea — but which China?
This double dealing would be advantageous for the
state if the twin sister states weren’t so adamently oppos
ed politically. And a teapot tempest has been brewing
ever since.
The crux of the argument is a case of the longstan
ding clash between the executive and legislative bran
ches of government. Some sort of resolution is needed in
the case — either Taiwan or the mainland state.
Atiyeh’s proclaimation on Taiwan was signed June
15 — perhaps this should take precedent? But two days
after the signing, Atiyeh’s authority was challenged by a
number of senators who said he didn't have the constitu
tional authority. The Fujian proposal was introduced to a
Chinese ambassador in Washington, D.C. by Mae Yih, D
Albany. The proclamation by Atiyeh was overlooked in the
push to get Fujian as a sister state.
The heart of the matter is whether the state can con
fer sister state status on two states of diametrically op
posed politics and economics at the same time. Dr. Sam
Won, president of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent
Association in Portland notes the benefits of having a
two-China policy in Oregon. “We do business with both
Taiwan and the mainland,” he says. The People’s Reb
public needs “lots of lumber and Taiwan uses a lot of
grain. Having two sister states is not favoring one over the
other.”
Sounds good, and profitable too. But it seems head
ed toward more problems than solutions. Once the Peo
ple’s Republic discovers the state trading with their foe
across the strait, and vice versus, well, in the end Oregon
state will lose. Like the Chinese puzzle, one person has to
let their finger go or be caught in a bind forever.
Levy election today
Today is an election day throughout the county and a
number of very important ballot measures will be decided.
Probably the most important to the quality of life in Lane
County is the $2.9 million “A” ballot property tax levy that
will fund the Sheriff's department.
Passage of this levy is crucical to the security of the
citizens of the county. If the ballot fails the Sheriff's
department will have to layoff 50-60 people and substan
tially cut back the law enforcement in outlying areas of
the county.
Voters are sometimes blind to the realities of essen
tial services when dollar signs are attached to their pro
perty taxes. This is most unfortunate. Voters may have
that extra $5 from their property taxes, but it may be the
money the thief steals in the night.
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opinion
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cort fernald
sidelong glances
This has been a month of living medically,
a time in which the frailties of my human flesh
have been sadly proved conclusively. Those
frailties aren't moral, would that they could be
made of a stuff more pliable than snapping
sinew and brittle bone. Instead, the forces of
chaos have done their worst and successfully
set my various bodily parts askew.
Almost a month ago, during an intramural
softball game, the first break occurred. I was
tagging a runner at third base and was given a
nasty forearm for my effort that compacted the
end of my thumb. There was the usual shoving,
but I knew the runner had crunched something.
It was difficult to get my glove off. A trainer on
the field thought it might be a jammed thumb
And I took that cursory diagnosis as gospel for
a number of days because I knew it was broken
— badly broken.
After the colors of my hand changed
through the spectrum of injury I went to the
health center A series of X-rays revealed all I
tried to ignore, the thumb was broken in three
places. I went to an orthopedic surgeon. I sat
morosely in the casting room as the technician
was making small talk slapping the warm
plaster on my forearm. “Pretty soon you'll be as
good as new,” he murmured shaping the cast.
Four weeks the doctor had said. Four weeks,
though my city league softball team was star
ting the season in two weeks.
I hated every moment watching them play,
even though I tried to be encouraging. Every
time a grounder slid through the infield I
thought "I could’ve got that," even though I
probably might have missed it as well.
Then the week arrived when the cast was
cut off. I spent that whole week working my
weak thumb into strength with a tennis ball.
Ready? Well enough.
I have often talked to softball old tinners,
those grey-haired legends from the beer
leagues who’ve been so many decades on the
mound that they haven’t any idea how many
spinners they’ve thrown, who give you a weary
glance when they say there’s more to the game
than running, throwing and hitting. They
couldn’t fool me — it was a physical game. The
ball didn’t have eyes. The worst player can’t be
the best one day. And when you’re the most
tired you couldn’t possibly play such an excep
tional game. Things like that were too illogical.
To shorten the month-long tale, my first at
bat I got a hit and stretched it to a triple. All I
recall was seeing the catcher bobble the ball
and knowing I had to slide to make it into third
Blackness. The next thing I knew I was flopped
on third with my teammates pulling me up. Safe
— but I had a huge crushing ache in my head
and no idea what had happened.
It turns out the catcher just heaved the ball
as hard as he could and it zeroed into my tem
ple. The result was a massive skull fracture and
serious medical complications that kept me in
the hospital for a week. From softball? All this
physical deterioration from a fun game played
by quasi-athletes?
The kind of smart platitudes that mutter
there is wisdom gained when a person finds
they aren't impervious to harm are wasted on
me. I get more cranky than wise discovering I
am plague to maladies I can’t blame on myself.
Suffice it to say that I am ornery enough to step
onto a baseball diamond if only to see what
medical adventure awaits me next. I refuse the
frailty of my physical form even though it
seems the target of forearms, softballs and
God knows what other metaphysical missiles.
letters
Tribute
We read with interest the
opinion in the editorial on
"Ride, Sally Ride." We agree
with the article that a tribute to
Sally Ride is terrific. It is about
time that the most qualified
person got the Job. Our first
U S. woman in space is long
Oregon daily
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Production MM «At
Circulation IMMI1
Editor
Managing Editor/New* Editor
Editorial Pag* Editor
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Oabbia HowMMl
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Sally CH(*r
Victoria Koch
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overdue. But it finally happen
ed and we're proud of it.
It is especially important to
commemorate a great event
whether a woman or a man is
the object of the attention. We
are marketing Ride, Sally Ride
T-shirts because we believe in
our hearts that it is a special
event that should be captured
for all to remember.
The opinion of the Emerald
should be taken in its context,
even though it is one sided.
We believe that any "first time
event" in history should be
honored, not exploited. We
chose T-shirts as our media.
The Emerald chose an
editorial. We just hope that the
message on the shirt is taken
as a great tribute to a women.
No matter what anyone thinks,
"Sally rides forever.”
Rise Cleary
pres., K-Rise enterprise
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