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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 24, 2018)
Saturday, March 24, 2018 VIEWPOINTS East Oregonian Page 5A When a cow dies too soon S he was born blind. We didn’t know it next to her and covered her up — over until day three. Ian kicked himself for and over again. I watched with sadness, not noticing sooner, but he shouldn’t and even a tinge of regret, knowing she have. At least he noticed. Period. probably wouldn’t live and their efforts She lived in our laundry room (aka were somewhat pointless. the mud room ... which is also known as I detest watching others suffer, including the entry to our home) for two days. She cows. And especially the baby calves. I had little hope. Even as I brought hope to Mack tried to muster up a smile and Mason’s world. She or words of encouragement even brought adventure And for the next for the boys, I found myself of sorts because it wasn’t 20 minutes I simply hopeless. Ian would come the normal that any of us and feed her, trying to were used to. She brought sat there and cried in convince himself that she a bunch of extra love I was doing better, and I didn’t know they had in — wishing for would just watch. I wanted them. She also brought something different to care. I wanted to nurture a huge mess, but then her, but I just couldn’t again, don’t we all? for both of us. make myself. I was so By the second morning stuck in my little pity party I was a bit exasperated of dealing with the messes by her faint mooing that seemed to be piling (literally) all over sound — which sounded more like a cry the house whenever I turned my head that for help or maybe even a desperate plea one little dying calf was the least of my for pain medication; regardless, it was not concerns. music to my ears. And the attempts she And then, late in the afternoon while I made to get to her feet over and over again was washing the dirty dishes that had been were painful to watch. I was discouraged stacked in the sink since breakfast, there by my own problems, miscommunications was silence. The mooing had come to an and exhaustion, and her lack of strength end and her body stopped moving, and that seemed to pull me down even further. is when I did the most pathetic thing of all. The boys hovered over her, petted her, read her a book or two, did their homework I sat down on the floor of the laundry room and just stared at her. I was lifeless, and so was she. And for the next 20 minutes I simply sat there and cried — wishing for something different for both of us. A normal rancher’s wife probably would have been the one nursing it back to life instead of wishing it was in the barn. Or perhaps she wouldn’t be content waiting for her husband to come in to deal with it because she would be in her element of being the “nurturing caregiver.” In fact, I’m certain that an average rancher’s wife probably wouldn’t have sighed a deep sigh of relief when the mooing stopped. A typical rancher’s wife isn’t me. I’m still trying to figure out how to live this life I’ve been given. The disasters. The accidents. The fights for life. The job that isn’t a job, but a lifestyle. The life that requires so much of me even after a full day of teaching when I feel like I have little left to give. The life I’ve lived for 15 years, but still don’t have down to a science. Hopefully, someday, I’ll be the one covering the sick calf with blankets, and propping its head up with towels. Someday, I’ll be the one nurturing the heck out of the sweet little calf that has made its way into my home like my husband and boys were doing all weekend long. Yes, someday, I’ll be more about them and the bigger picture, L indsay M urdock FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN and less about me. Yes, someday will be sooner than later. ■ Lindsay Murdock lives in Echo and teaches in Hermiston. EO file photo Dave Chorazy of Pendleton plays “Taps” on a trumpet at the end of a Memorial Day ceremony in 2014 at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton. Fly your American flag March 29 Private funding for our public water? No, thanks P resident Donald Trump and climate change are squeezing has unveiled a $1.5 trillion global drinking water supplies, plan to rebuild our nation’s so investors — including commercial bottling plants — are crumbling infrastructure, rushing in. There are disturbing including the pipes and treatment accounts of bottling plants plants that keep clean water targeting a town’s good water flowing from our taps. But source, only to deplete local water if you read the fine print, his wells, dry up wetlands and drain plan offers just $200 billion in Karen federal funds; the remaining $1.3 Knudesen streams. Some people assume that trillion is expected to come from Comment private management means greater other sources, including private efficiency and lower rates. Yet the investors. reverse is often true. The New York Times Private investment in water systems analyzed three communities where private might look like a good deal to those who want to limit federal spending; it certainly equity firms manage water or sewer appeals to cash-strapped cities and towns. services. In all three places — Bayonne, New Jersey, and Rialto and Santa Paula And the need is great: The American in California — rates rose more quickly Society of Civil Engineers gives our than in comparable towns. In Bayonne, nation’s drinking water facilities a “D” the price of water skyrocketed by nearly grade, and says $1 trillion will be needed 28 percent after the private equity giant to fix them over the next 25 years. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts took charge of But private investment comes at a the city’s system. cost. Fundamentally, it means handing That’s why some cities that had gone over our most essential resource to those private — from Ojai, California, to Fort who put profits before the public interest. Wayne, Indiana — have seized their water That’s what we learned here in Missoula, systems back from private ownership. Montana, where we recently wrested While the price tag can be daunting, control of our water system away from a public investment is the better option. multinational corporation. State and local governments already Missoula is unusual in that our water provide the lion’s share of money for system was privately owned since the water infrastructure, and federal funding town’s founding in the 1870s. Our first is available through the Clean Water and water entrepreneur was “One-Eyed Drinking Water State Revolving Funds Riley,” whose delivery method involved (though those funds are flat-lined in a yoke and two buckets. Since then, the the president’s proposed 2019 budget). system passed through many hands, but There are also collateral benefits from was never well managed. Compared to public investment. The Economic Policy neighboring towns with public utilities, Institute found that spending $188.4 Missoulians endured high rates and poor billion on water infrastructure would service. Necessary capital improvements yield $265 billion in economic activity were not made, and the system steadily and create 1.9 million jobs. deteriorated. In Missoula, we are reaping the When the Carlyle Group purchased benefits from public ownership of our our water system in 2011, we hoped the priceless water assets. Decisions about situation would improve. But we soon our water are made right here in town, realized the fundamental tension that not in a distant boardroom. Instead of lay between Carlyle’s goal of generating short-term profits, our priority is long- a short-term profit and Missoulians’ term water security, a critical concern need for safe, clean water over the long in the era of climate change. We don’t haul. After a four-year court battle, we have to worry about rates going up to purchased our water system from Carlyle fatten investors’ wallets, and there are for $84 million. Now, for the first time less tangible benefits, including a more in our town’s history, ownership of intimate connection to the resource on our water system — its pipes, pumps, which all life depends. wells, water rights, wilderness lakes and So here’s our advice: If your dams — has landed where it belongs, in community hopes Trump’s infrastructure the hands of the people, where it can be managed for the public good, for all time. bill will fix your water system, be sure to read the fine print. And if you’re lucky Unfortunately, other cities seem enough to control your own water, never headed the other way, seeking private give it up without a fight. financing as the answer to their water ■ woes. Many will be disappointed: Private Karen Knudsen is a contributor to investors require high rates of return, so Writers on the Range, the opinion service they are unlikely to support projects that of High Country News. She is the director won’t pay off sufficiently. of the Clark Coalition, based in Missoula, If there is money to be made from Montana. water, look out. Population, pollution I veterans were spit upon, ridiculed n 2017, Congress passed a law to permanently designate and attacked for honoring the call of March 29 as Vietnam War their nation. Veterans Day. That law was Today, there are Vietnam War signed by the President. veterans suffering from maladies The law, known as the Vietnam due to exposures to infecting War Veterans Recognition Act of sources such as Agent Orange. 2017, encourages the display of Many who were awarded a the United States Flag on March Purple Heart are experiencing Steve 29 in honor of our Vietnam War complications attributed to their Bates Veterans. Here are a few reasons battle wounds. Comment why we should fly our flags on In addition to flying our flags March 29: on March 29 we, as Oregonians, Fifty years ago, the United States should honor our Vietnam War veterans military and its allies were responding with a mandate of support for a Vietnam to the advances of the North Vietnamese War Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol Army and the Viet Cong. This is known as grounds. the Tet Offensive, which lasted 30 days. Such a memorial would honor those This was a campaign of surprise attacks who served during the Vietnam Era against military and civilian command regardless of their location of service. It and control centers throughout South would demonstrably honor all who served Vietnam. There were two additional in Vietnam. Furthermore, this memorial offensives by the North Vietnamese that would remember those who gave their life, year. 1968 proved to be the bloodiest year forfeiting their American Dream so that we of the Vietnam era. There were more war could live ours. casualties that year than in any other. Our Vietnam War veterans have endured The era of the Vietnam War was a a great deal of controversy, heartache and tumultuous period. The war lasted 20 years physical discomfort for varying reasons. and spanned three decades. It has been A memorial to honor their service on the established that the start of the Vietnam Oregon State Capitol grounds will be our War was November 1, 1955, and the way of saying “welcome home,” albeit official end was April 30, 1975. (Some almost 50 years late. believe the end to be May 15, 1975.) It is appropriate that a Vietnam War Almost 3 million United States military memorial be placed on the grounds personnel served in Vietnam. Millions of the Oregon State Capitol. This will more served in other locations during that demonstrate our state’s commitment and 20-year span. gratitude to our Vietnam veterans. This More than 58,000 died in Vietnam. memorial will enable our state residents More than 700 Oregonians were among to better understand the struggles of our those killed in action in Vietnam. Vietnam War veterans. Four Oregon families lost two sons in Let us honor and memorialize our Vietnam. A total of 39 families nationwide Vietnam War veterans for generations to experienced such a loss. come. There were military personnel missing ■ in action in Southeast Asia. Roughly 1,600 Steve Bates is a life member of the Americans are still unaccounted for. Associates of the Vietnam Veterans of There were prisoners of war. America. He serves as chair of the committee Most of the Vietnam warriors who on memorials and remembrance and is came back to the United States were never president of the Vietnam War Memorial welcomed home. Many of our uniformed Fund. YOUR VIEWS American biofuels need support from Congress The debate surrounding the Renewable Fuel Standard has intensified and become much more complex recently. The efforts of a handful of oil refineries to portray the RFS as an unfair law to their bottom lines has attracted political opportunists like Senator Ted Cruz to fight on their side. In times like these, when the opposition ramps up considerably, we must reflect on how lucky we are to have great biofuel champions in industry, Congress and the White House and encourage them to keep up the fight. An eastern coast oil refiner’s downfall was the perfect opportunity for oil lobbyists and Sen. Cruz to exploit. Sen. Cruz has campaigned for months to reform the RIN system and has held the confirmation of Bill Northey to his U.S. Department of Agriculture position hostage until he got what he wanted. He argued on behalf of the oil industry, who only want to see the RFS weakened and their control of the pump strengthened. If their plans ever came into fruition, it would come at the cost of farmers already seeing declining incomes and hard-working employees at over 200 biorefineries across the country. Thankfully, Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have been there every step of the way to combat these attacks. At a biofuels meeting in the White House last week, they represented farmers and biorefinery workers everywhere in defending the RFS and seeing that Northey was finally confirmed to his USDA position, where he’ll join the Iowan senators’ fight to promote American biofuels. With more biofuel meetings with President Trump on the horizon, it’s now more critical than ever that our leaders in Congress know that this is exactly the kind of farm-friendly, pro-biofuels work we wished of them when we cast our vote for President Trump. Kraig Hoene Lebanon