Opinion
A4
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
OUR VIEW
An obligation
to end acts of
violence
he racist shooting massacre at a Buff alo,
New York, supermarket two weeks ago
seems far away and with little relevance to
the rural heartland of Eastern Oregon, but its sig-
nifi cance and impact is vast and should stand as a
signpost for all Americans regarding a cancer that
continues to metastasize.
The cancer is a violent, militant ethos that
runs hard and deep within certain sections of this
nation. It is not a new disease — violent racists
aspects of our history are common — but its cur-
rent form, exemplifi ed by the Buff alo massacre, is
by far the most serious in recent memory.
The avowed white supremacist killed 10 Black
people and workers at the supermarket and left
behind not only a blanket of terror but questions
that require deep contemplation by all Ameri-
cans. Whether one lives in Alabama or Penn-
sylvania or Eastern Oregon, the slaughter per-
petrated on the victims of the massacre should
stimulate refl ective pause regarding an array of
subjects, including how such acts of violence are
spawned and what they say about our nation to
the rest of the world.
Americans by history and nature are often an
unrefl ective bunch in terms of perceptions of our
democracy by other nations. That must change.
We stand as the greatest world power and pro-
claim our form of democracy — where justice for
all and equal representation are hallmarks — as a
bright beacon for the rest of the world.
Yet, we consistency fail to live up to our own
high-minded expectations. So, we must do better.
Too many men and women have laid their lives
down on foreign shores for our citizens to tolerate
lowering our standards. Every American, regard-
less of their color or their place of origin, should
be able to enjoy the rights of being an American.
Being gunned down while shopping for dinner
doesn’t fi t that scenario.
It is not appropriate to place blame on others
or to ignore the situation — it is a nationwide
problem, and it’s up to us to solve it, whether
we live in Buff alo, New York, or Northeastern
Oregon.
No, it is for all Americans, our obligation
really, to work to ensure such acts of violence
vanish and the merchants of hate and the brokers
of national dissension are vanquished. If we do
nothing we are tempting dishonor as well as more
acts of violence.
T
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OTHER VIEWS
Guidance of county
commissioners invaluable
to fair board
I am writing to make the res-
idents of Union County aware of
the help our county commissioners
have provided the Union County
Fair Board. Since my appointment
to the board in February, 2020, Matt
Scarfo has maintained his role as
commissioner liaison by guiding
and assisting the fair board. In addi-
tion to myself, the county com-
missioners have appointed Carrie
Bushman, Heather Rajkovich,
Melinda Becker-Bisenius and Deb
Cornford during the last three years,
adding to existing members Lori
Ritter and Amy Horn.
Matt Scarfo has been instru-
mental in coordinating and advo-
cating for funding to improve our
fairgrounds. He has assisted in my
personal testimony for HB3173 in
the spring 2021 session. He assisted
my family working our cows in
order to allow me the opportunity to
testify and advocate for the Union
County Fair. I sat on the fence lis-
tening and waiting my turn while he
pushed cows and branded calves.
During the fall 2021 Oregon
Legislative Session, $10 million
was allocated for Oregon county
fairs. Union County was awarded
$271,000. In November 2021, Com-
missioner Scarfo encouraged Busi-
ness Oregon representative Brian
McDowell and Oregon Rep. Bobby
Levy to walk through the Union
County Fairgrounds as he continued
to advocate for the need and the
challenges we have with our sewer
and water concerns.
Our county commissioners knew
the allocation of $271,000 was not
enough to overcome the challenges
our facility has. Commissioner
Scarfo tirelessly pursued additional
funding options from the State Com-
mittee of Ways and Means Cap-
ital Construction Budget 2022. This
resulted in an additional $1 million
secured for the Union County Fair-
grounds sewer project.
Commissioner Scarfo has
helped coordinate meetings with
the Department of Environmental
Quality, Gov. Brown’s offi ce, Sen.
Hansell, Rep. Levy, Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation, city of La
Grande, and urban development
offi ces in the past several months.
He assisted with leading the conver-
sations, building support, and high-
lighting and connecting the diverse
group of people that a project like
ours requires to be successful.
The Union County Fair Board
is grateful to Matt Scarfo, Paul
Anderes and Donna Beverage for
their tireless support and guidance.
Jamie Haddock
Imbler
Union County Fair Board president
Let us be free to think and
do as we choose
I just love it when some political
writer insinuates that they can read
my mind and tell us how to think.
The people that want to share our
politics with Idaho are a disgruntled
few, so that leaves nearly half the
county voters as ...?
Why must we be put in a labeled
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
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STATE SENATOR
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
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Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
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bucket just because we do not sup-
port your particular values or party?
At least some of us are not so inter-
ested in having the Oregon leader-
ship telling us to spend our taxes on
illegal immigrants and people who
simply will not take a job even when
many are available.
We want justice that is fair to
all and equally enforced. Many of
us would be willing to pay more
in taxes to have more rights and
freedom than we presently have.
We do not believe in government
that extends a declared emergency
to indefi nitely extend their control
over our lives. Many of their rules
are proving they did not follow the
science and were of questionable
value. I do not believe that the mass
of people living and polluting the
west side should tell me how to live
and think.
Guess I am too independent for
others to tell me how to live in my
locale. Let us be free to think and
do as we choose instead of telling
us we are not intelligent enough to
take care of ourselves. Let us be
free Western Americans wanting
to chose our own way instead of
being the sheep that just follows.
If you don’t like the way we think,
then give us native Oregonians your
approval to join a diff erent govern-
ment without leaving our homes. Let
us decide if we will be the loser.
Evidently, our freedoms are worth
more to us than you. Are you willing
to sell your freedom for a little less
taxes and be chained to the Oregon
political machine?
John Isley
Enterprise
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