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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2019)
A4 East Oregonian Thursday, November 21, 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 Fence proves both sides can work together W olves reintroduced themselves to Oregon. Ever since, there’s been a lot of debate about what to do about them. They aren’t usually predators of people, though don’t try to make friends. As for ranch cattle, wolves can treat them like a buffet. Nobody knows that better than rancher Ted Birdseye. His Mill- Mar Ranch of 275 acres in Butte Falls has had more losses to wolves than any other rancher in Oregon, according to Oregon Public Broad- casting. Eight of his cows and two of his dogs have been killed by wolves. It’s the Rogue Pack at work. Is that bad luck? The cost of doing business? Something the government should compensate him for? Oregon has a compensation pro- gram. It has paid out money to help ranchers hire riders, buy radios, hang flags from fences and com- pensate for losses of cattle, sheep and working dogs. That seems absolutely justified if government Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Photo A rancher is trying something new to keep the wolves away — something never before at- tempted in Oregon. And he’s doing it with the help of some unlikely partners. and Oregonians want this natural predator to return. What’s good is that people who want wolves to thrive in Oregon are working so hard to help Bird- seye’s ranch from being the place the Rogue Pack goes for meals. A school group came to his ranch and helped him remove some bone piles, according to OPB. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf biologist John Stephenson has spent nights at the ranch to try to keep wolves away. He helped Birdseye put up flagging on its fences. Birdseye even tried those inflatable dancing men you see on car lots. Thanks to Oregon’s compensa- tion program, federal grants and contributions from environmental- ists Birdseye is getting 3 miles of electric fencing around his ranch. It cost more than $46,000. Made from recycled steel posts spaced 90 feet apart, with eight strands of high-tensile electric wire running between 1-inch fiberglass rods, Birdseye said anything that touches the fence “is supposed to get the shock of its life.” It is powered by a 3-foot-by-3-foot solar panel and battery. “My big concern is I just hope it works,” Birdseye said. “If it doesn’t work, I don’t know what the other options are.” The same kind of fencing has worked in Montana to keep wolves out. The return of wolves is a wel- come sign to some and a bad sign to others. But it is great to see dif- ferent ends of the spectrum of views cooperate. Prevention of wolves killing livestock is key for people on all sides of the issue. OTHER VIEWS Disney+ ruins classics with new trigger warnings I YOUR VIEWS Triebelhorn right on all counts I think Doug Triebelhorn hit he nail on the head regarding every aspect he addressed in the Other Views article in the East Oregonian on Nov. 19. Kudos to him, and I am sure hundreds of other Pendleton residents agree whole-heart- edly. He voiced very well the opinion and feelings of us. Seems like politicians and the city just keep asking for more. Why don’t they live on a budget like we do? Pendle- ton should tighten its belt and not ask for more taxes. Joyce Gibson Pendleton CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES U.S. PRESIDENT GOVERNOR Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 whitehouse.gov/contact/ Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, OR 97301-4047 503-378-4582 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 La Grande office: 541-624-2400 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. REPRESENTATIVES Greg Barreto, District 58 900 Court St. NE, H-38 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1458 Rep.GregBarreto@state.or.us Greg Smith, District 57 900 Court St. NE, H-482 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1457 Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us SENATOR Bill Hansell, District 29 900 Court St. NE, S-423 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1729 Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us Kelly Clarkson recently recorded an adored the story of “Cinderella” updated version of the Christmas as a child. The prospect of having song “Baby It’s Cold Outside” in rec- a man so in love with me that he’d ognition of the #MeToo movement crisscross the Kingdom searching for and out of a desire not to offend those my size 6½ foot was heady stuff. It who said it conjured images of rape. never occurred to me that Cindy was But instead of improving the flir- oppressed by the patriarchy or that tatious holiday standard, they sex- she should just buy her own darn pair ualized it even more by adding the of shoes. line “It’s your body and your Similarly, I was untrou- bled by the fact that Snow choice,” making what was a White was victimized by her clever back-and-forth between stepmother or lived with a two adults into a primer on variety of short men to whom consent. she was not married. While At least Disney isn’t mak- ing “Cinderella” open her the scenario seemed to pres- ent a negative view of both own shoe manufacturing blended families and female company or celebrating Snow C hristine sexuality, my 8-year-old psy- White’s sexual liberation with F lowers che survived unscathed. a scene where she distributes COMMENT I emerged from that Dis- condoms to the dwarfs. ney-centric childhood with Perhaps that cautionary happy memories and a deep apprecia- language could be helpful to parents tion for the power of imagination. who think that some of the imagery Sadly, the current employees of might confuse their children, partic- ularly in this day and age where gen- Disney must think of me as some der is a matter of opinion, race is still aberration, because they have decided a controversial subject, and sexual to provide disclaimers with their new stereotypes are forbidden. streaming service, Disney+, which hit But I can’t get my head around the market last week week. Whenever the idea that the stories that gave me someone clicks on classic content, such joy as a child are, to some peo- they will find this language under the ple, harmful enough to warrant a Details tab: cautionary warning. It’s one thing “This program is presented as to acknowledge that we made mis- originally created. It may contain takes in the past, and to seek a reck- outdated cultural depictions.” oning with our history. It is quite The disclaimer is aimed primar- ily at works that contain racial and another to caution people at the out- set that the magnificent piece of art ethnic stereotypes, like the Sia- mese cats in “Lady and the Tramp” that they are about to see is actually and “Dumbo,” which includes a ver- riddled with racist, sexist, and “pho- bic” tropes. This sets the viewer up to sion of black face. (It’s worth noting actually watch out for those trouble- that Disney+ is not streaming “Song some details and threatens to ruin the of the South,” a film that has been viewing experience. widely criticized for racist portrayals Isn’t it at all possible that the little of black people.) Given the focus on girl who sees the handsome prince on cultural sensitivity in today’s society, bended knee with the crystal slipper it’s not difficult to understand why will both sigh with delight and one Disney would want to neutralize the day grow up to be president? Must negative impact of its masterpieces every childhood memory be tweaked without actually tinkering with the so that it fits the evolved narrative? works themselves. Can’t we just enjoy the movie? In fact, Disney deserves credit for ——— not censoring the films and cartoons, Christine Flowers is a syndicated and tailoring them to meet 21st cen- tury sensibilities. John Legend and freelance columnist. 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
