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Spoiled fun has become a way of life B e h in d by Michael Burgess By Martha v Morgan I something, someone *iU find a way " Even a plastic toy Even . ■ Marsha V. Morgan is a free lance writer in Chicago. ! i p p c o o o o o o o H O ltX V O n o ru n CXrvVOX » m io c * H alt O .D .O .T . A rro g a n c e P re se rv e Scenic R eso u rces T h e r e h a v e b e e n , in t h e f o r g i n g o f my p e r s o n a l r e a l p o l i t i k , tw o s e m in a l e v e n ts . T he f i r s t w as K e n t S t a t e , w hen e n q u i r i n g m in d s l e a r n e d t h a t y e s , t h e N a t i o n a l G u a rd w o u ld f i r e o n u n a rm e d s t u d e n t s . The s e c o n d w as t h e G u lf W ar, w hen t h e p o l i t i c a l l y new i n to w n d i s c o v e r e d ( a lo n g w ith th e a g in g L e f t) t h a t th e fo r c e s o f t r u t h , j u s t i c e , a n d /o r t h e A m e r ic a n w av c o u l d bomb t h e o l d e s t c i t y on th e p la n e t to r u b b le and m u r d e r 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 h u m a n s b e f o r e t h e s a n e c o u ld m o b iliz e and s to p i t . No m o re V i e t n a m s , w as t h e wav G e o r g e p u t i t . S i n c e O p e r a t i o n D e s e r t f 'a r n a g e , I h a v e n 't w a tc h e d a m in u te o f t e l e - v i s o n n e w s , e i t h e r l o c a l >r n a t i o n a l . I f i n d CNN u p s e t t i n g a n d , m o re i m p o r ta n tly , c o u n te rp ro d u c tiv e . i f you w a tc h m a d n e s s lo n g e n o u g h , i t s t a r t s lo o k in g n o rm a l. T h i s i s , t o my way o f t h i n k i n g , t h e o n l y way t h e p s y c h o tic » a t tiie c o n t r o l j in e l c a n w in . I r e a d t h e n e w s p a p e r s now , a n d t e n d my own g a r d e n , n u r t u r i n g t h e s a n i t y o f fa m ily , f r i e n d s h i p s , and w o rk . S t r e n g t h e n i n g , i D y la n p u t i t , th e th i n g s th .it re m a in . I can n o t k e e p g r e e d m o n g e r t fr> m s t e a l i n g , o r h a t e m o n g e r s fro m k i l l i n g , b u t I c a n t e a c h t h e c h i l d r e n a r o u n d me n o t t o h i t o r ta k e s o m e th in g t h a t ' s not th e ir s . I c a n , by p r a c t i c i n g c o m p a s s io n an d lo v e , e n c o u r a g e com p a s s io n and lo v e . A;; I g e t o l d e r I r e a l i z e t h i s i s t h e o n l y m a g ic t h a t w o rk s. I h a v e , in a way m uch m o re p r o f o u n d t h a n t h e S i x t i e s , d ro p p e d o u t a g a in . T h is tim e f o r good. So i t w as o n l y by a c c i d e n t t h a t I w a tc h e d a n h o u r o f t h e R e p u b l i c a n N a t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n on PB S. R u n n in g b a d ly o v e r t i m e , th e n e tw o rk k e p t b r o a d c a s tin g t h i s m essag e a t th e b o t tom o f t h e s c r e e n : "T h e C i v i l War w i l l b e s e e n in i t s e n t i r e t y im m e d i a t e l y a f t e r th e c o n v e n tio n ." I s i t j u s t m e, o r i s i t a l l l o o k i n g l i k e a K u rt V o n n e g u t n o v e l a g a i n ? So t h e r e t h e y w e r e , t h o u s a n d s o f th e s e l f im p o rta n t and s e l f r i g h t e o u s , f u e l e d bv t h e s o r t o f z e a l o n l y m oney can buv, g ro p in g each o t h e r ’ s ch eck b o o k s a n d c h a n t i n g , " T o u r M ore Y e a r s " . Had i t b e e n s h o t in g r a i n y b l a c k a n d w h ite , i t c o u ld h av e b een any b e e r h a ll in 1 9 3 2 M u n ic h . I f K in g G e o r g e a n d t h e I d i o t P r i n c e h a d l o c k e d a rm s Tammy F a y e B a k e r a n d s u n g New O r d e r U b e r A l l e s , i t ' d j u s t h a v e b e e n f r o s t i n g on th e cake. A t l e a s t t h e r a b i d , God t h r e a t e n i n g r i g h t h a s fra m e d th e i s u e s , o r i s s u e , c le a rly . O ne i s now e i t h e r R e p u b l i c a n o r G o d le s s . T h o s e who a r e n o t w i t h w h a t t h e p a r t y o f A b ra h am L i n c o l n h<is becom e a r e n o t th e d i s t i n g u i s h e d o p p o s i t i o n , t h e y a r e t h e sp aw n o f t h e d e v i l , o r " D e m o n c ra ts " , a s P a t B uchanan d u b b e d th e m p l a y f u l l y . O n ce God h a s p ic k e d a s i d e , p o l i t i c s becom es w hat i t h a s a lw a y s b e e n f o r th e p o w e r f u l: a r e lig io n . T h is i s , s a y s a b o rn a g a in R e p u b lic a n P a r t y , n o t j u s t an e l e c t i o n . I t ' s a w ar b e tw e e n c u l t u r e s . I m a g in e o u r s u r p i s e . And o u r e a g e r n e s s f o r th e m t o t r o t i t o u t. T h e G u lf War w a s n ’ t V ie tn a m a n d t h i s i s n 't th e S i x t i e s . The E m p e r o r 's b e e n n a k e d now f o r 30 y e a r s . F or th e l a s t 1 2 , w e 'v e w a t c h e d t h e r i h l o a d o u r m oney i n t o t r u c k s , w a tc h e d a w a r o n d r u g s f u e l a p o l i c e s t a t e m a k in g w a r o n t h e B i l l o f R i g h t s , w a tc h e d t h e g r o w th o f a g l o b a l c o r p o r a t e m i l i t a r y g o v e rn m e n t w i l l i n g a n d a b l e t o p a t t e r n bom b t h e c o m p e t i t i o n and s e l l th e v id e o f o r $ 4 9 .9 5 . W e 'v e w a tc h e d a s y lu m s c l o s e and p r i s o n s o p e n , w a tc h e d h o m e le s s c h i l d r e n s e l l t h e i r b o d i e s , w a tc h e d t h e i r p a r e n t s b u ry d re a m s , w a tc h e d r a p e s r i s e and a b o r t i o n s f a l l , w a tc h e d c r o s s e s b u r n in g a g a in an d o u r f e llo w c i t i z e n s b e a te n f o r th e c o lo r o f t h e i r s k i n o r who t h e y c h o o s e t o l o v e . W e 'r e o u t h e r e , G e o r g e -----t h e p e o p l e o u r p a r e n t s w a rn e d u s a b o u t t o g e t h e r w ith t h o s e who c a n o n l y b e f o o l e d f o r s o l o n g . like to think I spend tome time on the cutting edge, but being a trend tetter in the cnm evictim department never hat been high on my lut. U ntil recently. How could anything made of Day-Glo plastic be dangerous— except to the environment— 1 wondered when I first read about the super squirt guns You know, the ones that look like rocket taunchc.. and have a huge water capacity My first clue came when I read about a murder police attributed to a squabble over one of these aunt But water Buns don't kill people, do they? People kill people Recently, however. I experienced one o f those polarizing events that tum radicals into insurance salesmen. On a bright warm day I was a passenger on a packed bus caught in a traffic jam As I edged my way to the back o f the bus, a small jro u ; of passengen engaged in fricndiv chatter A voung woman moved over and helped me stow my suitcase out of the aisle She was talking with two young men who were carrying leather bound Bibles As 1 turned to look out to the park, a red Mustang moved under the open window The young lad in the back seat nearest me gave me a big smile As I smiled back he aimed his super squirt gun at me and shot me in the face I turned away as he continued to pump streams through the open windows of the bus. My face felt very warm Several people were hit. Suddenly, the happy atmosphere shifted to confusion. One o f the Bible students cried out, “ Bleach It's bleach.' I wiped my face and my glasses on my blouse and looked back at the car, which was beginning to move ahead I wrote down the license plate number. Other passengers contributed Red Mustang. Illinois plates. Four males. Late teens, early 20s I asked the driver to report the incident and gave him the information id jotted on the back of a paperback He picked up the phone but said he couldn't guarantee the report would get to the police. When I got home I washed my face and put drops in my sore right eye Then I dialed 911. Minutes later a police officer appeared at my door I invited him in and I told him about the incident. He told me that I was battery victim He expressed his concern and asked me whether I wanted to go to the emergency room Then he called in the license number (Police eventually did find the shooters and their gun. but found only water, no bleach, in it. One o f the young men w ill face a judge in c o u rt) Later, after watching the Chicago Bulls take the NBA championship, 1 saw the joyous crowd remain in the stadium until the team came out for an intense love in. I continued to watch as the special news reports moved to the streets. A drunken crowd on Division Street rolled a taxi through the plate glass window o f an ice cream store. Young girls ran through the night with armloads o f plastic-covered dresses trailing alter them like wedding veils I switched it o ff I thought about the mindless mobs and the youth with the water gun 1 wondered about the policeman and hoped he had not been called back to the streets. Then I recalled something he had said “ I'm no longer surprised by much o f anything. If there is a way to abuse o Save Scenic 101 T he T im es f ll 4C« J c o o d iu m ------------------------- ------------ FREE BUMPERSTICKER W o u ld y o u lik e to h e lp p re s e rv e w h a t r e m a in s o i C la ts o p C o u n ty 's o p e n fa r m la n d s , flo w e r fie ld s , m a r s h la n d s a n d o th e r v ib r a n t w ild lif e h a b ita ts ? Y o u r h e lp is n e e d e d to r e d ir e c t O D O T (O re g o n D e p t o f T r a n s p o r ta tio n ) . O D O T s a ttitu d e is o n e o f a rro g a n c e to w a r d n a tu r e O D O T is w e d d e d to th e fie c a lly ir r e s p o n s ib le , e n v ir o n m e n ta lly o u td a t ed v ie w th a t "b ig g e r is b e tte r ." O D O T p la n s to re p la c e U S 101 a t S u n s e t B e a c h R oad in C la ts o p C o u n ty w ith 8 la n e s o f a s p h a lt t h a t w ill d e s tro y e v e r y th in g in it s p a th . T h is in c lu d e s a 4 la n e fre e w a y n o t j u s t a n o th er 4 la n e h ig h w a y lik e th a t to th e n o r th a n d s o u th , h u t a f u ll fle d g e d fre e w a y , fre e o f flo w e ra ta n d s , f r u it s t a n d s , g ra n g e h a lls , a n d p r iv a te d riv e w a y s p lu s 4 la n e s o f fe e d e r r o a d s lin k in g in t o a v a s t fa u n d e s tr o y in g , m u l t i a cre , s p r a w lin g o c to p u s o f a n in t e r c h a n g e , a t a c o s t th a t h a s m u s h ro o m e d to $ 2 0 m illio n . A ll t h is is b e in g d o n e w h e n th e e x is tin g h ig h w a y c o u ld be im p r o v e d fo r le s s th a n $ 10 m illio n , w ith o u t in f r in g in g o n th e a d ja c e n t e c o s y s te m o f la im la n d s a n d u s s o C ia te d m a r s h la n d s a n d w o o d la n d s th a t are th e h a b it a t o f o ve r 30 s p e c ie s o f m a m m a ls , 5 0 s p e c ie s o f b ir d s , a d o z e n a m p h ib ia n s a n d r e p tile s , in n u m e r a b le in v e r te b r a te s , and h u m a n s a ll e n jo y in g th e O re g o n C o a s t s s lo w e r pa ed b u t s u s ta in a b le q u a il ty o f life . W h a t s o u i p e r s o n a l a n g le ? W e liv e h e re We re la m ih a i w ith th e la n d a n d th e p e r m a n e n t d a m a g e ca use d by su ch a need le s s ly m a s s iv e fre e w a y p r o je c t -• d a m a g e to o r c h a r d s , d a ffo d il fie ld s , a n d th e q u ie t m a r s h y d itc h e s w h e re w ild d u c k s n e s t a n d ra is e th e n y o u n g (a n d we k n o w th a t 'w e t la n d m it ig a t io n " is O D O T 's w a y o f s a y in g th e y 'll ta k e a ll th e w e tla n d s th e y w a n t a n d p a c ify th e p u b lic us w ith m a n m a d e " w e tla n d s * We k n o w th e t r a ils th e e lk h e r d fo llo w s at n ig h t , l ig h t in t o th e p a th o f O D O T 's p la n n e d fre e w a y . A n d y e s , we d o h a v e a flo w e r s ta n d , w h e re p e o p le s to p a n d ta lk to u s . T o u r is t s a n d n a tiv e s r e t u r n in g h o m e fin d th e O re g o n C o a s t H ig h w a y in n o r th e r n C la ts o p County d e c id e d ly le s s - s c e n ic e a c h tu n e th e y c o m e b a c k a fa r c r y fro m w h a t th e y re m e m b e r fr o m e v e n th e re c e n t p a s t T h e y , a n d w e, e s p e c ia lly lo a th e th e id e a o f a fre e w a y s y s te m h e re th a t it s e lf d e s tro y s th e a e s th e tic a t t r ib u t e s a n d e c o s y s te m th e y c o m e h e re to e n jo y . H e lp a w a k e n o th e rs to O D O T 's a rr o g a n t w a s te fu ln e s s . C a ll o r w r ite u s to re c e iv e a free b u m p e r s t ic k e r . A t y o u r r e q u e s t w e w ill a ls o s e n d y o u o n g o in g n o t if ic a t io n o f O D O T 's li t t l e p u b lic iz e d p u b lic m e e tin g s c o n c e rn in g t h is c o n s tr u c t io n p r o je c t. C a ll o r w rite : Stricklin Farm Route 2, B oi 539 Warrenton 97146-9X02 tel 503 X61 3277 (voice or fa») U n d e r th e w in d m ill a t U S 101 >*k S u n s e t B e a c h R oad D a n a A n d e is o n z ---------------------------- \ Victor H. Plucy, M.A. Counseling Psychotherapy Individuals Couples & Families W e 'r e y o u r w o r s t n i g h t m a r e , G e o r g e . W e 'v e s e e n y o u r New W o rld O r d e r a n d w e 'r e w a r n i n g e v e r y o n e a b o u t y o u . * 4 , • ? t ) .. — Acupuncture — ( hineie Herb» — Matiagr 436-9225 « Remodel • New Comtructiun • Service Call» Electncal A General Contracting BBW76569 Bob Rice L.Ac. R o b e rt S t r ic k lin Atj£> frtoncr O » d a n d O a u g h t e r K lc c tr lc Box 995 - Cannon Beach, OR 97110 r . o •<>« re t ( annon Brarh. OB •71 IB 4 3 6 -1 9 1 1 oWtn. WALT LIVELY täcta- 436-14M Licensed and Bonded Washmgion Slate I er se • 15651 A • Oregon l n Pending