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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 2019)
A4 THE ASTORIAN • TuESdAy, AuguST 6, 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 Depravity of humanity knows no bounds T he depravity of humanity knows no bounds. Witness the carnage in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, this past week- end — and Gilroy, California, the previous weekend. The mass shootings killed more than 30 people, including the Day- ton gunman’s sister. Dozens more were wounded, and irreparable holes torn in families, friendships and communities. Even the insurance industry rec- ognizes the escalating number of mass shootings in the U.S., offer- ing special insurance coverages for such attacks. Yet the United States remains paralyzed when it comes to solutions. We invaded Afghanistan and embroiled the country in a still-end- less 16-year war when almost 3,000 people were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks. But we shrugged when 300,000 people were killed by gun violence at home in the decade fol- lowing Sept. 11, and continue to do nothing as more than 30,000 con- tinue to die each year. We know that our politicians, including President Donald Trump, will continue to take their blood money from the National Rifle Association and look the other way. So how can we collaboratively work on actual solutions to gun violence and recruit state and federal officials to support our efforts? One priority should be to diag- nose and confront the root causes of firearms violence. We are in a public health crisis, and the feel-good mea- sures offered — including the omni- bus gun control bill proposed by Oregon legislators this year — will do nothing to address the epidemic of violence. We need substantial federal and state investments in trustworthy, bias-free research into the underly- ing factors for all kinds of gun vio- AP Photo/Andres Leighton Rene Aguilar and Jackie Flores pray at a makeshift memorial for the victims of Saturday’s mass shooting at a shopping complex in El Paso, Texas. lence. Mass shootings, which have claimed 127 lives so far this year, make the headlines in America. But they are a small percentage of the firearm-related deaths and injuries that occur each year; indeed, each weekend. We know that in Oregon, as gen- erally is true in other states, most deaths by firearms are suicides involving handguns. Firearms are involved in more than 90 percent of murder-suicides and of gang-re- lated homicides. Firearms are used in 65 percent of the deaths of inti- mate partners. Those numbers are irrefutable. So is the reality that population-ad- justed death rates are higher in much of rural Oregon, where firearms are a part of our culture. And so, our concerns about gun violence should be just as deep as anywhere in the country. Many of the violence-preven- tion ideas coming out of Salem are well-intentioned but would accom- plish little and thus are a waste of time. But it is counterproductive, and wasteful as well, to spend our time vilifying those proposals and their advocates on social media. We must end the stigma, espe- cially among men, against getting counseling and other help in deal- ing with anger, depression and other aspects of behavioral health. Obtaining treatment for mental health should be just as normal — and needed — as getting treatment for a broken leg and other physical conditions. An excellent example is the behavioral health forums for vet- erans that will be held throughout state in the coming weeks — from Astoria to Baker City, from Port- land to Pendleton and towns in-be- tween. The Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Vet- erans Affairs are to be commended for soliciting ideas from thousands of veterans and then launching the community forums, including in Astoria on Aug. 20. We need to move as quickly as possible to take advantage of the funding that will be coming through the Oregon Student Success Act for behavioral health programs in our local schools. Students and legisla- tors agreed that youth want and need much greater access to behavioral health services, including school counselors and therapists. Innova- tive models for providing those ser- vices, and for overcoming bullying and related destructive behaviors, exist around the state. We must seek out and build on those good ideas. We must honor our rural culture and frontier heritage while help- ing people become better at han- dling handle disagreements instead of resorting to violence. Families, churches, schools and civic lead- ers all have a role in teaching and embracing such lessons instead of looking the other way. And we also must spread the word about pro- grams that help people safely escape abusive households. Without falling victim to fear amid the news coverage of mass shootings, we need practical train- ing in dealing with security issues and whom to alert when we have concerns. We must take all these steps not because national and state politi- cians say so, but because these are steps that make sense for our com- munity. As neighbors, we must be willing to talk rationally with one another about violence, about fire- arms and about building a safer, healthier community. LETTERS Making a mark T he Lower Columbia Hispanic Coun- cil has been privileged to have had Jorge Gutierrez as our executive director for six years. As it happens with talented people, he is leaving the position for a great opportunity in Seattle. The area Latino community, as well as the community at large, will feel the void. Jorge arrived when the Hispanic Coun- cil was struggling to survive. He came, and having had no experience with social work, completely turned the organiza- tion from a one-man show, a struggling board and a skimpy budget to a team of eight staff members and a full-functioning board of directors. He wrote grants for programs related to the Oregon Health Plan, school pro- grams for students and their parents, such as Abriendo Puertas and Juntos, Individ- ual Development Account (IDA) pro- grams through Court Appointed Special Advocates to match savings three to one to pursue higher education or to start a business, and La Cima leadership camp for youth, just to mention a few of the programs. It is rare to find quality people willing to run a nonprofit organization in a rural area such as ours. Jorge has made a mark that will be impossible to erase, and we hope to be able to find someone that will continue what he did so well. ¡Gracias Jorge! ¡Te vamos a extrañar! ROCIO LIZARRAGA SIMMONS Astoria Horrific shootings R egarding the white nationalist mas- sacres in Texas and Ohio: If any- one reading this is unsure of who inspired such a horrific action, you need only to go online. President Donald Trump’s rac- ist remarks are well-documented. You can read them yourself. They are not fit for a family newspaper. MARY TANGUAY WEBB Astoria Smooth sailing Leading us backward O I ftentimes in our daily lives we have persons who upset us. It may even be someone close, like our mate. I know the other day my wife did some- thing that ticked me off. But then I ate a piece of warm huckleberry pie she had just baked for me, and I thought, “Gosh, what a wonderful wife I have.” It’s so easy to focus on the negative in a person or situation. But let’s face it, we’re all God’s children, not perfect, and subject to error. It may take more than a piece of warm huckleberry pie, but our voyage through life will be much smoother if we focus on the good that is in all of us. Smooth sailing to you. JIM BERNARD Warrenton t’s too bad that the Trump administra- tion invited representatives of the Tim- ber Unity movement to participate in its environmental leadership conference. It taints the movement by suggesting mem- bers want to move in the same direction on climate change as Trump — backward. Timber Unity formed in opposition to the Oregon Legislature’s effort to pass a cap and trade bill. That bill was Oregon’s first attempt to get serious about slow- ing climate change. The main argument put forward by the timber industry, which led the opposition to the bill, and helped found Timber Unity, was their concern over rising fuel prices that might result if it passed. A few dollars more in fuel costs seems to me a small price to pay, considering the climate disaster the children and grand- children of the Timber Unity folks will inherit if we fail to act soon to lessen its impact. Fuel costs weren’t the real reason for the industry’s concern. Recent scientific research done at Oregon State University identifies the timber industry as the largest producer of greenhouse gases in the state. Doesn’t that make the industry and Timber Unity responsible for offering a solution to climate change, instead of obstructing? While we are waiting for their solu- tion, we should celebrate Timber Unity’s tree decal. It’s a great reminder that we need forest restoration, not more clearcuts. When you see a vehicle with the decal, show them some love. Give them a horn honk, a wave and a smile. ROGER DORBAND Astoria
