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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2020)
Opinion 4A Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 Other Views Why Black lives matter would like to write my fellow non-Black East Orego- nians as to why I feel we must engage in diffi cult con- versations regarding race in America. No longer can small towns be tucked away, only engaging in monologue. Now is the time for dialogue. Why can’t “All Lives Matter” suffi ce? Simply put, because all lives will only truly matter when Black lives matter equally. When people say Black Lives Matter, they are illumi- nating a painful reality that many non-Black Amer- MITCH icans ignore. THOMPSON African Ameri- HERMISTON cans experience severe health care disparities compared to white Americans. They experience poverty and homelessness at far greater rates than their non-Black counterparts. Our Black brothers and sisters are exponentially overrepresented in our prison system and experience racial profi ling from police offi cers in ways that white Americans have never experienced. If we can establish that, yes, it is true, African Ameri- cans have been historically disadvantaged and these social inequalities remain as prevalent as ever, one must come to the conclusion that white Americans have then been histori- cally advantaged. One analogy that is helpful understanding why “All Lives Matter” is an insuffi cient and reactionary response: If I were to mention that breast cancer research matters, your fi rst reaction wouldn’t be to say, “No it does not, because skin cancer also matters.” Now what if breast cancer was killing exponentially more Americans while its research for a cure was woefully underfunded? Wouldn’t it be important to raise a level of awareness around the crisis? We have Breast Cancer Awareness Month because it’s a public health crisis and we need to address it. We don’t wear pink in October in spite of skin cancer, but because we know this is a means to bringing awareness to a cause that needs our collective support to save lives. Black Lives Matter is doing the same thing. Trying to save lives. This brings me to protest. Protests aren’t intended to make us feel comfortable, they are to shock those whom systematic ills do not impact into consciousness and action. It comes from a deep place of privilege to think there is not a crisis simply because it doesn’t directly impact you per- sonally. This is why we need protests, to call us into action. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Freedom is never volun- tarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Did women just get the right to vote? Did our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters just get the right to marry? Did Black school children just get the right to learn in a class- room with white students? No. It was demanded. Now you might say, we are fi ne with protest, but not violence. I have heard, “It’s terrible that Black man died, but the burning, looting and destruction of property needs to stop.” I would counter, “It’s horrible that property is being destroyed, but the killing of unarmed Black Ameri- cans needs to stop.” As white Americans, we must priori- tize Black American life over property. Humans are more important than things. Period. We as a society should not approve of riots, and there- fore we must not approve of the circumstances that lend to such desperation that people feel rioting is their only voice. Collectively, we must think critically about the centuries of failed social and economic systems that have disproportion- ately impacted Black Americans. We must ask ourselves uncomfortable questions about our past and how the inter- sectionality of racial, social and economic inequalities have contributed to the situation we are in today. Now for my white brothers and sisters who feel they are allies. One of the most important things is to understand we do not speak on behalf of the African American com- munity. We need to listen, support and follow directions. We cannot ever understand what it feels like to be Black in America, trust them. When we see injustice, become engaged. Subscribe to podcasts, support bail funds, read books, watch documen- taries that challenge our biases. Most importantly, join local organizations and vote for politicians who are serious about ending white supremacy and fi xing a system that maintains institutional racism. This includes having a serious conver- sation about the militarization of our police force and the amount of funding they receive. As a white American, I ask my fellow non-Black Amer- icans to join the struggle of racial equity. Black Lives Matter. I About the Author Mitch Thompson is from Hermiston and has previ- ously worked as a community organizer, and now works in basketball. Letters Students should go back to school only if it’s safe I am writing in response to Carson Yancey’s My Voice in the July 25 edition of The Observer newspaper (“Kids should go to school like they used to”). As a rising seventh-grader at La Grande Middle School, remote school was incredibly hard for me and many people I know. But I think it’s a hor- rible idea to go back to school in person if it means putting people in danger. I agree with Carson Yancey’s fi rst three points: that online school was annoying to students, that parents struggled to help kids learn and that technology issues can undermine learning. However, I fi nd his fi nal point — that school should open in person because kids are less suscep- tible to the coronavirus — fl awed. While the current scientifi c evi- dence does say the virus is less dan- gerous for children, in-person school would put all the adults who serve those kids at risk — some of them at considerable risk. Even if chil- dren are less likely to suffer a sig- nifi cant illness from the virus, they could pass it on to family members who are higher risk for signifi cant illness. Lastly, even if children are less likely to get very sick from the virus, if even one child were to get a serious case and die, that would be too many. So, in order to open schools in person, I believe strongly that we would need rigorous safety mea- sures in place for everyone’s safety, such as washing hands often, main- taining space between people even if it means students attending in part- time shifts, and wearing masks. As much as I want to go back to school in person, we should only do so if it is safe for everyone. Miri Koltuv La Grande Write to us The Observer welcomes letters to the editor. Letters are limited to 400 words and must be signed and carry the author’s address and phone number (for verifi cation purposes only). Email your letters to news@lagrandeobserver.com or mail them to the address below. Don’t take children to protests A protest is no place for a child. It is, purely and simply, child endan- germent. Whether the subject be racial equality, homelessness, mar- riage, abortion, socialism, fl ag burning, Second Amendment rights or any other controversy, a child does not belong smack in the middle of it. Groups of people gathering in public asseveration often induce vio- lence. Certainly, basic facts behind an event should be explained to a child who asks. That is part of the learning process. But they cannot defend what’s below the surface, and may suffer personal attacks for taking a public stance. They need to be allowed to form their own opinions about their world, which is ever changing, through observation and their interaction with other children. Once they are adults, they will have a set of expe- riences to draw from, at which time they will bring the in-depth ques- tions, if they still trust you. Involving children in such orga- nized events teaches children to blindly follow a cause. Rather, teach them critical thought, to build a set of personal values, to objectively analyze their world and, eventually, to choose or lead their own causes. Uniqueness in thought is the truth of diversity. Teach them that peaceful change is made through the hard work of petitions, not lazy confrontational protests. Janet Hollibaugh La Grande Congress must act now to prevent millions from being evicted Millions of low-income renters face the threat of eviction and homelessness unless Congress acts soon. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2019, 13.9% of Union County residents were living in poverty, and these numbers have without a doubt increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an inability for many to maintain gainful employment. COVID-19 has cost more than 40 million Americans their jobs. When people cannot work, they cannot pay the rent. As local evic- tion bans expire this summer, low-income renters will owe thou- sands of dollars in back rent. Without help, these renters will be forced out of their homes in the middle of a pandemic, exac- erbating the already dire situation faced by many in our community. The House has passed several bills that would enact a national moratorium on evictions and pro- vide $100 billion to help low-in- come renters pay the rent. This will help millions of renters stay housed, and their landlords will get paid, until the economy improves. It is time for the Senate to do the same. Congress must act now to pre- vent millions from being evicted. I urge our members of Congress to push for quick passage of a COVID-19 bill that includes at least $100 billion for emergency rental assistance and a national moratorium on evictions. I also urge every member of Union County to contact our members of Congress and make our voices heard. Brittany Pryce La Grande CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS President Donald Trump: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500; 202-456-1414; fax 202-456-2461; to send comments, go to www.whitehouse.gov/contact. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley: D.C. offi ce: 313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202- 224-3753; fax 202-228-3997. Portland offi ce: One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St. Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; 503-326-3386; fax 503-326-2900. Pendleton offi ce: 310 S.E. Second St. Suite 105, Pendleton 97801; 541-278- 1129; merkley.senate.gov. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden: D.C. offi ce: 221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Building, Wash- ington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-5244; fax 202-228-2717. La Grande offi ce: 105 Fir St., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-962-7691; fax, 541-963-0885; wyden.senate.gov. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (2nd Dis- trict): D.C. offi ce: 2182 Rayburn Offi ce Building, Washington, D.C., 20515, 202- 225-6730; fax 202-225-5774. La Grande offi ce: 1211 Washington Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-624-2400, fax, 541-624- 2402; walden.house.gov. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www.governor.oregon.gov. State Sen. William S. Hansell (29th District/Athena): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. NE., S-423, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1729. Website: www. oregonlegislature.gov/ hansell. Email: sen.billhansell@oregonlegislature. gov. State Rep. Greg Barreto (58th Dis- trict/Cove): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. NE., H-384, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986- 1458. Website: www.oregonlegislature. gov/barreto. Email: rep.gregbarreto@ oregonlegislature.gov. State Rep. Greg Smith (57th Dis- trict/Heppner): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. NE., H-482, Salem, OR, 97301; 503- 986-1457. Heppner offi ce: P.O. Box 219, Heppner, OR 97836; 541-676-5154.
