PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, DECEMBER 27, 2019
Opinion
Kindness? Priceless...
By LYNDON ZAITZ
Whew! We made it through
2019. We all have about a week of
respite to sit back, relax, refl ect and
rest until we’re hit in the face with
all that 2020 will offer: the impeach-
ment trial of President Trump in the
Senate, primaries to determine the
Democratic presidential nominee,
and….and…
Between now and Monday, Janu-
ary 6, we will have time
to take a collective sigh
of relief that this year is
ending. This is an im-
portant time to think
about what we want to
accomplish, personally,
in the new year, and take
stock of the year ending.
Just as world peace
begins with each of us, civility in
society begins with each of us, too.
It is almost a certainty that ev-
eryone wishes for world peace—it’s
a common holiday wish. While we
cannot do anything about strife and
unrest in other parts of the globe,
we all can do our part in working
towards peace in our own backyard.
A oft-posted Facebook message
states that kindness, politeness and
courtesy don’t cost a thing. That is
true; everyone can be kind to their
fellow man. We are all the center of
our own universe, but life takes on
a positive glow when we endeavor
to think outside of ourselves and re-
alize that our equals are our fellow
citizens—of Keizer and the world.
No one’s desires take precedence
over anybody else. Consideration of
others is taught in grade school and
gradually fades as we reach adult-
hood. Why does what we learn in
fi rst or second grade become less
important? Selfi shness is not an in-
herent trait; it is a learned behavior.
One of my favorite books is
Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need
to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,
from 1986. The bestseller, comprised
of 50 short essays, explains how the
world would be improved if adults
adhered to the same basic rules as
children, such as sharing, being kind
to each other and more.
It may seem simplis-
tic, but much basic te-
nets are. There is noth-
ing complicated here;
what once served us
well as children can still
serve us as adults.
Society’s
mouth-
piece, i.e., social media,
allows many people to
anonymously opine without the
messiness of face-to-face communi-
cation. We have become polarized,
not just in regards to politics but
also culture, history and community.
We tend to disagree over things that
don’t matter. I’d rather we disagree
and argue over the biggest issues we
all face.
Merriam Webster’s Word of the
Year for 2019 is “they” as it relates
to one’s choice of their personal
pronoun.
The word of the year for 2020
should be consider. Let’s consider
the point of view of others. Let’s
consider how our actions affect the
world and those around us. Let’s
consider how life can be when we
treat strangers like friends or family.
Over the next week, you can bet
I’ll be considering all of that plus
the challenges that’ll come with the
new year.
zaitz
writes
(Lyndon Zaitz is publisher and
editor of the Keizertimes.)
What does Matt Shea want?
Media reports that a Washing-
ton state lawmaker who has trav-
eled throughout the west in recent
years to meet with far right-wing
extremist groups to organize an-
ti-government (as in against the
U.S. government) activities. He
also participated in that infamous
act of domestic terrorism at the
Malheur
Nation-
al Wildlife Refuge in
support of its armed
occupation by the sons
of rancher Cliven Bun-
dy who has used federal
(our) land without pay-
ing any fees for its use.
This guy, Matt Shea,
a Republican from
Spokane Valley, an elected Wash-
ington state representative, has
also trained young people to fi ght
a “holy war” against the citizens
of the U.S. He’s intimidated his
opponents and promoted militia
training by the Patriot Movement
(a right-wing militia movement
that commits and supports acts of
violence) for armed confl ict with
law enforcement.
Investigators, headed by a for-
mer FBI agent and law enforce-
ment offi cer, have obtained ev-
idence that Rep. Shea “planned,
promoted and engaged in three
armed confl icts of political vio-
lence against the United States
in three states outside the state of
Washington during 2014, 2015,
and 2016.”
Disclosures from the investiga-
tions report that Shea helped plan
and prepare for the armed takeover
of the Malheur National Wildlife
Refuge near Burns in Harney
County. Shea’s activities, ongoing
since 2015, have involved asking
for patriot and militia groups (Or-
egon has its own group versions
and advocates) to rally against the
U.S. government. Then there’s
Shea’s involvement in the stand-
off with FBI agents in a dispute
over grazing rights. Also, in 2015,
he physically resisted authorities
when they planned to remove fi re-
arms from the home of resident in
his area who was forbidden by law
to possess them.
Members of the state of Wash-
ington legislative body want Shea
to resign as he has been
determined unfi t to hold
public offi ce. He refuses
to resign and has ded-
icated himself to more
activities to overthrow
the U.S. government,
the U.S Constitution
and Bill of Rights and
all U.S. laws. They want
possession of all public lands, in-
cluding wildlife refuges, national
parks, and national forests.
Besides wanting this guy locked
up so he does not hurt any other
American and destroy public lands
so he and his pals can subvert them
to their personal use and profi t, a
couple of considerations cause me
great pause. First and foremost,
what form of government does
Shea and his fellow right-wing ac-
tivists want? Or, do they want no
government whatsoever where ev-
ery American citizen and his fam-
ily are left to fend for themselves
against a lawless collection of mal-
contents, thugs and thieves?
These people demand to have
all matters of public consideration
go the way they want them to.
When anyone tries to stop them
they will, like the agents of dem-
agogues throughout world history,
rule with ethical abandon and ar-
bitrary decisions that by their law
provide them with absolute pow-
er while all others are under their
control. By their recipe for rule,
we obey or perish.
gene h.
mcintyre
(Gene H. McIntyre lives in Keizer
and shares his opinion frequently in
the Keizertimes.)
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APPLE,
continued from Page A1
they're stuck in buildings and behind desks a lot or look-
ing at screens,” Erickson said.
While on the surface Erickson seems like a pretty
lighthearted guy, he takes his job very seriously and puts
a lot of pressure on himself to give kids the best music
but the nomination is a bigger deal to me mostly be- experience possible.
cause it comes from my peers, so they actually know
“I've had a lot of people that say they have had bad
what I do,” Erickson said.
experiences with music in elementary school and that
Shelley Percey, a third grade teacher at Clear Lake has turned them off to music for the rest of their lives.
Elementary, wrote one of letters nominating Erickson That's horrible, so I feel a big responsibility in this posi-
on behalf of the school.
tion to give kids the best start I can. I'm just hoping to
“Jason’s dedication to music education, community set them up for future success,” Erickson said.
involvement and connections with students goes above
Erickson was born with an innate ability to make
and beyond the realm of his job description,” Percey said music. By the time he was fi ve years old, Erickson could
in the letter. “Mr. Erickson’s commitment to music edu- play music by ear just by hearing it on the television or
cation goes way beyond his contracted school day.”
radio.
Clear Lake principal Artonya Gemmill echoed Per-
Eventually, Erickson, who is originally from Arizona,
cey's sentiments.
graduated from Northern Arizona University, where he
“Jason Erickson is someone that truly thinks about majored in music.
how to reach students through music. He works to in-
After graduation, however, Erickson wound up
clude all students in class. He is kind, caring and he keeps working at a hardware store for 18 months. But after
students engaged in learning,” Gemmill said. “He is one looking online for a teaching job, he found an inquiry
that will support students and staff at any time. He makes for a temporary, part-time position at Clear Lake.
learning fun for kids. He’s a very talent-
Even though it was more than 1,000
ed musician and song writer and really
miles away, Erickson didn't care. And
loves what he does.”
when he fi rst walked through the doors
Erickson's dedication to his students,
at Clear Lake, Erickson knew that this
and the Keizer community, manifests
is where he wanted to be.
itself in many different ways. He has
“I realized once I got to the school
made it a tradition to take his fourth
for my interview that it was a special
and fi fth grade students to see the Ore-
place,” Erickson said. “I didn't really
gon Symphony every year.
look at it as a huge leap of faith. I just
Erickson will also take his students
really wanted to get started on my ca-
to the Willamette Lutheran Retirement
reer.”
Home during the holiday season before
Erickson started working at Clear
they go off to sing at the state Capitol.
Lake in January of 2001. When the pre-
— Jason Erickson
“I want kids to be civic minded.
vious teacher, who was on maternity
Crystal
Apple winner leave, elected not to return to her job,
Those retirement homes can be lonely
places, so bringing a busload of chil-
Erickson was brought onto the full-
dren to sing is pretty rewarding to see,”
time staff.
Erickson said. “We want to make well-rounded people
“I stumbled into this job because I needed a job, but
who are nice to each other.”
as it turns out, elementary music is probably where I fi t
Erickson has also made it a habit to use himself as a the best,” Erickson said.
prop, giving kids motivation to reach specifi c goals —
Erickson's classes focus a lot on singing and learning
like a certain number of jog-a-thon pledges. Over the how to listen to a beat. Eventually, he will have his stu-
years, Erickson has died his hair pink and even had caf- dents playing percussion, keyboards, guitars and several
eteria leftovers dumped on is head if his kids meet their other instruments, along with teaching how to read mu-
intended goal.
sic, harmonize and perform — with the goal of trying to
“It's all temporary, but if it gets the kids fi red up, it's help his kids perform beyond their grade level.
worth it. We want kids to be glad to be here. If you take
“I enjoy taking students farther than adults probably
away all the fun stuff and make it all about tests and think they should go. My choirs tend to sing music that
sitting at a desk, they don't have anything to buy into,” is designed for middle school,” Erickson said.
Erickson said.
While it's been almost 20 years, Erickson passion for
But Erickson's commitment to the kids of Clear Lake his job is still undeniable.
doesn't end there. He routinely uses his prep time to
“Like any job, I have really good days, and then there
help students out in some of their other subjects. And are days that are really hard. But I'm having fun with it,
currently, Erickson is attempting to have the school in- and if I'm having fun, chances are (the kids) are going to
stall an outdoor learning space.
be having fun, too,” Erickson said. “This music room is a
“I want to get kids outside more, because it feels like big part of who I am.”
“If it gets the
kids fi red up,
it’s worth it. We
want kids to
be glad to be
here.”
Willamette Valley Hospice
offers free volunteer training
Willamette Valley Hospice invites
you to attend a free training session
to explore the volunteer opportu-
nities available with the non-profi t
agency.
The free, one-day training will be
held at their offi ce, 1015 3rd St. NW,
Salem, on Friday, Jan.17, 2020, from
8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Respite volunteers are especially
needed to provide a break to family
caregivers, so that they can run an er-
rand or have a minute to rest. Veter-
an volunteers are also needed to visit
other veterans.
Other opportunities include help-
ing in the offi ce, pet therapy, be-
reavement support, helping hospice
patients with their pets, and helping
with outreach at community activ-
ities and special events. Schedules
are fl exible and volunteers can serve
close to their home.
Contact volunteer coordinators
Brittney or Shelley for more infor-
mation at 503.588.3600 or e-mail
brittneyb@wvh.org or shelley.wage-
ner@wvh.org. Learn more at wvh.
org.