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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TuESDAY, JANuARY 15, 2019
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
Founded in 1873
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
WRITER’S NOTEBOOK
World in torment cries out for kindness
A
merica is sick.
How are we going to heal it?
That’s the premise of this col-
umn. If you are not prepared to be part
of the solution, then don’t bother to read
on.
Three years ago, I penned a column
in this newspaper headlined, “The six
things wrong with the America I love.”
I addressed civility (missing), vio-
lence (far too much),
leadership (lacking),
taxes (too low), religion
(not sufficiently separate
from state) and protest
(insufficient).
I thought it would
PATRICK
garner reaction, spirited
WEBB
discussion, maybe even
action. Reactions were
generally favorable,
though disappointedly few and muted.
One reply came from a friend of a
former news colleague who reached
out with clarity and forcefulness: “You
know, if you don’t like the way we are
here in the USA, don’t try to change us
(your country tried in 1776 and failed).
Wouldn’t it be easier for you to just go
back to England?”
At least it was polite hate mail!
In case you haven’t noticed, my
native England is rather messed up too.
It would take too long to explain why; in
short, the kingdom is not united.
So, America, you are stuck with me,
for better for worse. I feel an obligation
to try to make our world a better place.
And, as a first-generation immigrant, the
United States has been my home for the
past 38 years.
Diversity of thought
One worldwide organization of
which I am a local leader is consider-
ing its first social media guidelines for
members in Washington, where I live.
These will encourage civility among
those who publicly identify as members.
My knee-jerk reaction was that I don’t
want my “free speech” curtailed. Later, I
embraced the wisdom behind guidelines,
especially in a fraternity whose major
tenets are tolerance and cementing the
universal “brotherhood of man.” Admit-
tedly, I did wonder whether, before the
guidelines are published, I should hurry
to post again on my political views, but
so far I have restrained myself.
Facebook is part of the problem, but
such flexible and easy-to-access opin-
ion-sharing options may prove to be
a solution to unite us. I was cynical at
first, but now enjoy its group-hug capa-
bility. It is a terrible way to learn about
a death, but posting immediate tributes
has a slight healing effect. I deliberately
link with people whose political views
differ from mine. I believe I can learn a
lot. We must endure in some semblance
of harmony.
I have “unfriended” three regional
members of my club in recent months,
turned off by their bigoted snarling.
But generally I welcome diversity in
thought. One example is a favorite for-
mer colleague in the Midwest, one of
three people on my “friends” list I con-
sider a genius. He is a fervent right-
to-lifer. It is educational to watch him
argue his points, despite my view that all
women should chose when or whether
they have kids, which is diametrically
opposed to his beliefs.
never voted into power (H. Clinton).
False comparisons and backward fin-
ger-pointing are irrelevant.
I actually dislike these fictional
postings a tad more than the ones from
bigots who truly want to make Amer-
ica hate again. Progressives and con-
servatives are equally guilty. When
I point these out as false — as we
SO, APART FROM CIVILITY, WHAT CAN
INDIVIDuALS DO TO MAKE OuR WORLD A
BETTER PLACE? ... HOW ABOuT SPEAKING uP
WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG OR SOMEONE’S
BEHAVIOR IS INAPPROPRIATE?
‘Well, it sounds true’
Despite Facebook’s widespread
cruelty, it offers many good things. It
is refreshing to view parents of 4-H
members describing their children’s
successes at the county fair. I don’t
own a pet, but I mostly find yours
cute. Gretchen Allen’s giant dogs are
a true delight. I see some truly tasty
meals on display, especially those cre-
ated by Sergey Antonov, our beloved
mountain-climbing cellist. But I also
observe people — whom I otherwise
like and respect — posting obvious
lies about their political opponents,
some of whom are no longer in power
(B. Clinton, Bush, Obama) or were
should all feel obliged to do — the
predominant response is, “well, it
sounds true.” These self-publishers
wouldn’t last one day as a newspaper
“gatekeeper,” an important fact-check-
ing role that’s been regrettably dimin-
ished in today’s partisan world. During
the McCarthy era, Arthur Miller wrote
a play about the Puritan-era equiva-
lent of untrue rumormongering in an
evil place named Salem. It certainly
resonates.
What to do?
So, apart from civility, what can
individuals do to make our world a
better place?
How about speaking up when some-
thing is wrong or someone’s behavior
is inappropriate? Last summer, I found
myself in a North Coast retail estab-
lishment when a gentleman I know
was berating the counter clerk over
prices. Looking back, I regret staying
silent. What a coward I was!
How about some courtesy? Maybe
it is time for us all to re-read “All I
Really Need To Know I Learned In
Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum.
I genuinely believe deep down,
most share a common goal of making
our communities a better place. How
we get there should be the topic of
civil, truthful discourse; it will be such
a better journey if the tone is polite.
Unexpected kindness goes a long
way. Two winters ago, Karen Harrell
placed a rack in the covered alley out-
side Long Beach Pharmacy in Wash-
ington and invited residents to place
coats and other warm clothing there
— free for people in need. She did
it again just before last Christmas.
Some people abused this opportu-
nity, taking multiple items, then sell-
ing them online, but I hope they were
the minority. As the coats disappeared,
residents kindly replenished the sup-
plies. Actions like this signal fresh
hope for our society.
Where do we go from here? Up!
Who’s with me?
Patrick Webb is the retired manag-
ing editor of The Daily Astorian.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thanks to Seaside Rotary
for Christmas gifts
’m writing to thank the Seaside Rotary
and volunteers for their wonderful gen-
erosity to the children of Seaside this
past Christmas. Those children, and their
families, were given gifts donated by the
community and coordinated into an event
that will be remembered for many years
to come.
This Christmas was better for so many
because of the care and efforts of the
Rotarians, an outstanding group of peo-
ple. Thank you again.
BARB MILLER
Seaside
I
Nation heading
for a train wreck
view the road ahead of our nation as
if we are on a fast train, running down
a steep grade, where at the bottom there
are several hidden curves. Some on this
ride are rapidly jettisoning most of our
mores, which in the past had the effect
of stabilizing us. Others could care less
what happens, as long as they profit along
the way. Unless some things change, I
fear that we are in for a train wreck as
the wheels come off. The possibility
exists that we find ourselves falling into
a chasm that engulfs us from engine to
caboose.
“Oh,” you say, “Some of these mores
are evil, shouldn’t they be rejected?” Peo-
ple being what they are, I would agree
that things like bigotry and greed are
sinful traits of man. But, to jettison the
I
good with the bad is what Martin Luther
referred to as, “Throwing the baby out
with the bath water.”
What will end up replacing the teach-
ings of Jesus Christ in western civiliza-
tion? It will be the very thing that explor-
ers and missionaries confronted when
they discovered new peoples across the
globe: paganism. Those who favor these
“new” mores need to realize what comes
next.
Yes, free sex and lots of it, but also
such things as cannibalism, devil wor-
ship, child prostitution, wife subjugation,
ritual human sacrifices, and many more
evil practices like these. Is this what you
desire for America? Just check out the
book “Lords of the Earth” by Don Rich-
ardson on Amazon.
CARL YATES
Seaside
Stop smart meter extortion
acific Power is installing “smart”
meters in Clatsop County, beginning
in Astoria, presenting them as a necessary
upgrade, whether we want them or not.
It seems choice is not an option, unless
you’ve got $432 extra ($36 a month) to
burn every year to keep your old meter;
installing their new meter is free (bit.
ly/2QrXsZI). This amounts to no choice
at all. Take it or take it.
The Oregon Public Utility Commis-
sion is allowing Pacific Power to charge
this exorbitant opt-out fee in direct viola-
tion of existing Oregon state laws, and we
need to reverse them. California utility
customers are charged $10 a month for
P
the first three years only, with financial
assistance available.
Why opt out? Fires in the U.K.
have been caused by these meters (bit.
ly/2RBT1jC), which have 160 times
more cumulative whole body radiation
exposure than cell phones (bit.ly/2C-
3CdYZ), well-documented health prob-
lems from radiation in homes, businesses
and schools, inaccuracy and overcharges,
loss of local family-wage jobs and poten-
tial repair and power outage delays due to
short-staffing — these are some reasons.
Because these meters monitor every
“smart” device inside the building, your
“smart” phone can turn your refrigerator
on and off anytime, from anywhere. So
can Pacific Power. Or a hacker.
For our health, jobs, basic freedoms
and property rights, we need real choice
without penalty: To opt out without pro-
hibitive surcharges. Our city councils, our
county commissioners and our state rep-
resentatives should all support us in this
basic right.
CHRISTOPHER PADDON
Astoria
Snarky cartoon
see the snarky cartoon in the opinion
section on Jan. 10 showed two little
crosses stating that here are two bricks for
President Donald Trump’s wall (“Another
Brick in Trump’s Wall” by Christopher
Weyant). I guess we can fill in the rest
of the wall with those killed by undocu-
mented immigrants?
By the way, if parents in this country
did that to those two poor little children,
I
they would be arrested for child neglect,
not funded by a GoFundMe account.
GARY WILLIAMS
Warrenton
Politicians need to show
leadership, courage
ur Coast Guard deserves representa-
tion by politicians with real leadership.
“Coast Guard families told they can
have garage sales to cope with govern-
ment shutdown.” I read that headline in
the Washington Post, and couldn’t believe
it. I have been a fisherman for years, and
worked in the marine insurance indus-
try. All mariners go to sea knowing that
freak accidents and disasters can happen
at any time. We go with the knowledge
that highly trained Coast Guard men and
women are standing watch and ready to
respond to any hazardous situation.
These young men and women risk their
lives every day to save American lives
and property. They deserve better than an
American government that tells them, “We
can’t pay you, but you have to stay on the
job.” Telling them that they can can have
garage sales, or get jobs as babysitters
or dog walkers to make ends meet, is an
embarrassment to me as an American, and
our nation as a whole.
Our president and our Republican and
Democratic members of Congress were
elected to lead the nation. Lead. Stop the
game playing. Show the leadership and the
courage that the young men and women of
the Coast Guard exhibit every day.
MIKE BECKER
Newport
O