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Wednesday,April14,2021
Columbia Gorge News
www.columbiagorgenews.com
OPINION
The opinions expressed in the letters below are “your voice,” and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Columbia Gorge News, its staff, publisher or advertisers.
April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month
Lynch
■ Beatriz
Executive director, SafeSpace Children’s
interviewed by a highly skilled
forensic interviewer and a medical
Advocacy Center of the Gorge
exam is conducted by doctors who
specialized in child abuse. The child
and family continue to have sup-
Nearly 700,000 children are
port from an advocate and referral
abused in the U.S. each year. No
to mental health counseling.
group of children is immune —
In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse
both boys and girls are likely to
introduced the pinwheel as the
experience neglect, sexual and
national symbol for child abuse
physical abuse. However, girls are
four times more likely to experience prevention, and it has come to
serve as the physical reminder for
sexual abuse.
healthy childhoods that we all want
Locally, SafeSpace Children’s
for our children. The installation
Advocacy Center of the Gorge,
formerly known as Columbia Gorge of pinwheels on the Hood River
County Library lawn represents
Children’s Advocacy Center, has
been working with law enforcement one of the more than 800 children
seen at SafeSpace for child abuse
and child protective services to
assessment.
provide a safe and healing place
This past year has been challeng-
for child victims to tell their stories
ing for everyone, but it has been
of abuse. Since 2009, SafeSpace
especially difficult for children
has seen more than 800 children
who may have been home with an
from Hood River, Wasco, Gilliam,
abusive person without an outlet to
Wheeler, and Klickitat counties.
ask for help. Please join SafeSpace
SafeSpace Children’s Advocacy
in focusing on awareness of child
Center provides a single point of
abuse throughout the month of
contact for child abuse victims.
April. For more information, or
SafeSpace offers trauma informed
ways to support our children, log on
care in their child-friendly cen-
to www.safespacecac.org.
ter. The child victim of abuse is
On April 2, SafeSpace Children’s Advocacy Center of the Gorge volunteers Eileen Wendell, Claire McMahon, and Carme
Brown, Trout Lake School, installed 800 pinwheels on the north lawn behind the Hood River County Library. The pinwheels
represent the more than 800 children seen at SafeSpace Advocacy Center since its opening opened in 2009. Shelley Toon
Lindberg, executive director for Arts in Education of the Gorge, came up with the concept of having pinwheels mimic the
Columbia River, flowing through the lawn.
Contributed photo
YOUR VOICE
American's Creed
You may not be aware of the
American’s Creed. It was penned
by William Tyler Page in 1918 and
accepted by the U.S. House of
Representative that same year. In
Page’s own words, he said, "It is
the summary of the fundamental
principles of the American politi-
cal faith as set forth in its greatest
documents, its worthiest traditions,
and its greatest leaders." Part of that
creed states, “I therefore believe it
is my duty to my country to love it;
to support its Constitution; to obey
its laws; to respect its flag, and to
defend it against all enemies.” As
citizens of this great country, we
should all strive to live by these
words.
Displaying an American flag is a
great way to show our love for our
country. However, that act of pa-
triotism can become disrespectful
if you are unaware of or ignore an
important set of rules. The U.S. Flag
Code, established by Congress in
1942, establishes advisory rules for
display and care of our national flag
(Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United
States Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq)). It
is a U.S. federal law (Public Law 77-
623; chapter 435).
According to the U.S. Flag Code,
the American flag should never
be displayed with the union down
(blue portion with stars), except as a
signal of dire distress in instances of
extreme danger to life or property.
The wording, “Dire distress and
extreme danger to life or property”
should not be taken lightly. These
instances do not include moments
of personal dissatisfaction or
times of protest. While it is legal to
express yourself in whatever way
you so choose, it is illegal to fly an
American flag upside down unless
you are in a life-or-death situation.
Every time I pass our national
symbol of freedom being flown in
this disrespectful manner, sadness
and anger emerge. Please help our
country start to heal and show love
and respect to our country and one
another.
Nancy Slagle
Parkdale
like dog kennels” (June 4, 2018)
built during the Obama/Biden
presidency, where the kids are kept.
There probably is not room for him
since they are admittedly at over
capacity (plus-729 percent of capac-
ity at one Texas facility — March 17,
2021, Rolling Stone), with a pretty
significant positive COVID test
rate. No protests to respect social
distancing, I am sure.
But maybe I am rushing things.
Even though NBC News is reporting
(March 17, 2021) that the admin-
istration is restricting reporter
ride-alongs (Trump allowed them)
and information disclosure by the
boarder patrol and sector chiefs,
I'm sure the “transparent” Biden
will eventually let reporters into
the housing and cargo container
holding areas, after asking those
who leaked photos of the current
situation to take them down.
At minimum, as my mom would
say, “What’s good for the goose
is good for the gander.” Maybe
President Biden gets a free pass
because of his age? No, he is just a
Democrat.
Steve Nybroten
White Salmon
lifetime of experience in schools.
Please re-elect John Nelson to the
North Wasco County School Board.
Dan Richardson
The Dalles
Support for Nelson
I wholeheartedly recommend
re-electing John Nelson to the
North Wasco School Board.
I have known John and worked
with him in several capacities over
the years, and he is consistent-
ly even handed, dedicated, and
open-minded. John has served well
in his first terms, and given that we
will have new a superintendent,
it is important to give our district
continuity and the wisdom of
experience. Moreover, John was a
classroom teacher for many years.
He understands how important
teachers are to their students and
how important high quality schools
are to their community.
Phil Brady
The Dalles
Republican uproar
Republicans, the people that rail
against cancel culture the hardest,
are in an uproar because Major
League Baseball (MLB) had the au-
There are many good folks in my dacity to move their All-Star game
hometown, The Dalles, who make
out of Atlanta.
things around them just a little bet-
Why would MLB do such a
ter. And then there are a few John
thing? In the words of commission-
Nelsons — people who, after a life
er Rob Manfred, “Major League
of public service (John was a school Baseball fundamentally supports
teacher for decades) then devote
voting rights for all Americans and
themselves to our community and
opposes restrictions to the ballot
continue to serve in many ways.
box. In 2020, MLB became the first
John does so with kindness, perse- professional sports league to join
verance, and an unshakable smile. the non-partisan Civic Alliance
You may know John, too.
to help build a future in which
Maybe you met him on The Dalles
everyone participates in shaping
Planning Commission, where he
the United States. We proudly used
volunteered as a citizen represen-
our platform to encourage baseball
tative for many years, or from The
fans and communities throughout
Dalles Kiwanis Club, or during
our country to perform their civic
a community clean-up with the
duty and actively participate in
Beautification Committee, or per-
the voting process. Fair access to
haps from his service as a volunteer voting continues to have our game’s
literacy tutor in our local schools
unwavering support.”
and community college.
Now why, you might ask, do
One of the most demanding roles Republicans feel the need to make
John has played came unexpected- it so much harder for people to get
ly, when the COVID-19 pandemic
to the voting booth? It is because
hit our community, for John is a
Republicans know that the more
member — the chairman — of the
(dark skinned) people brought into
North Wasco County School Board. the franchise, the less likely they will
As I was looking forward to the
It has been a thankless job, helping ever win another election. This is
opportunities after getting my
to navigate schools through this
the reason they fight so hard against
second COVID shot, I was con-
past year. (And coordinating the
granting statehood to certain ter-
sidering traveling overseas. Then I
hiring process for our new superin- ritories. Their ideas are unpopular,
realized that even with the shot, I
tendent at the same time.)
backward, retrograde and serve
would have to have a negative test
Some people think this about
only the wealthiest individuals, who
to re-enter the States.
get the benefit of government bail-
That made me wonder about the COVID! Some, that! Go back to
school full-speed ahead! Don’t even outs while millions live in poverty.
illegal crossings on our southern
think of going back to school until
Republicans want to degrade
border; I suspect they somehow
material conditions, widen wealth
lost their negative test results or ac- it’s 100 percent safe!
Well, opinions are easy. Steady
inequality, and disenfranchise
cidentally handed it to the coyotes
leadership is hard. John has spent
citizens to the point where peo-
with the bundles of cash they gave
many long hours balancing many
ple rebel and riot, then condemn
them to get here. But not to worry,
we don’t have a crisis yet. FEMA has peoples’ views, from the governor’s the riot and use it as an excuse to
further militarize police who, along
been called in, which I thought they to random ones like mine. We
with a for-profit prison system, con-
were only used in crisis situations? need sound, thoughtful leader-
ship during these uncertain times,
tribute to the further degradation of
But then, Sen. Merkley has not
and John brings that along with a
material conditions. Rinse. Repeat.
rushed down there to view “cages
Re-elect Nelson
Free pass?
Or maybe not. I recall a certain
bearded German economist who
predicted all of this and offered
some solutions. Look into it is all
I’m saying.
Benjamin Sheppard
Hood River
on these long-needed protec-
tions. Our elected officials must
act NOW. Legislators, don’t even
think of “thoughts and prayers.”
Only ACTION will do. Act on Gun
Violence NOW.
Linda Densmore
Hood River
Benjamin Sheppard is a social
worker.
Nelson for
D21 Board
Rolling in The Deep
Here we go again, the murky
depths of big government pulling
our freedom under the surface. We
are treading water while Congress
chums the sea, tossing out socialist
and costly ideas of a fake utopia to
control every aspect of our lives,
hook, line, and more taxes, upping
the price we pay at every stroke of
their oars, our state legislatures will
have no control over the stormy
seas, their compass broken.
Object, and they throw out
corrupt nets with shouts of racism
to divide our country as they pull
us in to silence our voices. The nets
are poorly made with non-parti-
san agendas, our cries for justice
unravel large holes in their ideas,
build back better rots in the holds.
We escape, gathering the forgotten
and lost in great schools to swim up
the rivers of America, a wave of vac-
cinations washes over us, spawning
hope and renewal.
Time to pull up the anchor of
government overkill, stow away the
nets of hate and division, set sail to
the sunrise of truth and freedom on
the horizon once again.
Sheilah Nelson
Hood River
John Nelson is a devoted com-
munity servant who has earned the
right to be re-elected to the School
District No. 21 Board.
John has chaired the school
board for the last two years and has
provided faithful and thoughtful
leadership for a total of eight years.
John’s experience is especially valu-
able now as a new superintendent
joins the district.
John’s background as a city plan-
ner and as an elementary teacher
gives him a broad perspective on
the importance of public education.
He is smart, kind and works collab-
oratively to seek the best outcomes
possible for our schools.
We believe that The Dalles is on
the cusp of building new and im-
proved schools while making sure
our district lives up to its goal state-
ment: Motivate, Educate, Graduate.
Our new superintendent deserves
the best board we can provide her
to make this come true. Please
vote for John Nelson on May 18 for
School Board Position No. 4.
Marolyn Wilks
and Bruce Lumper
The Dalles
All Walks of Life
During this past winter, I experi-
enced some time with the homeless
community. In doing so I met and
I have called on my elected
interacted with these people. Who
officials in Congress, Sen. Ron
come from all walks of life.
Wyden, Sen. Jeff Merkley, and
All we ever hear about the
Rep. Cliff Bentz, to personally take
homeless community are negative
responsibility for passing protec-
aspects. But my experience was
tive legislation in Congress against
very humbling, an eye opener you
the gun violence. Gun violence
could say. But positive. To hear the
threatens us in every venue of our
journeys they have walked, to feel
lives — schools, shopping, church, the emotions, and to laugh with
movies, neighborhoods, and home. them touches ones heart.
And now two more mass shootings
But through the hard times, es-
pecially these times of a pandemic,
in a week! Lives are snuffed out in
an instant, and ripples of terror and they survive out there. Sure the bad
reputation is out there for different
grief spread out in ever-widening
reasons, but mistakes are made by
circles around them.
all.
Enough is enough! We’ve said it
The mental illnesses, addictions,
before. Efforts at needed legislation
legal issues, and whatever the
have been made and thwarted.
Thoughts and prayers are sprinkled case may be, this community gets
by elected officials who don’t give a through it too.
Through the good and bad days,
damn. I beg Wyden, Merkley, and
Bentz and their Congressional col- that step forward is taken. One per-
leagues to step up and give a damn. son I met is one with the bad repu-
tation. Yet this person fixes skate-
We need true universal back-
ground checks, closure of loopholes boards at the skate park and leaves
them for the kids. Sweeps parking
in existing legislation (including
lots at night without being told to
Charleston and domestic partner
do it. Is the one who is called to give
loopholes), an outright ban on
assault weapons and high-capacity pointers to someone released from
incarceration.
magazines, and mandatory safe
storage and trigger locks.
ContinuedNEXT PAGE
It is way past time to deliver
Act on gun violence
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