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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2004)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, October 13, 2004 There’s an old story that the reason Moses wan- dered in the desert for 40 years is because he refused to ask anyone for directions. My own father was like that, and I have followed, so to speak, in his footsteps. Or maybe in his tire tracks. The problem with us men is that we do not like to admit that we might not know something, especially where we are going. So we roar off in all sorts of in- correct directions, confident in mind that we know exactly which road to take and where to turn. This has gotten us in trouble for thousands of years. In fact, some of us have been lost for thousands of years. One reason I bring up direction is that in a page 1 caption last week, I became utterly confused and wrote that two brush fires were south of Fort Hay Ranch. Actually, they were northerly. Moving right along, so to speak, I confess that my worst times of having improper direction have oc- curred in large cities including San Diego, Sacra- mento, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. First, I am intimidated by the hordes of motor vehicles racing this way and that, with all drivers knowing (I think) exactly where they are headed. Meanwhile, my faithful navigator and wife (same person) will suggest, quietly at first and then with greater volume and energy, that I stop and seek direc- tions at: (a) a service station, (b) a real estate office, (c) a quick-mart type store, or (d) anyplace, dang it, just quit driving around aimlessly and muttering under you breath. I, of course, choose (e) driving foolishly for a couple of hours before choosing a service station with employees who have lived there all their lives but don’t know where anything is located. My dad used to take us by car from San Diego to El Paso, Texas via Flagstaff, Ariz. As near as I can figure, this took about a day longer and many more miles than necessary. I think it happened because we always got lost in Phoenix, although he told me when I was older that we went via Northern Arizona be- cause the enjoyed the scenery. I’m still unsure. Dur- ing one trip we had a horrible night drive because somehow we went to Flagstaff via Show Low, at a time when the road had been used for bombing prac- tice or attacked by a squad of bulldozers. My dad never got used to using new freeways in San Diego, and insisted on using the old routes, in- cluding congested surface streets. We had a couple of arguments about it, which I won with the simple ex- pediency of serving as chauffeur and basically ignor- ing his protests. Anyway, getting from Point A to Point B is espe- cially tricky for a guy like me, who did not do well in math or logic classes. (Still don’t, but that’s a whole other direction.) A bumper sticker never changed the world. Vote: it’s the simplest way to be heard Pain - Stress - Injuries Deep massage - CranioSacral Therapy Tuesday - Saturday by appointment Senior Discounts - Gift Discounts Illinois Valley News An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and published by Robert R. (Bob) and Jan Rodriguez Bob Rodriguez, Editor El Jefe Entered as second class matter June 11, 1937 at Post Office as Official Newspaper for Josephine County and Josephine County Three Rivers School District, published at 321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523 Periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523 Post Office Box 1370 USPS 258-820 Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330 Volume 67, No. 30 Staff: Kacy Clement, Becky Loudon, Michelle Binker, & Shane Welsh. Paladin Business Services - Kina Perez Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association DEADLINES: News, Classified & Display Ads, Announcements & Letters 3 P.M. FRIDAY (Classified ads & uncomplicated display ads can be accepted until Noon, Monday with an additional charge.) POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ welcomes letters to the editor provided they are of general interest, in good taste, legible and not libelous. All letters must be signed, using complete name, and contain the writer’s address and telephone number. The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity. The ‘News’ reserves the right to edit letters. One letter per person per month. Letters are used at the discretion of the publisher. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the editor's opinion. POLICY ON “HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE,” DISPLAY & CLAS- SIFIED ADS & NOTICES: All submissions must be hand delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for publication. Submissions must be re- submitted each week if the item is to run for more than one week. SUBSCRIPTION RATES One year in Josephine County - $20.80 One year in Jackson and Douglas Counties - $24.40 One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state - $28 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR. 97523 (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary expressed in let- ters to the editor are strictly those of the letter-writers. * * * Typed, double-spaced letters are acceptable for con- sideration. Handwritten letters that are double-spaced and highly legible also can be con- sidered for publication. Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.) ** * Undecided Christian voters? From Cheryl DeBrett Cave Junction We should not find even one undecided voter among the Christian popu- lation in this country. As Christians we have a responsibility to elect government leaders based on their positions on nu- merous issues, including five non-negotiable issues. Abortion: This is the intentional and direct kill- ing of an innocent human being, and therefore it is a form of homicide. The child is always an innocent party, and no law may per- mit the taking of this life. Eu thanasi a: Even though this often is de- scribed as “mercy killing,” it also is a form of homi- cide. No one has a right to take his own life (suicide), and no one has the right to take the life of any inno- cent person. Fetal stem cell re- search: Recent scientific advances show that any medical cure that might arise from experimentation on fetal stem calls can be developed by using adult stem cells instead. Adult stem cells can be obtained without harming the adults from whom they come. Thus, there is no longer a medical argument in favor of using fetal stem cells. Human cloning: This ends as a form of homicide because the “rejected” or “unsuccessful” clones are destroyed, yet each clone is a human being. Homosexual marriage: True marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Legal recognition of any other form of “marriage” undermines true marriage, and legal recognition of homosexual unions does homosexual persons a disfavor by en- couraging them to persist in what is an objectively immoral arrangement. Any candidate who favors even one of these issues would not be a re- sponsible choice for any Christian. In the presiden- tial race this year, one can- didate opposes them all, and the other favors them. I am proud to be a Christian, proud to be an American, and proud to pledge my support for George W. Bush. I hope that others will join me. decent jobs and educa- tional opportunity in this country. And especially for those in need of health care and something to believe in again. The late Sen. Paul Wellstone’s book, “The Conscience of a Liberal,” gives as its inspiration, “The Conscience of a Con- servative,” by the late Sen. Barry Goldwater. Find out why. And then get ready for the real work that will begin on Nov. 3, no matter what the outcome is portrayed to be this time around. We need our Green Party friends back to speak up for the most disenfran- chised of all; the one- legged people, and the planet itself. The party was right to effectively repudiate the megalomaniac Nader this time around. And because of that resolve, it may well emerge as a viable pro- gressive third party soon. You must know by this time that all votes count. Greed and religious fanaticism on all sides are at the core of the conflicts we now face. It is time to allow the common princi- ples of compassion and forgiveness to direct the course of our common ex- perience. We should allow our true spirituality to inform our very important deci- sion this November. Operation Truth From Joan Norman Cave Junction The letter from Bill Reid (“Illinois Valley News,” Oct. 6) was inter- esting. He doesn't believe that the letter from a sol- dier in Iraq was a fact. He called it “purported.” Evidently he has not seen the website, Operation Truth. Former Capt. David Chasteen and 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff, who still serves in the Army National Guard, hope to educate the American people about the truth about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from the perspective of soldiers who are experiencing it. They both served in the 3rd In- fantry Division in Baghdad early last year. The website is www.optruth.org, and in- cludes many letters from our military as a forum for all the military serving in Iraq, or just returned, to tell their stories, post digi- tal photos and complaints. Operation Truth is a nonprofit soldiers’ advo- cacy group, which is non- partisan, nonpolitical and not affiliated with any po- litical candidate. Some issues addressed to date include what they call, “Stop Loss,” the in- voluntary extension of ac- tive-duty soldiers, whose enlistment has ended. They call this a back- door draft. One comment is that this action is de- stroying the concept of a voluntary military. It dam- ages morale, and they say that it is “just another indi- cation that the original plan for war was flawed.” Another issue is “the role of private contractors in combat zones.” They state that the relationship that companies like Halli- burton, KBR and Black- water have with the mili- tary is disturbing. They maintain that this weakens the military by drawing away some of the most experienced war-fighters with offers of much higher wages and better benefits. Another issue that bothers them is “The Vet- erans Administration.” They say that the VA budget will be cut by nearly $1 billion by 2006. Also that the VA is closing (Continued on page 3) I LLINOIS V ALLEY C OUNTY C OMMISSIONER C ANDIDATE F ORUM Presen ted by Illinois Valley News When: Wednesday, Oct. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Where: Lorna Byrne Middle School 6:30-7 p.m. Meet the Candidate This will be an informal opportunity for the citizens to mix and meet candidates individually. Citizens also can take this opportunity to submit questions for candidates on index cards. 7-7:10 Welcome and Ground Rules 7:10-7:20 Candidates’ Opening Remarks Position2: Jim Brock - 3 min. Jim Raffenburg - 3 min. Position 3: Dwight Ellis - 3 min. Cherryl Walker - 3 min. 7:20-8:20 Questions for Candidates Each candidate will have a maximum of 2 minutes to answer each question. Questions will be screened to minimize redundancy and ensure they are relevant to the position of Josephine County commissioner. Questions will be directed to candidates as evenly as possible. 8:20-8:30 Candidates Closing Remarks Candidates will be limited to 2 minutes, order to be determined by coin toss. 8:30 Good-night Another possible source of guidance for teen-agers is television, but television’s message has always been that the need for truth, wisdom and world peace pales by comparison with a need for a toothpaste that offers whiter teeth and fresher breath. - Dave Barry - ‘Do the write thing’ From Charles Greenwood Cave Junction We need our Republi- can friends back to speak up for true conservative values including small business, fiscal responsi- bility, and especially de- fense of the Constitution. This time, pick some- one who embodies honesty and integrity like John McCain, Pat Buchanan, or even Anthony Zinni, and write their name on your ballot. You know in your heart that the names at the top of your ticket no longer deserve your respect or your support. We need our Democ- ratic friends back to speak up for the average working person, union protected or not, and those thirsting for The Kerby Transfer Station is open to help you... Hours: Mondays - Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information phone (800) 922-1025
