OPINION
6A
T HE
D AILY A STORIAN
Founded in 1873
STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher
LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor
BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager
CARL EARL, Systems Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager
DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager
SAMANTHA MCLAREN, Circulation Manager
Chinook leader looked
for path forward
T
he premature death Tuesday of Ray Gardner, chairman of
the Chinook Indian Nation, is a sad milestone for the tribe
but one that has been foreseen for quite some time.
Gardner loved his cigars and
those who knew him well took
vicarious pleasure in his enjoyment
of their sweet smoke. But in the
way of things, tobacco didn’t
love him back. Perhaps combined
with other factors, smoking led
to obstructive lung problems that
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breathe in recent years. His health
took a turn for the worse around last
Christmas and he was hospitalized,
eventually coming home and even
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away back to the land of ancestors.
Gardner remained in symbolic
leadership of the Chinook
Indian Nation up until his death,
but effectively turned over
organizational management to Vice
Chairman Sam Robinson and other
members of the Tribal Council
in October 2013. They are an
energetic and passionate group, still
very interested in pursuing formal
federal status, something that has
been denied this famous tribe since
the mid-19th century.
We have often commented in
support of righting this wrong as
a matter of fundamental social
justice. We remain convinced that
the healing of old wounds by the
conferring of tribal prestige on the
Chinookan peoples of the Lower
Columbia would be advantageous
to everyone here.
The very name “Chinook”
could be enormously valuable
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substantive way to sustainably
produced seafood, timber products
and social events. We live in
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Rim’s greatest civilizations, the
destination of Lewis and Clark and
a host of other famous explorers.
A new HBO television production
will reignite interest in the Corps of
Discovery and the native peoples
they encountered, of whom the
Chinook and Clatsop were among
the most important.
Descendants of men and women
who created this civilization
continue to live among us as proud
and fully integrated members of
modern communities. They should
not be penalized for their ancestors’
hospitality and welcoming nature,
which permitted white settlers to
make themselves at home here.
Pragmatically, there are many
obstacles to obtaining formal
federal status that are unlikely to be
overcome anytime soon. Although
the Bureau of Indian Affairs has
helpfully revamped some of its
criteria for tribal recognition and
acknowledgment, a Republican
Congress won’t be inclined to favor
the Chinook cause, especially when
some existing resource users such
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potential tribal encroachment.
Also complicating matters is a
simmering dispute among Clatsop
descendants, some of whom
have formed an alliance with
Nehalem people to the south, while
hundreds of others remain under
the organizational umbrella of the
Chinook Indian Nation.
The majority of residents without
any Indian DNA can stand back
from all this, and yet wish the best
for all our neighbors who pursue
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connection to their glorious past,
along with a brighter path to the
future. We’re certain Gardner hoped
for reconciliation and cooperation
among all residents of his people’s
historical homeland. This is an
aspiration we all ought to share.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015
The real story behind
the St. Helens coal denial
for the project, placing
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the county back at square
fact that was discovered at
one for getting the project
the commission level after
construction ready.
n August, the Oregon months of project review
In response, the coun-
by
Oregon
Department
of
Transportation Commission
ty sought private property
Transportation staff.
(OTC) rendered decision on
acquisition for the project
Further, when asked,
project funding from state the Port could not show
by use of eminent domain
and the project is now be-
they
had
the
funds
in
their
lottery funds funneled through
ing contested by 100 per-
own
coffers
to
guarantee
ConnectOregon.
Catherine
cent of the farmland own-
the required match in ab-
Since ConnectOregon passage sence of Ambre Energy’s
M. Mater
ers whose property will
into Oregon law, projects forwarded funding. To compound the
be affected. The county
to the OTC have been summarily problem, the Port claimed
failed to disclose the rail-
approved ... until last year when a their project was ‘construction road easement denial to the commis-
berth improvement project at the Port ready,’ but failed to disclose they sion at the time of their August de-
have a serious operating permit prob- cision. As a consequence the project
of St. Helens was denied funding.
lem with the Division of State Lands was unanimously approved for $2
The project proposed to assist that will negate construction start up million in public funds — based on
coal company Ambre Energy in the to a year (a fact that would disqualify misrepresentation of project status.
Both projects are up for reconsid-
transport of coal through Oregon to the project from being ‘construction
eration at the February OTC meet-
foreign energy markets via the Port. ready’ as is required by law).
The project was rejected on the
It seems that no construction at ing: the former by heavy political
basis of not complying with Con- the Port will occur without the Port pressure to reverse the August OTC
nectOregon legal requirements, but securing a new proprietary lease decision to deny project approval at
the criticisms — and
from DSL, a process the Port; the latter by citizen demand
accolades — pouring in
that requires months of to revoke project approval from
The real
from the public follow-
review and a full public Benton County.
Both are clear examples of an
ing the OTC decision
hearing. This, too, was
issue
squarely focused on the
discovered at commis- alarming fact: the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation lacks over-
debate over Oregon’s
surrounding sion level.
role in coal.
To exhibit such a sight on projects submitted for
the story is
The real issue sur-
reckless disregard for ConnectOregon funding to ensure
rounding the story is
truth, one can only against project misrepresentation or
not coal, it’s the
not coal, it’s fraud: the
conclude that the Port project fraud. And, if OTC oversight
submittal of fraudulent
either felt they were is exercised, it is ignored or “re-
fraud.
information to a public
above the law, should moved.”
It is times like this we all need
entity for the purpose
be awarded special
to be reminded that no one is above
of securing public funds. The Port treatment, or both.
of St. Helens submitted a request for
Consequently, the Port project the law; no governor; no senator; no
$2 million in ConnectOregon lottery was denied, but another project was government agency; no port.
There’s much more unfolding in
funds to pair with a $3 million match approved at the same time. A Cor-
the Port said Ambre Energy had vallis-to-Albany bike trail project Oregon transportation funding (in
committed for the project. All Con- submitted by Benton County pro- addition to coal concerns) that needs
nectOregon projects are required to posed a bike trail to be constructed immediate, swift and decisive atten-
have a funding match in order to be on railroad right-of-way between tion.
Catherine M. Mater is the imme-
eligible for public funds.
the two cities. Shortly after Connec-
The problem? Coal issue aside tOregon project submittal to ODOT, diate past chairwoman of the Ore-
— the Port never had a commitment the county discovered the railroad gon Transportation Commission and
from Ambre Energy to do the proj- would deny use of their right-of-way president of Mater Engineering.
By CATHERINE M. MATER
For The Daily Astorian
I
Building better secularists
how to take up these bur-
gle required to live by it.
dens don’t turn bad, but
Consider the tasks a person
they drift. They suffer from
would have to perform to
a loss of meaning and an
ver the past few years, there live secularism well:
unconscious boredom with
•
Secular
individuals
has been a sharp rise in the
their own lives.
have to build their own
number of people who are atheist, moral philosophies. Reli-
• One other burden: Past
agnostic or without religious gious people inherit creeds
secular creeds were built
on the 18th-century en-
that have evolved over cen-
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lightenment view of man
turies.
Autonomous
secular
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David
as an autonomous, rational
people are called upon to
RI WKH \RXQJHVW DGXOWV ¿W LQWR WKLV settle on their own individ-
Brooks
creature who could rea-
category.
son his way to virtue. The
ual sacred convictions.
As secularism becomes more
past half-century of cogni-
• Secular individuals
SURPLQHQW DQG VHOIFRQ¿GHQW LWV have to build their own communities. tive science has shown that creature
spokesmen have more insistently ar- Religions come equipped with cove- doesn’t exist. We are not really rational
gued that secularism should not be nantal rituals that bind people together, animals; emotions play a central role
seen as an absence — as a lack of faith sacred practices that are beyond indi- in decision-making, the vast majori-
— but rather as a positive moral creed. vidual choice. Secular people have to ty of thought is unconscious, and our
Phil Zuckerman, a Pitzer College so- choose their own communities and minds are riddled with biases. We are
ciologist, makes this
come up with their not really autonomous; our actions are
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own practices to make powerfully shaped by others in ways
Secularism
we are not even aware of.
pleasurably as any-
them meaningful.
It seems to me that if secularism is
body in his book, Liv-
•
Secular
individuals
has to do for
ing the Secular Life.
have to build their own going to be a positive creed, it can’t
Zuckerman argues
Sabbaths.
Religious just speak to the rational aspects of our
nonbelievers
that secular morality
people are commanded nature. Secularism has to do for non-
what religion
is built around individ-
to drop worldly con- believers what religion does for be-
ual reason, individual
cerns. Secular people lievers — arouse the higher emotions,
does for
choice and individual
have to create their own exalt the passions in pursuit of moral
responsibility. Instead
set times for when to action. Christianity doesn’t rely just
believers.
of relying on some eye
SXOOEDFNDQGUHÀHFWRQ on a mild feeling like empathy; it puts
agape at the center of life, a fervent
in the sky to tell them
spiritual matters.
what to do, secular people reason their
• Secular people have to fashion DQG VHOÀHVV VDFUL¿FLDO ORYH -XGDLVP
way to proper conduct.
their own moral motivation. It’s not doesn’t just value community; it val-
Secular people, he argues, value au- enough to want to be a decent person. ues a covenantal community infused
tonomy over groupthink. They deepen You have to be powerfully motivated with sacred bonds and chosenness that
their attachment to this world instead of to behave well. Religious people are make the heart strings vibrate. Reli-
focusing on a next one. They may not motivated by their love for God and gions don’t just ask believers to re-
ne of the illusions about our
If you have memories of a be articulate about why they behave their fervent desire to please Him. spect others; rather each soul is worthy
regional economy is that 3DFL¿F 1RUWKZHVW VDZPLOO LQ WKH as they do, he argues, but they try their Secularists have to come up with their of the highest dignity because it radi-
to follow the Golden Rule, to be own powerful drive that will compel ates divine light.
WLPEHU DQG ¿VKLQJ DUH GHDG RU 1950s and have walked through best
The only secularism that can real-
considerate and empathetic toward oth- VDFUL¿FHDQGVHUYLFH
dying industries. It is true the shape a contemporary mill such as ers. “Secular morality hinges upon little
The point is not that secular people ly arouse moral motivation and impel
of both have changed considerably +DPSWRQ $I¿OLDWHV LQ :DUUHQWRQ else than not harming others and help- should become religious. You either action is an enchanted secularism, one
over the past 40 years. But timber, the contrast is striking. Today’s mills ing those in need,” Zuckerman writes. believe in God or you don’t. Neither WKDWSXWVHPRWLRQDOUHODWLRQV¿UVWDQG
As he describes them, secularists
the point that religious people are autonomy second. I suspect that over
¿VK SURFHVVLQJ DQG ¿VKLQJ DUH use far fewer people. They depend seem like genial, low-key people who is
better than secular people. That de- the next years secularism will change
quite alive in Clatsop County.
on computers. Contrary to the have discarded metaphysical preju- ¿HVVRFLDOVFLHQFHHYLGHQFHDQGFRP its face and become hotter and more
Based on the accepted economic belief that wilderness designations dices and are now leading peaceful mon observation. The point is that an consuming, less content with mere be-
standard of three jobs per million reduced sawmill employment, and rewarding lives. But I can’t avoid age of mass secularization is an age nevolence, and more responsive to the
the conclusion that the secular writers in which millions of people have put spiritual urge in each of us, the drive
board feet of lumber harvested, it automation was the principal cause. are so eager to make the case for their unprecedented moral burdens upon for purity, self-transcendence and
appears there are some 900 timber
But mills do require a highly creed, they are minimizing the strug- themselves. People who don’t know VDQFWL¿FDWLRQ
By DAVID BROOKS
New York Times News Service
O
Timber economy
is quite alive
O
It’s wise to add a jobs fair to
Astoria Timber Festival
jobs in Clatsop County.
This Saturday will see the return
of the Astoria Timber Festival —
an event that pits high school teams
in competition through a variety of
events that include axe throwing,
climbing and more. It takes place
at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds.
New to this year’s event is a
jobs fair. Like all industries and
professions, logging and millwork
must attract a new generation of
workers. Kudos to the festival’s
organizers for adding this
component.
skilled workforce, and these are
good jobs. So are jobs in the woods.
The largest privately owned timber
parcel in Clatsop County has gone
through a series of owners over the
past 30 years, from Crown Zellerbach
to Cavenham to Willamette
Industries to Weyerhaeuser to the
Campbell Group. This remains a
significant resource that creates its
own employment base.
Good luck to all of the high
school teams. And we hope that
some of these young people will
connect with future employment.
Where to write
• U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
(D): 2338 Rayburn HOB, Washing-
ton, D.C., 20515. Phone: 202- 225-
0855. Fax 202-225-9497. District
RI¿FH 6: 0LOOLNDQ :D\
Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 97005.
Phone: 503-326-2901. Fax 503-326-
5066. Web: bonamici.house. gov/
• U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D):
+DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ
Washington, D.C. 20510. Phone:
202-224-3753. Web: www.merkley.
senate.gov
• State Rep. Brad Witt (D):
State Capitol, 900 Court Street N.E.,
H-373, Salem, OR 97301. Phone:
503-986-1431. Web: www.leg.state.
or.us/witt/ Email: rep.bradwitt@
state.or.us
• State Rep. Deborah Boone
(D): 900 Court St. N.E., H-375, Sa-
lem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-
1432. Email: rep.deborah boone@
VWDWHRUXV'LVWULFWRI¿FH32%R[
637, Cannon Beach, OR 97110.
Phone: 503-986-1432. Web: www.
leg.state.or.us/ boone/
• State Sen. Betsy Johnson (D):
State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E.,
S-314, Salem, OR 97301. Telephone:
503-986-1716. Email: sen.betsy john-
son@state.or.us Web: www.betsy-
MRKQVRQFRP'LVWULFW2I¿FH32%R[
R, Scappoose, OR 97056. Phone: 503-
543-4046. Fax: 503-543-5296. Astoria
RI¿FHSKRQH
• Port of Astoria: Executive Di-
rector, 10 Pier 1 Suite 308, Astoria,
OR 97103. Phone: 503-741-3300.
Email: admin@portofastoria.com
• Clatsop County Board of
Commissioners FR &RXQW\ 0DQ
ager, 800 Exchange St., Suite 300,
P.O. Box 179, Astoria, OR 97103.
Phone: 503-325-1000.