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THE ASTORIAN • TuESdAy, MAy 7, 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
OUR VIEW
Please leave artifacts in place
‘L
ooting” isn’t a word that
crops up very often in
local news coverage,
so it caused a degree of consterna-
tion last month when it was applied
to a theft inside Lewis and Clark
National Historical Park.
Thefts from recognized and
unrecognized archaeological sites
are, however, a pressing concern
all around the world — one that
deserves local attention.
Most humans are acquisitive
creatures, and some activities that
professional archaeologists might
define as looting are regarded in
a far more benign light by partici-
pants. Many who live in more arid
areas of the West look for Indian
arrowheads and other stone arti-
facts with no ill intent, even though
picking them up on federal prop-
erty is almost always a violation of
the law. Depending on individual
state laws, even collecting artifacts
on private property may be legally
problematic.
Looting archaeological objects
for profit is an even more seri-
ous problem worldwide, with the
spread of metal detectors — along
with lax enforcement — opening
many sites to commercial exploita-
tion. The spoils often end up being
sold online. Even in the U.S., there
is an ongoing crisis relating to
thefts from ancient Indian sites,
along with fossils from widespread
paleontological sites in the West.
Why is any of this a problem?
For one thing, “finders, keepers”
is not a valid legal doctrine. The
theft of objects from public prop-
erty is a theft from all of us, and
robs the future of opportunities to
better understand the past. Theft of
Native American objects is a partic-
ular insult, as tribal members prop-
THE THEFT OF
OBJECTS FROM PuBLIC
PROPERTy IS A THEFT
FROM ALL OF uS, ANd
ROBS THE FuTuRE OF
OPPORTuNITIES TO
BETTER uNdERSTANd
THE PAST.
National Park Service
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park conservation intern Kelli Daffron measures
where looters disturbed an archaeological site near the park’s Netul River Trail.
erly regard such things as import-
ant links to ancestors and cultural
patrimony.
From a scientific perspective,
removing an object from the con-
text in which it was located robs
it of much of its value. A particu-
lar kind of stone projectile found in
a specific soil stratum might tell an
important story about a previously
unknown past, while it becomes
merely a pretty piece of rock once
removed without careful study of
where it was. In a real-world exam-
ple of this, an archaeological dig
at one of the national park’s sites
on the Washington shore of the
Columbia found humble beads,
broken pottery and other objects
that revealed it to be the likely
home of legendary Chinook Chief
Comcomly, and one of the original
international trade marts on what
we now call the Pacific Rim.
The looting at Fort Clatsop
apparently did not involve Indian
material, or far less Lewis and
Clark items, which are vanishingly
rare. But it could have told some
other notable story about our fore-
bears here in the Columbia-Pacific
region. So little attention used to be
paid to the lives of ordinary work-
ing people that an archaeological
site associated with them might tell
us some meaningful story about
life here a century or more ago.
As this area becomes ever more
densely populated, it’s crucial that
we all bear these issues in mind.
Metal detecting is fun and legiti-
mate. But when it comes to serious
artifacts and potential archaeolog-
ical sites, the real fun stems from
calling in the professionals to see
what they can learn and share about
this area’s fascinating past.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Taylor for Sunset Empire
support Larry Taylor for Position 1 on
the Sunset Empire Transportation Dis-
trict Board. Larry’s two decades of expe-
rience as a manager for a high-tech firm in
the Willamette Valley (now retired) make
him a great asset for the district.
He understands complex, involved
budgeting, is a skilled negotiator, has a
level head and is uniformly considerate in
working with others. He shows respect to
others both in the workplace and in less
formal settings.
He is committed to working to expand
and upgrade the services the district pro-
vides, and understands how critical reli-
able and safe bus service is for those who
depend on the local transit system to help
them shop, get to work, attend classes and
access medical providers.
He is patient, very articulate, meets
others on an even keel, is very forthright
and handles difficult people with great
skill. I can strongly recommend him for
the Sunset Empire Transportation District
Board.
DAVE KRUGER
Astoria
I
Help ducks, not people?
n The Daily Astorian on April 30, the
front-page article in the right-hand col-
umn was titled, “Homeless on the margins
for suicide prevention: County struggles to
find resources.”
And, just to the left of that article we
see, “Missing Mom: Orphan ducklings get
extra care at Wildlife Center of the North
Coast.”
That juxtaposition would be funny … if
it weren’t so sad.
JULIE SNYDER
Brownsmead
I
Lead from the front
y Republican friends, the threat to
our country is not from the poor
souls fleeing violence arriving at our
Southern border. Nor is it from Democrats
trying to make sure you have health care,
M
child care, a livable minimum wage and a
plan to battle climate change.
No, the threat to our nation is from
Russia attacking our democracy, and the
current occupant of the White House
denying all evidence of it, and obstructing
any inquiry into it.
What follows is a letter I wrote to U.S.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, and I urge you to
do the same:
It is time for Congress to act. Enough
is enough. The Trump strategy to deny,
delay, distract, disrupt and disinform is
shredding our Constitution. It is time to
stand up to this bully once and for all.
Enough with Democrats making the
political calculus of whether this helps
or hurts the chances of voting him out of
office. Enough with waiting to see if the
public supports impeachment, or worry-
ing if the Republicans in the Senate would
convict.
In the Nixon era the public was not
in favor of impeachment when the hear-
ings began, and the Republican party was
strongly in support of Nixon. Look how
that turned out.
Stop leading from behind. Lead from
the front. Do your job and uphold your
oath to defend our Constitution. Protect
our nation and our democracy from this
authoritarian demagogue and his minions.
ERIC HALPERIN
Gearhart
Spending our tax dollars
lections have consequences. And not
just at the national level. People we
elect in the May 21 county special district
elections help decide how to spend your
tax dollars. They decide about policies,
budgets and key personnel.
These volunteers serve on the boards of
our school districts, fire districts, the Port
of Astoria, the college board, health dis-
tricts, the Sunset Empire Transportation
District and more.
Check out the 88 Clatsop County res-
idents who have stepped up as candi-
dates for the boards of the special districts.
Many of them are in the county elections
booklet mailed to all voters. Thanks to all
of them for offering their time, talents and
E
work to benefit our county.
If you don’t receive your ballot by May
8, or if you need to replace it, contact the
county elections office at 503-325-8605.
You can also stop by the office at 820
Exchange St., second floor, in Astoria.
Don’t sit on the sidelines. Don’t let
other people decide for you which candi-
date is best. Vote, even if you don’t love
every candidate. Support candidates who
want to make their district the best it can
be. If you don’t vote or speak up, how
will your elected officials know what you
want?
Be a voter. Turn in your ballot by
8 p.m. on May 21. Postmarks don’t count.
LAURIE CAPLAN
Astoria
MacDonald, Gaebel for
Sunset Empire
special district is a nonpartisan gov-
ernmental body led by an elected
board whose focus is solely devoted to
the district’s reason for existence. Sunset
Empire Transportation District focuses on
one item only — transportation for Clat-
sop County residents, visitors and tourists.
Since the district’s financial downfall
eight years ago, SETD has risen to being
a rural transit district respected throughout
Oregon and beyond.
A
While SETD will never be the size,
or have the number of routes or the tax
money that a transit district such as TriMet
in the Portland area has, we have moved
forward in many ways. The board has
worked hard together, made difficult deci-
sions, carefully watched the financials and
taken steps intended to increase ridership.
In 2016 the board adopted a transporta-
tion plan after spending 18 months talking
with the public via open houses, stake-
holder interviews and surveys in order to
get the public’s opinion of needed transit
changes. Additional frequency on High-
way 101 was added, and Route 15 was
added to better serve Warrenton.
Fares were lowered to $1 per ride,
replacing the higher zone rates. The cost
of monthly passes, including low-income
passes, was lowered. Electric buses, better
for the environment, are being discussed.
A transit app was added that can predict
your bus’s arrival time.
The board realizes the need for
increased routes and less wait times.
These issues are being addressed. Service
improvement priorities recommended by
the Transit Advisory Committee will begin
in June.
Please join me in retaining the incum-
bent members of the board by voting for
Tracy MacDonald and Lylla Gaebel.
CAROL GEARIN
Warrenton