Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015 FRIDAY EXCHANGE By another name stitutes a good job, the board might want to poll the public. Most likely, the majority of the district would feel simi- larly, and would agree that the above functions are more im- SRUWDQW WKDQ ¿OOLQJ RXW IRUPV to be sent to another public employee. KEN QUARLES Cannon Beach I hope that we soon stop call- ing the terrorist group in Syr- ia and Iraq by the name it wants to be called, and start using the acronym Daesh. It is being used by many of the Middle East foes of the terrorists. Why should we be calling these guys the name by which they want to be known? If someone declares himself the Lord of Clatsop County we cer- tainly wouldn’t give them any legitimacy by calling him that. DAVID AMBROSE Astoria Safety on the tracks T California’s tears A s a former 20-year resi- dent of San Bernardino &RXQW\ &DOLIRUQLD VSHFL¿FDO- ly Redlands, and a former San Bernardino County employee, I IHHO,KDYHDGRJLQWKH¿JKWUH the San Bernardino shootings. I lived and worked with PDQ\ ¿QH SHRSOH RI DOO IDLWKV and backgrounds in our Red- lands town of 80,000 people, with a county workforce of 900,000 and a consumer pop- ulation of 21 million. We all worked hand in hand, side by side, for decades, truly a work- ing melting pot. That two individuals, in some ill-conceived grievance, ZRXOG RSHQ ¿UH RQ D JURXS assembled for a casual end-of- year party does not speak for the mass majority of any re- ligious/ethnic base in the San Bernardino area, or in the na- tion. The Muslim faith is no more responsible for the San Bernardino murders than the Christian faith is for Colorado or Oregon’s recent gun vio- lence. Please, let’s dial back the bias and remember individuals of any faith can do both good and evil. BLUE ANDERSON Astoria Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian The Astoria Column renovations become clearly visible as crews from Safway Services LLC. take down the scaf- folding in October. Astoria Column reopens — with thanks to all M any Daily Astorian readers may recall with a shudder what the Astoria Column looked like in the PLGV DIWHU \HDUV RI QHJOHFW D blackened smokestack on Coxcomb +LOOZLWKLWVKLVWRULFDO³VJUDI¿WR´PX- rals by Italian painter Attilio Pusterla largely obscured. So, when Astoria’s then-Mayor Edith Henningsgaard ap- proached me asking to help save and preserve the beloved Astoria Column, I absolutely agreed, and in 1988, the QRQSUR¿W7KH)ULHQGVRI$VWRULD&RO- umn was formed. With the support of the city and cit- izens of Astoria, private donations and grants we raised the $1 million need- ed for the extensive restoration of the Column in 1995. But, 20 years of tor- rential wind and rain had taken their toll on the Column, and specialists were brought in to survey and assess the structural repairs and mural resto- ration that was needed. It was time for another restoration. This past summer, with the full sup- port of Astoria Mayor Arline LaMear and the Astoria City Council, the Friends of Astoria Column fundraised and oversaw another much-needed restoration which has returned the Too broad a brush I respectfully suggest that the Dec. 3 editorial (“We must take care of ourselves,” The Daily Astorian) could have tak- en a more thoughtful approach in describing possible environ- mental threats. Cosmetics and personal care products compa- nies are committed to making products that are safe for con- sumers and the environment alike, and for some time we have voluntarily committed to phasing out plastic microbeads by actively supporting legisla- tion now moving through Con- gress. That said, microbeads, whether from consumer prod- ucts or other sources, are at most a very small contributor to the plastics found in water, and removing them from prod- ucts will have a minimal, if any, EHQH¿WWRWKHHQYLURQPHQW Thoughtless broad-brush approaches to managing envi- ronmental risk is not scientif- ic, will remove many helpful products from store shelves 5A Column to beyond its original glory. Special kudos are due to all for stay- ing on schedule despite a major wind storm and senseless vandalism — even this did not delay the reopening of the Column to the public in October. I particularly want to recognize and thank Marie Laibinis, of MCL Conser- vation, the internationally recognized conservator who led the renovation project. Marie assembled a talented crew; Site Manager John Gooden- berger and Documentation Manager Aretta Christie. Scenic artists from the Seattle Opera did an amazing job of artistically bringing the original depth and warmth of the murals back to life. Additional thanks go to the dedicated plastering students of the Tongue Point Job Corps Center, who gave countless volunteer hours to the project, while gaining valuable on-site experience in the process. Thanks are also due to Astoria Mayor Arline LaMear, Astoria City Council, Parks and Recreation Direc- tor Angela Cosby, and former Mayor of Astoria Willis Van Dusen. Their support of our unique public-private partnership of the city-owned Astoria Column is unwavering. Special thanks are also due to the Friends of Astoria Column Executive Director Sheri Mitchell and Site Coor- dinator Jay Mitchell, who manage the day to day operations of the Astoria Column, keeping it ready to welcome the over 400,000 visitors each year. They have gone above and beyond their duties this past summer — you are more than appreciated. I especially want to thank the Friends of Astoria Column Board, a group of citizens from Astoria and with ties to Astoria, who are dedicated to ensuring the Astoria Column con- tinues to stand proud. They all have given considerable time and money to this restoration effort; it just sim- ply could not have been accomplished without them. On behalf of the Friends of the Astoria Column, I am deeply grateful for the patience and support from the community of Astoria, and we hope you will join in supporting and cele- brating this historic icon of Astoria as we approach the 90th anniversary in the fall of 2016. JORDAN D. SCHNITZER President, The Friends of Astoria Column KH UHFHQW DUWLFOH ³$3 Railroads beat back new safety rules after derailments” (The Daily Astorian, Dec. 5) lacks a complete picture of the freight rail industry’s commit- ment to track safety and the comprehensive regulatory en- vironment that each railroad must follow. The freight rail industry fully supports a comprehen- sive approach to track safety and has demonstrated its full support, in research and in money, to drive down rail de- fect-related occurrences. Under strict federal regu- lations, freight railroads have taken an aggressive approach to identifying and removing defective rail as part of an extensive monitoring and re- placement process. They are steadfast compliant, going be- yond what is compulsory, by often performing more track inspections than required by regulators. Federal statistics show rail safety has been dramatically improving over the last sev- eral decades, by more than 40 percent since 2000. It is the commitment of America’s freight railroads to continue to take aggressive actions to advance the safety of the na- tion’s 140,000-mile rail net- work, even further. PATRICIA REILLY Senior vice president, Association of American Railroads Washington, D.C. :e’ll be just ¿ne E very year I try to write one positive letter, so here goes, and this one’s a SOHDVXUH,DPYHU\SURXGWR think of the TV footage from San Bernardino, California, being seen worldwide on Al Jazeera, CNN and the Inter- and may make other products tioned that graves were starting what difference does it make been doing a good job. The net. less safe. We all want to pre- WR EH RYHUUXQ E\ IDNH ÀRZHUV LIWKH\¶UHDUWL¿FLDO"'LGLWHYHU building and equipment ap- I saw American policemen serve our environment, but this and “trinkets” on the graves RFFXUWRWKHZULWHUWKDWÀRZHUV pear to be well-maintained and women at the federal, should be driven by data and (“Plenty of parks, not enough can be expensive? At least they (this was not always the state, county and local levels not opinion. are being remembered in some case), the bond issues pass behave brilliantly and very time,” The Daily Astorian). BETH LANGE, PH.D. My father was a Korean way. In a couple of weeks I’ll ZLWKVLJQL¿FDQWPDUJLQVWKLV quickly, and with great re- Chief scientist, Personal War veteran. I don’t consider be placing a wreath at my par- was not always the case), and straint. Their rapid, cool and Care Products Council WKH$PHULFDQÀDJWKDW,SODFH ents’ grave, and, no, it will not the volunteers appeared to be professional actions could Washington, D.C. out there, which I have to re- be called a trinket, it will be a happy (this was not always only happen with excellent training, equipment, courage the case). place every so often, a trinket, tribute to lives well lived. JOYCE OLSON On several occasions we and discipline. as I’m sure no other loved Not a trinket I hope those who are mo- Astoria have called 911 for my mom, ones of veterans do, either. typically don’t get offended And what about the parents stepdad or a customer at the tivated to try to destroy our by too much that is published who have a child who is laid Sea Breeze Court Motel. nation and our culture — im- in this paper. However, in the to rest there? I’m pretty sure A good job Personnel start showing up perfect though we are — take am writing in regard to two or three minutes later, a good look at what they’re Dec. 7 edition something did they don’t consider the little WKHUHFHQW¿ULQJRIRXU¿UH and there is no shortage of going to be up against. We’re manage to do just that. Regard- ceramic or stuffed animal they JRLQJWREHMXVW¿QH ing the park tour that was taken placed on their grave a trinket, chief, Mike Balzer. From them. my perspective, the Cannon JOSEPH WEBB LQ WKH DUHD VSHFL¿FDOO\ 2FHDQ either. If the problem is a differ- Astoria View Cemetery, it was men- $V IRU WKH IDNH ÀRZHUV Beach Fire Department has ence of opinion of what con- I I Why should we take the Trump stunt seriously? from my Fox News colleague Chris Stirewalt) to shore it up. At every im- migration station at every airport in America, we will demand that every potential entrant A S H I N G TO N — immigrant, refugee, stu- — So how ex- dent or tourist — eat a bacon actly does this work, sandwich. You refuse? Back Donald Trump’s plan home you go! True, the Stirewalt Solu- to keep America safe tion casts the net a bit wide, from Islamic terrorism snaring innocent vegetari- by barring entry to all ans and Orthodox Jews. But Muslims? He explained hey, as Trump said Tues- day “We’re at war — get it it Tuesday on TV. The Charles your head.” Can’t LPPLJUDWLRQRI¿FLDOZLOO Krauthammer through get squeamish about collat- ask the foreigner if he’s a eral damage. Dozens of others have already Muslim. pointed out how strategically idiotic is “And if they said, ‘yes,’ they would Trump’s exclusion principle. Absent a not be allowed in the country?” renewed Christian crusade against rad- 7UXPS³7KDW¶VFRUUHFW´ ical Islam — with those fabulous Hol- Brilliant. And very economical. lywood-wardrobe tunics — the war on That is, if you think that bloodthirsty terror will only be won in alliance with terrorists — “people that believe only moderate Muslims. Declaring them in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or anathema is not the best beginning to respect for human life,” as Trump de- coalition-building. scribes them — will feel honor-bound To take but the most obvious ex- WRWHOOWKHWUXWKWRDQLQ¿GHOLPPLJUD- DPSOH2XUFORVHVWDQGPRVWHIIHFWLYH WLRQRI¿FHU7KH\NLOOZDQWRQO\EXWOLNH allies on the ground in the Middle East George Washington, cannot tell a lie. are the Kurds. Trump would turn them On this logic hinges the great Maginot back at the Orlando airport. No Disney Line with which Trump will protect World for them. Or does he not know America from jihad. that they are Muslim? I decline to join the chorus denounc- It is embarrassing even to embark ing the Trump proposal as offensive and on such arguments. To treat “no Mus- un-American. That’s too obvious. What lims allowed” as a serious idea is to I can’t get over is its sheer absurdity. give credit to what is little more than Here’s a suggestion (borrowed a clever stunt by a man who saw Ted By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER Washington Post Writers Group W Once again, it’s the Donald Show. ment following another Trump erup- tion — the abolition of birthright citizenship. :KDWHYHU WKH ¿QDO RXWFRPH Trump’s campaign has already suc- ceeded, indelibly affecting both this race and the Republican future. At a time of economic malaise at home and strategic collapse abroad, Trump has managed to steer the entire GOP campaign into absurdities, like mass Seth Wenig/AP Photo deportation of 11 million illegal im- Amina Ismail, left, Fatima Amaziane, center, and Dalia Abdallah hold migrants, and impossibilities, like the signs during a news conference in the Queens borough of New York, exclusion of Muslims from our shores. Thursday. The news conference was called to express opposition to “No Muslims allowed” is the per- hate crimes and rhetoric, particularly in light of a recent attack in the fect example. President Obama’s neighborhood that police are investigating as a hate crime. 2YDO2I¿FHDGGUHVVRQ6XQGD\QLJKW marked a new low in his presidency. &UX]EHDWLQJKLPIRUWKH¿UVWWLPHLQWKH Take his Syria policy. In September, The shopworn arguments, the detached ,RZD0RQPRXWKSROODQG¿YHKRXUVODW- he said we should wash our hands and tone, the willful denial that there might er decided it was time to seize the stage MXVWOHW5XVVLD¿JKWWKH,VODPLF6WDWH be anything wrong with his policy again. Having, I assume, been subsequently was deeply unsettling for left, right This got the thinkers going again. informed that Vladimir Putin’s princi- and center. Even The New York Times National Review’s Andrew McCarthy, pal interest — and target — is not the had to admit “Obama’s Plans to Stop whom I (otherwise) hold in consider- Islamic State but the anti-Assad rebels, ISIS Leave Many Democrats Wanting able esteem, spent 1,000 words trying Trump now promises to “bomb the s--- More,” which is Timesese forDemo- crats Stunned by Vacancy in the Oval to tart up the ban in constitutional and “ out of the Islamic State. statutory livery, stressing — hilari- I’m sure there’s a Trump apolo- OI¿ce. Here was an opportunity for the ously — that he is dealing with the gist out there working to explain the 5HSXEOLFDQ ¿HOG WR ODXQFK DQ DOORXW 7UXPS SURSRVDO ³LQ LWV ¿QDO IRUP´ brilliant complementarity of these takedown of the Obama (and Hillary As if Trump’s barstool eruptions are two contradictory strategies. Just as Clinton) foreign policy. Within less than a day that oppor- painstakingly vetted, and as if any- a few months ago there was a frenzy thing Trump says about anything is of learned scholarship about the con- tunity was wiped out. Once again, it’s HYHU¿QDO stitutional history of the 14th Amend- the Donald Show.
