Page 4A
OPINION
East Oregonian
Friday, August 18, 2017
OTHER VIEWS
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Publisher
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Managing Editor
TIM TRAINOR
Opinion Page Editor
MARISSA WILLIAMS
Regional Advertising Director
MARCY ROSENBERG
Circulation Manager
JANNA HEIMGARTNER
Business Office Manager
MIKE JENSEN
Production Manager
OUR VIEW
Tip of the hat;
kick in the pants
A kick in the pants to an unfortunate series of events Wednesday that
kept a crime victim from addressing a man who committed the crime.
Joseph Aaron McIver pleaded guilty Wednesday in circuit court for his
role in the death of Thadd Nelson of Meacham. McIver was sentenced to
more than seven years in prison for his
actions.
But another victim, who witnessed
the attack, wanted to be in court for
the proceeding. Yet she was forced
to remain outside the courtroom
as McIver made his plea and was
eventually led away to jail.
That’s because there were not
enough deputies at the Stanford
Hansell Government Building in
Hermiston to have one inside the
courtroom and another outside, shuttling people through security and
allowing them into the courtroom.
That’s disappointing. There should be enough staff on hand to allow
victims to make their way into a courtroom if they wish to be present, as
well as provide necessary security for such high-profile cases. Both are
promises of our justice system.
We hope the courts and sheriff’s office consider this a serious enough
problem to address.
A tip of the hat to the local groups that have rallied and marched for
their political beliefs, all nonviolently.
On two consecutive days this week, protesters gathered on the streets of
Pendleton to make their opinions known. They did it with signs and chants,
songs and speeches.
On Wednesday, about a dozen people
gathered to support the Bundys and argue
that four men on trial for their actions in
Bunkerville are being mistreated by the
government, and raise the alarm of their
general concern that the federal government
is running over citizen’s rights in the court
system.
On Thursday, more than 100 people
rallied in what organizers called an “anti-
hate” march that included Pendleton Mayor
John Turner. There was laughter and support from area residents, music and
togetherness.
We appreciate them making their opinions known in a legal way, not
being belligerent nor hostile nor destructive, and attempting to persuade
instead of insult.
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
Confederate flag has
no place in Astoria
The Daily Astorian
I
n what has become the highlight
event of the region’s oldest festival,
this year’s Grand Land Parade in
the 123rd Astoria Regatta may be
remembered more for what shouldn’t
have been in it rather than what was.
It’s unfortunate, because the festival
otherwise showcased the spirit and
volunteerism of the
coast at its best and
the organizers and
volunteers deserve
credit for their
dedicated efforts.
While the high-
profile parade featured
its normal dignitaries,
bands, clowns
and floats, and the
accompanying smiles
from the vast majority
of the attendees, a float
built by the Sons of
Beaches, an off-road
enthusiast group that participates in
community charity events and parades,
contained upsetting bumper-sticker sized
decals with Confederate logos and was
followed by a truck with a Confederate
flag. It sparked outrage by some who
saw it and further disapproval online.
The all-volunteer, nonprofit Astoria
Regatta Association issued an apology
Monday, saying it was an unfortunate
incident and that the association regrets
“the impression caused that Regatta
in any way supports or condones the
display of the Confederate flag. Please
do not let our oversight reflect negatively
on Astoria, or the many, many volunteers
who give thousands of hours to create a
positive community event each year.”
The float’s main visual was a large
replica of U.S. Marines heroically
hoisting the American flag on Iwo Jima
in World War II and the bumper stickers
were affixed to the trailer carrying it and
were easy to miss.
The Sons of Beaches group’s
leader, Jay Pitman, said the float
included several other battle flags from
throughout U.S.
history meant to honor
war veterans, and
that the trailer with
Confederate decals
had been used in
prior parades. “We
don’t fly our flags
with disrespect,” he
said. “We fly it with
respect to all our
veterans. We do not
allow any personal
political issues or
personal agendas.
We are non-biased,
non-racist. We are about Americanism
and supporting local law enforcement
and first responders.” He said the group
is considering removing the flag from
future parade events.
It should do just that.
The flag, first flown by the
Confederate army during war against the
United States, mocks what our country
stands for. It is a sad part of our nation’s
history, as are Ku Klux Klan hoods, the
Dawes Act and signs declaring “Whites
Only.”
None of which should be celebrated,
and a family-friendly festival is certainly
not the place for displaying a divisive
symbol from the Civil War.
A family-
friendly festival
is certainly not
the place for a
divisive symbol
from the Civil
War.
How to handle Donald Trump
D
onald Trump is still president.
(There’s something about catching
Hard to know what to do with
these wild misstatements and lies of
this, people.
self-aggrandizement that can actually
In less than a week he’s managed
be soothing in the worst of times.
to put on one of the most divisive,
It’s a diversion that gives you a little
un-helpful, un-healing presidential
break from wondering what’s going to
performances in American history. It’s
happen to the country.)
been a great stretch for fans of Richard
Meanwhile, business executives
Nixon and James Buchanan.
were concluding it was morally
Gail
On Wednesday, Trump had to
Collins compromising to be on the White
dissolve his business advisory councils
House manufacturing council. It’s hard
Comment
because the CEOs were fleeing like
to imagine what else could happen
before autumn kicks in.
panic-stricken geese from a jumbo jet.
We are just beginning to fully understand
We now have a president who can’t get the
how critical it is for a president to have at
head of Campbell Soup to the White House.
least a minimal understanding of American
Trump also announced plans to hold a
history. This one seems to have only recently
rally next week in Arizona, where he’s said
discovered he belongs to the same party as
he’s “seriously considering” a pardon for
former sheriff Joe Arpaio, the loathsome racial Abraham Lincoln. “Most people don’t even
profiler who never met a
know he was a Republican,”
constitutional amendment
Trump told a political
he didn’t ignore. Arpaio’s
gathering. “Right? Does
treatment of Latinos won
anyone know? A lot of
him a criminal contempt
people don’t know that. We
conviction, but of course
have to build that up a little
that’s nothing to our leader.
more.”
We had no idea how
His response to the
bad this guy was going to
biggest challenge of his
be. Admit it — during the
presidency began by
campaign you did not consider the possibility
blaming “many sides” for the crisis. Then
that if a terrible tragedy struck the country
there was the reading of an appropriate, if way
involving all of our worst political ghosts of
overdue, statement. Then came the disastrous
the past plus neo-Nazism, Marco Rubio and
news conference on Tuesday, when he was
Ted Cruz would know the appropriate thing to just supposed to read a brief description of
say but Donald Trump would have no idea.
the administration plan for infrastructure
George W. Bush would have been at the
— something about giving road-builders
funeral for the slain civil rights demonstrator
a reprieve from having to consider the
in a second. About the best Trump could do
possibility of future flooding.
was to praise Heather Heyer’s mother, Susan
But he started to take questions and
Bro, for writing “the nicest things” about
actually say things from his own mind. His
him. Bro did indeed express appreciation for
staff looked worried, then nervous, then
the president’s denunciation of “those who
despairing.
promote violence and hatred.” That was his
Even when Trump is not historically
written-by-someone-else statement, which
wrong, or making things up to extol his own
preceded the despicable impromptu version.
self-image, or failing to do even the least
We’re only safe when he’s using prepared
modicum of national healing at a time of
remarks. The extemporaneous Trump’s
crisis, he’s so incoherent that it’s possible
response to the violence in Charlottesville
to misunderstand what should be a simple
wasn’t just tone-deaf and heartless; you had to thought.
wonder about the overall mental balance of a
“I didn’t know David Duke was there. I
man who managed to both defend the alt-right wanted to see the facts,” he blathered at one
demonstrators in Virginia and brag about his
point, then lapsed into that terrible tendency
real estate in the neighborhood.
to refer to himself in the third person. “And
“Does anyone know I own a house in
the facts, as they started coming out, were
Charlottesville?” Trump asked the stunned
very well stated. In fact, everybody said his
reporters. “I own actually one of the
statement was beautiful. ...”
largest wineries in the United States. It’s in
This can’t go on. We don’t have time to
Charlottesville.”
wait for impeachment. Patriotic Republicans
It was truly the kind of performance you
and administration officials have to get
expect from a deranged person, brought out to together and find a way to make sure that
explain why he blew up a large government
Donald Trump will never again say anything
building and inquiring cheerfully: “Has
in public that is not written on a piece of
anybody seen my car? It’s really nice. A Ford
paper. It’s their duty to the country.
Pinto.”
■
Also, Trump does not own one of the
Gail Collins joined The New York Times
largest wineries in the United States. Trump
in 1995 as a member of the editorial board
Winery is one of the largest wineries in
and later as an Op-Ed columnist. In 2001 she
Virginia, which is like bragging you own one
became the first woman ever appointed editor
of the largest ski resorts in Ohio.
of the Times’s editorial page.
We had no idea
how bad this
guy was going
to be.
YOUR VIEWS
It’s not Hollywood talking —
its your constituents
Greg Walden recently sent out a letter
asking for donations, saying liberal agitators
— who he likens to Nancy Pelosi and
Hollywood elites — are driving from Portland
to pound him at town halls.
Actually, we are the ones showing up at his
town halls. We are the ones challenging him
when he tries to change the subject, or flat-out
lie. We are constituents of Congressional
District 2, not people from Portland, liberal
agitators, the elite, or Hollywoodites, and not
one of us last time I checked is Nancy Pelosi.
He is trying to pretend like we don’t exist
by equating us with people from outside his
district. Worse, by claiming we are outsiders,
he is trying to divide us all with fear of
an outside takeover. Meanwhile, he has
announced a fundraiser in Portland. If there is
an outside takeover, it might well begin with
Walden, influenced by Portland money and
D.C. money, while neglecting the people he’s
supposed to represent.
And it’s false of him to use negative
and dismissive terms for his outspoken
constituents. We are not a solid block of
liberals. We are conservatives and liberals,
Republicans, Democrats and Independents,
young and old, rural and urban. And we’re not
trying to agitate, but looking for solutions. Our
families hunt, fish, camp, farm and ranch. Our
friends’, families’ and neighbors’ lives look
a lot like ours. Finding that balance between
preserving natural resources and using them is
the key to CD2 becoming a strong force in the
modern economy while remaining true to our
roots.
But Walden isn’t looking for a balance
or a solution. He just throws around empty
promises, trying to divide us with fear and
anger. Our district could be known for wheat
and solar, for sheep and tech industry, but
instead we’re known for stand-offs and
decline. Our district has strength in size and
resource, and we have potential. We could be
so much better. We deserve better.
Walden likes to say he has a place at the
table, because he’s been in Washington since
1998, but he hasn’t used that place at the table
wisely, so we are no better off. He’s the real
outsider, a Washington insider, out of touch
with Oregon values.
Sherra Inman, Rene M. Durfey, Shirley Ludlow,
Bonnie Johnson, Diana Wild and Sue Miller,
Arlington; Katie Cook, Gilliam County; Jeri
McElligott, Ione; Amber Rose Orion and JoAn
Hendricks, The Dalles; and Lari Whitbeck, Fossil.
LETTERS POLICY
Be heard!
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