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Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Tuesday, December 26, 2017 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 Safe train travel must be part of Pacific Northwest’s future The Associated Press reported sturdier, safer construction. And cost is why Eastern Oregon that since 1969, nearly 300 people lost passenger train service in 1997. have died in U.S. train crashes that The decline of federal subsidies existing technology could have made the route unprofitable, and prevented. Congress has never appropriated Add the three people killed in money for Amtrak last week’s crash to re-establish the south of Tacoma, passenger route. Washington, and the A good rail From a human toll is 301. It will be 12 to system benefits standpoint, it’s unconscionable that 24 months before everyone, railroad companies the National have dragged their Transportation reducing feet on technology Safety Board safety completes its congestion by and improvements. investigation into From a societal what caused the taking freight perspective, it raises Amtrak cars to and passenger the question of veer off the rails on whether government the route’s maiden vehicles off should invest more voyage, crashing to help American onto Interstate 5 roads. rail service join the below. The NTSB 21st century. said Friday that the A good rail system benefits train was going nearly 50 mph faster everyone, reducing traffic congestion than allowed as it reached a curve. by taking freight and passenger Technology known as positive vehicles off roads. A great rail train control could have prevented system gets goods and passengers to the previous crashes, according their destinations faster, saving time to the NTSB. If speed, along with and money. human error, caused Monday’s Though high-speed passenger crash, that one also might have been rail remains a dream — at least preventable. But the technology in the population centers of the won’t be operational on that section Willamette Valley — we do not of track — or on other parts of yet have consistently on-time, Amtrak routes in Washington and Oregon — until sometime next year. dependable train service in the Pacific Northwest. Our hilly and Why the delay? Cost. And the curvy topography requires slower relationship between railroads and train speeds, which is why the government. straighter route being inaugurated in Unlike highways and airports, Monday’s crash was an advantage. most of the U.S. rail system is Rainy-season landslides can disrupt privately owned. The government tracks. And because our rail system steps in to improve roads and lacks sufficient long sidings or dual runways, although users help pay tracks, Amtrak trains often must give through taxes and fees. As private way to freight trains. entities, railroads make their own Still, Oregon is making headway. decisions on track upgrades and The transportation package passed safety improvements, although by this year’s Legislature includes they’re often driven by government money for rail freight loading regulations and deadlines. facilities in Eastern Oregon and Cost is the key reason railroads the Mid-Willamette Valley, rail convinced the federal government expansion at the Port of Morrow to delay — until 2018 — the and an extended rail siding north of deadline for positive train control. Salem. Cost is why railroads have been Compared with the past, those are slow to replace old-style tanker cars big steps. Compared with the need — like the ones that derailed and and the potential, they are small. caused an oil fire in the Columbia And overdue. River Gorge last year — with OTHER VIEWS Cardinal Tobin, am I a Christian? W hat is Christmas about, and more on issues that Jesus never anyway? Can I be a Christian breathed a word about, like gays, or if I doubt the virgin birth? abortion or family planning. Can a woman become a cardinal? TOBIN: It’s fair to say Jesus What would upset Jesus today? I put did not make pronouncements on these blunt questions and more to those three hot-button issues. I think, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, though, that he gave us an ethos and New Jersey, who was appointed by a moral direction, so we don’t have Pope Francis and is in his mold. Here’s Nicholas to sit down and say, “Jesus, what do our conversation, edited for space and Kristof we do?” Catholic tradition didn’t fall clarity. out of the air and decide something Comment KRISTOF: Merry Christmas! Let capricious. It’s based on all sorts of me start with respectful skepticism. lived experience of people trying to I revere Jesus’ teachings, but I have trouble follow Jesus closely. with the miracles — including, since this is KRISTOF: Can I ask about prayer? I Christmas, the virgin birth. In Jesus’ time accept that prayer has spiritual, healing value, people believed that Athena was born from but why is it that God answers prayers only in Zeus’ head, so it seemed natural to accept a ambiguous situations, such as curing cancer, great man walking on water or multiplying but never to, say, regrow a leg? loaves and fishes; in 2017, not so much. Can’t TOBIN: It’s interesting you mention that, we take the Sermon on the Mount but leave Nicholas. My dad grew up strong and big, the supernatural? played football for Boston College, went into TOBIN: People are, I guess, free to the service and lost his leg in World War II. take whatever they want. One night he was looking at Just like there’s wisdom in his prosthesis. He said: “I was non-Christian religions that thinking I’ve had that thing Christians appropriate. half my life now. But if I didn’t The most mind-boggling have that, I wouldn’t have miracle is the incarnation. your mother, and I wouldn’t We believe that the Creator have you.” So he discovered of the Universe, the one who something in that tragedy. Faith existed before time and before got him through it. anything else, became one of us. If you accept Sometimes I think when I don’t receive an that, then there are a lot of other things that answer to what I’m praying for, maybe what don’t seem to be quite as unbelievable. I’m asking for actually is something that could It’s not a magic show. All of the miracles be harmful for me. I do believe God hears all were not isolated or simply altruistic events. prayers, and I believe God answers in some They were actually pointing toward who God way. is, and who this carpenter from Nazareth KRISTOF: In previous Q&As, I asked the really was. Rev. Tim Keller and President Jimmy Carter KRISTOF: One area where the Catholic whether a skeptic like myself, who admires Church seems to me antiquated is gender. If Jesus’ moral teachings but doubts the virgin Jesus trusted women like Mary Magdalene, if birth and any physical resurrection, counts as Phoebe could be a leader of the early church, a Christian. Basically, Keller said “no,” and then why can’t women be priests or cardinals Carter “yes,” so you’re the tiebreaker. Am I a today? Christian? TOBIN: Those are two different questions. TOBIN: I would think that if you haven’t Regarding priests, it really is a stumbling completely closed the door on the possibility block for people, and especially in this that God has more to say to you, then I think country and in this culture, as all areas of life you’re in the tent. are opening up to women that this particular KRISTOF: Let’s turn the tables. Anything ministry in the Catholic Church is not. So I you want to ask me? understand the consternation. I have eight TOBIN: Can I ask a favor? I’m really sisters. I know for some women this sort of worried about this country for a lot of reasons, stumbling block takes them away from the but I’m particularly concerned about refugees church. and immigrants. I really think this present As for cardinals, most are bishops but not administration is moving clearly toward a all of them. As recently as the 19th century mass deportation. My people are already there were lay people who were cardinals. terrorized. I am so afraid that unless we can KRISTOF: So will we see women find a way of changing hearts, they’re going to cardinals soon? go ahead with it. TOBIN: Maybe my theology isn’t KRISTOF: So is that God’s work here on sophisticated enough, but I don’t believe that earth? Is that what Jesus would be criticizing there’s a compelling theological reason why today? the pope couldn’t name a woman cardinal. TOBIN: I never hear Jesus going out of his Pope Francis has promised to find a way to point an accusing finger at people who more incisive role for women in the church. are oppressing the poor. What he does criticize There are isolated incidents of women being in very stark terms is the ones who don’t see appointed to fairly influential posts in the them, who don’t see them as they are. I think Roman Curia. I think it’s got to be more than that’s what happens. We’re developing a that. national cataract. KRISTOF: I have huge admiration for KRISTOF: Thanks! And for all my Catholic nuns, priests and laity working on skepticism, this I believe: Merry Christmas! the front lines all over the world to fight ■ poverty, disease, injustice. Those people are Nicholas Kristof grew up on a sheep and doing exactly what Jesus talked about. But, cherry farm in Yamhill. Kristof, a columnist so often, religious leaders, including those in for The New York Times since 2001, won the the Vatican, seem less focused on the needy Pulitzer Prize in 1990 and 2006. What would upset Jesus today? OTHER VIEWS Bettina Hansen /The Seattle Times via AP, File In this Dec. 18 photo, cars from an Amtrak train that derailed lie spilled onto Interstate 5 in DuPont, Wash. This gift could cause serious harm Fort Dodge (Iowa) Messenger 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. CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES U.S. PRESIDENT Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ U.S. SENATORS Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 La Grande office: 541-962-7691 Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 Pendleton office: 541-278-1129 U.S. REPRESENTATIVE Greg Walden 185 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6730 D rone owners must exercise great caution and follow the rules. No doubt some local residents found remotely controlled miniature aircrafts — drones, in popular parlance — under their Christmas trees on Monday. Recipients likely tore open the packages anticipating tons of fun. Aircraft pilots have a different view. The proliferation of drones flown by irresponsible owners has created a new, potentially deadly, hazard for those who fly or ride in bigger craft. National Transportation Safety Board officials have released a report on the first confirmed midair collision between a manned aircraft and a drone in this country. It occurred Sept. 21 over New York City, when a drone hit and damaged an Army helicopter. Those on the chopper were able to land it safely. The drone’s operator was breaking virtually every rule in the book. He flew his craft about 2.5 miles away from where he was, despite a Federal Aviation Administration ban on flying drones out of sight of the operator, for one thing. If you have a drone or got one this Christmas, enjoy it. But do so safely. Follow all the rules. Don’t be responsible for the first fatality involving a drone. Don’t be responsible for the first fatality involving a drone. 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 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.