4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ NOVEMBER 9, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
Democracy isn’t in the chosen — but in the choosing
I’m writing this Tuesday
morning, well before the final
votes will be tallied later
tonight and, quite possibly,
contested by one side or the
other in the days and weeks
ahead.
As much as I’d like to
believe tonight will close the
final chapter in a political sea-
son that has played out more
like a work of fiction than
reality, my gut tells me there is
already a sequel in the works
to this poorly written chapter
in American political history.
Yet, as I slipped my ballot
into the drop box this morn-
ing, I thought of the poem
“Election Day, November
1884” by Walt Whitman. In it,
he eloquently expresses the
simple but important notion
that the act of voting is, in
itself, more powerful than any
individual elected within our
Democracy.
“The still small voice
vibrating — America’s choos-
ing day, the heart of it not in
the chosen, (but) the act itself
the main — the quadriennial
choosing...”
In this era of social media
coverage, on-demand sound-
bites and the constant barrage
of political ads, posts and
Tweets, it’s easy to forget the
fundamental value our vote
represents — and that the sum
total of our Democracy is larg-
er than any one individual.
I have faith in our system of
checks and balances, the
Constitution, our Bill of
Rights and, most importantly,
my fellow Americans’ right to
choose a president.
Over the years, I’ve had my
candidates win and I’ve had
nation and its voice.
As I mentioned a couple of
weeks ago, I don’t particularly
care for either presidential
candidate, neither of whom I
honestly feel represents the
best of the American people,
From the Editor’s Desk
N ED H ICKSON
them lose — some during the
final elections and others well
before. However, regardless of
who was sworn in, I felt hum-
bled being part of a process
that began as notions and fer-
vent scribbling by our forefa-
thers nearly 250 years ago.
It was a system created to
give a voice to its people. And
while it certainly isn’t perfect,
even that is a reflection of our
their values or ideals.
For me, filling out my ballot
was like chosing between the
the last two kids waiting to be
picked for the kickball team;
one can kick and the other can
catch, but I know whoever I
choose is going to cost me
some runs.
However, like kickball, our
system of Democracy is based
on the principle that we aren’t
defined by one individual but
by the voice — and choice —
of many.
By the time you read this,
that choice will have been
made. And regardless of who
is sworn in on January 20th, I
will support that choice — not
as a Democrat, Republican or
Independent.
I will support it as a fellow
American who believes that
the heart of Democracy does-
n’t rest within the chosen, but
within the hearts of those who
do the choosing.
Following a political season
that has, by design from both
sides, steadily and deeply
divided us all, I hope you’ll
join me in moving forward as
a people united by the belief in
— and our respect for — the
voice we share as Americans...
L ETTERS
If I should need to name,
O Western World,
your powerfulest
scene and show,
‘Twould not be you, Niagara
Nor you, ye limitless prairies
Nor your huge rifts of
canyons, Colorado,
Nor you, Yosemite
Nor Yellowstone, with all its
geyser-loops ascending to the
skies,
Nor Oregon’s white cones
Nor Huron’s belt of mighty
lakes; nor Mississippi’s
stream:
This seething hemisphere’s
humanity, as now, I’d name
the still small voice vibrating
on America’s choosing day...
— Walt Whitman
______________________
Write Siuslaw News editor Ned
Hickson at nhickson@thesiuslaw
news.com or P.O. Box 10,
Florence, Ore. 97439.
TO THE
P OLICY
E DITOR
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LETTERS
Joyful ‘Pirates’
My friend and I just came from this
year’s musical production of “The Pirates
of Penzance” by the Last Resort Players at
the FEC and I wanted to share my reaction
to this high quality, amusing, joyful and
creative interpretation of this popular
comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan.
There was not a single stand-out per-
former but all the duets were especially
well executed and pleasing. The chorus
performers were fully competent and the
various soloists were all effective and
amusing.
Some of the principal singers had very
excellent voices for musical theatre and no
player was worse than very good.
Even the orchestra, though small, was
USPS# 497-660
tuneful and well practiced.
It would be my hope that I am the only
one in town surprised to find this cultural
treasure in a small beach town.
For those like me who haven’t pursued
the dramatic offerings of Florence, who are
reluctant to take the time or who are too
frugal to realize the value of this type of
joyful experience, it’s time to wake up and
enjoy!
We are so lucky to have such gifted
artists of all kinds here.
Well done, Last Resort Players!
Crystal Clark
Florence
Florence makes a difference
The Salvation Army — Western Lane
Tell them you appreciate their work to help
those who are less fortunate.
Maybe even offer to volunteer or donate
items they may need.
Also on “Make a Difference Monday,”
you can enjoy breakfast at Darling’s
Marina and Resort in Dunes City, lunch at
Pop’s Smokehouse in Mapleton and dinner
at the Siuslaw Riverside Restaurant on Bay
Street, where your $15 includes a meal and
beverage.
Bring friends and family plus cans of
food for the local food share programs.
For more information or to volunteer,
call 1-800-481-3280.
Bill Olson
Florence
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WHERE TO WRITE
Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National
Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore.
Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax
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John Bartlett
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
County is very thankful for the outpouring
of support we received for the Red Kettle
Campaign in 2015. In fact, the nearly
$17,000 raised was two and a half times the
national average per capita.
Well done!
In fact, it impressed one donor so much
that she matched this amount in January,
thus making it five times the national aver-
age.
We are going to do our best to meet last
year’s amazing success. To do this, we will
need twice the number of bell ringing vol-
unteers and many large donations to make
it happen.
On Monday, Nov. 14, we urge everyone
who can to donate to a favorite local chari-
ties and send a note of encouragement, too.
Pres. Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line 503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
West Lane County Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us