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THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, AuguST 8, 2020
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
Founded in 1873
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
GUEST COLUMN
Millions of Maris
ear Mari,
firsthand what many people discover only
Watching your dance recital
when they are much older: that the best,
on Zoom the other night, I saw
most important things in life offer choices
your joy as you performed the dances
and responsibility, with possibilities for
you’d been practicing for months.
joy and achievement. Because you care so
You couldn’t hear the applause of the
much about dance, you’re eager to give
other grandparents scat-
it energy and attention so
tered around the coun-
you can be your best and
try, and my impres-
do your best — and make
sion is that you really
the dancing look easy.
didn’t need to. The joy
It seems to me that
was coming from within
ballet is like democracy. A
you, along with the sat-
dancer must master those
isfaction of accomplish-
essential basic positions
ing something meaning-
for feet and the rest of the
ful to yourself. You made
body. They are the foun-
dation for doing every-
standing on your toes
thing else in ballet. If you
while dancing in place
can’t do those basic posi-
look easy. As if.
MILLIONS
tions, you can’t do ballet.
I remember when you
Like ballet, democ-
started ballet lessons 10
OF VOTERS
racy is stunningly mag-
years ago. You loved
nificent when it goes well
being with the other stu-
dETERMINE
dents, wearing a leo-
— when people make the
THE CHARACTER choices and do the work
tard and ballet shoes and
being in the mirrored
that keep it thriving.
OF A TOWN
dance studio.
The first essential step
You worked hard to
is to be a voter. Every
OR STATE OR
learn the five basic ballet
election, no exceptions.
COuNTRy.
positions for the feet and
Voting inspires more
then the eight positions
skills — like telling
for the body. And each year, it got easier
elected representatives what you want,
and harder at the same time.
staying informed about the news, sup-
porting issues and candidates you care
You mastered steps and positions that
about, writing letters to the editor, pro-
had been really difficult. Then it was on
testing, volunteering and even running for
to the next level, with sequined costumes,
office.
partnering with other dancers and chore-
ography to match the mood and tempo of
Voting means you claim your stake in
the music.
the outcome and you want your opinion
You’ve shown me how much you want
heard. Voting means you know that your
to learn ballet. You practice even when
voice and your choice matter.
it isn’t fun, when you’re tired, when you
Dancers work with people they might
can’t figure out the steps. You go to les-
not like but who share their passion for
sons, now virtual, even when you’d rather
dance. They create a corps de ballet —
play Minecraft with your brothers. You
dancers working together to create some-
thing beautiful, something that a dancer
take the hours needed to prep a new pair
can’t do alone.
of pointe shoes — what my generation
That’s the surprise of democracy, too.
called toe shoes. You know that if you
Millions of voters determine the character
don’t do it right, you can’t dance correctly,
of a town or state or country. Sometimes
and even worse, you could injure yourself.
the result is beautiful.
I’m thrilled you’ve already learned
D
Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian
Laurie Caplan is the chairwoman of Indivisible North Coast Oregon.
Many of us thought democracy main-
tained itself. We were perilously wrong.
We’ve learned that it’s fragile and break-
able, that it’s easy to do it badly and that
people get hurt when we are careless with
it. In fact, democracy needs a whole lot
of care from a whole lot of Americans
to make it achieve what it’s capable of
doing.
We’ve seen what happens in America
and other countries when people aren’t
allowed to speak freely, gather to protest,
criticize the government, or vote.
We’ve grown complacent and allowed
some elected leaders to skip the basics
in our mistaken belief that democracy is
inevitable and indestructible. Democracy
lives only when most citizens commit to
its survival.
If we want to have a democracy, we
have to keep doing all the things required
to keep it, starting with being an informed
voter.
When we were together last year, you
coached me as we practiced the five basic
positions for the feet. I was rusty and not
particularly graceful, but was thrilled that
I remembered those positions from my
childhood lessons.
It’s that way with democracy, too. I
love that I get to keep doing democracy,
regardless of age or agility. I can still
vote. I can still make my voice heard.
In just four years, you’ll be old enough
to be a voter. I’m glad you already pay
attention to the news and follow issues
that matter to you. I’m glad you think
about what kind of community and coun-
try you want to live in. I look forward to
watching you do democracy.
You were one dancer on the stage.
Imagine millions of Maris giving Amer-
ican democracy the same energy and
enthusiasm you gave to your dance
recital.
Imagine every American voting. Imag-
ine every American eagerly working to
make democracy thrive. Oh my, what a
magnificent sight that will be!
Love always,
Grandma Laurie
Laurie Caplan, the chairwoman of
Indivisible North Coast Oregon, lives in
Astoria. This guest column is one of sev-
eral being published by The Astorian in
August to mark the 100th anniversary of
the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed
women the right to vote.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Any good?
O
ur governor has recently increased
the requirements for mask usage. I
see lots of cute designer and serious-as-a-
heart-attack surgeons’ masks in use. We
know from countless admonitions that this
is “saving lives.”
Now, are the Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention suggestions and gover-
nor requirements doing any good?
Let’s see how that works. Right now
there is an increase of reported infections.
There is a corresponding increase in the
required use of masks. Using the CDC’s
methodology, one of two things is true:
The masks cause the increase, or they are
ineffective.
ROBERT LIDDYCOAT
Seaside
Delusion
D
elusion is believing something that’s
false in spite of indisputable evidence
to the contrary. President Donald Trump’s
incessant claim that we would have way
fewer COVID-19 cases if we just didn’t
test so much is a perfect example, among
many that he exhibits every day.
It’s like saying you only have five fin-
gers, if you just don’t look at your other
hand. Keep it in your pocket, maybe.
Those cases — and fingers — exist, folks,
whether or not we look at them.
And continuing to support him and his
presidency is just as deluded. We’re lucky
to have survived it as well as we have, so
far. Allowing it to continue is intolerable.
JOSEPH WEBB
Astoria
Please vote
A
nn Richards, the former governor of
Texas, once said, “It is not always
good things happen when good people
vote. But it is true that bad things happen
when good people don’t vote.”
I wonder if the Founding Fathers
thought of that when they set up the Amer-
ican experiment in democracy. I’ll bet they
did, since they came up with the concept
of government by the people. One person
— one vote.
If government is a reflection of what the
majority of people want, and it’s supposed
to be, then all citizens voting is import-
ant to determine our government. Sounds
good, but rarely happens.
Americans believe majority rules.
Right? Considering the number of eligible
voters who don’t vote, or don’t get to vote,
LETTERS WELCOME
Letters should be exclusive to The
Astorian. Letters should be fewer than
250 words and must include the writ-
er’s name, address and phone num-
ber. You will be contacted to confirm
authorship. All letters are subject to
editing for space, grammar and factual
accuracy. Only two letters per writer
are allowed each month. Letters writ-
ten in response to other letter writ-
ers should address the issue at hand,
and, rather than mentioning the writer
it’s rare the true will of the majority of cit-
izens is expressed, which means minority
rules. Do the math.
This contributes, in my opinion, two
problems our country faces and strug-
gles to solve. Research shows vote by mail
can raise voter turnout. It’s not the whole
answer, but it for sure helps.
Voting determines not only what our
country does, but also how much effort is
put into solving each problem. Our coun-
try belongs to all of us, and the path that
takes should be determined by the major-
ity of all citizens. That’s real government
by the people.
Here’s to you, Ann Richards, for
reminding us of the importance of voting.
Thomas Jefferson said democracy will last
as long as enough people care to defend it.
Our democracy needs us. Please vote.
CARL DOMINEY
Astoria
by name, should refer to the head-
line and date the letter was published.
Discourse should be civil and people
should be referred to in a respectful
manner. Letters in poor taste will not
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Doing the right thing
A
s the COVID-19 pandemic contin-
ues in Clatsop County, the Public
Health Department has actively partnered
with employers to prevent and control
the spread of the virus by implementing
preventative best practices and working
closely to address outbreaks.
It is through these private-public part-
nerships that we do our best work in
responding to this unpredictable and
highly contagious virus. We are commit-
ted to work in unison with our private
sector partners to protect employees and
the general public and simultaneously
support the viability and operations of
the businesses.
This private-public partnership has
been particularly visible with local sea-
food processors. Our community has
benefitted by the collaborative and trans-
parent responses of Bornstein’s and Da
Yang. Both businesses supported the
establishment of Public Health test-
ing clinics for all employees and con-
tact tracing for positive and presumptive
cases.
The respective businesses worked dil-
igently with Public Health every step of
the way to ensure the health and safety of
their employees and the broader commu-
nity was the top priority.
The Clatsop County Board of Com-
missioners and Public Health staff appre-
ciate the quick and decisive steps these
two seafood processors took to tempo-
rarily stop production, sanitize facilities,
support employee testing, provide access
to public health and safety information in
a linguistically and culturally-appropriate
manner and assist with contact tracing.
Clatsop County publicly recognizes
Bornstein’s and Da Yang for their com-
mitment to public health and safety
and willing cooperation with the Public
Health Department. We sincerely hope
we don’t have any more outbreaks of
COVID in these facilities; but, if we do,
we know these two companies will do
the right thing.
Thank you very much!
KATHLEEN SULLIVAN
SARAH NEBEKER
MARK KUJALA
PAMELA WEV
LIANNE THOMPSON
Clatsop County Board of
Commissioners
MICHAEL McNICKLE
Director, Clatsop County Public
Health Department