Wednesday, August 10, 2022
A4
OPINION
VOICE of the CHIEFTAIN
Everyone
has a
right
to free
speech
I
t is unfortunate, though not unex-
pected, that today’s supercharged
political discourse can find its way
into just about any venue.
An excellent case in point is the
recent mini-controversy — and even
that label is a big push — regarding
comments made by the announcer and
the rodeo clown at the Chief Joseph
Days Rodeo.
Some people objected — and wrote
about it to the Chieftain — and some
vowed never to return to the event.
The rodeo clown and announcer
defended their apparently pro-Trump
remarks.
Terry Jones, Chief Joseph Days
Rodeo Board president, vowed he
would talk to the announcer about the
remarks.
Lost in all of this, at least to some
extent, are two items. One, the First
Amendment doesn’t just count for some
and not for others. One of the beauti-
ful attributes of our nation is the notion
that all of us have a right to free speech.
That doesn’t mean we all have to like it.
In fact, when the rhetoric is especially
off-putting is when the First Amend-
ment should be recognized.
A second point is the clear illustra-
tion that the cracks in our country now
regarding a political discourse are evi-
dent even in the heartland.
We are also becoming a society that
embraces the cancel-type culture. That
has to change. Also, what must change
is the thick and deep dividing lines
between political parties and those
with differing views. Part of the prob-
lem — and it is a major one — is the
constant barrage from self-proclaimed
all-knowing pundits who consume the
airwaves and spew highly toxic venom.
These individuals usually are nothing
more than modern-day snake oil sales-
men distorting the truth and engineering
dissent.
These individuals are not the loyal
opposition but dangers to democ-
racy. Educated and sensible voters of
a Republic should be able to listen to
whom they choose but they also have a
responsibility. An obligation to not sim-
ply take what some TV pundit says at
face value but to check out the so-called
“facts” these people deliver. A Repub-
lic needs a loyal opposition in politics,
which is true, yet that is a far cry from
some of the rhetoric spilled across TV
screens nightly.
Whether the comments made at the
rodeo were right or wrong isn’t really
the point. Were they appropriate during
a family-style event? Probably not. Yet
we must remember that America is built
upon the ideal that we might not like
what someone has to say but we believe
their right to say it.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Rodeo announcer
too political
I would like to thank Mike
Mercer for his comments last
week on the Joseph rodeo.
My wife and I and friends
have attended two rodeos
since moving to the county
five years ago, but we no lon-
ger do so because of the atti-
tude and commentary of the
announcer. It sounds like the
trend continues.
While the Joseph rodeo is
a great event and I think it has
great potential to bring people
together and showcase cow-
boy culture, I have no inter-
est in hearing the announcer’s
political views. He may think
it is cute to put his divisive
rhetoric out there, but many of
us are turned off by that.
Is it not possible to have
the biggest public event in this
county free of propaganda and
political opinions? Don’t we
get enough of that every day
on our news feeds? How about
a female announcer?
John Chlopek
Lostine
the community of Joseph. (In
other words, it’s not just me.)
This wasn’t my first rodeo, but
I promise you it is my last of
your rodeo I’ll attend.
Eric Pippert
Joseph
Rodeo no place for
‘dog-whistle political
commentary’
A rodeo, not a
I’ll take my rodeo served
Trump rally
up without a side of jingois-
tic, dog-whistle political com-
mentary, with a sprinkling of
misogynistic and racial tropes
by the announcer and rodeo
“clown.”
I now understand the luke-
warm reception given the
rodeo by locals. Had I been
aware that what I would expe-
rience Saturday, July 30, was
part rodeo, part political rally,
I would have differently spent
the nearly $200 after-tax dol-
lars the rodeo tickets cost me.
I’ve heard from other peo-
ple that what occurred at the
rodeo was not reflective of
I attended the Chief Joseph
Days Rodeo on Friday, July
29, and Saturday, July 30 and
it was a great event. However,
there was one exception: the
rodeo announcer who saw this
as an opportunity to spew his
political views on attendees.
I drove more than five
hours each way to watch a
rodeo and contribute to the
local economy by dining and
lodging in Joseph. Not to lis-
ten to some guy spout his
views on “there are people
trying to destroy our coun-
try,” freedom of religion and
prayer, and saying the code
CONTACT your REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
U.S. SENATORS
Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
La Grande office: 541-962-7691
Bobby Levy, District 58
900 Court St. NE, H-376
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1458
Rep.BobbyLevy@state.or.us
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Office: 209 NW First St., Enterprise, Ore.
Phone: 541-426-4567 • Fax: 541-426-3921
Contents copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.
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Bill Hansell, District 29
900 Court St. NE, S-423
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1729
Sen.BillHansell@state.or.us
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SENATOR
Greg Smith, District 57
900 Court St. NE, H-482
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@state.or.us
Member Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
USPS No. 665-100
Cliff Bentz
1239 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
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Medford office: 541-776-4646
REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR
Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
503-378-4582
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753
Pendleton office: 541-278-1129
Wallowa County’s Newspaper Since 1884
VOLUME 134
phrase “Let’s Go Brandon.”
Keep your political views to
yourself. It’s a rodeo, not a
Trump rally, pardner.
I am as patriotic and proud
of America as the next person.
But while many in your crowd
may respond to this announc-
er’s dog-whistle remarks, oth-
ers don’t. Let the riders carry
the American flag, pledge alle-
giance to that flag and cele-
brate America — but leave the
nasty, angry political remarks
for your friends and family.
We don’t all agree with you
— and this politicizing has no
place at a family rodeo event
that attracts people from many
parts of Oregon and states
beyond.
We loved our visit to beau-
tiful Joseph, but won’t be
coming back to Chief Joseph
Days until you get back in the
saddle of showing respect to
all of your patrons.
David Olmos
Portland
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