A8
COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
Saturday, July 3, 2021
The War Between the States, Part 2
MATT
HENRY
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
Bruce Barnes/Contributed Photo
Sticky currant, Ribes viscosissimum.
Sticky currant is
lovely, not tasty
BRUCE
BARNES
BLOOMIN’ BLUES
Common name: Sticky
currant
Scientifi c name: Ribes
viscosissimum
Sticky currant gets its
common name from the
sticky, glutinous, glan-
dular, soft hairs on the
stems and both sides of
the leaves. A close look
reveals tiny drops of the
sap on the tips of hairs.
This currant forms a
hardy, woody bush about
3-6 feet high, with no
thorns. The leaves are
palmately veined, about
1-4 inches wide, with three
or fi ve rounded lobes, each
lobe doubly lobed. The
veins beneath are quite
prominent.
The fl owers are white
or cream, borne 4-17 in
racemes. Each fl ower has
fi ve spreading, green-
ish, greenish-yellow to
yellowish or pinkish
sepals. There are fi ve
erect, oval, whitish petals
about a quarter of an inch
long. The fruit is a dark
blue-black berry, which
is smooth to fi nely hairy,
smells bad and tastes too
bad to eat.
This shrub is mainly
found in wet or damp
woods, stream banks,
slopes and canyon
bottoms, from higher to
low elevations.
After checking several
references, only one refer-
ence listed one report of
any use for this currant,
listing it as being an “arti-
cle of diet.” Based on other
descriptions of the plant,
that report seems question-
able. Unlike this currant,
most of the many Ribes
species in North America
have an impressive list of
uses.
———
Bruce Barnes directs
Flora ID, producing plant
ID software, found at
fl ora-id.org. Reach him at
fl ora.id@wtechlink.us.
I
t is a privilege to write
a monthly essay for
the East Oregonian.
It’s something I take very
seriously as such pieces
certainly defi ne me in a
very public way. Moreover,
it implies something about
the paper that chooses to
publish it. In this case, it
demonstrates an organiza-
tion that is open to many
diff erent viewpoints and is
willing to lay their subscrip-
tion numbers on the line
in order to give the entire
public a voice. My writ-
ing must have meaning for
others as well as myself.
In this vein, I’d like to
throw out a shout-out to
some of my favorite essay-
ists that are featured in the
paper whose writing hits
home: J. D. Smith for his
colorful yarns that expand
the meaning of the word
“believability;” Bill Aney
for his professional, scien-
tifi c take on forest manage-
ment, demonstrating how
proper management of our
forests and woodlands is
so vital to forest — and by
extension — human health;
and Alex Hobbes, living out
in the hinterlands of Irrigon,
penning some great writ-
ing coming from a sharp,
fi ne, well-used mind. From a
history major (me) to a poly
sci major (you): Ms. Hobbes,
you’re a local gem of a
writer. I admire you tremen-
dously for homeschooling
your child when you could
be teaching in a university.
At least your child is getting
an excellent education.
All right, to the business
at hand.
To all my fellow Orego-
nians who seem hell-bent
on creating The Republic
of Jones here in Eastern
Oregon/Western Idaho, you
really need to think this
through by careful refl ection
on the horrifi c prior exam-
ple, i.e., the War Between
the States, Part 1. We know
the confl ict was largely an
issue of economic insecu-
rity, cultural diff erences
and an overbearing federal
government. This was the
Southern perspective; the
Northern position was the
constitutional mandate to
keep the young experiment
from fl ying apart. That is,
the North felt beholden to
honor and maintain the
sacrifi ces of the Revolution-
ary War. For them, there
was no walking out of the
family; in fact, Northern
politicians had been polit-
ically placating the South
for years before the rupture,
that is, until the fi rst and
greatest Republican presi-
dent chose to fi nally draw a
line in the sand.
On pondering what must
have been going through
Abraham Lincoln’s mind, I
couldn’t help but think about
all those tremendously brave
colonists who stood up to
George III, farmers and
craftsmen and merchants
and lawyers and small
shopkeepers, their bare feet
leaving a trail of blood in the
snows of Valley Forge, most
of them dying of musket ball
holes, disease and exposure.
And the most fascinating
thing to me is people from
wildly diff erent cultures,
regions and backgrounds
thought the One was ulti-
mately worth more than the
fragmented Thirteen — and
they were willing to give
their lives to the dream.
What would you say to
them? Their sacrifi ce was in
vain? Should there be two
Americas? More? Ecotopia?
So, here’s my question for
all of my fellow East Orego-
nians who are attempting to
establish the New Repub-
lic of Greater Idaho: What
do you think those people
died for? Was the United
States worth it? My guess is
many of you have numer-
ous fl ags, because if one is
good, a lot more really get
the point across. You may
have gun stickers on board
and, heck, even the emblem
of the Stars and Bars.
According to Wikipedia,
“After the Civil War, Idaho
attracted many veterans of
the Union Army to the state.
... An Idaho Soldiers Home
was constructed during
the 1890s ... [t]he deaths of
veterans routinely made the
news.” I’m sure many Idaho-
ans trace their ancestry back
to some of these Northern
veterans. What would you
say to them? Your sacrifi ce
was conditional?
The South had the exact
same grievances as you:
“They” (in other words,
their fellow Americans)
don’t understand us, our
values, our culture, our
economy. And the Uncle
Sam our Salem ancestors
died for isn’t keeping us
happy and free to do our
own thing and live our lives
as we see fi t — which for
the South meant owning and
torturing human chattel.
“Their precious way of life.”
So, my friends, I beg of
you one simple thing: Get
off Fox, grow up and get
a grip. A bona fi de blue,
I choose freely to live in
half of a state of red. But
I pay the same cost as do
you, meaning I choose to
live somewhere dominated
by the Opposite Culture.
And I willingly pay the
price for it, which is the
exact same price you pay:
getting steamed from time
to time, swearing that yes,
this is the president that will
really make me hightail it
to Canada. But at the end
of the day, despite the “real
and actual dangers posed by
the other side,” I’m at peace
being a confl icted American
and a thankful East Orego-
nian. So come on. Grow
up and realize every one of
us must make choices and
sacrifi ces about where we
live.
We’ve had two centu-
ries to work on it and try to
get it right. Despite the last
four years, in which I was
burning in hell in abject
misery while it was your
turn this time to throw the
party, I realize reality is
cyclical. Did you feel this
way when Oregon politics
were safely red (they will
be again someday)? When
Idaho politics change (and
someday they will), will
you push to change the
eastern border once more?
For me, what it means to be
an American, an Eastern
Oregonian and an old man
is the realization that some-
times I win and sometimes
I lose — and that’s just the
way of life.
———
The Rev. Matt Henry is
a retired American Baptist/
United Methodist pastor,
who pastored the Pendle-
ton First United Church and
now joyfully makes “hippie
food” for the houseless at the
Warming Station.
COMMUNITY BRIEFING
9075 or emailing SSP.StatewideWorkshare@
dhsoha.state.or.us. Once approved, replace-
ment benefi ts are added to the households
existing Electronic Benefi ts Transfer card.
SNAP recipients eligible for
replacement food
SALEM — Power outages can result in
food spoiling, especially during the current
excessive heat warning — and that can take
a toll on Oregonians living on tight house-
hold budgets.
Citizens across the state who lose food
purchased with Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program benefi ts due to power
outages are encouraged to apply for replace-
ment benefi ts with the Oregon Department of
Human Services.
SNAP recipients who lost or disposed of
food that was unsafe to eat because of power
outages can request replacement benefi ts. The
request must be submitted within 10 calen-
dar days of the food loss by calling 800-699-
McKenzie Park features
Friday night fl icks
HERMISTON — Movies in the Park
off ers family fun on Friday nights in July.
The portable screen will light up at dusk at
McKenzie Park, 320 S. First St., Hermiston.
People are encouraged to bring a lawn chair,
a blanket and their favorite snacks.
The shows include “Raya & The Last
Dragon (July 9), “Jurassic Park (July 16),
“Tom & Jerry (July 23) and “The Goonies”
(July 30). There is no admission charge.
The movie nights are sponsored by Herm-
iston Parks and Recreation. For more infor-
mation, call 541-667-5018 or visit www.
hermistonrecreation.com.
Stanfi eld installs disc golf
course
STANFIELD — Get ready to rattle some
chains at the new disc golf course at Bard
Park.
The city of Stanfi eld is in the process of
installing the nine-hole course, which will
feature baskets and tee markers. It includes
one par 4 and the rest of the holes are par 3.
For a map of the course layout, search www.
facebook.com/stanfi eldparksandrec.
Players are invited to play at no charge.
Watch for an offi cial ribbon-cutting in the
near future. For questions, call 541-449-3831
CHURCH
Community Worship
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
Iglesia Católica Nuestra
Señora de los Ángeles
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
N.E. Gladys Join
Ave & Us
7th, Hermiston
541-567-6672
JOIN OUR INCLUSIVE
CONGREGATION
ON OUR JOURNEY WITH JESUS
Services 9:00am Sundays
In-person or streaming on
Facebook or Zoom
Hermiston chamber hosts
outdoor luncheon
HERMISTON — Prizes and special
guest speakers are featured as the Hermis-
ton Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual
Summer Business Luncheon.
The event is Tuesday, July 13, from
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bennett Botan-
ical Gardens, 32632 E. Punkin Center
Road, Hermiston. All active 2020 chamber
members will receive one free event ticket;
additional tickets are $20 each.
To RSVP your free ticket, call Kristina at
541-567-6151. To order tickets, visit www.
hermistonchamber.com.
— EO Media Group
Featured this Week:
DIRECTORY
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
or visit cityofstanfi eld.com.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
- Presbyterian Church (USA) -
201 SW Dorion Ave. Pendleton
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Open Hearted... Open Minded
PENDLETON
LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH
Sunday Service: 9am & 6pm
Tuesday Kingdom Seekers: 7pm
Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm
We offer: Sunday School • Sign Language
Interpreters • Nursery • Transportation • & more!
Sunday Mornings
Pastor Dan Satterwhite
541.377.4252
1st Service: 8:30am
2nd Service: 10:30am
417 NW 21st St. • Pendleton, OR 97801
www.facebook.com/
PendletonLighthouseChurch
Includes Children’s Services
201 SW Dorion Ave.
PendletonPresbyterian.com
Worship Services On Facebook
10:00am Sundays
Facebook.com/PendletonPresbyterian
OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR
www.graceandmercylutheran.org
Sunday Worship 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided)
Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School
Check Out our Facebook Page or
Website for More Information
541-289-4535
Pastor Weston Walker
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
(First United Methodist Church)
191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
ONLINE and IN-PERSON SERVICES
SUNDAYS
| 8:00 AM & 10:00AM
541.276 .18 94
|
712 SW 27 TH ST.
www.pendletoncog.com
love God, love people, and make disciples who make disciples
in Mission for Christ LCMC
Sunday Worship.........9:00 AM
Bible Study......10:15 AM
Red Lion Hotel
( Oregon Trail Room )
Community
Presbyterian
Church
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
Redeemer
Episcopal
Church
241 SE Second St. Pendleton
(541)276-3809
www.pendletonepiscopal.org
k -
ceboo
M-F Morning Prayer at . 7:00
n Fa a.m.
.m o Pendleton
at 9 a eme 9:00
r
s
y
a
Sunday Holy
Communion
a.m.
und
e de
live S of the R
Wednesday
Holy
ming
ch Communion Noon
Strea pal Chur
o
c
Epis
All Are Welcome
The Salvation Army
Center for Worship & Service
Sunday Worship Service
9:30 - Sunday School
Also Live Stream at PendletonFirst.com
SundayEvenings
Celebrate Recovery: 6:00
10:30 - Worship Service
Wednesday Evenings
Wednesday Bible Study
Family Night: 6:00 pm
5:30 Family Fellowship Meal • 6:00 Bible Study
COME AS YOU ARE
150 SE Emigrant
(541) 276-3369
Solid Rock
Community Church
140 SW 2nd St Hermiston, OR 97838
541-567-6937
Worship Service: 11:00AM
Sunday School: 9:45
Pastor Wilbur Clark
Pendleton First Assembly of God
1911 SE Court Ave. PO Box 728
541.276.6417 pendletonfirst.com
To advertise in the
Church Directory,
please contact
Audra Workman
541-564-4538
or email
aworkman@eastoregonian.com