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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 2017)
VIEWPOINTS Saturday, February 25, 2017 East Oregonian Page 5A The nose knows what the nose knows Y esterday was cold. The sky stayed the color of a cloud all day long. In fact, it felt like a cloud was touching me and the world I live in most of the afternoon. It was a cold kind of cloud that hung low and seemed to press in on all of us from every side. The girls gathered in their circles watching me closely. They always watch me closely. I used to wonder if it was because I’m the only other girl out here besides Jill the dog. Or maybe it was because I’m sort of intriguing to them, just as they are all sorts of enchanting and brave to me. I’ll probably never know since “moo” isn’t a language I plan on learning anytime soon. But I have to admit, I think about my relationship with these beautiful ladies a lot. I walked through them quietly — pushing them toward the gate — guiding them away from the chaos happening on the other side of the lot. The other side of the lot is where babies are born and life suddenly changes whether you’re ready for it to or not. It’s the side that some avoid at all cost until the last possible moment — where you’re not just in the crowd anymore, you’re being watched like a hawk. You don’t have to be a cow to experience this kind of pressure to perform. In fact, I’m certain that the pressure of having all eyes on us is something everyone in the world experiences at some point in their life, human or not. Here’s the thing though: Most of the time when eyes watch us closely, we immediately believe that they’re watching us to criticize or critique and not Quick takes Droppings don’t just land in Pendleton dog park I feared the creation of the dog park would result in a critical shortage of dog poop on the river walkway. As I made my daily stroll, I was relieved to find my worries groundless and quickly faded away. — Rick Rohde Cascadia’s effects in Eastern Oregon Very interesting phenomenon. People should put plans in place in case this happens in our lifetime. — Jessica Purchase I pray we never have to go through it however, having some extra ready to eat food, a way to cook, some cases of bottled water stored in your house and plenty of prescription drugs on hand is a great way to start. Editor’s note: In an effort to get more local voices and more good writing into your newspaper, the East Oregonian is introducing columnists who will rotate appearances in each Saturday edition. Lindsay Murdock described herself as: Freckled. Oregon grown. Jesus follower. Teacher. Ranch wife. Mother. Chaser of light. Have feedback on the columns? Email opinion page editor Tim Trainor at ttrainor@eastoregonian.com. Photo by Lindsay Murdock necessarily to compliment or, better yet, copy. We live in a world where women watch other women and secretly hope they fail at something, anything or everything. We watch women want the attention their best friend is getting. We see other women desperately wishing to be the one that everyone follows. We click through and scroll down in question of how to be that woman that seems to have everything figured out without even trying. I hate that part of this world. Hate it. And yes, I know hate is a very strong word, but it’s the best I could come up with. We don’t have to be this way. We don’t have to conform to anything less than just being the best daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, friends, coworkers or even neighbors that we’ve been created to be. We don’t have to roll our eyes at posts or articles. We don’t have to be jealous of manicured yards or beautiful patio sets. We don’t have to unfollow or unfriend. We just have to be us. Why, though, is it so hard to just be “us?” I’m still trying to figure that one out — and I probably will be for the rest of my life. I’m done being a watcher, and I’m done being watched. I know there are eyes on me, following me, watching me closely and maybe even critiquing me, but I don’t care. I can’t care if I want anything to change in this world I’ve found myself living in as a teacher and as a ranch wife. I’m a human, but I want to live in the herd that lives like I imagine the girls I’ve been watching closely for days now live. I want to surround myself with a group that fights for each other and protects each other — not competing, but complementing. I want to be alive and free to be myself in the groups of women that provide warmth to those around them when they need it most. I want to be in the middle of the circle that says it’s ok if you’ve gained a few pounds and that they promise to walk to the water trough with you eight times each day if it L indsay M urdock FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN would make things better. Yes, I want to be in the herd that watches closely, listens carefully and smells cautiously — only to say “welcome” when they smell me coming because they know I’m one of them. May we all find great and beautiful ways to use senses other than our sight to see the best in others and live a little more like cows. ■ Lindsay Murdock lives in Hermiston. Local work critical to federal fight on opioids T I will continue to work across the aisle to give our communities the resources they need to combat this epidemic. and think about, pain he recent news story management and (East Oregonian, Jan. addiction. 23) regarding Dr. Chuck A new law called Hofmann’s work to help patients the 21st Century Cures addicted to opioids reveals the Act provides a big challenges we face all across boost in funding for Oregon and underscores the grants that states can importance of legislation I helped use to hold forums like pass last year. the ones Dr. Hofmann Too many patients in Oregon Greg and across the country become Walden is coordinating in Eastern Oregon. This addicted to opioids after Comment increase in funding receiving a prescription for pain will also help Oregon management from their doctor. improve prescription drug Overdoses have increased dramatically, monitoring programs, especially in our home state where more people have died of opioid overdose than in implement prevention activities, and expand access traffic accidents. Dr. Hofmann and others like him are to treatment. leading the charge to educate members “To really address this problem, we must of the medical community on opioid continue to educate doctors, nurses, and addiction. In Congress, we took steps other health care providers to make sure to empower leaders in the medical they’re managing chronic non-cancer pain community to change the way they treat, in a way that doesn’t lead to addiction,” Dr. Hofmann told me. “The more they know about Medication Assisted Treatment and the more innovation we have in monitoring opioid drugs and reading the signs of addiction so we can treat it, the better. The funding made available by the Cures Act will be a big help.” The Cures Act was the product of a multi-year, bipartisan effort in the House Energy and Commerce Committee which I, now, chair. In my new leadership role I will continue to work across the aisle to give our communities the resources they need to combat this epidemic and save lives. ■ Greg Walden is the U.S. Representative for Oregon’s Second District — Arne Swanson The news media bringing on more fear! That’s what they are good for. — Jim Garrou Being uneducated regarding this is simply a death sentence. — Tonya Hendon Kennewick Man reburied I was in Columbia Park in Richland a day or so after the initial discovery. I wondered why all the people were along the waters edge. A month or so later I found out why. Pretty cool indeed. — Jeremy F Edwards Very disturbing it took this long and there could be more than 100,000 more people who are in people’s “collections.” Very heartbreaking. — Stephanie Williams Back where he should be. — Paul Word Grocery to open in Echo Echo has needed a place for some grocery items. — Ginger Taylor This is so awesome! I can stay in town for milk and bread. — Shannon Powell One of the great lessons of the Twitter age is that much can be summed up in just a few words. Here are some of this week’s takes. Tweet yours @Tim_Trainor or email editor@eastoregonian. com, and keep them to 140 characters. Oregon’s wounded warriors deserve passage of Senate Bill 694 F or almost 100 years, Oregon exempted became less and less. has honored its wounded The Oregon statute controlling warriors — our disabled the amount of disabled veteran veterans — with a property tax property tax exemption was not exemption. At one time, research updated during the time that shows, this exemption was more property values soared in the than 100 percent of the value of 1980s and 1990s. a median single family dwelling Over the past several years, in Oregon. This is fitting, as our there have been attempts to Stephen wounded warriors have given a correct this situation. Bates portion of their body; a part of their But it appears that Comment being in the service of our country. politicians decided But, this exemption has been not to maintain a reduced to less than 10 percent of the reasonable exemption for value of a median priced single family our wounded warriors. home. This is an unfortunate result of not The 2005 legislature did reviewing old laws and updating them to make some amends: a 3 meet current needs. percent annual increase was added to the The original Oregon statute that disabled veterans property tax exemption. authorizes this property tax exemption A disabled veteran inferred in a 2015 references Civil War disabled veterans testimony that the 3 percent increase and their surviving spouses. This would not even buy a dinner for two. In demonstrates our state’s long standing other words, this is not enough. commitment to our disabled veterans. Do we still care about our disabled This law has been modified only a few veterans? They made a sacrifice for times since 1953. all of us. We must make sure they are When real estate values started appropriately honored. escalating in the late 1970s, the disabled Because political sentiment identifies veterans property tax exemption started that a 100 percent exemption would to dwindle. The exemption amounts be too costly, Senate Bill 694 is a remained the same while the assessed compromise. The end result of passing valuation of properties grew. The amount this bill is that most disabled veterans qualifying for this exemption would receive a property tax exemption closer to 25 percent of the value of a median priced home in Oregon. This bill also addresses the severely disabled veteran. It creates a new category that would allow an even greater property tax exemption if certain requirements are met. Senate Bill 694 gives the local county commission the option to control the levels of this exemption. It will not be 100 percent. But 25 percent is better than 10 percent. This is a compromise that should be nonpartisan. Senate Bill 694 is doing something. Previous legislative sessions have come and gone and the politicians did nothing. Something is better than nothing. Let Oregon once again stand for our wounded warriors. Let us increase the disabled veteran property tax exemption this year. Let us work with our state legislators to pass Senate Bill 694. ■ A retired businessman, Steve Bates served as the Chair of the Boring Community Planning Organization and is currently Chair of the Committee on Memorials and Remembrance. Something is better than nothing. 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 ser- vices 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 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.