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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, October 10, 2007
UDINK has been found “offensive” by a jury of Oregon
DMV employees that reviews personalized license plates.
Unfortunately for the Udink Family, of Merlin, that means the
panel has ordered them to remove their plates of UDINK1,
UDINK2 and UDINK3. The DMV reasoning is that “dink” could
be considered sexual or an insult against Asian people.
The family was left alone until Mike & Shelly’s son,
Kawika, applied for UDINK4. That’s when the same commit-
tee that had approved plates 1, 2 and 3 decided that the fam-
ily’s last name was inappropriate. We disagree.
But we agree with a statement by District 3 Rep. Ron
Maurer (R-Grants Pass): “This is political correctness gone
wild. This is why citizens are so frustrated with government.”
He said that everyone he’s talked to about the situation feels
that it is ridiculous. Maurer was seeking a solution to the mat-
ter with ODOT because DMV is under its jurisdiction. And
District 4 Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) also
stood up for the Udink Family to be able to use its name.
However, Mauer met Thursday last with the head of
ODOT. “They’re not going to change,” he said, “so they plan
to recall the plates. My idea is that there’s no legislative solu-
tion to this, but there should be an appeals process, probably
outside DMV.” He said that 10 DMV employees constitute
“the social police for Oregon” in reviewing personalized plates.
Mauer said that he will help DMV to perhaps institute a
policy change. “Their position on the plates is indefensible,”
he said, indicating that there needs to be change, especially
noting the need for an appeals process.
According to DMV, the agency “denies requests for any
combination of letters and numbers that may be viewed as
objectionable. Objectionable combinations include those that
would, by means of foreign or slang words or phrases, by use
of phonetic, numeric or reverse spelling, or when viewed as a
mirror image, have the effect of alarming, threatening, offend-
ing, or misleading a reasonable person. Such choices may
include, but are not limited to, combinations of letters and/or
numbers that:
“Refer to intimate bodily parts or to sexual or excretory
functions.
“Refer in an alarming or offensive manner to a person or
class of persons on the basis of race, color, gender, ethnic
heritage, national origin, or other characteristic.
“Suggest that the vehicle to which the custom plate is
issued is an official vehicle of a public agency when it is not.
“Refer to illegal acts.
“Refer to alcoholic beverages or controlled substances or
paraphernalia used in the consumption thereof.”
Mike Udink said that he has received some 30 phone
calls from people supporting the use of his last name, and
criticizing DMV for its position. Udink plans to pursue his case
as far as possible, including a move to abolish the personal-
ized plate program if need be.
Besides radio and newspaper interviews, he received
four vinyl bumper stickers from Backwoods Graphics, of Bor-
ing. The stickers read UDINK 1 through 4. The company
owner basically said that if DMV is going to legislate against
the family name for license plates, it can’t do anything about
bumper stickers.
Mike Udink commented that the Website MSN.com ran a
survey about the plates. “Some 83 percent are in favor of
them,” he said. Meanwhile, he and his family planned to sub-
mit renewal applications every three months “to stay legal.”
They still have their plates. For now.
He further notes that besides DMV setting a precedent for
the UDINK plates, our country “speaks English, not slang.” He
has a good point. There are numerous “words” or letter com-
binations that can be construed as “offensive” or suggestive if
you’re looking to be that way.
Rather than micromanaging in the name of so-called po-
litical correctness, or what someone somewhere sometime
could find odious, perhaps the DMV jury needs to revise its
thinking. Don’t UDINK so?
Illinois Valley News
www.illinois-valley-news.com
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and published by
Robert R. (AKA Bob or El Jefe), Editor and Jan Rodriguez
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
Email: newsroom1@frontiernet.net or newsdesk@illinois-valley-news.com
Volume 70, No. 30
Staff: Michelle Binker, Zina Booth, Jennifer ‘Birthday Thundah’ Newsted
Josiah Dean, Millie Watkins, and Tina Grow
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
DEADLINES:
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Generally, one letter per person per month at publishers’ discretion. Letters are used at the
discretion of the publishers. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A
prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the publishers’ opinion.
POLICY ON “HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE,” DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADS
& NOTICES: All submissions must be hand delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for
publication. Submissions must be resubmitted weekly if the item is to run more than
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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction OR 97523
(Editor’s Note: Views and
commentary, including state-
ments made as fact, are strictly
those of the letter-writers.)
* * *
Typed, double-spaced let-
ters written solely to this news-
paper are considered for publi-
cation. Hand-written letters that
are double-spaced and legible
also can be considered.
‘Thank you’ submissions
are not accepted as letters.
Disaster prep? What’s
wrong with this picture?
From Pauline Knott
Cave Junction
The state of Oregon is
upgrading its emergency
preparedness. The fire dis-
trict has expanded.
Homeland Security has
gifted search and rescue,
border patrols, and the sher-
iff’s office with a plethora of
Big Boy Toys. Hopefully
this will make rural govern-
ments happy with federal
government. And I need a
tazer too.
Here in Cave Junction
we have our very own
multimillion dollar health
clinic. Our preparedness is
airtight; for a disaster that
might or might not happen.
Remember Katrina?
What about a tight, user-
friendly health-care system?
What about urgent care?
“No. We don’t do
urgent care. You have to go
to the ER in Grants Pass.”
What’s wrong with this
picture?
Newspaper appreciated
for support of benefit
From President Elizabeth
Rousseau-Rooney
National Federation of the
Blind Of Oregon
Cave Junction
Thank you, Bob. We
appreciate your support of
our efforts for the benefit
concert featuring Danny
O’Flaherty on Sept. 15 in
Grants Pass.
It was a great event, and
lots of folks commented on
your article.
Negative attitudes
about prayer cited
From Dusty Rhodes
Cave Junction
In response to the Oct. 3
letter, “What is this world
coming to?” I would suggest
that some of the staff, who
felt the note was wrong or
illegal, need prayer on their
behalf to soften their hearts.
Last I heard, we had the
right to freedom of speech,
press, and the right of as-
sembly. Since we are al-
lowed to talk, we may talk
to God and about God.
Since we may assemble, we
may talk to God together.
Because there is free-
dom of press, we may print
and distribute what we feel
is the truth. The hateful re-
action to a message of ap-
preciation and support
seems so wrong to me. It is
indeed unfortunate, in my
opinion, that these kids
(who are trying their best to
do good) are subject to such
negative attitudes from per-
sons they are told to respect.
It is also my opinion
that the beliefs of these
negative individuals should
not encroach on the free-
doms of others.
So I would like for
Sonny Moore to publish a
list of those who felt the
note was wrong, so we can
all cross their names off our
Christmas card list and put
them on the prayer list.
Male-female marriage
rationale expounded
From Chuck & Cheryl
DeBrett
Cave Junction
We are responding to
Linda Schluter Tedder’s
letter in your Sept. 19 edi-
tion. Other than her quote
from the Bible that “God is
Love” we may not agree on
much else.
Tedder has completely
missed the point on the peti-
tions in our view. The peo-
ple of Oregon voted over-
whelmingly (nearly 2 1/2 to
1) to define marriage as be-
tween “One Man and One
Woman.” The same God
Tedder quotes established
this relationship for love, but
also to replenish our race
through procreation. The
result is a family, which,
according to nearly every
recent study, functions best
when a child benefits from
learning their identity from
both a mom and a dad.
But the petitions were
not primarily speaking
against homosexual mar-
riage. When we voted in
2004, a change was made in
the Constitution. When the
people speak they should be
heard and their will carried
out. Instead, the Legislature
drew up major changes to
the voters’ wishes and fil-
tered their committee hear-
ings so that essentially only
one side was heard.
They then took the leg-
islation to the floors of the
Senate and House, and
passed the bills on a party
line vote. (How’s that for
partisan government?)
The petitions were for
allowing Oregonians to
again speak out on this is-
sue. If enough signatures are
gained, a re-vote would be
scheduled in November
2008, and democracy will
be served. Then the People
of Oregon will make their
decision -- not arrogant poli-
ticians who think they know
better than the voters.
Wouldn’t it be nice for
legislators to listen to the
majority when they try to
govern? (Note: Our local
Thanks Z Coffee
Cave Junction
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Some sun with
showers later
High--63 Low--39
Thursday, Oct. 11
Mostly cloudy
High--69, Low--37.
Friday, Oct. 12
Afternoon showers
and some sun
High--68, Low--42
Saturday, Oct. 13
Proliferation of
sunshine
High--71, Low--46
Sunday, Oct. 14
Indian summer?
High--82, Low--48
Monday, Oct. 15
Warm and sunny
High--81, Low--48
Tuesday, Oct. 16
Beautifully sunny
High--80, Low--49
for your donation to our
golf tournament!
I.V. Volunteer Firefighters Assn.
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall,
recorded in O’Brien
by Cheryl & Harry Johnson.
*Fri., Sept. 28: 61 - 40 0.40
*Sat., Sept: 29: 65 - 36
*Sun., Sept. 30: 52 - 44 0.83
*Mon., Oct. 1: 66 - 44
*Tue., Oct. 2: 67 - 37
*Wed., Oct. 3: 61 - 47 0.09
*Thurs., Oct. 4: 53 - 41 0.75
Following are the high-and-
low temperatures, and rainfall,
recorded in Cave Junction at
Natural Designs Farm.
*Fri., Sept. 28: 56 - 39 0.37
*Sat., Sept: 29: 65 - 36 0.01
*Sun., Sept. 30: 51 - 40 0.74
*Mon., Oct. 1: 67 - 42 0.07
*Tue., Oct. 2: 71 - 38
*Wed., Oct. 3: 68 - 47 0.05
*Thurs., Oct. 4: 52 - 42 0.73
legislators, Sen. Atkinson
and Rep. Maurer, voted to
uphold the people’s vote.)
Measure 49 problems,
reasoning outlined
From Robert Thomas
Grants Pass
Measure 49 will stop
future land development and
sales.
Contrary to radio ads,
November’s Ballot Measure
49 (M49) will gut Measure
37 (M37) and virtually stop
or stall all future land devel-
opment and sales. Based on
Oregonians in Action legal
staff literature, here are a
few talking points about the
effects of M49 if it passes:
M49 will reduce prop-
erty value and take land
without compensation, and
prevent passing property
rights on to our children. It
will cancel 61 percent voter-
approved M37 in 2004, re-
turning to past, onerous
land-use controls.
M49 allows govern-
ments to change rules after
property is purchased, and
really wipes out all property
protections for farmers and
forestland owners. It will
stop rebuilding of homes and
businesses destroyed by fire
or other disasters; and allow
anyone, public or private
entity, to sue land developer/
owners for any reason.
M49 makes property
owners pay for all attorneys,
appraisers, planners and
court costs.
M49 ignores the Ore-
gon Supreme Court unani-
mous ‘06 ruling that M37 is
constitutional. It was created
exclusively by a Democrat
legislative majority and gov-
ernor. It will result in fewer
jobs, lower tax base, greater
taxes and bureaucracy.
All citizens, businesses
and real estate agents have a
huge stake at risk if M49
passes. Real estate sales will
plummet, and all aspects of
building construction and
suppliers business will
shrink. If O&C funding ex-
pires as expected and M49
passes, few if any new
homes will be built, leaving
the existing taxpayers to
foot higher future taxes.
Home buyers will not
view Oregon as a great
place to live, but instead will
see it as the biggest environ-
mental habitat in the United
States with serf-like taxpay-
ers stuck in a feudal society.
Contrary to radio and
TV ads, Measure 49 is
really a wolf in sheep’s skin.
Cottage Cafe
Hours:
Wednesdays - Sundays
7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
210 E. Main St.
Rogue River
659-6953
Helping Children Who Have
Been Exposed to Batterers
The Illinois Valley Safe
House Alliance is pleased to
offer our community
“Helping Children Who
Have Been Exposed to
Batterers.” This 16 week
program is designed for
parents, grandparents, foster
parents or anyone interested
in helping children who have
been exposed to domestic
violence.
At the end of 16 weeks
participants will receive a
certificate of completion.
Classes are always
free, however pre-
registration
is
required. Classes
begin October 22
and will be from
10:30 a.m. to noon
and will be held at
the Illinois Valley Resource
Center, 535 E. River Street,
Cave Junction.
To sign up or for
additional information please
call Susie, the Women’s
Advocate at 592-2515.
Illinois Valley
Safe House
Alliance -
More Than
a Safe Place
Fall Home Improvement Show
& Builder’s Garage Sale
October 13 & 14, 2007
10am-
10am - 4pm
Josephine County Fairgrounds
Floral Building & Floral Patio
No admission charge!
BUT bring 2 cans of food for
the Food Bank and you’ll be
entered into a drawing for
a basket of goodies.
s It !
is
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t
’
n
o
D
Fall Tour of Homes
October 13 & 14, 2007
11am - 4pm
Self guided tour of a variety of homes built by
proud members of the Josephine County Home
Builders Association
Free maps available at the Home Show
or by calling 479-1311
223 NE B Street, Suite B, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526
Tel: 541.479.1311 Fax: 541.476.6619
hba@homebuildersofjoco.com www.homebuildersofjoco.com