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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2015)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Wednesday, April 1, 2015 OTHER VIEWS Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN Publisher JENNINE PERKINSON Advertising Director DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor OUR VIEW )LOOLQJ QLFKHQHHGV LQ(DVWHUQ2UHJRQ$WWKH We at the EODUHIDQVRIWKH 8QLWHG:D\DQGHVSHFLDOO\RXUORFDO HQGRIWKHUHFHVVLRQLQLWZDV FKDSWHU7KDW¶VZK\LWZDVGLVWXUELQJ GRZQWR7KHODVWFRXSOH RI\HDUVLWKDVKRYHUHGDURXQG WR¿QGRXWWKHRUJDQL]DWLRQZLOO OLNHO\KDYHWRFXWIXQGLQJHQWLUHO\WR DQGWKLV\HDU¶VFDPSDLJQ KDVFRPSLOHGMXVW WKH6DOYDWLRQ$UP\DQGIRXURWKHU The Salvation ORFDOQRQSUR¿WVWKLV $UP\¶VOXQFK year. is a ,I\RX¶YHKHDUG The local United program highly visible WKHQDPHEXWGRQ¶W FDVXDOW\/DVW\HDU NQRZKRZLWZRUNV Way general WKHRUJDQL]DWLRQ WKH8QLWHG:D\ FROOHFWVGRQDWLRQV fund has shrunk VHUYHGRYHU meals to those in IURPLQGLYLGXDOV QHHG8QOHVVWKDW and distributes them so much that PRQH\FRPHVIURP WRORFDOQRQSUR¿WV somewhere else, While it may seem United Way WKHOXQFKKDOOZLOO OLNHDPLGGOHPDQ had to cut FORVH WKHIRXQGDWLRQLV $PHULFDQV YDOXDEOHIRUPDQ\ back where the DUHQ¶WJLYLQJOHVVLQ reasons. JHQHUDO$FFRUGLQJ )RURQH dollars go. to a study by H[HFXWLYHGLUHFWRU the National .ULFNHW1LFKROVRQ 3KLODQWKURSLF7UXVW goes business to DERXWSHUFHQWRIKRXVHKROGV EXVLQHVVDQGHYHQWWRHYHQWWDONLQJ JLYHPRQH\WRFKDULWLHVDQGWKH DERXWWKHJRRGZRUNFKDULWLHV average annual donation is around are doing in Eastern Oregon. $3,000. That amounts to more than That means the Salvation Army, ELOOLRQHFOLSVLQJFRUSRUDWH 3HQGOHWRQ$QLPDO:HOIDUH6KHOWHU WKH$JDSH+RXVHDQGVFRUHVRIRWKHU GRQDWLRQVZKLFKWRWDOHGDOLWWOHOHVV ORFDOJURXSVGRQ¶WKDYHWRHDFK¿QG WKDQELOOLRQ $IWHUDGLSGXULQJWKHUHFHVVLRQ WLPHWRPDNHWKHLUSLWFKDWHYHU\ event, but those interested in helping giving has trended upward again. :KHQDGMXVWHGIRULQÀDWLRQLW¶V IXQGWKHPKDYHDQHDV\DYHQXHWR higher now than it was any time do so. EHIRUH 7KH8QLWHG:D\DOVRFKHFNVXS 6RLW¶VQRWWKDWZH¶UHEHLQJ RQQRQSUR¿WVPDNLQJVXUHWKH\DUH stingier with our wallets. In this OHJLWLPDWHEHIRUHVHQGLQJPRQH\ FDVHKRZHYHUZHVHHPWRKDYH WKHLUZD\$QGWKH\RIIHUWUDLQLQJ VKLIWHGRXUSULRULWLHV0D\EH\RX RQKRZWRDSSO\IRUJUDQWVDQGJHW WKHPHVVDJHRIWKHLUZRUNRXWLQWKH have opted to support more national RULQWHUQDWLRQDOFDXVHV2UPD\EH FRPPXQLW\ When you sign up to give money \RXUFKDULW\GROODUVKDYHJRQHWR DK\SHUORFDOFDVH²DFRZRUNHU WRWKH8QLWHG:D\\RXFDQHLWKHU ZLWKKXJHPHGLFDOELOOVRUDFKXUFK GHFLGHZKHUHLWJRHVRUDOORZWKHP PLVVLRQSURMHFW WRGHFLGH7KDWJHQHUDOIXQGKDV :KDWHYHUWKHFDVHLW¶VLPSRUWDQW VKUXQNVRPXFKWKDW8QLWHG:D\KDV KDGWRFXWEDFNZKHUHWKHGROODUVJR WRUHPHPEHUWKHLQEHWZHHQVWKH FDXVHVLQRXUFRPPXQLW\WKDWDIIHFW The numbers are alarming. In the people we see every day but EHIRUHWKHUHFHVVLRQWKH GRQ¶WNQRZE\QDPH 8QLWHG:D\¶VFDPSDLJQUDLVHG Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. OTHER VIEWS 6PDOO¿[HVQHHGHGWRSHUIHFW JXQVDOHEDFNJURXQGFKHFNVELOO The (Eugene) Register-Guard 7KHGLVPD\LQJIDLOXUHRI&RQJUHVV WRDSSURYHFRPPRQVHQVHJXQFRQWUROV LQWKHZDNHRIUHFHQWPDVVVKRRWLQJV LQFOXGLQJWKHVODXJKWHURI FKLOGUHQDQGVL[HGXFDWRUVLQ1HZWRZQ &RQQKDVVKLIWHGWKHEDWWOHIRUUHIRUP WRVWDWHFDSLWDOVDQGEDOORWER[HVDFURVV the nation. :LWKD/HJLVODWXUH FRQWUROOHGLQUHFHQW \HDUVE\'HPRFUDWV DQGD'HPRFUDWLF governor, Oregon VKRXOGKDYHMRLQHG &RQQHFWLFXW1HZ <RUN'HODZDUH Washington and other states that have approved tougher gun laws. 7KDWGLGQ¶WKDSSHQ in the last two sessions ZKHQ6HQ)OR\G3UR]DQVNL'(XJHQH LQWURGXFHGSURPLVLQJSDFNDJHVRIJXQ PHDVXUHVLQFOXGLQJSURSRVDOVWRH[SDQG 2UHJRQ¶VOLPLWHGEDFNJURXQGFKHFN UHTXLUHPHQWV 7KHSURVSHFWVDUHKHDUWHQLQJO\ LPSURYHGWKLV\HDUDVDUHVXOWRI ODVWIDOO¶VHOHFWLRQZKLFKLQFUHDVHG 'HPRFUDWLFPDMRULWLHVLQWKH/HJLVODWXUH DQGVKRXOGHQDEOH'HPRFUDWVWR ZLWKVWDQG¿HUFHOREE\LQJE\JXQ ULJKWVJURXSVSRVVLEOH'HPRFUDWLF GHIHFWLRQVDQGWKHORFNVWHSRSSRVLWLRQRI 5HSXEOLFDQV 3UR]DQVNL¶VSURSRVDOZRXOGFORVHD ORRSKROHLQFXUUHQWVWDWHODZZKLFKEDUV IHORQVDQGVRPHRWKHUVZLWKFULPLQDO EDFNJURXQGVSHRSOHZLWKRXWVWDQGLQJ warrants, and some people with a history RIVHYHUHPHQWDOLOOQHVVIURPEX\LQJD gun. 7KHH[LVWLQJODZUHTXLUHVEDFNJURXQG FKHFNVIRUVDOHVRIJXQVE\IHGHUDOO\ OLFHQVHGGHDOHUVVXFKDVUHWDLOVWRUHV DQGDWJXQVKRZVEXWQRWIRUSHUVRQ WRSHUVRQRUSULYDWH online sales. 6HQDWH%LOO ZRXOGH[SDQG EDFNJURXQGFKHFN UHTXLUHPHQWVWRJXQ WUDQVIHUVEHWZHHQ private individuals, whether through the Internet or personal FRQWDFW,WZRXOGDOVR DOORZMXGJHVWREDU SDWLHQWVUHFHLYLQJ FRXUWRUGHUHG outpatient mental KHDOWKWUHDWPHQWIURP buying a gun. 7KHVHDUHDOOQHHGHGUHIRUPVDQG 3UR]DQVNLKDVEHHQFDUHIXOWRLQFOXGH VSHFL¿FODQJXDJHDQGUHDVRQDEOH H[HPSWLRQV7KDWZRQ¶WNHHSFULWLFV IURPZDJLQJDQDOORXW¿JKWEXWLWPLJKW SUHYHQW'HPRFUDWLFGHIHFWLRQVDQG SRVVLEO\VQDJD*23YRWHRUWZR 3ROOVVKRZWKDWDPDMRULW\RI2UHJRQ YRWHUVZDQWH[SDQGHGEDFNJURXQG FKHFNV7KH\XQGHUVWDQGGHVSLWHJXQ ULJKWJURXSV¶FODLPVWKDWXQLYHUVDO EDFNJURXQGFKHFNVDUHWKHPRVW HIIHFWLYHZD\WRNHHSJXQVRXWRIWKH wrong hands. Polls show that a majority of Oregon voters want expanded background checks. 5HOLJLRXVOLEHUW\DQGHTXDOLW\ O YHUWKHSDVWIHZGHFDGHVWKH FRYHUVIRUDQWLJD\ELJRWU\ 8QLWHG6WDWHVKDVHQJDJHGLQD This deviation seems unwise JUHDWVWUXJJOHWREDODQFHFLYLO ERWKDVDPDWWHURISUDJPDWLFVDQG rights and religious liberty. DVDPDWWHURISULQFLSOH,QWKH¿UVW On the one hand, there is a growing SODFHLIWKHUHLVQRDWWHPSWWREDODQFH FRQVHQVXVWKDWVWUDLJKWJD\DQGOHVELDQ UHOLJLRXVOLEHUW\DQGFLYLOULJKWVWKH SHRSOHGHVHUYHIXOOHTXDOLW\ZLWKHDFK FDXVHRIJD\ULJKWVZLOOEHDVVRFLDWHG RWKHU:HDUHWREHMXGJHGE\KRZZH ZLWKFRHUFLRQQRWOLEHUDWLRQ6RPH ORYHQRWE\ZKRPZHORYH,IGHQ\LQJ SHRSOHKDYHORVWWKHLUMREVIRU David JD\VDQGOHVELDQVWKHLUIXOOFLYLOULJKWV Brooks H[SUHVVLQJRSSRVLWLRQWRJD\PDUULDJH and dignity is not wrong, then nothing 7KHUHDUHWRRPDQ\VWRULHVOLNHWKH Comment is wrong. Gays and lesbians should not 2UHJRQEDNHU\WKDWPD\KDYHWRSD\ only be permitted to marry and live as D¿QHEHFDXVHLWSUHIHUUHG WKH\ZDQWEXWEHKRQRUHGIRUGRLQJVR QRWWREDNHDZHGGLQJFDNHIRUDVDPH On the other hand, this was a nation VH[FHUHPRQ\$PRYHPHQWWKDWVWDQGVIRU IRXQGHGRQUHOLJLRXV WROHUDQFHGRHVQRWZDQWWREH WROHUDQFH7KHZD\VRIWKH RQWKHVLGHRIDJRYHUQPHQW /RUGDUHP\VWHULRXVDQGDUH WKDWFRPSHOVDSKRWRJUDSKHU XQGHUVWRRGGLIIHUHQWO\E\ ZKRLVDQHYDQJHOLFDO GLIIHUHQWWUDGLWLRQV$WWKHLU &KULVWLDQWRVKRRWDVDPHVH[ EHVW$PHULFDQVKDYHDOZD\V wedding that he would rather believed that people should avoid. have the widest possible )XUWKHUPRUHWKH ODWLWXGHWRH[HUFLVHWKHLUIDLWK HYDQJHOLFDOPRYHPHQWLV DVWKH\VHH¿WRUQRWH[HUFLVH evolving. Many young DQ\IDLWK:KLOHWKHUHDUH HYDQJHOLFDOVXQGHUVWDQG many bigots, there are also WKDWWKHLUIDLWKVKRXOGQRW many wise and deeply humane EHGH¿QHGE\WKLVLVVXH people whose most deeply ,IRUWKRGR[&KULVWLDQVDUH KHOGUHOLJLRXVEHOLHIVFRQWDLQ VXGGHQO\ZULWWHQRXWRISROLWH KHWHURVH[XDOGH¿QLWLRQVRI VRFLHW\DVPRGHUQGD\%XOO marriage. These people are &RQQRUVWKLVZRXOGRQO\KDOW ZRUWK\RIWROHUDQFHUHVSHFW SURJUHVVSRODUL]HWKHGHEDWH and gentle persuasion. DQGOHDGWRDEORRG\ZDURIDOO At its best, the gay rights against all. movement has promoted $VDPDWWHURISULQFLSOH LWVFDXVHZKLOHFDUHIXOO\ LWLVVLPSO\WKHFDVHWKDW UHVSHFWLQJUHOLJLRXVOLEHUW\DQG religious liberty is a value WKHWUDGLWLRQDOSLOODUVRI86 GHVHUYLQJRXUGHHSHVWUHVSHFW VRFLHW\7KHFDXVHKDVIRFXVHGRQPDUULDJH HYHQLQFDVHVZKHUHLWOHDGVWRGLVDJUHHPHQWV DQGPLOLWDU\VHUYLFH,WKDVQRWVWDJHGDIURQWDO DVIXQGDPHQWDODVWKHGH¿QLWLRQRIPDUULDJH DVVDXOWRQWKHH[HUFLVHRIIDLWK 0RUDOLW\LVDSROLWHQHVVRIWKHVRXO'HHS 7KH5HOLJLRXV)UHHGRP5HVWRUDWLRQ SROLWHQHVVPHDQVZHPDNHDFFRPPRGDWLRQV $FWZKLFKZDVVXSSRUWHGE\6HQ7HG &HUWDLQEDVLFWUXWKVDUHLQDOLHQDEOH .HQQHG\DQGDZLGHSRVVHRISURJUHVVLYHV 'LVFULPLQDWLRQLVDOZD\VZURQJ,QFDVHVRI VLGHVWHSSHGWKHDEVWUDFWDQGSRODUL]LQJ DFWXDOELJRWU\WKHKDPPHUFRPHVGRZQ%XW WKHRORJLFDODUJXPHQW,WIRFXVHGRQWKH DVQHLJKERUVLQDSOXUDOLVWLFVRFLHW\ZHWU\ FRQFUHWHIDFWVRIVSHFL¿FFDVHV7KHDFW WRWXUQSKLORVRSKLFFODVKHVDERXWULJKWDQG EDVLFDOO\KROGVWKDWJRYHUQPHQWVRPHWLPHV ZURQJLQWRQHLJKERUO\SUREOHPVLQZKLFK KDVWRLQIULQJHRQUHOLJLRXVIUHHGRPLQRUGHU GLIIHUHQWSHRSOHDUHJLYHQVSDFHWRKDYH WRSXUVXHHTXDOLW\DQGRWKHUJRRGVEXWZKHQ GLIIHUHQWODQHVWROHDGOLYHV,QFDVHVZKHUH LWGRHVLWVKRXOGKDYHDFRPSHOOLQJUHDVRQ SHRSOHZLWKGLIIHUHQWYDOXHVGLVDJUHHZHVHHN DQGVKRXOGLQIULQJHLQWKHOHDVWLQWUXVLYHZD\ DFUHDWLYHDFFRPPRGDWLRQ possible. ,QWKH-HZLVKFRPPXQLW\FRQVHUYDWLYH 7KLVPRGHUDWHJURXQGHGLQFUHPHQWDO -HZVDUHJHQHUDOO\SROLWHWRZDUG2UWKRGR[ VWUDWHJ\KDVSURGXFHGDPD]LQJUHVXOWV)HZHU -HZVZKRZRXOGQ¶WXVHWKHLUFXWOHU\0HQ SHRSOHKDYHWRIDFHWKHKRUURURIELJRWU\ DUHJHQHUDOO\SROLWHWR2UWKRGR[ZRPHQZKR LVRODWLRQPDUJLQDOL]DWLRQDQGSUHMXGLFH ZRXOGSUHIHUQRWWRVKDNHWKHLUKDQGV,QWKH <HW,ZRQGHULIWKLVSKHQRPHQDO ODUJHUFRPPXQLW\WKLVUHVSHFWIXOSROLWHQHVV DFKLHYHPHQWLVJRLQJRIIWKHUDLOV,QGLDQDKDV ZRUNVEHVW SDVVHGDVWDWHODZOLNHWKHIHGHUDODFW 7KHPRYHPHQWWRFKDPSLRQJD\ULJKWVLV DQGVSDUNHGDQLQFUHGLEOH¿UHVWRUP QRZLQDSRVLWLRQZKHUHLWFDQDIIRUGWRRIIHU ,IWKHRSSRQHQWVRIWKDWODZZHUHDUJXLQJ WKLVUHVSHFWDWDSRLQWZKHUHVWHDG\SUHVVXUH WKDWWKH,QGLDQDVWDWXWHWLJKWHQVWKHIHGHUDO ZRUNVEHWWHUWKDQFRPSXOVLRQ VWDQGDUGVDQRWFKWRRIDUWKDWZRXOGEH ,W¶VDOZD\VHDVLHUWRWDNHDQDEVROXWLVW FRPSHOOLQJ%XWWKDW¶VQRWWKHDUJXPHQWWKH SRVLWLRQ%XWLQDFODVKRIYDOXHVOLNHWKHRQH RSSRQHQWVDUHPDNLQJ EHWZHHQUHOLJLRXVSOXUDOLVPDQGHTXDOLW\WKDW Instead, the argument seems to be that the DEVROXWLVPLVQHLWKHUSUDJPDWLFYLUWXRXVQRU IHGHUDODFW¶VFRQFUHWHFDVHE\FDVHDSSURDFKLV true. wrong. The opponents seem to be saying there Ŷ is no valid tension between religious pluralism David Brooks became a New York Times DQGHTXDOLW\&ODLPVRIUHOLJLRXVOLEHUW\DUH Op-Ed columnist in September 2003. At its best, the gay rights movement has promoted its cause while carefully respecting religious liberty and the traditional pillars of U.S. society. YOUR VIEWS +HUPLVWRQRI¿FHUVZLOOXVH SDUNRUGLQDQFHIRUFLW\EHQH¿W SROLFHWROHJDOO\FRQWDFWDSHUVRQ&KLHI (GPLVWRQVSRNHWKDWQLJKWDERXWGLVFUHWLRQDU\ authority and how supervisors will be involved WRHQVXUHWKHRUGLQDQFHLVQRWRYHUXVHGRU -XVWL¿FDWLRQIRUH[LVWHQFH"2QFHDJDLQ DEXVHGDVKHFOHDUO\UHFRJQL]HVVRPHWKLQJDV VPHOOVWKDWZD\HGLWRULDOVWDIIDWWKHEast small as this does provide immense power to Oregonian,WLVLURQLFQRQHRIWKH³HGLWRUV´ those who serve. ZHUHHYHQSUHVHQWGXULQJWKHGLVFXVVLRQIURP Shame on the EO<RXTXHVWLRQWKHLQWHJULW\ WKHODVWFRXQFLOPHHWLQJ\HWWKH\DUHTXLFNWR DQGLQWHOOLJHQFHRIHYHU\SROLFHRI¿FHUE\ JLYHWKHLUFXVWRPDU\MDGHGRSLQLRQ SRVWLQJWKHSLFWXUHRISHRSOHSUD\LQJLQVLGH Normally I would not waste my time or WKHFRRNVKDFNLQUHPHPEUDQFHRIDV HQHUJ\JLYLQJ\RXDUHVSRQVHEXWWKHFLWL]HQV RI+HUPLVWRQDUHWLUHGRIRQHVLGHGVWRULHV¿OOHG DQH[DPSOHRIZKDWWKHSROLFHPLJKWHQIRUFH DJDLQVW)LUVWUHVSRQGHUVORVWWKHLUOLYHVWKDWGD\ ZLWKH[WUHPHGUDPDDQGVSHFXODWLRQ/RRNLQ *LYHRXURI¿FHUVVRPHFUHGLW<HVWKH WKHPLUURUDQGTXHVWLRQ\RXUPRWLYHDQGLQWHQW SULRUFKLHIZDVKHDY\KDQGHGDQGFDXVHGD EHIRUHEHLQJTXLFNWRVOLQJPXGWKLVZD\ 'RHVWKH+HUPLVWRQ3ROLFH'HSDUWPHQWKDYH ORWRIGDPDJHEXWLWLVWKHLQWHJULW\RIWKRVH EHWWHUWKLQJVWRGR\RXDVN"<HVEXWWKHSROLFH RI¿FHUVZKRZHDUWKHXQLIRUPWKDWKDYHNHSW the department going and now they have an DOVRKDYHDJRDORILPSDFWLQJWKHOLYDELOLW\RI DGPLQLVWUDWLRQWKDWFOHDUO\VXSSRUWVWKHP WKHFLWL]HQVWKH\VHUYH)URPWKHLUZHEVLWH The EOGHVHUYHVDKXJHZDOORSNLFNLQWKH ³)RFXVRQWKRVHLVVXHVZKLFKLPSDFWWKH OLYDELOLW\RIWKHFLWL]HQVZHVHUYHZLOOEHDKLJK pants and I hope to see your apology. 7LPRWK\%HVW SULRULW\7KLVLQFOXGHVQRLVHFRPSODLQWVDQLPDO Hermiston FRPSODLQWVGUXJHQIRUFHPHQWDQGDOOFRGH LVVXHVLQFOXGLQJDUHDVRIEOLJKW´ <RXWKVQRWLQVFKRRODQGFKRRVLQJWRXULQDWH (DVWHUQ2UHJRQVKRXOGKHOS DQGGHIHFDWHLQVLGHWKH5RWDU\FRRNVKDFNVXUH %0&&E\SDVVLQJERQG VRXQGVOLNHDOLYDELOLW\LVVXHWRPHEO editor. $VDUHWLUHGSROLFHRI¿FHULW¶VQRWDVVLPSOHDV 9RWH\HVRQWKH%0&&ERQG \RXSRUWUD\2I¿FHUVPXVWKDYHDOHJDOUHDVRQ :DOO\0F&UDHZRXOGVD\LWLVJRRGIRURXU WRVWRSDQGWDONZLWKVRPHRQH8QOHVVZHKDYH NLGV RXU FRPPXQLW\ DQG HGXFDWLRQ $QG\ XQOLPLWHGUHVRXUFHVZHFDQQRWH[SHFWWKHSROLFH 0F$QDOO\ZURWH³:HKDYHDORWRIJRRGWKLQJV GHSDUWPHQWWRSRVWDQRI¿FHULQHYHU\SDUN JRLQJRQLQ(DVWHUQ2UHJRQ´ WRFDWFKDSHUVRQLQRQHRIWKHDFWVPHQWLRQHG /HW¶VNHHSLWJRLQJ/HW¶VSDVVWKLVERQG above. 'HDQ)RXTXHWWH 3HQGOHWRQ 7KLVLVQRWKLQJPRUHWKDQDWRROIRUWKH LETTERS POLICY The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
