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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 2019)
4A WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 The Observer OUR VIEW Walden will be missed Oregon may not know it yet, but in 2020 it is going to lose a tremendous amount of infl uence in Wash- ington, D.C. That’s because longtime federal lawmaker Greg Walden will step down that year from his slot in the U.S. House or Representatives. Walden, 62, an- nounced earlier this week that he will not run for re- election in the huge 2nd Congressional District. That district includes large chunks — including Umatilla and Morrow counties — of Eastern and Southern Oregon. Walden was fi rst elected in 1998, and his coveted position will be up for grabs in the next election. It also means that when Walden departs, 20 years worth of experience and political know-how will go with him. That isn’t a good thing for Oregon, and it is espe- cially bad news for the constituents of his district. As the only Republican in Oregon’s congressional delegation, Walden, for the most part, delivered a type of moderate center-right balance to a fi eld domi- nated by Democrats. While Walden met criticism from the political fanatics on both sides of the politi- cal fence, overall his track record show he looked out for Eastern Oregon on a consistent basis. Whomever replaces Walden will face a long road to achieving the kind of infl uence the Hood River na- tive built over two decades of work in Congress. Walden also strived to raise the voice of the rural areas of the state in the federal arena. His success is legion, and the state — especially the moderate GOP — is going to miss his leadership. Political voices of reason — the adult in the room, if you will — are sadly missing on the American politi- cal stage as of late. The country is bitterly divided along political fault lines where there is a constant grinding of rhetoric and dogma that ignites sparks that burn bright. Politicians who, for the most part, stick to party alignment yet seek always to fi nd com- promise to help the nation and their state seem like a vanishing species. As Walden has pointed out before, that perception is quite correct. Lots of good work is done in the hallowed halls of Congress by both Democrats and Republicans on a regular basis. But it is the smoldering fi re of fanatical doctrine that gets headlines and seems to snake throughout the politi- cal collective consciousness like a main circuit cable. Walden brought a sense of methodical purpose to his political work and he did a lot for Oregon. Once he leaves the American political stage, he will be sorely missed. Write to us LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Observer welcomes letters to the editor. Letters are limited to 350 words and must be signed and carry the author’s address and phone number (for verifi cation purposes only). We edit letters for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We do not fact check. We will not publish poetry, consumer complaints against businesses or personal attacks against private individuals. Thank-you letters are discouraged. Email your letters to news@lagrandeobserver.com Your views Roe: Kindness matters To the Editor: Recently I was shown that kindness exists in our community. Last week my 8-year-old daughter was swimming at the pool and broke her front tooth. I didn’t know how seri- ous the break was so I called her dentist in Walla Walla, but they were closed. I then tried Koza Family Dental Care. It was 4:55 p.m., right before closing at 5 p.m. They asked me to send a picture and Dr. Koza looked at the images. He wanted to see my daughter in the offi ce immediately. Although it was past closing time, Dr. Koza and his offi ce staff stayed open for us. When we got there, he examined my daughter’s tooth and put a sealant on it until she could be seen by the pediatric dentist in Walla Walla. When I asked Dr. Koza about the cost, he said there was no charge. Dr. Koza and the offi ce staff were so kind to my daughter and me. They went above and beyond to help us. And Dr. Koza didn’t charge me anything. I appreciate their kindness so much and I wanted everyone to know. Lilly Roe Island City Bonney: Elgin Food Bank benefi ts from generosity To the Editor: Small towns foster good will and car- ing ways that continue to impress this lady from the big city. Last Saturday the Elgin Food Bank held a spaghetti feed fundraiser at the Elgin Community Center. Our goal was to raise awareness that the food bank had a funding need. The food was donated by local businesses, Elgin Food Town, Elgin Corner Market, Billy Bob’s Butcher Shop, the Elgin Station and Community Bank, so the profi t was purely passed on to the food bank. Elgin Parks and Recreation had waived the fee for the building as a courtesy. The diners represented every club and organization in Elgin. Mem- bers of the Local Union 2780 at the Boise Cascade Mill offered a generous donation that was equally matched by the Boise Cascade Company. Local individuals, our city council members, organizations and churches gave with such generosity that to witness it fi lled my heart with hope for our future. As a board member of the Elgin Food Bank, I want to express my gratitude for the businesses that made our event possible. I want the donors and those who braved the rain and wind to attend to know they are making a difference in their community. The Elgin Food Bank is on solid ground again and will continue to serve the folks of northern Union County. Communities like Elgin are quick to lend a hand to those in need, which leaves me feeling grateful to be a part of the greater good. To the Editor: This letter is being written in response to the complaint against the Union County Warming Station. Having an income does not always equal enough to live on. I am blessed that I do not spend my day hanging out in a coin-operated laundromat drying out my sleeping bag or lining my tent with a tarp to keep the wind and rain out. I don’t have to pack all I have in the world and walk to the library to use a computer to apply for a job, or catch a ride to a 24- hour restaurant to stay warm and dry. I don’t have to count the days before I can do laundry or take a shower. I don’t have to worry about people looking at me like I have the plague. I don’t have to imagine how it will feel when I fi nally get to go to work every day. The warming station is temporary, winter weather only. It doesn’t take away the humiliation of being home- less. Find your humanity and encourage our community to offer this small op- portunity to those who need it. It’s our vets, our children, and it could someday be you. It’s all of our backyards. It’s all of our community. It’s us. Don’t complain about anyone having the basic human right to have warm meals, showers, medical, mental and dental care. La Grande businesses, your attitude does not represent me. To the Editor: Who are the Trumpians? In Wash- ington, D.C., they are masquerading as Republicans. These lawmakers have chosen to remain loyal to and sup- port Donald Trump with disregard for American values. A quick review of various government actions and state- ments presents an enlightening view of the Trumpian policies. I found the following defi nition of fascism on a University of Idaho webpage: “The word descends from the Latin ‘fasces,’ the bundle of sticks used by the Romans to symbolize their empire. This should clue you in that fascism attempts to recapture both the glory and social organization of Rome. Most generally, (fascism is) a govern- mental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and empha- sizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.” Let’s compare: “a dictator having complete power”: Trump has stated he considers himself “the chosen one” and has shown disre- gard for the “rule of law.” “forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism”: Trump demands loyalty pledge to the president (e.g.. fi ring of FBI Director Comey). “regimenting all industry”: Trump administration removes and reduces employee and public safeguards from manufacturing and mining industries (e.g., FDA reverses EPA decision to ban dangerous pesticide chlorpyrifos). “emphasizing an aggressive national- ism ...”: the campaign slogan is “Make America Great Again.” “... and often racism”: the war on im- migrants. Mr. Trump appears to check all the boxes when comparing Trumpian and fascism. Even though I cannot condone the activities of the Antifa group, I believe they may be on to something extremely dangerous happening in our Republic. If you agree, keep watching and protesting this administration’s actions, and let’s replace them in the voting booth. Kay Durham La Grande David Ebbert Enterprise Kathy Bonney Elgin Food Bank Durham: Don’t complain about warming station SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION STAFF Phone: SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50 You can save up to 34% off the single-copy price with home delivery. Call 541-963-3161 to subscribe. Stopped account balances less than $5 will be refunded upon request. Subscription rates per month: By carrier...............................................$11.80 By mail, all other U.S. .............................. $15 A division of Ebbert: Let’s replace Trumpians in the voting booth 541-963-3161 An independent newspaper founded in 1896 (USPS 299-260) The Observer reserves the right to adjust subscription rates by giving prepaid and mail subscribers 30 days notice. Periodicals postage paid at La Grande, Oregon 97850. Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except Dec. 25) by EO Media Group, 1406 Fifth St., La Grande, OR 97850 (USPS 299-260) COPYRIGHT © 2019 THE OBSERVER The Observer retains ownership and copyright protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may not be reproduced without explicit prior approval. 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