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NOVEMBER 16, 2018, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 Opinion What kind of Thanksgiving will your household have? By LYNDON ZAITZ The holiday season kicks off next week. Due to how the November works this year Thanksgiving seems very early though we will celebrate on the fourth Thursday of this month. I don’t lament stores creating Christmas displays or rolling out merchandise; I don’t lament radio and in- ternet stations playing Christmas carols—if people wrote good, catchy Thanksgiving songs, we could hold off White Christmas and We Three Kings for a few weeks. We could be humming along to songs with titles like Grandma’s Coming to Dinner or I Smell Turkey this week, but I guess Thanksgiving doesn’t elicit the same creative juic- es as Christmas. Thanksgiving has morphed into a strange holiday in America. It is a holiday with one meal at its core. We bake for days before, we rise early to prepare a feast that will end up as leftovers in the refrigerator for many days after. We clean and dec- orate our homes for the benefi t of any guests we invite to dinner. Many Americans decide they must share themselves with more than one home on the holiday. Blended families can result in a stop at one parent’s home (with their spouse), a stop at the other parent’s home (with their spouse) and per- fects a few other stops. That’s quite a progressive dinner. Everyone has their favorite Thanksgiving tradition or memory. Who didn’t grow up with a kid’s table at Thanksgiving at some point in their life? In many homes get- ting dressed in one’s Sunday best is the tradition; other households opt for a more casual come-as-you-are mode. It is quite a sight to see chil- dren, all spic-and-spanned, dressed in their fi nest, waiting patiently for a plate full of turkey and fi xings. The best memory of Thanksgiv- ing takes place mid-morning when the aromas of the meal start wafting from the kitchen: a turkey roasting, pies baking, Brussel sprouts sim- mering. The aroma of a Thanksgiv- ing has to be right behind cinna- mon rolls as man’s favorite scent. There is the tradition of the sit- ting down to the meal. A reveren- tial saying of grace followed by the obligatory sounding off of what each person is grateful for. The an- swers to that are as varied as the people sitting around the table— some are profound, some are ob- vious. Whatever anyone is grateful for is as viable as anyone else’s. It’s too bad that we don’t nor- mally think of what we’re grateful for except on a day dedicated to feasting. Gratefulness is a trait that should be encouraged all year ‘round. Me? I’m grateful for my family. Mom and dad are still traveling and enjoying life. My Los Angeles brothers doing well and are a ready source of in- spiration and intellectural material. My Oregon brother continues to be a dynamo. My extended family of nephews and nieces are a source of familial pride, none fell far from the Zaitz tree. There has not been a true Zaitz family Thanksgiving celebraton in years, being spread out as we are and involved with our lives, we mark the day in our own way. When I was younger I swore to myself that I would never eat at a restarurant on that day. My how things change as one gets older. Opting for a restau- rant for Thanksgiving makes so much sense to me now—no cook- ing, no dishes. What’s not to like? Some of my favorite Thanksgiv- ings were spent with friends. Those dinners are memorable because the dinners became a haven for friends without family in the vicinity. The camraderie was heartwarming. It is a day of thanks that is marked on a Thursday with rituals that sup- posedly go back to the time of the fi rst settlers in the new world. The day is mixed up with tales of a meal enhanced by the contributions of the local natives. It doesn’t matter how anyone celebrates Thanksgiving, there is not one right way to do it. Turkey doesn’t even have to be the main course. It is day about families get- ting together in all their blend- ed, colorful glory—screaming at a football game on television, nap- ping, gaming, cleaning up and for some, being thankful they have Fri- day off from work. This week begins the six-week holiday season. The people who enjoy the holidays most are those who embrace them with all their absurdities, crassness, benevolence and hope. That’s what I’m going to do. on my mind (Lyndon Zaitz is publisher of the Keizertimes.) Share your opinion Submit a letter to the editor (up to 300 words), or a guest column (up to 550 words) by noon Tuesday. Email to: publisher@keizertimes.com Clash shows how polarized we are By DEBRA J. SAUNDERS President Donald Trump and CNN reporter Jim Acosta were made for each other. Both are mas- ters at kicking up outrage. Acosta is a very likable guy, but he rarely asks actual questions. In- stead, he uses press conferences and briefi ngs to argue with Trump or press secretary Sarah Sanders. Acosta started his non-question at Wednes- day’s postelection press conference in the East Room by saying he wanted to “challenge” Trump. “Here we go,” Trump muttered. Acosta then informed the pres- ident that it was wrong to use the word “invasion” to describe the mi- grant caravan heading toward our southern border. “You demonized immigrants in this election,” Acosta added. It was the kind of moment Trump relishes. He got to mix it up with a CNN reporter whose politics are unquestionably on the left—which no doubt is why Trump called on him. Every time Acosta interrupted the president of the United States, you just know the GOP base seethed inwardly. When Trump told Acosta to put down the microphone, Acosta did not comply. An intern tried to take the mic from Acosta. She went into his space; he resisted. A torrent of outrage on Twitter was spawned. Later, the White House yanked Acosta’s White House press pass. The White House, Sanders said in a statement, will “never tolerate a re- porter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern.” Sanders also tweeted a video apparently edited by the right-wing con- spiracy website Infowars to back the claim that Acosta placed his hands on the intern. On the left, there was outrage at the White House for manufacturing an excuse to punish Acosta. On the right, partisans fumed that Acosta used a karate chop on the intern. The whole episode showed how polarized American partisans have become. It was a quick collision. Nobody was hurt. Yet people were fuming. In 2018, the best way to get ahead is to be a victim. Trump keeps mixing it up with reporters who wear their liberal politics on their sleeves precisely because he wants to don the mantle of victimhood. For his part, Acosta has increased his visibility by sparring with Sand- ers and Trump. The more the White House tries to check him the brighter the CNN star shines. When the White House Corre- other voices Wheatland Publishing Corp. 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 Phone: 503.390.1051 • www.keizertimes.com MANAGING EDITOR Eric A. Howald editor@keizertimes.com SUBSCRIPTIONS One year: $25 in Marion County, $33 outside Marion County, $45 outside Oregon ASSOCIATE EDITOR Derek Wiley news@keizertimes.com ADVERTISING Paula Moseley advertising@keizertimes.com PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PRODUCTION MANAGER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER POSTMASTER Publication No: USPS 679-430 Send address changes to: Andrew Jackson graphics@keizertimes.com LEGAL NOTICES legals@keizertimes.com BUSINESS MANAGER Leah Stevens billing@keizertimes.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. Keizer, OR 97303 Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon RECEPTION Lori Beyeler INTERN Lauren Murphy facebook.com/keizertimes twitter.com/keizertimes (Creators Syndicate) The wrong way to operate a university “Wrong way Corrigan” stories stir the imagination. Douglas Cor- rigan was so nicknamed in 1938 after he fl ew from Long Beach, Cal- ifornia to New York City. But then, although his fl ight plan was a return trip, he fl ew instead to Ireland. Remembering Corrigan’s sto- ry was inspired by news out of the University of Oregon where the Board of Trustees an- nounced an increase to Pres- ident Michael Schill’s annual salary of $60,000—on top of his $720,000 base- along with a three-year retention bonus of $200,000 and an- nual performance bonus of $200,000. His housing and car are free while he enjoys a sizable staff to act on his university duties and responsibilities. So, what’s “wrong way” about this news? The way his salary was determined and bonus, too, was likely based on fi ndings by Schill’s own staff, not by a recognized re- search business with reputation for integrity. The fact is UO ranks at #102 among other U.S. universities; hence, that President Schill’s sala- ry and bonuses must rise to a level equal with the highest-ranked in America is bogus. The University of Oregon is a public-owned university, supported in large measure by the taxpayers of Oregon. However, the people of Oregon have no control over it. The 14-members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by Ore- gon’s governor: the Trustees advise the UO president who actually tells them what to do while regularly he wines and dines them. This makes the governance of UO a political enterprise and a sham. Research fi nds about half the Trustees are wealthy, meaning $60,000 is prob- ably “peanuts” to them. The others, about half work directly or indirect- ly for UO. What reasons justify big taxpay- er dollars to the UO offi ce of the president? A UO write-up on rea- sons for Schill’s salary inform us that he provides “incredible leader- ship” while the Board of Trustees is “thrilled with the vision, enthusiasm and stability he (Schill) has brought to the University.” This writer is an avid reader of Oregon media: Not one word about Michael Schill’s contributions to UO or to the peo- ple of the state of Oregon is known. The per annual median household income in Oregon is less than $60,000, meaning education beyond high school is unaffordable unless one is will- ing to incur debt and, depending on a student’s area of study, possible unemployment upon graduation. Meanwhile, interviews with degree holders fi nds them reporting that their university education had no impact on their careers, except to secure interviews. What’s become most important to graduates is their acquired written and oral commu- nication and critical thinking skills. In other words, skills that could be learned without going to an ev- er-increasingly expensive university. gene h. mcintyre Keizertimes spondents’ Association protests—as it had to do when the administra- tion pulled Acosta’s credentials— the Trump base translates that pro- test into the belief that the White House press corps is monolithic and anti-Trump. In 2012, when reporter Neil Munro of the right-leaning Dai- ly Caller, shouted out a question to President Barack Obama as he spoke in the Rose Garden, Politico reported the episode as a “surpris- ing breach of etiquette” in which a reporter heckled the president. Reporters just didn’t treat Obama that way. On the oth- er hand, Obama generally treated the press with respect, unless they worked for Fox News. That’s no defense of the White House’s decision to pull Acosta’s pass. As someone who covers this White House, I know that Trump often rewards reporters who shout questions with long answers. This sudden umbrage at Acosta is too arbitrary. Methinks Trump picked a fi ght with the CNN reporter be- cause the GOP lost the House and Trump wanted to lash out. But if this stunt works this time, it will be used again—perhaps to punish someone for asking incon- venient questions. And if Trump can do it, the next president can do it, too. Modern day universities are anachronistic, including the UO. The university in America was a place for scholars; however, since it was popularized and everyone ex- pected to attend, hardly anyone goes now for that purpose. Instead, they go to become a “professional” and thereby secure a high-paying job. It’s argued that a general education could be satisfi ed by high school daily attendance, going to class and committing time to studies. Those Oregon youth and young adults who want to learn how to do something to earn a middle class income and embrace the American dream should enroll in one of the state’s community colleges. The few who seek a profession will like- ly fi nd a university appropriate but one that’s relevant-to-our-time- and-challenges-enough to make the time and cost pay off in graduate pursuits such as medicine and law. The “wrong way” is too often gob- bling up the available dollars which now too often go to support the president’s offi ce, its Board of Trust- ees, and athletic fi eld glories. (Gene H. McIntyre shares his opinion frequently in the Keizer- times.)
