THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
5A
Think carefully
I
f The Donald is successful
in buying the presidency,
heaven help the U.S. and
much of the world.
Running a nation is
about the people. Yes, this
includes the 99 percent who
aren’t among the wealthy.
This includes: the disadvan-
taged, all the way up to the
extremely advantaged; both
genders as equals; religious
freedom, as well as the free-
dom to not be religious; sex-
ual freedom; quality edu-
cation and health care for
everyone; decent housing and
decent jobs; rebuilding this
nation’s infrastructure; and
yes, our military and national
defense systems.
Being president is a tough
job. The president needs to be
rational, responsible, strong,
considerate, reasonable,
able to work with all polit-
ical parties and other world
leaders, and always think-
ing about how his/her actions
will affect the future of our
nation.
Which of the above does
The Donald display today,
and in his past? His past and
his present will be his (and
our) future, if he is successful
in buying the presidency.
Think folks before you
vote. If you fact check on the
various things he says, most
of his speeches aren’t factual.
His speeches aren’t realistic
or truthful. Don’t be fooled
by his power, money, or ego.
Think before you vote.
Being president of our
nation isn’t a reality show.
He/she won’t get retakes
when he/she makes a blun-
der. Our nation’s future and
place in the world is on the
line with the outcome of this
election.
Again, think before you
vote.
KAREN ELDER
Astoria
Where are the girls?
I
was very disappointed in
The Daily Astorian’s cov-
erage of the Three-Course
Challenge held at Camp
Rilea on Saturday, Sept. 17
(“Cross-country runners tackle
the ‘Challenge,’” Sept. 19).
As a volunteer at this event,
I ind it to be a very unique
experience for cross country
runners at all levels of abil-
ity, and from middle school up
through high school levels.
However, Gary Henley’s
coverage of the event only had
pictures of male runners. This
was an event for both males
and females. Where were the
girls, Mr. Henley? Have you
not heard of something called
Title IX? Please try to keep
your pictures and articles
more balanced next time.
KAREN BECK
Warrenton
Thank you
M
any upsetting headlines
have focused on Ore-
gon foster care providers who
wronged youth in their care,
prompting an investigation
that will hopefully lead to
much-needed changes (“‘Cul-
ture change’ needed at state
human services agency,” The
Daily Astorian, Sept. 14).
These providers are the sad
exception, brought about by
a system in need of repair.
They are not the norm.
The true heroes for chil-
dren in foster care are those
who never make the news.
They make the beds, and
wash the laundry, and read
the stories, and wipe the
tears. They open their homes
and hearts to children who
challenge them. They give
shelter to the 4-year-old who
can’t understand what has
happened, and to the 14-year-
old who struggles with the
uncertainty of what is next.
They are the families who
make a difference for chil-
dren in care: kind, loving,
patient foster parents.
“The cost of failing to
protect foster children from
harm is high,” the article
states, going on to quote dol-
lar amounts of settled claims
brought by youth formerly
in foster care. Yet the true
cost of failing to protect chil-
dren and youth from further
neglect and abuse does not
it neatly into a budget cate-
gory for the legislature: men-
tal illness, substance abuse,
juvenile delinquency, life in
poverty, and only disjointed
family members to occasion-
ally provide a connection.
The true cost of fail-
ing to protect foster children
from harm is the loss of their
health and happiness. Deny-
ing children the ability to pur-
sue happiness means denying
them their unalienable rights.
Fortunately, many children
in foster care have temporary
personal champions of happi-
ness and safety.
I would like to send a
huge “Thank you!” to the
foster parents whose homes
and hearts are havens to the
most vulnerable children in
Clatsop County. We deeply
appreciate you. You save
lives every day.
JULIA MABRY
Executive director, Clatsop
County Court Appointed
Special Advocates (CASA)
Vote Keniston
C
hris Keniston is an
appealing candidate for
U.S. president for our coun-
try. As a constitutional cen-
trist his focus is on U.S. cit-
izens, and irst and foremost
his actions are based on our
constitution.
As a veteran, he has the
political courage to stand up
for each citizen of this coun-
try. He knows what needs
to be done domestically and
internationally. He comes
from working class roots, and
he’s no political insider. Stand
up for America, vote Veterans
Party of America. In Oregon,
please write-in Chris Kenis-
ton (president)/Deacon Taylor
(vice president) on the ballot
this fall election.
The Veterans Party of
America was set up by veter-
ans, but is open to everyone.
For more information, see our
websites www.veteranspar-
tyofamerica.org and http://
chriskeniston2016.com
JIM FRYCKMAN
Lincoln City
Great performance
T
his past Sunday afternoon,
my wife and I, along with
six friends, went to the Kig-
gins Theater in Vancouver,
Washington. We were treated
to a wonderful and well-at-
tended live music perfor-
mance of Charlie Chaplin’s
“The Kid.”
Rodney Sauer, the pianist
and music arranger, and mem-
bers of the Vancouver Sym-
phony Orchestra — violin-
ist Eva Richey, cellist Dieter
Ratzlaf, Bruce Dunn on trum-
pet and Igor Shakhman on
clarinet — provided the most
excellent and lively accompa-
niment to Charlie Chaplin’s
poignant creation. The audi-
The most valuable and
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ence responded with a stand-
ing ovation at the completion
of the performance.
What a wonderful oppor-
tunity for the community to
enjoy the Vancouver Sym-
phony Chamber Series in such
a lovely historic theater. Cer-
tainly we will plan to drive the
distance to enjoy more such
ine offerings.
Following the perfor-
mance, we walked about eight
blocks to enjoy a delicious
dinner with most excellent
service at La Bottega Restau-
rant at 19th and Main streets.
ART LIMBIRD
Warrenton
Helpful community
T
his Monday, around 5
p.m., I was taking my
daily walk and was on West
Marine Drive just past the
Dairy Queen, on the river
side of the road. I was walk-
ing with my canvas carry bag
for bottles and had my jacket
off my shoulders. Trafic was
light but I did notice an ambu-
lance driving slowly towards
the trafic circle.
A minute or so later I heard
a vehicle coming my way,
but it was off the road since I
could hear gravel crunching. I
looked and saw an ambulance
stopping. I thought that they
had just picked a nice place to
park and eat lunch or dinner.
Robin (her name tag said)
got out and walked up to me
and asked me if I was OK. I
told her that I felt just ine,
and was on an evening walk.
She told me that someone
had seen me walking and was
worried that I was in trou-
ble, so they called to have me
checked out. She then gave
me a nice smile and got back
into the ambulance.
Sigh. Not a minute later,
another gentleman stopped his
pickup truck to see if I needed
a ride. It’s nice that there are
concerned people in this town,
and that they took the time to
do something.
My pride was a bit hurt
because while I am certainly
in the senior generation, I did
not think that I looked that
decrepit.
CHUCK MEYER
Astoria
Different views
R
ecent opinions by The
Daily Astorian editorial
board have indicated a shift to
the political right. This is in
contrast to the many years of
the paper’s left-leaning ten-
dencies. My sense is that this
is a necessary inclusion of
alternative perspective in an
attempt to counter the biases
among the people of this com-
munity. I tilt left politically,
but I am not fearful of any dif-
fering points of view. In fact, I
welcome them. A closed mind
is terrible thing to waste.
BOB POTTER
Astoria
Too bad
G
ov. Kate Brown/Oracle.
Obama/Iran. What is the
difference? Too bad we have
no one else to vote for. We
can’t afford the stupid politi-
cians we have.
DICK DARBY
Astoria
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