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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2017)
Page 6 August 2, 2017 New Prices Effective April 1, 2017 O PINION Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services Minimum Service CHG. $50.00 A small distance/travel charge may be applied CARPET CLEANING 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 each Area Pre-Spray Traffic Areas (Includes: 1 small Hallway) 1 Cleaning Area (only) $50.00 Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area (Hallway Extra) Stairs (12-16 stairs - With Other Services) : $30.00 Area/Oriental Rugs: $25.00 Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool) : $40.00 Minimum Heavily Soiled Area: $10.00 each area (Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying) UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Sofa: $69.00 Loveseat: $49.00 Sectional: $109 - $139 Chair or Recliner: $25.00 - $49.00 Throw Pillows (With Other Services) : $5.00 ADDITIONAL SERVICES • Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning • Deodorizing & Pet Odor Treatment • Spot & Stain Removal Service • Scotchguard Protection • Minor Water Damage Services SEE CURRENT FLYER FOR ADDITIONAL PRICES & SERVICES Call for Appointment (503) 281-3949 Clearly Inappropriate and More ‘Alternative Facts’ Trump’s Jamboree travesty r obert J. b yers I don’t blame the Boy Scouts for President Donald Trump’s bizarre speech at the Na- tional Jamboree in West Virginia last week. The U.S. president is, after all, the honorary president of the Scouts. If he wants to speak at the National Jamboree, it would be hard to say no. I don’t blame the boys in the audience who took the bait and booed Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama or who chanted “USA! USA!” in response to Trump’s childish cues. They’re impres- sionable kids. I’m long past laying blame at the feet of the electorate. It gets us nowhere. And, honestly, it’s hard to even blame Trump. He’s just being himself — inappropriate, un- hinged, narcissistic. But, as an Eagle Scout, I’m still disappointed at what is yet by another stain on the Boy Scouts program. After finally pulling itself from the mire of discrimination against gay Scouts and leaders, Scouting is on a path to right the ship and lure an- other new generation to its ranks. West Virginia’s Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, home of the Na- tional Jamboree, is proof of that. Throughout the past week, this paper has had numerous stories and photos showing Scouts hav- ing fun and working in our com- munities. We’ve also explored the economic impact that 40,000 Scouts, troop leaders and others can bring to an area. And, unfortunately, we’ve also shown how quickly all of that can be tarnished for the benefit of one man’s ego. Speaking to the children as if they were voters, Trump said his election was “an unbelievable tribute to you and all of the oth- er millions and millions of peo- ple that came out and voted for ‘Make America Great Again.’ ” He recounted the Elector- al College breakdown, trying for the umpteenth time to relive the victory he claimed on that night in November. He revisited the Merry Christmas non-issue. He made false claims about the press. He made threats about the health care vote. He basically defied most of the 12 points in the Scout Law — you know, the one that includes terms like trustworthy, loyal, friendly, courteous, kind. But, then again, Trump has made his presidency about defy- ing storied American institutions. The free press comes to mind. The backlash against the Boy Scouts over Trump’s speech led the organization to put out a statement on Tuesday: “The Boy Scouts of America is wholly nonpartisan and does not promote any one position, prod- uct, service, political candidate, or philosophy. The invitation for the sitting U.S. president to visit the National Jamboree is a long-standing tradition and is in no way an endorsement of any political party or specific poli- cies.” Of course, that’s not really a response, just a reiteration of the Scouts’ stance on these matters. The response has been large- ly panned as not being strong enough. I can’t say I’m surprised the Scouts wouldn’t say more. It would be a tricky move to come out and disavow some of Trump’s remarks, embarrassing their hon- orary president and making an enemy of the nation’s top loose cannon. But, just for the sake of argu- ment, what if the statement in- cluded a few more sentences: “Furthermore, the Boy Scouts of America is first and foremost about kids, about building strong kids with a strong resolve. It is about honesty. It is about suc- ceeding — with humility. It is about service and instilling the drive to help others. It is about encouraging our peers to rise to the challenge and offering a hand when needed. It is about civility.” That’s the Scouting that I re- member. One man playing the fool can’t change that. Robert J. Byers, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is the executive editor of the Charleston Ga- zette-Mail in Charleston, West Virginia.