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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 2020)
PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 Public Square Public Square weclomes all points of view. Published submissions do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Keizertimes. Submit a guest opinion, column or letter to the editor to publisher@keizertimes.com. Treatment of Explorers posting fl ags was disgraceful Keizerites are generous and they through the minds of the Explorers are patriotic. That’s why it is so un- after being verbally accosted. Were they scared? Were they ques- settling to hear of how tioning the worth of their task? members of Keizer Fire In our current political climate District Explorer Post 350 were treated when editorial of polarization in which we see people being injured or killed posting fl ags. due to their beliefs, it is under- The Explorers, com- standable for anyone to be fear- prised of young men ful for their safety. and women, aged 14 to Were the Explorers to think that 20, post fl ags in Keizer to mark hol- idays, Labor Day was no exception. the disguting behavior was aimed at The group of Explorers were met them personally, or at what they were with derisive comments and gestures doing? Either way, it is frightful. Re- as they posted fl ags along River Road gardless of one’s beliefs, there is a time and a place to wage a protest and ex- on Wednesday, Sept. 2. These young people—residents press one’s opinion. That place is not of Keizer—were treated in the most on River Road, targeting our young ugly manner, according the volun- people. Explorer Scouts are future fi rst re- teer fi refi ghter accompanying the fl ag sponders. Members must be between posters. It is unbelieveable that our young the ages of 14 years and 20, maintain people, conducting a task that should a good GPA and be active in all as- fi ll our hearts with pride and respect, pects of the Post. Members of Explorer Post 350 were victims of behavior that most people decry and fi nd offensive. The train once a week throughout the year. American fl ag is the most respected Explorers are trained by fi refi ghters in symbol of our nation. The Explorers all aspects of fi refi ghting and pre-hos- take on the responsibility of posting pital care. Training includes fi re be- fl ags as part of their duties, and they havior, search and rescue, ropes and all do it, not because they have to, but knots, CPR and much more. Explorers also participate in var- because they want to. We all have enough to be con- ious fi re district functions such as cerned with here in September 2020: Open Houses, fund raising events, COVID-19, nearby rampaging wild- parades and many other community fi res and the resulting evacuations, events. The young people who comprise people in need of jobs and food. The unruly and disgusting behavior of fel- the Explorers need to be honored, low citizens aimed at our teens do- not with derision but with gratitude. ing a patriotic duty is something we When we see them working in the community we should give a friendly should not have to confront. —LAZ One can only image what went honk, not ugly words. traditionally been includ- ed in city decision-mak- ing. He knows that pol- letters icy changes can make a To the Editor: difference in people’s lives. I am writing in sup- Please join me in sup- port of Michele Ro- porting Mike DeBlasi for land-Schwartz for Keizer Keizer City Council. City Council Position #3. Michele is thoughtful and will Kathy Lincoln consider issues with respect to how Keizer they affect all people in Keizer. Her experience working with organi- zations that directly support people who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault has prepared her to To the Editor: be empathetic to people in need, to As an Oregonian and a voter, we understand how to help people learn haven’t had a whole lot of say during unique skills and to understand the this pandemic. I want my kids to go role of the laws needed to support back to school. I want my kids to be the community. able to play music and to participate Michele’s priorities include hous- in sports. All of our Oregon kids need ing and homelessness, issues that have their education. Unfortunately, the become even more important under majority party in our legislature dis- the current situation with people los- agrees. ing their jobs a-nd the cost of hous- In November, we have the oppor- ing increasing. The current state of tunity to ensure our State isn’t just the local economy, especially as it af- represented by one party. Bill Post ad- fects small businesses and non-profi ts, vocates for Oregon kids to go back is very important as is public health to school. I wish more legislators in and safety. power would listen to us as parents. She is very personable and listens Bill Post has represented us well with compassion and empathy. and will continue fi ghting against Please join me in voting for Mi- the one-party rule. Please join me chele Roland-Schwartz for Keizer in re-electing Bill to House District City Council. 25 and sending our children back to Betty Hart school. Keizer Jane Herb Keizer Roland-Schwartz for city council Bill Post has represented us well Mike DeBlasi for city council To the Editor: When we vote in November, we will make some of the most import- ant decisions any of us have made for a long time. We will choose leaders who will make life-impacting decisions, not only nationally, but locally. For Keiz- er City Council, I will be voting for Mike DeBlasi. Mike is knowledgeable, expe- rienced and has creative ideas that will improve safety for our kids and other walkers and bike riders on our streets. He knows what it will take to encourage critical “middle hous- ing,” that is affordable to young fam- ilies. He is concerned about climate change and the impact that is having on our health. Mike will represent all of the residents of Keizer, and reach out to communities that have not Married to the mob what needs to be done. Let the ju- By DEBRA J. SAUNDERS In what The New York Times dicial system work.” Since the May murder of George described as a “forceful rebuttal,” Democratic presidential candi- Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of Minneapo- date Joe Biden deliv- lis police, progressive ac- ered a speech last week tivists engaged in nightly in which he said, “Ask rampages during which yourself: Do I look like other they tried to destroy a radical socialist with voices Portland’s federal court- a soft spot for rioters? house, set fi res near pre- Really?” cinct doors and obliter- The former vice ated small businesses vital president also offered, “Does anyone believe there will be to a city’s livability. Forgetting that he was supposed less violence in America if Donald to denounce mob violence, Biden Trump is reelected?” Does anyone believe there will described a pro-Trump caravan— be less violence in America if Joe not the antifa thugs—as “incit- ing” a response. If the former veep Biden is elected? It took Biden and company months to fi gure out that voters are terrifi ed of the violence they’ve seen in American cities in the name of racial justice. Hence Monday’s remarks. For the record, Biden declared: “I want to be clear about this: Ri- oting is not protesting.” Still, in re- marks that were supposed to show Biden has zero tolerance for mob violence, he stumbled. Taking press questions, Biden brought up the murder of Portland resident Aaron J. Danielson, 39, ap- parently the handiwork of a Port- land anarchist. Biden did not refer to Danielson by name. But he did say: “I think what happened in—in Portland, where didn’t walk over the line of blaming a—one of the Trump guys riding the victim, he certainly caressed it. Biden’s dry language about along in vans inciting response— shooting rubber bullets, I guess, or meeting legal requirements gave no paint balls—apparently, there was hint of outrage at Danielson’s hav- someone shot by someone in the ing been murdered after he partic- crowd with a bullet, killed. I think ipated in a Patriot Prayer caravan. that person should meet the legal Be it noted, to most big media, Pa- requirements of whatever that calls triot Prayer is extremist, but groups for; they should be investigated; like antifa and Black Lives Matter, and they should follow through on ringleaders of America’s riots, are Whichever view you take, it’s hard to believe that any good will come from months of urban riots not. And Biden’s account of what happened is factually challenged. Video of the shooting shows a dark city street with few people. Two shots pierce the night as a man on a skateboard appears to approach Danielson, who collapses. I don’t want to suggest that Biden wasn’t outraged. He was, but he seemed more outraged at Trump’s rhetoric than at a man be- ing murdered for dissenting politi- cal beliefs. In blaming Trump for violence committed by the left, Biden has proven that he will blame anyone but the rioters, as he sees Trump, not the mob, as the extreme ele- ment in this horrifi c story. Critics have hit Trump for call- ing out anarchists and looters with- out addressing what they see as systemic racism in the criminal jus- tice system. That’s because Trump doesn’t see police as systemically racist, so much as undermined by cops who, as he recently told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, “choke.” Whichever view you take, it’s hard to believe that any good will come from months of urban riots that degrade a city’s livability and hurt an economy reeling from the coronavirus. In a video that went viral, a man standing behind the smashed win- dows of a pizzeria in Madison, Wis- consin, hectored protesters. “Are they trying to get Trump reelect- ed?” he said. “Seriously. I’ve got a family to support.” “These people don’t represent our movement,” a young woman replied. The pizza guy looked at her in disbelief and said, “Well, I’m sorry ... they’re with you.” (Creators Syndicate) Re-elect Bill Post for representative To the Editor: Having been a resident in Keizer for many years, I have had the op- portunity to vote for many different people seeking legislative offi ce. I am proud to cast my vote this November for State Representative Bill Post. Bill is deeply involved in this community and, more importantly, he cares. I believe our community has thrived under his leadership the past few years and I am thankful for his representation. Don’t take my word for it, go look at his track record at www.billpost. com. I encourage you to join me in re-electing Bill Post. Jon Richmond Keizer 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: $35 in Marion County, $43 outside Marion County, $55 outside Oregon ASSOCIATE EDITOR Matt Rawlings news@keizertimes.com COMMUNITY REPORTER PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Lauren Murphy reporter@keizertimes.com Publication No: USPS 679-430 ADVERTISING POSTMASTER Karli McNutt advertising@keizertimes.com Send address changes to: PRODUCTION MANAGER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrew Jackson graphics@keizertimes.com LEGAL NOTICES legals@keizertimes.com BUSINESS MANAGER EDITOR & PUBLISHER Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com 2019-2021 President Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. 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