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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 2019)
A4 East Oregonian Saturday, August 24, 2019 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner ANDREW CUTLER Editor WYATT HAUPT JR. News Editor JADE McDOWELL Hermiston Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Tip of the hat, kick in the pants A kick in the pants to local poli- ticians who pushed rural pol- itics to the forefront of the regional news cycle last week, and not in a way that should leave voters feel- ing democracy in our little piece of the heartland is functioning at a high level. In Grant County, actions by an elected leader raised questions about priorities and judgement that are star- tling. Longtime Sheriff Glenn Palmer first announced he was going to resign. Then, Palmer announced he was withdrawing his resignation. Palmer should be no stranger to regular readers. His politics took cen- ter stage three years ago when he pub- licly showed support with the armed militia who overran the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The longtime sheriff has encoun- tered at least nine ethics complaints in recent years and faces a new one from a former Oregon State Police trooper. Palmer says he now will seek re-election — for a sixth term — even as controversy swirls around him. Palmer and the elected county lead- ership need to step back and reevalu- ate just exactly what are the priorities in a democracy and what is the best choice for voters. A kick in the pants to Malheur County elected and appointed lead- ers regarding an inquiry into whether a local newspaper, Vale’s Malheur Enterprise, broke laws by seeking answers from Greg Smith, the coun- ty’s economic development director. At least one county official inquired with the local sheriff if the Enterprise was breaking harassment laws by ask- ing Smith for answers for a story. The Enterprise reporters were doing what all reporters across the nation do: seeking answers to inform the pub- lic. Thankfully, the sheriff of Mal- heur County determined no laws were broken, but the entire episode should leave a sour taste for voters and jour- Blue Mountain Eagle Photo/ Richard Hanners, File Sheriff Glenn Palmer during the Oct. 24, 2018, Grant County Court discussion of budget is- sues at the sheriff’s office. nalists across the region. A tip of the hat to former Pendle- ton native Kris Jerome who kicked off his own publishing house — Dark Tidings Press. Jerome wanted to become a novelist but wanted more control over his art. Based in Albany, Jerome’s business is a classic example of American ingenuity and business acumen. We wish Jerome all the luck in his new endeavor. A tip of the hat to Pendleton res- ident Donna Murdock who, after coming across a burglarized home, decided to form a neighborhood watch group along Northwest Johns Lane. The group has now expanded to include nearly 90 families. Murdock’s insight and sense of community are clearly visible and she deserves kudos for her effort. While police are the first line against crime, all of us have a responsibility to ensure our neighbor- hoods remain safe. FROM THE TRACTOR’S SEAT Here’s to ingenuity that makes farm life easier J YOUR VIEWS Godless America the root cause of violence The top five problems in American schools before 1962 were talking out of turn, chewing gum, making noise, running in the halls, and crowding in line. Since 1962 the top five prob- lems in American schools are murder, rape, rob- bery, assault, and rebellion against authority. What changed? Prayer was removed in 1962. The Bible was removed in 1963. The Ten Commandments were removed in 1980. Our youth, the future of our Republic, are growing up in an America with no moral conscience. America and the world are reaping the consequence of removing the God of the Bible from our way of life. The absence of a moral rudder has removed the sanctity of human life from our culture. America has sanctioned the death of over 60 million aborted babies since 1973. Government sanctioned assisted suicide is new norm. Is it any wonder a few of our youth grow up to become mass murderers? The first textbook in American schools was the Bible. Today the Bible and the moral teachings it contains is banned in Ameri- can schools. The politicians that want to rule America grew up without a moral rudder as well. Their answer to mass murder shooting is to remove the Ameri- can people’s legal right to own a gun and change our Constitution. They want to remake the Amer- ica Republic into the Godless image of a “gun free” socialist state like Red China or Venezuela. These politicians are the blind leading the blind. The vast majority of American mass shoot- ings, some studies document over 90%, occur in “gun free zones.” These mass killers may have no conscience, however they certainly know where to find those that cannot defend themselves. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. These Godless socialist politicians seize upon the mass killings before the bereaved can mourn their loss to blame the gun, the Second Amend- ment, and the NRA. The truth is countries that banned or have strict gun control, like Russia, Norway, Finland, France and even Switzerland, have at least 25% higher per capita murder rates from mass public shootings. The USA doesn’t even rate in the top 10 in a world gone crazy without God. God sacrificed his Son, Jesus Christ, to give us hope and truth in an age of great deception. We must return to the God of our forefathers and stand without compromise for the Republic and Constitution they bestowed upon us. Stuart Dick Irrigon Trump’s wheat remarks insulting to farmers Thank you for your editorial “Japan wants our wheat.” I was shocked to read President Trump stated that Japan is buying our wheat as a favor to us. I have lived on a Morrow County wheat farm for over 60 years. I remember how much time, energy and money the farmers of Morrow and Umatilla counties spent establishing a relation- ship with Japan to build a market for our wheat after World War II. Farm organizations in our state have continued this successful effort to pro- vide good export markets for our product. It is highly insulting to our farmers to dispar- age their years of hard work and success in this effort. I would hope our president would be better informed in the future. Betty Rietmann Ione ert McKinney, in his interesting and uly and August are arguably the informative lecture on the evolution two busiest months here on our of farm equipment, stated that the farm. We generally work seven sickle mower — invented by either days a week, 10 or 12 hours a day. Obed Hussey or Cyrus McCormick, We usually start the month of July depending upon what source is cited by putting up our second cutting of alfalfa hay and finish out the month of — has changed very little since it was August seeding our winter wheat crop invented in the first half of the 19th century. Either fellow would recog- for next year into our fallow lands. nize his invention’s direct lineage still In between, we harvest our wheat present on my combine header’s cut- and/or barley crops and this year — ting apparatus. My machine as with many in the recent qualifies as an antique, but past — I was able to help my neighbor’s new machine a friend install a new roof is basically unchanged. on his house in the first few Another important agri- days of July. Although the cultural device that remains house is modest in size, it essentially unchanged from still required, according to its invention by John Fran- my informal and rudimen- cis Appleby in the 1870s is tary calculations, driving M att the twine knotter. An abso- approximately 13,000 nails W ood lute stroke of genius, the to fasten the new sheathing COMMENT knotter was first developed and shingles. for grain binders and lit- My World Book encyclo- erally made possible the early for- pedia informed me — don’t bother tunes of the McCormick Co., one of “Googling” nails, all I found was the five concerns that consolidated places to get a manicure or sugges- tions regarding colors of polish — in 1902 to form International Har- vester. It would require far more ink, that nails were developed more than space, and time than is available here 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia to to explain how needles, twine disks, aid in construction of artwork. Since tucker fingers, bill hooks, intermit- then, most nails have evolved from tent knotter gears, and knives operate being “cut” (out of sheets of iron or in perfectly timed concert to mechan- steel) and square in shape to being ically tie and knot and make consis- made from rolls of wire, which are tent hay bales. round and manufactured in a far In truth, I would need to enlist more efficient manner. I recall read- ing a book many years ago by Eric the expertise of son Willie to even Sloane in which he discusses differ- attempt to explain the process. He is ent types of nails used in barn con- our farm’s baler mechanic — all I do struction in Colonial America. Mak- is manually and slowly turn over the ing a hand-wrought-iron nail was a fly wheel so he can make all the nec- time-consuming task and produced a essary adjustments to keep every- valuable product that was likely never thing in time. Anyone who has even run a hay simply tossed on the ground only to baler truly can appreciate the old find new life as the mortal enemy of adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” a pneumatic tire (yes, I realize there Here’s to the anonymous Meso- were no flat tires in Colonial America mainly due to the fact that there were potamian artist Obed Hussey, Cyrus McCormick, John Appleby and no tires, period). everyone else who made our lives Several years ago, I was assisted easier and our work more productive in a building project by my esteemed via their ingenuity. Now, if you’ll par- cousin Jerry who observed, quite don me, I’ve got to get back to load- accurately, that “humankind has yet ing hay bales. to improve upon the nail.” ——— I set upon pondering other things J.D. Smith is an accomplished that have likely reached their zenith. writer and jack-of-all-trades. He lives At a recent farm event I attended in in Athena. the Walla Walla Valley, host Rob- 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. 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 the editor to editor@eastoregonian.com, or via mail to Andrew Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
