2
WedNEsdAy, D ecem H er 1, 1999
Opinion
The light still shines
T
Christianity came swiftly. After en
during, with a shining grace and daz
zling humility, the sword of Nero,
then of Trajan, the Church became
and,
acquainted with the other, kinder
face of secular power—a face that
proved
the
deadliest of
; all.
That is, un-
¡ der Emperor
> Constantine,
Joel P. Shempert Í Christianity
I was ren
Contributing Writer
dered both
legitimate
Two thousand years ago, give or and official, and thus became an
take a bit, a child was bom who oxymoron and, arguably, an abomi
grew to be the most amazing Man nation: a spiritual movement vested
history has ever seen. Some called with a physical authority.
And thus began the Church’s
Him a Teacher, some called Him a
Prophet, some called Him a blas woes. All the lions and crucifixes
phemer—and there were some who in the Roman Empire could not slay
that against which “the gates of
called Him Savior.
Two thousand years ago, this Hell shall not prevail.” But in the
Man \yas put to death. Two thou birth of the Holy Román Empire was
sand years ago, His followers forged the sword with which the
claimed they had seen Him alive Church would slay itself. For when
once more. And two thousand love and kindness are replaced by
years ago, these followers went out ambition and cruelty, the result is
into the world to proclaim this an entity that can hardly be called
Man’s message of liberating truth “Christian” at all.
So where have we come from
and conquering love.
So where have we come from there?
The crimes of the Church are
there?
Unfortunately die degeneration of many. There was the Inquisition;
he curtain is about to be
drawn on the Twentieth
Century, as well as the
much-touted “Millennium”
though much less publicized, the
first two thousand years of the
Christian Epoch.
Altar of an
Unknown God
there were crusades; there were
witch trials; there were religious
wars of all varieties. And through
the confusion of philosophy with
doctrine, science and inquiry have
been held under the Church’s dread
sway.
So where have we come from
there?
There have been shafts external
as well as poisons internal loosed
against the truth of God. There has
been the satire of Voltaire, the De
ism of Jefferson, the materialism of
Marx and—with G. W. Hegel’s sys
tem of “thesis-antithesis-synthe
sis,” whereby opposing proposi
tions are reconciled into a non-con-
tradictory whole—an assault on
Truth itself.
But a kernel of Truth has per
sisted through all these assaults—
the immutable Word of God, the
Word that became Flesh, the Word
“full of Grace and Truth.” That ker
nel, against which Hell prevailed
not, survives unto this day to find
its way into my heart, and to be pro
claimed to you. It will live on, when
you and I have passed from this
mode of life, to find its way into yet
another heart that seeks after God.
Two thousand years later, the
Light still shines. May it shine on
you.
I show you a more excellent way.
Victims victimized twice
ardon me if I don’t believe that myself down and began to
victims have rights, because hyperventilate. I blacked out. I
I was stabbed not once, twice woke up as I was being carried to
or even three times, but seven
my car. My friends got in and drove
times— and the offender is free and me to the nearest house where they
I know it’s only because she’s a ju called 911. It was busy. They then
drove me to the
venile.
Molalla Police
Department.
There were
county, state
and
local
cops. They
SalenaDe La Cruz
said they got
Sports Co-Editor
the
suspect.
............................i. J
She was a 15
It happened Aug. 22, 1998 at a year-old girl.
party up-river in Molalla. There were
The ambulance came and took me
quite a few people there including a to the OHSU Trauma Center. They
girl that I was on not so friendly terms stitched me up and showed me my
with. She and another girl were argu back through a mirror. She stabbed
ing when I stepped in the middle. The me seven times, six in my back and
girl pushed me; I pushed her back. once in my arm.
We went to court about eight
She said, “ I have no problem with
you.” I turned to walk away when months later. Her defense was that
she punched me in the face. 1 grabbed she feared for her life because I was
her in a headlock, punched her a few bigger and stronger than she was.
times and threw her to the ground. I Yet as we came to find out from her
had my hand around her throat when testimony, she had the knife pulled
I yelled, “ Calm Down!”
when she was arguing with the first
I saw specks of blood on her face. girl. Instead of attempted murder, she
1 was starting to get up as someone was charged with Assault 4, a mis
grabbed me and pulled me back. I demeanor.
started walking toward my car when
Her sentence was restitution, 40
I heard someone scream, “ Oh my hours of community service, and
God! You stabbed her!” I looked counseling. That’s all she got and
down at my hands because I thought she will forget about this act of vio
maybe I had scratched her; when I lence long before I do. I have seven
did this I noticed blood running down scars to remind me, daily. I experi
my arm. My friend ran up to me, and ence severe pain in my back on any
started screaming; “You’ve been given day. I have endless sleepless
stabbed!” I started screaming and nights. But that wasn’t good enough
crying, “Why did she have to stab for them. I begin to wonder if I
would’ve been better off if she had
me?”
At this point I was trying to calm killed me— maybe, just maybe there
P
Make a
statement,
be heard
would be justice.
We were set up for mediation,
which is where the victim faces the
offender. She agreed to pay restitu
tion of $1,592. At the mediation she
threatened me and all they did was
say, “Now, we shouldn’t have to re
mind you: no threats.” The next day
she wanted to back out of the deal.
She felt I didn’t deserve that amount.
That was it, the last straw. I finally
broke. For months they had asked
how she felt, if the date scheduled
was all right with her, never me. I felt
as though I was being treated as the
offender rather than the victim, just
because I was older than she was.
Of course, what could I expect? We
were working through the juvenile
system. I said, “ No, I’m sorry— if
she backs out I’m taking her to court
and holding her mother responsible
for her actions.”
The mediator basically said I
shouldn’t expect so much from a 15
year-old girl. However, they didn’t
take into consideration that she had
27 misdemeanors on her record as
well as four felonies.
What I learned from the system is
that Measure 11 and victims’ rights
laws can work forthe victim as long
as the offender is not a juvenile.
However, it is nice to know there are
places that will help victims when
no one else will.
I’m here to say victims’ rights?
Hah! I wish, because from where
I’m sitting we don’t have any.
For more information for victims’
services call Victims’ Assistance at
(503)655-8616.
Questions, comments or ideas
contact at ext. 2309 or e-mail me at
salenadelacruz@netscape. net.
T ñe CI ac I camas P rìnt
BY CHRIS LUNDGREN
WHEW- FINALLY
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Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Your last month's article (Oct.
13,1999, p. 4) "Abandoned Bun
nies fend for life," caught my
heart. As a community gardener
at gardens located near the ELC,
I have delighted in these fat
looking rabbits. During the heat
of summer they find sun and
shade under my large zucchini
leaves. These rabbits roam free,
visit with each other, and (up
until now) did not fear people.
They have added to the ELC.
Plus, they seem to be consider
ably less hungry than the many
ducks and geese who beg for
bread and all but attack me for
more food at times. Let's keep
the bunnies too.
I understand the ELC's need
to keep bunny populations un
der control. They seem now to
be corralling them in the Orchard
Society's secured area. How
ever, I don't see that the bun
nies had it "pretty rough." At
least not while they were free in
the ELC area. With leftover Iet-
tuce, etc., they have lots to eat
in our large, abundant gardens,
as do other worthy locals, like
birds.
Martha McKay
P.S. For anyone interested in a
community garden space, call
Janice, Recreation Department.
(Cost is $ 15 a plot per year, with
automatic watering in summer.
This must be the best deal in
town.)
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Design Editor:
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