OPINION
6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015
This is the Cold War without the fun
The Cold War had a be-
%XW *XULHY PDNHV DQ
important
point. “If not
ginning,
an
end
and
even
Founded in 1873
for the Western sanctions
a closing curtain, with the
on Russia, East Ukraine
et’s see, America is preposi- fall of the Berlin Wall. But
STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher
would already have been
tioning battle tanks with our the post-post-Cold War has
part of Russia today,” he
brought
us
full
circle
back
LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor
East European NATO allies to to the pre-Cold War and the
said, adding that there is
BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager
counterbalance Russia; U.S. and game of nations. There was
nothing Putin fears more
than Ukraine succeeding in
CARL EARL, Systems Manager
Russian military planes recently a moment when it seemed as
diminishing corruption and
though
it
would
all
be
other-
ÀHZZLWKLQIHHWRIHDFKRWKHU
JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager
building a modern economy
wise — when it seemed that
Thomas L.
Russia is building a new genera- Arabs and Israelis would
DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager
that would be everything
Friedman
3XWLQ¶V 5XVVLD LV QRW *X
tion of long-range ballistic mis- make peace, that China
HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager
riev is worried, though, that
would
evolve
into
a
more
siles; and the U.S. and China are
consensual political system and that the anti-Western propaganda Putin has
jostling in the South China Sea.
Russia would become part of Europe been pumping into the veins of the Rus-
Did someone restart the Cold War DQGWKH*7KDWZDVDOLIHWLPHDJR
sian public will have a lasting effect and
while I was looking the other way?
Now Western reporters struggle to make his successor even worse. Either
If so, this time it seems like the Cold get visas to China, no American busi- way, “Russia will be a big challenge for
War without the fun — that is, without nessman with a brain takes his laptop to your next president.”
The Chinese leadership is not as
-DPHV %RQG 60(56+ ³*HW 6PDUW´ Beijing, Chinese hackers have more of
Agent 86’s shoe phone, Nikita Khrush- your personal data now than LinkedIn, dumb or desperate as Putin — and
chev’s shoe-banging, a race to the Russia is still intent on becoming part of needs access to U.S. markets more —
moon or a debate between American Europe — by annexing a piece here and so, for now, China’s leaders still be-
and Soviet leaders over whose country DSLHFHWKHUH²DQGWKH*LVQRZWKH have with some restraint in asserting
their claims in the South China Sea.
has the best kitchen appliances. And *$PHULFDDQG*HUPDQ\
I don’t think we’re going to see Pres-
:KHQ GLG LW DOO JR VRXU":H ¿UHG But the fact is, as the Asia expert An-
fter an initial derailment, a proposal to raise Oregon’s minimum ident Barack Obama in Kiev declar- WKH¿UVWVKRWZKHQZHH[SDQGHG1$72 drew Browne noted in The Wall Street
wage is back on track in the waning days of the state Legislature. ing, à la President Kennedy, “ich bin toward the Russian border even though Journal, “the U.S.-China relationship
That’s an unfortunate development times forgo their own paycheck in order ein Ukrainian.” Also, the lingo of our the Soviet Union had disappeared. has lost its strategic raison d’être: the
day — “reset with Russia” or “pivot to Message to Moscow: You are always Soviet Union, the common threat that
for businesses outside the Portland met- to make payroll for their employees.
Asia” — has none of the gravitas of — an enemy, no matter what system you brought the two countries together.”
ropolitan area.
Oregon’s economy is still recover- drum roll, please —
have. When oil pric- They have not forged a new one, like
We previously editorialized against ing from the brutal recession. In May, “détente.”
es recovered, Putin being co-managers of global stability.
In short, the attraction of the U.S.
No, this post- No, this post-
sought his revenge
such legislation. Our opinion has not the number of jobs in the state declined
economy
and the bite of U.S. sanctions
post-Cold
War
has
for
this
humiliation,
been changed by arguments recent- IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH LQ WKUHH \HDUV $QG
post-Cold
more of a WWE
but now he’s just are more vital than ever in managing the
ly offered by Portland politicians and while the Portland area is humming, the
— World Wrestling
using the NATO post-post-Cold War game of nations,
their supporters. Their pitch ignores our rest of the state still is hampered by high Entertainment — War has more
threat to justify the including bringing Iran to nuclear talks.
state’s economic diversity and relies on unemployment and a lack of skilled feel to it, and I don’t
militarization
of We may be back to traditional geopoli-
of a World
Russian society so tics, but it’s in a much more interdepen-
benevolent assumptions not supported workers. Raising the minimum wage just mean President
Wrestling
he and his fellow dent world, where our economic clout is
by science.
by 37 percent over the next few years Vladimir Putin of
Russia’s
riding
hors-
kleptocrats can stay still a source of restraint on Moscow and
House Speaker Tina Kotek proposes will exacerbate the challenges facing
es bare-chested, al- Entertainment
in power and paint Beijing. Putin doesn’t disguise his mil-
to raise the minimum hourly rate to $13 small businesses.
though that is an apt
their opponents as itary involvement in Ukraine for noth-
feel to it
by 2018. It would be pegged at $11 in
Rep. Kotek’s proposal would re- metaphor. It’s just
lackeys of the West. ing; he’s afraid of more U.S. banking
2016 and $12 in 2017.
scind current law to allow for some a raw jostling for
NATO’s top- sanctions. China doesn’t circumscribe
It does not matter to Rep. Kotek cities to approve larger increases in the power for power’s sake — not a clash pling of the Libyan leader Moammar its behavior in the South China Sea for
that Oregon’s current rate of $9.25 per minimum wage. That plays to the good RILQÀXHQWLDOLGHDVEXWUDWKHURIVSKHUHV *DGKD¿WKH$UDE6SULQJDQGWKH0RV nothing; it can’t grow without exporting
to America. It’s not just our guns, it’s our
hour already is the second-highest in the citizens of Portland and Eugene, but RI LQÀXHQFH ³<RX FURVV WKDW OLQH , cow street protests that followed rattled butter. It’s why we should be expanding
punch your nose.” “Why?” “Because 3XWLQ VDLG 6HUJHL *XULHY WKH QRWHG
nation. And she conveniently sidesteps does nothing for those in the small com- I said so.” “You got a problem with Russian economist now based in Par- U.S.-shaped free-trade deals with Asia
questions about the potential impact munities of Clatsop County.
that?” “Yes, let me show you my drone. is. “Putin understood that he lost the and Europe and it’s why the most im-
RI VXFK LQFUHDVHV EH\RQG KHU DIÀXHQW
Oregon’s minimum wage is half You got a problem with that?” “Not at Russian middle class and so he started portant source of stability in the world
Portland district.
the median hourly wage for all Oregon all. My cyber guys stole the guidance to look for legitimacy somewhere else” today is the health of the U.S. economy.
Large Portland-area employers hourly workers. That is a reasonable V\VWHPODVWZHHNIURP1RUWKURS*UXP — in hypernationalism and anti-Amer- We can walk softly only as long as we
carry a big stick — and a big wallet.
man.” “You got a problem with that?”
icanism.
like Nike and Intel can easily absorb level for a wage meant for entry-level
such payroll increases. But most pri- workers when compared with those
vate-sector jobs in Clatsop County and with years of experience or specialized
elsewhere in rural Oregon are found in skills.
By TIMOTHY EGAN
incongruent element of a
by a great nation — have a
small business — many of them fami-
If there is good news for workers
New York Times News Service
people proclaiming to be
power all their own.
ly-owned and run on a shoestring. Such in Oregon, it is this: “Real wages are
enlightened.
The British, the Vatican,
large increases will require them to cut growing … Average hourly earnings
Lincoln said he hated
week of absurdity around WKH *HUPDQV DQG WKH 6RXWK
hours, reduce staff size or pass on to increased 2.2 percent over the year for
“the
monstrous injustice of
Africans
have
all
issued
for-
a confused racial con artist,
slavery,” in part because it
PDODSRORJLHVIRUWKHLURI¿
customers those additional costs. Such Oregon’s private-sector payroll em-
and a massacre in a black church cial cruelties, and each case
allowed “enemies of free in-
outcomes would hurt the very people ployees. These wage gains were above
brings
us
to
this:
Friday
was
the
stitutions, with plausibility,
has
had
a
cleansing,
even
the minimum wage hike is designed to WKHUDWHRIFRQVXPHUSULFHLQÀDWLRQ´
to taunt us as hypocrites.”
liberating
effect.
The
U.S.
help.
That recent report from state gov- 150th anniversary of Juneteenth, Congress apologized to Af-
Countries, religions and
A typical response to those likely ernment shows that employers are re- when the last of the American rican-Americans for slavery
corporations sometimes do
Timothy
scenarios is an activist rant: “The CEOs sponding to economic conditions with- slaves were told they were free.
awful things in their names. It
in 2009, though it came with
Egan
Now,
to
put
it
to
good
use,
at
a
doesn’t diminish them to note
a
caveat
that
the
mea
culpa
should take a pay cut!” Tell that to out interference from Rep. Kotek and
their
failures,
their injustices, their crimes
could
not
be
used
as
legal
rationale
for
time
when
a
post-racial
era
seems
mom-and-pop business owners, who at her Portland colleagues.
against humanity. It elevates them.
reparations.
very much out of reach.
When Prime Minister Tony Blair of
And President Bill Clinton, while in
7KH ¿UVW EODFN PDQ WR OLYH LQ WKH Africa in 1998, apologized for the slave Britain apologized to the Irish in 1997
White House, long hesitant about doing trade, but not for a government that in- for England’s role in a famine that killed
anything bold on the color divide, could stitutionalized white supremacy during more than a million people, it opened the
make one of the most simple and dra- LWV¿UVWIRXUVFRUHDQGFKDQJH
door to reconciliation, and a burst of new
matic moves of his presidency: apolo-
For this year’s Juneteenth — com- scholarship and awareness about a geno-
gize for the land of the free being, at one memorating the day in 1865, more than cidal episode long mired in shame.
The British government also tried
time, the largest slaveholding nation on two years after the Emancipation Proc-
earth.
lamation, when a Union general landed to make good for prosecuting a World
7KH&RQIHGHUDWHEDWWOHÀDJWKDWVWLOO LQ*DOYHVWRQ7H[DVDQGWROGWKHODVWRI War II hero and Nazi code breaker,
ÀLHVRQWKHJURXQGVRIWKH6WDWH+RXVH the dead-enders in Texas that “all slaves Alan Turing, for the crime of being gay.
It took the Vatican 350 years to
in South Carolina, cradle of the Civil are free” — Obama could close a loop in
ll eyes in the American soccer WKHUHZHUHIRXURU¿YHWHDPVSOD\LQJDW War, is a reminder that the hatred be- a terrible history. He could also elevate apologize for the persecution of the
the current discussion on ,WDOLDQDVWURQRPHU*DOLOHR%XWQRZWKH
world will be on Ottawa Friday their skill level. By the time our wom- hind the proclaimed right to
own another human being
race, which swirled earlier church speaks with authority, backed
DWSP3DFL¿F7LPH
HQORVWWKHVHPL¿QDODW3RUWODQG¶V3*( has never left our shores.
Obama in the week around the serial by science, on climate change — leav-
The Canadian capital will be the 3DUN LQ ZLQQHUV *HUPDQ\ DQG
An apology would not
liar Rachel Dolezal, and the ing Republicans in the United States in
could
venue for the U.S. Women’s National Brazil had improved, too, and were kill that hatred, but it would
race-baiting billionaire van- the dungeon of ignorance.
Pope John Paul II apologized to
ity blimp of Donald Trump.
7HDP¶V ORVHURXW TXDUWHU¿QDO DJDLQVW mirroring their men’s teams, the most ripple, positively, in ways
close
Jews
for the Vatican’s inaction on the
that
may
be
felt
for
years.
The
slaughter
of
wor-
China. And, judging by its four erratic successful in soccer history.
Holocaust and to Muslims killed by
As the son of a Kenyan
shippers
in
a
church
with
a
loop
performances in the opening rounds,
Although there were a couple
father and a white mother
ORQJWLHVWR¿JKWLQJVODYHU\ crusaders. Last year, Pope Francis
the U.S. players will have to step up of 10-0 blow outs, this year’s open- who died more than a cen-
in a
and Jim Crow “raises ques- reached out to victims of clerical sex
their consistency to advance to the ing pool-play rounds were general- tury after slavery ended,
tions about a dark part of our abuse and said he was sorry on behalf
history,” Obama said Thurs- of the church he leads.
VHPL¿QDOV
ly competitive and any team in the Barack Obama has little terrible
President Ronald Reagan signed leg-
ancestral
baggage
on
this
is-
Questions about why
(YHUVLQFHWKH¿UVW:RPHQ¶V:RUOG TXDUWHU¿QDOVLVJRRGHQRXJKWROLIWWKH
history. day.
islation
that provided payments and apol-
sue.
Yet
no
man
could
make
6RXWK&DUROLQDFDQVWLOOÀ
\
Cup tournament in 1991, interest has trophy. England, France and Australia
a stronger statement about
WKHÀDJRIDWUDLWRUQDWLRQD ogies for the internment, during World War
been building, in part because of the are among nations that have invested $PHULFD¶VRULJLQDOVLQWKDQWKH¿UVW$I ÀDJDSSDUHQWO\HPEUDFHGE\WKHVKRRW II, of more than 100,000 Japanese-Ameri-
number of American girls playing the in women’s programs; some of their rican-American president.
er. Questions rooted in a history that cans — most of them U.S. citizens.
sport — including here on the North stars play in the United States, and
It’s harder to be contrite than to con-
Conservatives would caw — they calls for a formal apology.
)URPWKHWLPHWKH¿UVW$IULFDQVDU quer. Obama had nothing to do with
Coast through the Lower Columbia EHQH¿WIURPRXU¿WQHVVWDFWLFDODQG always do — and say, get over it, don’t
Youth Soccer Association and for technical training. Thanks, in part, to play the race card. Liberals would rived as slaves in Jamestown in 1619 slavery. Most Americans, descendants
of immigrants shunned in their home-
Astoria and Seaside high school teams. the University of Portland, Canada complain that a simple apology did not WKURXJK WKH FRGL¿FDWLRQ RI EODFNV DV lands, have very little connection to the
go far enough, unless it entailed repa- WKUHH¿IWKV RI D SHUVRQ LQ WKH &RQVWL
7KH86WUDYHOHGWRWKDW¿UVWWRXU has developed world-class players, rations for the descendants of slaves. tution and up to the eve of the Civil slaveholders of the American South. So
nament in China accompanied by a too.
But words of contrition — a formal War, when 4 million people were held why apologize? Because we own this
lone American journalist to report
All this is a far cry from the oth- acknowledgment of a grievous wrong in bondage, slavery has been the most past. As such, we have to condemn it.
on the “novelty” of the female game. er recent headlines world soccer has
He came home with a notable scoop: been making. The FBI has unveiled
the inspirational Michelle Akers’ a long overdue investigation into cor-
WZR JRDOV LQ WKH ¿QDO DJDLQVW ULYDOV ruption among international admin-
• U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici 224-5244. Web: www.wyden.senate. State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E.,
Norway secured the trophy for the istrators, with obscene amounts of (D): 2338 Rayburn HOB, Washing- gov
S-314, Salem, OR 97301. Telephone:
• State Rep. Brad Witt (D): State 503-986-1716. Email: sen.betsy john-
USA and set the bar for women’s soc- cash secretly changing hands for the ton, D.C., 20515. Phone: 202- 225-
cer in the intervening years, winning rights to host lucrative tournaments. 0855. Fax 202-225-9497. District Capitol, 900 Court Street N.E., H-373, son@state.or.us Web: www.betsyjohn-
RI¿FH 6: 0LOOLNDQ :D\
IRXURXWRI¿YH2O\PSLFJROGPHGDOV Court revelations, plea deals and con- Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 97005. Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986- VRQFRP 'LVWULFW 2I¿FH 32 %R[ 5
1431. Web: www.leg.state.or.us/witt/ Scappoose, OR 97056. Phone: 503-
Fast-forward 20-plus years and fessions will further tarnish the image Phone: 503-326-2901. Fax 503- Email: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us
543-4046. Fax: 503-543-5296. Astoria
media coverage has ballooned. Every of FIFA, the body which runs world 326-5066. Web: bonamici.house.
• State Rep. Deborah Boone (D): RI¿FHSKRQH
gov/
900 Court St. N.E., H-481, Salem,
• Port of Astoria: Executive Direc-
game is televised in the U.S.; fans soccer.
• U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D): 313 OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1432. tor, 10 Pier 1 Suite 308, Astoria, OR
have packed Canadian stadiums. And
Meanwhile, the 2015 Women’s
parity in international women’s soc- World Cup rolls on toward the July +DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ :DVK Email: rep.deborah boone@state.or.us 97103. Phone: 503-741-3300. Email:
ington, D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224- 'LVWULFW RI¿FH 32 %R[ &DQ admin@portofastoria.com
cer has arrived.
5 championship game in Vancouver, 3753. Web: www.merkley.senate.gov non Beach, OR 97110. Phone: 503-
• Clatsop County Board of Com-
When the U.S. hosted the 1999 %ULWLVK&ROXPELD*RRGOXFNJHWWLQJ
• U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D): 986-1432. Web: www.leg.state.or.us/ missioners: c/o County Manager, 800
tourney, and won that memorable pen- a ticket if the U.S. team advances 'LUNVHQ 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ boone/
Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria, OR
97103. Phone: 503-325-1000.
Washington,
D.C.,
20510.
Phone:
202-
•
State
Sen.
Betsy
Johnson
(D):
DOW\VKRRWRXW¿QDOLQWKH5RVH%RZO through the next two rounds.
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
New York Times News Service
L
Minimum wage bill
misses our diversity
A
Speaker Kotek’s last-minute
bill is too much, too late
It’s time to apologize for slavery
A
Time for USA
team to step up
A
Women’s World Cup sparkles,
but soccer scandals remain
Where to write