AUGUST 25, 2017, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
KeizerOpinion
KEIZERTIMES.COM
Join the campaign to decrease
distracted driving in Oregon
Nearly 500 people died on Or-
egon roads in 2016, according to the
Oregon Department of Transporta-
tion. That is an increase of almost
60 percent in three years. Evidence
concludes that many road deaths
can be linked to distracted driving.
Drive Healthy is a
new campaign from the
Oregon Department of
Transporattion, Oregon
State Patrol and AAA, be-
gining Sept. 1, to encour-
age healthy driving habits.
They want to achieve a
marked reduction in the
number of people injured
due to distracted drivers. Every
three hours someone in Oregon is
injured by a distracted driver, which
is not surprising when up to 75 per-
cent of Oregonians say they drive
distracted.
Healthy driving is defi ned as
‘hands on the wheel, mind on the
road.’ That’s especially true here in
the mid-Willamette Valley where
traffi c gets heavier year after year.
Let’s face it, we’re really talking about
people talking or texting on their
cellphones while driving. When you
drive look around and you’ll con-
clude that easily 75 percent of your
fellow drivers are concentrating on
their phone call or their text mes-
sage rather than the car in front of
them or on the sides of them
The Drive Healthy campaign
will endeavor to make healthy driv-
ing a winning proposition by having
drivers install the LifeSaver app and
participate as driving members of an
organization or a group. Beginning
Sept. 1, the competition starts to see
who is Oregon’s safest driver.
When a driver registers the app
that scores on whether you unlock
or use their phone while their vehi-
cle is in motion. Less unlocking of a
phone means a a higher score. Drive
Healthy will post the scores which
are reset each month. Not only will
they be able to see who the safest
drivers are, but also track changes in
driving behavior.
We fully embrace this campaign.
States can pass no cell while driv-
ing laws, but the enforce-
ment generally comes
when and if that driver
is pulled over for some
other infraction. The
Drive Healthy campaign
is an alternative to the
scolding campaign that
never seems to work:
don’t text and drive lands
on too many deaf ears.
A societal change of behavior
regarding distracted driving re-
ally needs to start when people are
driving with their young kids in
the car—young people ape what
they see, and if pre-teens see their
parents texting or talking on their
cellphones it reenforces the message
to the children that it is okay. That
behavior then follows them into
their cellphone-owning and driving
years.
The Drive Healthy campaign is
not a frivolous, teens-only, program.
It is for everyone. Members of a
church, members of a club, co-em-
ployees—groups can be comprised
of anything.
This is a good time to get the
LifeSaver app and join the healthy
driving campaign. The penalty for
distracted driving also goes from
$500 to $2,000 and goes into effect
on Oct. 1.
Not getting injured, or get-
ting into an accident or receiving a
$2,000 fi ne are some good incen-
tives to be part of the campaign.
Drivers can visit drivehealthy.org
to learn more about the program
and the app.
—LAZ
our
opinion
Legislature can learn from Keizer
As I write this column, it’s Sun- better. From what I’ve seen in my
day afternoon, the day before the second term in the Oregon House,
Eclipsealypse or whatever it will be both sides can be right and both sides
called in the future. By the time you can be wrong but they can’t always
seem to see that. Working to-
read this, you’ll have ex-
gether can also be something
perienced something that
that does great things yet if
is, maybe, a once-in-a-
it means compromising your
lifetime experience and
principles, it can be a disaster.
I hope it was everything
An example of that is Gov.
you wanted it to be.
Kate Brown’s recent line
I want to express my
item veto of certain proj-
sincere gratitude to many
ects that were negotiated as
people in our little town
part of a deal made by both
called Keizer. Our May-
sides. Though I am not a fan
or Cathy Clark, our city
of political deals, there is a
councilors: Laura Reid,
Bruce Anderson, Amy
from the time for them and both sides
keep their word. Rep.
Ryan, Roland Herrera,
capitol must
Sal Esquivel of Medford kept
Kim Freeman and Mar-
his word, the governor did
lene Parsons. The man
By BILL POST
not. I’ve written many times
who seems to get every-
in this space that I feel that
thing to happen in Keizer:
one-party rule is detrimental
Clint Holland. Our won-
derful police department led by Chief to Oregon. I contend that with either
John Teague. Our fantastic fi re district party this is true as there was a time,
and its chief Jeff Cowan. I know I’m not long ago, when my party was in
missing many but lastly Lyndon Zaitz control of the Oregon Legislature and
and the crew at the Keizertimes. These I am ashamed to say, made many of
people and as I’ve said, many others, the same mistakes and pulled many of
are part of what make Keizer the best the same tactics that the current party
little town in Oregon. As a state rep- in charge are doing. If I could wave
resentative, I don’t try to get involved a magic wand I’d make the legislature
too much in city business but when I just like Keizer. We may come from
do have the opportunity I fi nd that all differing political ideologies here, but
of these folks and others, really help we come together to help each other
me to understand what “the volun- when it counts. This eclipse event
teer spirit” truly is. You see, though is exactly what I mean. So much has
some of the people I’ve listed are, of been done by so many to make this a
course, paid employees, all of them once-in-a-lifetime experience here in
do so much more than “their job” Keizer, I am just so proud of our town.
( Bill Post represents House Dis-
and go “above and beyond” to make
Keizer the place that it is. Sadly, so trict 25. He can be reached at 503-
many times in the state legislature, 986-1425 or via email at rep.bill-
our political differences keep us from post@state.or.us.)
working together to make Oregon
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Eclipse event hits it out of Keizer Rapids Park
By MARLENE PARSONS
Thank you, Keizer!
The Keizer Park Foundation’s so-
lar eclipse event fundraiser at Keizer
Rapids Park was a huge success and
the citizens of Keizer were welcom-
ing to our out-of-town guests. There
are several people that helped pull all
of this together and I would like to
acknowledge them.
David Louden for his
tireless work on prepar-
ing the camping fi eld
for campers, providing
security at night along-
side his son Chris, and
being available to the
campers
Allen Barker for his tireless work
on preparing the camping fi eld for
campers, and being available to help
the campers fi nd their spots.
Rich Palmer from the Keizer Parks
Foundation gave up a few days of his
time to also help out with staking
out the camping spots to working
the registration booth.
Tom Thiele saved the day by bring-
ing out his quads so that we could
get around better in the fi elds and
then he stayed and helped us for a
few days.
Trudy Thiele, Teagan, and Tyler
for their help showing guests their
camping spots.
Bob Shackleford for bringing in
sponsors: (Les Schwab, Keizer Vision
Clinic, Earth Tech Landscape Solu-
tions, Quick Lane Tire and Auto
Center, Keizer Elks, JC’s Pizza, Brian
and April McVey Coldwell Banker,
Mommy and Maddi’s, Home Smart
Realty, Oregon Finest Custom Tile,
Odd Moe’s Pizza, Building Materi-
als Bargain Center Inc., Battle Storm
Funcional Fitness and Defense and
Rich Ford with Windmere Realty,
thank you again for your support) to
help offset the cost of the event and
for being available to help out in the
fi eld to give our other folks a rest.
Matt Lawyer for getting the trash
cans donated for the facility.
Kriss Lawyer for not only organiz-
ing the registration booth but for
helping out in whatever was needed.
Clint Holland for providing three
nights and one morning
of amazing entertainment
at the Keizer Rotary Am-
phitehatre.
Maria Kelly helping in
registration and the HOST
Camper.
CERT, especially Linda
Pantalone for organizing
her teams to protect our campers.
Keizer Police Department for pa-
trolling and always being present.
Keizer Fire District for patrolling
and always being present. The camp-
ers were grateful that we took care
of them.
The Keizer Chamber of Commerce
who lent us their trailer for registra-
tion, and for providing signage from
the freeway to the park.
Bob Parsons for traffi c control,
trash control and manning the Camp
Host trailer.
Jeremy Turner for creating the web-
site so that our campers and volun-
teers could sign up on line.
The Keizer Parks Foundation for
manning the registration booth and
getting our campers checked in.
There were numerous volunteers
who worked every day on picking
up trash, traffi c control and helping
the campers fi nd their spots. Special
thanks to these folks:
Amanda Buenz, Kristie Sears,
Carla Schultheis, Kevin Dial, Jeremy
Turner, Judi Liechty, Andrea Bland,
Kris Bland, Tim Reid, Allison Reid,
Evan Harvey, Heather Roberts and
marlene
parsons
Megan Dulong, I appreciate all of
these folks because without volun-
teers we could not have pulled this
off.
Councilor Laura Reid volunteer
coordinator, traffi c control, trash
control, you name it she was there
rolling up her sleeves.
Councilor Kim Freeman—Doing
everything we asked of her and just
being present to help where needed.
And special thanks to the Keizer-
times for advertising our event and
printing off maps in a special edition
for our guests to get around town.
We had campers from all over the
world: Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Can-
ada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Ire-
land and folks that came from Texas,
Oklahoma,Washington,California,
Idaho, Maryland, Alaska and Florida.
The campers were excited to be
at our park and some of the com-
ments that they wrote were:
“Thank you for welcoming us to
your party.”
“Nice park.”
“Great organization! Defi nitely
would visit again.”
“This is a great experience! So
impressed with all the Keizer people
volunteering and how organized it
all is.”
These are just a few of the com-
ments that our campers wrote in our
guest book.
It is amazing how our little town
came together for the most amazing
eclipse ever. Awes and tears; I hope
that I didn’t forget anyone and if I
did thank you again.
I’m very grateful to serve this city
and call it my home. Keizer, we did
well!
(Marlene Parsons is the presi-
dent of the Keizer City Council and
spearheaded the eclipse-related
events at Keizer Rapids Park.)
Racists are made not born
Different races? Racism? Such
matters rarely touched my young
life growing up on Oregon’s north-
ern coast. Most everyone in town
was of northern European extrac-
tion while I was not aware of an Af-
rican-American until I reached high
school, he being the only one—a
man who shined shoes in a
barber shop downtown and
lived in its basement. There
were two youths in my high
school of other origins, two
Chinese-Americans.
I did not acquire good or
bad thoughts about persons
of other races. The African-
American shoeshine guy
was likeable whenever I went for a
haircut and the two Chinese-Ameri-
can kids mainly kept to themselves.
Meanwhile, there were those
among my fellow Americans who ad-
opted racist views. I got huge doses of
their views and values on the subject
from my college and university years
as well as the world of work among
my fellow Americans from teaching
and training positions inside the U.S.
as well as overseas. Throughout my
adult life I have asked, “How do these
people become racists?”
It would require more space than
what’s available here for a comprehen-
sive treatment of the subject. How-
ever, should the reader be interested in
exploring some of the major reasons
that have been identifi ed, let’s consider
a few. In the mean time, the subject
continues active in me and cries out
for attention.
It’s argued that the most common
reason people become racists is due to
their environment and upbringing. So,
if one’s parents are racists and raise the
child with their ideals, then prejudice
and racism can be taught or ingrained
at an early and impressionable age. It’s
challenging for a child to distinguish
the difference between right and
wrong when his or her parents, their
fi rst role models and people they love
and respect, inculcate
racist ideas. Then, too, as
one grows and matures,
those exposures, often
years-in-length, can in-
doctrinate a person as
much as youth want to
make and keep friends by
going along to get along
with the same hair style,
mode of dress, social and sports activi-
ties, and points of view.
This second point can be diffi cult
for many Americans to accept. Nev-
ertheless, highly reputable study after
study has found that a person is rac-
ist because he or she has low intelli-
gence. As far as why racist people are
more likely to have lower than average
IQs is open to interpretation. Let’s
review a couple here, including that
people with low IQs may be more
impressionable and thereby less open-
minded when it comes to chang-
ing childhood impressions. In other
words, from where they started in life,
with all its early and later infl uences,
remain largely unchanged regarding
their foundational views of the world.
Much of this approach to the mat-
ter has to do with what makes up the
size of the parts of a person’s brain.
Apparently, the ability to think and
problem solve has a great deal to do
with brain parts like the amount of
amygdala versus gray matter in the
guest
column
anterior cingulate cortex. Studies have
disclosed that heavy on amygdala fos-
ters fear over anything new and differ-
ent while more gray matter helps to
reason, understand and practice em-
pathy. Bottom line: racism is a form
of simplifying things for those who
have a problem with complex issues
that require open-mindedness, under-
standing and dealing with that which
is novel and fresh.
All of this can get very scientifi c
and esoteric to the average American.
Meanwhile, we have some large and
very troubling problems in our coun-
try related to racism and the conse-
quences of it in the form of white
supremacists, the KKK, white nation-
alists, neo-Nazis, and so many hateful
others. As an American, I try not to
be naïve about the prospects of chang-
ing our people into Kumbayaists; yet,
we know we could do a huge-lot bet-
ter than now and, of greatest impor-
tance, just because an American may
not arrive in life with great gobs
of gray matter, or whatever it takes,
without excuses, does not mean that
person is not educable.
Today, now, fi nally, may we Ameri-
cans re-dedicate ourselves as a people
to those founding principles that es-
tablished our nation whereupon this
great land fulfi lls its promises from the
Declaration of Independence and U.S.
Constitution and we, from the many,
really become one.
(Gene H. McIntyre lives in Keizer.)
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