ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Editor/Senior Reporter
SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2022
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
A problem
that needs
to be solved
U
matilla County commissioners
made the right decision earlier this
month when they voted to approve
the placement of a ban on psilocybin
manufacturing and service centers on the
November general election ballot.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic alka-
loid in some toadstool mushrooms,
the spore-bearing, fruiting body of a
fungus. Oregon voters in November 2020
approved Ballot Measure 109, the Oregon
Psilocybin Service Act, which allowed for
the manufacture, delivery and administra-
tion of psilocybin at licensed facilities.
The vote in Umatilla County was
strongly in opposition to the state measure,
with 64% against and 36% in favor.
In June, the commissioners expressed
the right tone when they indicated they
wanted local voters to decide whether to
allow psilocybin manufacturing in the
county.
Based on the 2020 vote results, the
outcome of the ban is probably foreor-
dained but the voters are the ones who
should be able to make the fi nal call on the
issue.
While there has been more then enough
hand-wringing regarding psilocybin and
its potential — but largely unproven —
negative impacts on an area the issue itself
clearly illustrates the great divide that
exists in our state.
The ballot measure stumbled in many
rural counties yet gained enough support
to gain passage.
That type of disconnect is evident not
just with the psilocybin issue but others
our state faces as well. The disconnect
continues to grow with little hope —
apparently — it can be solved any time
soon.
That conclusion, though, should not be
satisfying to voters. To succeed as a town,
a community, a county and a state we must
work together to fi nd common ground and
to seek answers rather than animosity.
Clearly at this point there is no doubt
several diff erent cultures exist in our state,
each with its own inherent values, each
with a specifi c political outlook. Yet a
measure — such as psilocybin manufac-
ture — that may seem perfectly reasonable
in one part of our state simply isn’t going
to fl y in a rural area such as Umatilla
County.
Going forward we must fi nd a way to
bridge the divide and seek answers instead
of animosity, progress rather than peril.
The psilocybin issue should be for voters
to decide but the larger issue it represents
still deserves to be solved in the future.
EDITORIALS
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.
LETTERS
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:
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801
YOUR VIEWS
Love and compassion
vs. hate and control
It’s been clear for years the “far
right” is fi ghting to secure minority
rule. It’s working. Both Trump and
George W. Bush got fewer votes, and
fi ve of the current Supreme Court
justices were confi rmed by sena-
tors representing a minority of citi-
zens. Can you guess which ones?
The eff ort is in tandem with the
religious right, which is now explic-
itly embracing the theology of domin-
ionism — the belief that they should
control all aspects of government
based on their beliefs and interpreta-
tion of the Bible. Hence their elation
with the end of Roe and talking
up ending more “evils” like birth
control and marriage equality.
The battle lines are clear: love and
compassion vs. hate and control.
The Founding Fathers didn’t help
our situation by giving each state,
regardless of population, two senators,
and creating the Electoral College.
But those are the compromises it
took to get the Constitution passed.
However, the founders were spot
on regarding their fear of Chris-
tian nationalism, which they made
explicitly clear and sought to prevent
by insisting government “make no
law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof.” Thomas Jeff er-
son labeled the concept the “sepa-
ration of Church & State.”
Here’s what this boils down to: a
minority of rabid Christians, aided
by the Christian nationalist wing
of the Supreme Court, wants to tell
you, no, force you, to live by their
values and beliefs. They want the
world to mirror their preferences
and validate their prejudices.
Paul Miller, a professor of inter-
national aff airs at Georgetown, noted
Christian nationalists feel they have
a right to defi ne what America is.
Katherine Stewart, who has reported
on the religious right for more than
a decade, said, “Breaking Ameri-
can democracy isn’t an unintended
side eff ect of Christian national-
ism. It is the point of the project.”
We must stop them. Vote.
Hal McCune
Pendleton
Join me in
voting for Joe Yetter
Please join me in voting for
Joe Yetter for Congress.
At a recent gathering of Umatilla
County Democrats we were intro-
duced to Dr. Joe Yetter. Joe said that
he was privileged to run for Congress
to represent the people of this district.
The man is an Army Medical Corps
veteran, a former practicing physician
and professor and now … farmer (he
fully admits to being new at that).
I won’t bore by detailing the
chest thumping portion of the gath-
ering. Joe is well informed and an
excellent candidate for offi ce.
I went to ask one line of questions:
“Have you been approached by corpo-
rate entities or big money to fund
your campaign? If any did; would you
report it to the people you serve?”
His reply was that he had not been
approached, and other than union
support from teachers and medical
professionals or local interests he will
NOT accept any corporate assistance.
A verbal agreement remains a valu-
able cultural asset to those of us in
Indian Country. Joe’s words are good
enough for me. He said it in front of
many people, including diners not
there for the meeting. I will support
and plan to vote for our “local” Joe.
I also donated.
Micheal Minthorn
Pilot Rock
Thank you
to those who helped
On June 29, I tripped and fell after
exiting a local restaurant. I fell face
fi rst onto the parking area, break-
ing my nose and fracturing the facial
bones, plus I suff ered a concus-
sion and other pains and bruises.
The most amazing citizens of Herm-
iston came to my rescue and helped
until the ambulance arrived. None
of them were familiar to me. I would
like to thank them for their kindness.
First is the young man who noti-
fi ed 911 and then removed his shirt
to stop the blood from my nose.
Next is the young lady who cradled
my head in her lap; the lady who
prayed for me; the woman who
called a friend and the many others
that brought paper towels from the
restaurant to try to stop the blood.
Thanks to all of you who
took a moment from your day
to help a stranger in need.
Bertha Keith
Hermiston
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande offi ce: 541-962-7691
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton offi ce: 541-278-1129
REPRESENTATIVES
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Cliff Bentz
2185 Rayburn House Offi ce Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6730
Medford offi ce: 541-776-4646
SENATOR
Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-415
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us