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DECEMBER 7, 2018, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 Opinion Finland doesn’t rake We were recently informed by President Donald J. Trump, who far too regularly comes up short of accu- racy and eschews truth, that Finland knows how to prevent forest fires. Trump came out to share his opinion on this subject and once again failed to provide information that would help with the problem in Cali- fornia—and elsewhere among forests still stand- ing—and the Americans in them that are threat- ened with annihilation by conflagrations. Regarding Finland, it turns out that the prob- lem is actually not enough wildfires. In fact, from nature’s point of view, the diversity of species and habitats suffer when there are too few fires. Our forest experts also know this to be a fact but have ineffectively prac- ticed it here. But let’s get right to what Trump advocated from what he didn’t get straight about Finland. Stifling his guffaws, Finnish President Sauli Nin- isto came forward to inform Trump and his never-questioning-him staff that Finland’s strategy on wildfires does not entail raking their forests floors to prevent fires. Ninisto informed one and all that Finland does carry out controlled burns of their forest floors to clear away underbrush because that pro- motes new growth of saplings. How- ever, researchers are not at all sure Fin- land’s approach can serve to instruct California as parts of Finland are in- side the Arctic Circle with prolonged periods of rain and snow while our neighbor to the south is into a new normal: ongoing below average pre- cipitation. California’s susceptibility to fires has a lot to do with its weather. Finn- ish scientists expect their wildfires to increase by 10 percent by 2100 but estimates in California anticipate 80 percent at risk much sooner—2050. Meanwhile, Finland’s advantage—be- sides its hemispheric location—has most to do with differences in infra- structure and forest management. That is, Finland has a far denser road net- work which creates barri- ers to blazes with lakes and rives handy when blazes do occur. Finland was settled be- fore North America was extensively explored by Europeans. Such a set- tled condition meant that medieval and industrial revolution-era need for wood turned forests into grasslands, especially in southern Finland. Yet, when the Finns went about refor- estation in times closer to our own, they split up future forests into small compartments. One side effect was fewer wildfires as blazes don’t spread beyond a single compartment with borders usually marked by wide paths and trees of different heights. Back here in California, Oregon, Washington and wider, we know that Trump withdrew us from the 2015 Paris Deal to combat climate change. He has also rolled back Obama-era environmental and climate protec- tions in order to boost production of domestic fossil fuels and has been an enemy of renewables. Most recently he said, “I don’t believe it,” in reac- tion to the congressionally-mandated climate change report through con- tributions by more than 300 scientists and let all of us know again that he’s not interested in anything unless it can contribute to more personal wealth. There’s an old myth that read, “Nero fiddled while Rome burned.” A future after the current POTUS will predictably proclaim, “Trump made money while Earth burned.” gene h. mcintyre (Gene H. McIntyre shares his opin- ion frequently in the Keizertimes.) KEIZERTIMES.COM Web Poll Results Should the Little League Park continue as a dedicated space for Keizer youth or evolve into a destination for outside tournaments? Keep it Keizer-centric Bring in the tournaments I don’t know 52% 44% 4% Vote in a new poll every Thursday! GO TO KEIZERTIMES.COM Keizertimes 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 Matt Rawlings 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 Bush: sometimes things go right By MICHAEL GERSON All the talk about the attributes of this or that generation is usually overblown. But there is an exception when a cohort of young Americans shares a massive, overwhelming ex- perience of depression or war. A cer- tain view of their country is often formed and fixed. This can be said of John F. Kennedy, the command- ing officer of PT-109. And Lt. Cmdr. Richard Nixon, who ran the South Pacif- ic Combat Air Transport Command. And Navy aviator George H.W. Bush. Serv- ing in the Pacific theater of World War II, these young men had few traits of temperament or character in common. But the war shaped their conception of America’s global role, and their view of the necessity and capability of government in general. People who fought in World War II were marinated in the ideas that evil is real and that American pow- er is an essential, irreplaceable force for good. They intuitively under- stood the moral narrative of Munich, Buchenwald, D-Day, Hiroshima, NATO and the twilight struggle. And they generally shared the no- tion that America could do anything that power, wealth, will and courage could accomplish. This presented the temptation of overreach, as in Vietnam. JFK’s inau- gural pledge to “pay any price, bear any burden” should be taken serious- ly, but not literally. But the children of World War II really did believe that a torch was passing from Dwight Eisenhower’s generation—the gen- eration of their commanding offi- cers—to a group of Americans who had rescued the world and fully in- tended to lead it. Given the other paths America might have taken, they did an extraordinary job. They twice saved humanity from well-armed, aggressive, totalitarian ideologies— irst as soldiers, sailors and airmen, then as statesmen. America and the world owe them a great deal. Being one of the youngest Navy pilots in World War II, and blessed with longevity, George H.W. Bush was among the last of his cohort to leave us. As intelligence chief, dip- lomat and president, he brought to his calling a set of values that might be called patrician. He was less New Frontier and more old school. He rose up in government on the im- pulse of service. He lived by high standards of decency, fair play, humility, love of fam- ily and love of country. He was relentlessly moderate in temperament and po- litical instinct. This type of “establish- ment” code is easier to lampoon than replace. So much that a graceless age dismisses as repression is actually politeness, compassion and dignity. And Bush’s moral sensibilities turned out to be exactly what was needed at a decisive historical mo- ment. As the Soviet Union collapsed under the weight of its economic and moral failure, what was needed from America was patience, wisdom, steady purpose and the generosity of true power. In presiding over the breaking of nations, an excess of vi- sion or ambition might have been dangerously disruptive. Crowing would have led to bitterness and un- predictable anger. And Bush was in- capable of crowing. On closer exposure to Bush, there was something more at work than a moral code. I generally saw the el- der Bush through the eyes of his son, George W. Bush, for whom I worked. other voices And he could hardly mention his fa- ther’s name without welling up in tears of affection. During George W.’s first Republican National Con- vention speech, we had to cut short the section praising his father, be- cause the son could not get through the words without breaking down. There was a sweetness to their rela- tionship that is a tribute to both men. George H.W. Bush loved deeply, and was deeply loved. He was sentimental without being fragile. And those who saw weakness in his manner know nothing about true strength—the victory over ego, over impulse, over hatred. Dying can be cruel and unfair. But there was a profound and encourag- ing sense of rightness, of fittingness, at Bush’s death. He left few things unaccomplished, and none that mat- tered. He was only briefly parted from the love of his life. His strength failed before his spirit. Bush died as well as a man could manage—full of years, full of honors, surrounded by affection, confident in his faith, knowing that his work on earth was done. Bush’s life provides assurance that sometimes things go gloriously right. Sometimes Americans vote for a de- cent and honest leader. Sometimes a president finds his calling and his moment. Sometimes a good man meets a good end. And still. It is a sad and solemn task to dig the graves of giants. (Washington Post Writers Group) crossword
