4 A
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WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ FEBRUARY 22, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
Finding common ground in your phone calls
On the one hand, I’m never
quite sure what to expect
when my phone rings here at
the editor’s desk. On the other
hand, I do know it’s always an
opportunity to share an
exchange of viewpoints, ideas
or — sometimes — a point of
contention with someone in
my community.
Many years ago as a restau-
ranteur, I learned that when a
guest wants to talk to a man-
ager about a bad experience,
take to your phone calls as edi-
tor. Each is an opportunity to
build a relationship which, in
this case, reaches beyond
Wednesday’s and Saturday’s
newspaper pages.
This morning I got a call
they aren’t seeking excuses, or
reasons as to why you couldn’t
meet their expectations.
They want two things:
1) Some form of resolution.
2) To be heard.
My wait staff always knew I
was willing to address issues
at a table because I viewed
every situation as an opportu-
nity to build a relationship
with a guest — the kind that
reaches well beyond a meal
and table service.
If you can turn a dissatisfied
guest around, you build a cer-
tain kind of loyalty though
that shared experience.
Did I always manage that
feat?
Of course not.
But I always tried.
It’s the same approach I
indicator of intent.
John had some very good
points that I took to heart.
Though our viewpoints dif-
fered, we could agree that
these kinds of conversations
are important ones and a nec-
From the Editor’s Desk
N ED H ICKSON
from “John,” who wanted to
know why we allowed one let-
ter writer to use the phrase
“admitted anti-Semite Stephen
Bannon” on our Opinion page
(Feb. 18). This led to a discus-
sion about our differing points
of view on whether guilt by
association is or isn’t a proper
essary part of our own system
of checks and balances as a
community — here in
Florence and beyond.
It was through this discus-
sion that we also found other
common ground, quite literal-
ly in Atlanta, where we had
both spent time.
It was the kind of conversa-
tion that left us both feeling
heard and, more importantly,
resolved in the sense of under-
standing one another’s per-
spective.
A short time later, I got a
call from “Sharon,” who want-
ed to let me know about a
troubling trend involving the
destruction of certain “adopt-
a-highway” signs that seemed
to be politically motivated.
Eventually, our conversa-
tion turned to our joint con-
cern about how political affili-
ation has begun to supercede
our affiliation as Americans,
within its citizenry as well as
within our government.
It was clear that we had sup-
ported different candidates
this past November. However,
the common ground we shared
about our nation’s polarization
went beyond election results.
Naturally, not every phone
call ends that way, any more
than I was able to exceed the
expectations of every guest
who ate at my restaurant.
But I also know that for
every conversation that didn’t
take place, we both lost an
opportunity.
I want to thank the “Johns”
and “Sharons” out there who
take the time to call and pro-
vide an opportunity to turn
things around — and build
relationships
that
reach
beyond these newspaper
pages.
Write Ned Hickson at nhickson
@thesiuslawnews.com
LETTERS
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion or prohibit-
ing the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press, or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress
of grievances.
M OVE ON AND GOVERN
I watched Donald Trump’s press conference
on Thursday (Feb. 17) with a mix of horror and
humiliation; horror that it was an hour-long dia-
tribe against, and denigration of, the press when
its reporting is at odds with the “alternative
facts” offered by the President; and humiliation
at his lack of understanding when it comes to
basic Constitutional guarantees.
If the press calls him out on his misinforma-
tion, he calls them “dishonest” and “fake news.”
If he doesn’t feel the questions are friendly, he
tells reporters to “sit down and shut up.”
He appears to want the press to only report
his spin and alternative facts, which could just
as easily be considered flat out lies. The
approach borders on state-run media and propa-
ganda, not unlike Putin in Russia.
President Trump continues to relive the elec-
tion. It’s time for him to move on and actually
govern.
If we do not have a free press to act as a
check on government, pursuant to the First
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, then our
democracy and our way of life is threatened.
Marybeth Marenco
Florence
N OTICEABLE CHANGE
Two recent articles in the Siuslaw News —
the piece on death with dignity (Feb. 15) and the
ongoing article on the affordable care act (Feb.
4 and Feb. 15) — each represent a quite notice-
able change in the editorial content of the news-
paper and are most welcome.
While the “Snooze” has long provided inter-
esting coverage of local events, there has been a
paucity of more in-depth reporting on more
challenging subjects and the move to provide
such content greatly enhances the usefulness of
the publication.
We do hope this trend continues.
Jimmie Zinn
Florence
N URSES RULE
I am responding to the recent article in
Siuslaw News about the nursing staff at our
USPS# 497-660
local PeaceHealth Hospital (Feb. 18)
wanting equal pay and better health
benefits, as well as recruitment and
retention of nurses — concerns that
don’t seem to be addressed or provid-
ed by at the corporate level.
I worked for 15 years as an interior
architectural designer in the health-
care field, working on projects large
and small. Some included the
Houston VA Hospital, Native Health
Care Clinic in Chinle, Ariz., King
Khalid Military City Hospital in
Saudi Arabia and the original
Stanford Children’s Hospital.
I also worked for two years as a
construction project manager at
Stanford
University
Hospital.
Designing a new hospital or doing a
$1 million-plus renovation, I have
had to interface with everyone from
hospital administrators, physicians,
nursing staff and housekeeping.
I discovered two things.
First, it can be very political.
And second, nurses rule because they are the
keepers.
Administration is a 9 to 5 job as are most
physicians, unless they are surgeons. Nursing is
a 24-hour job. I have experienced nurses work-
ing required 12-hour shifts and they are not paid
hourly but are salaried.
Our nurses should be compensated with a
guaranteed salary with overtime being paid over
their agreed work hours, as well as comprehen-
sive health benefits and paid vacation time.
How can we keep the present staff and then
recruit and retain new nurses without these
needed compensation and benefits?
In addition, my wife and I have lived in
Florence for 17 years and I am now on my sixth
doctor. Hopefully, PeaceHealth will attempt to
recruit and retain doctors who want to practice
here.
Win Jolley
Florence
A PPROPRIATE
INDIGNATION
I am so grateful to have heard Arun Gandhi
speak at LCC (Feb. 16), sponsored by the Lane
Peace Center. His message of non-violence
could not have been more relevant as a reasoned
foundation for a call to action in response to
current local, national and global realities.
It is now more important than ever that we
empower local dialogue, non-violent action and
authorize local law-making. That’s because not
only can we not count on the federal govern-
S UPPORT IMMIGRANTS
As I read about the accelerated and deeply
troubling reports concerning the deportation of
undocumented immigrants, I struggle with my
own anger about this deplorable program.
It is personal to me because of the following
story.
I was an administrator at the highly-respect-
ed and well-known prep school Viewpoint in
Calabasas, Calif., when two new students were
enrolled in my division and began as middle
schoolers the same September.
One was a very privileged child whose father
was a boisterous television personality at the
time and has since become President of the
United States.
The other girl was the daughter of undocu-
mented immigrants and who had earned a full
scholarship to attend our school.
Her parents had left Peru seeking a better life
for themselves and their daughter. They are col-
lege-educated and had moved legally to the
United States, but their work visas expired
when they lost their jobs after 9/11.
Both girls graduated and went on to attend
fine universities (one again on a much-needed
full scholarship) and have earned their degrees.
Today one appears on magazine covers and
sat in the President’s box at the Inauguration
parade while the other, with her family, faces
the real possibility of deportation.
She has spoken out eloquently on the depor-
tation issue. She is strong and will not be
silenced. And I fear for her and her family.
The good people of the United States need to
join voices with hers and support our hard-
working immigrants, including those who are
undocumented.
It is an important opportunity for us to stand
against what I feel is a digraceful injustice
ordered by the Trump administration.
Judith Preisler
Florence
Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News
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WHERE TO WRITE
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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
ment for help, but I feel the new administration
is making life in our communities increasingly
more difficult and dangerous.
By invigorating corporations to engage in
environmentally destructive practices, by fuel-
ing racial tensions and dividing families by
deporting individual members, by attacking
labor unions, etc., the feds are begging for a
response from “We, the People” at the local
level — where we live.
Our indignation is obvious and appropriate.
Community Rights Lane County will contin-
ue to challenge unjust laws that favor corpora-
tions by empowering local citizens to write and
pass laws that protect our health, safety and
welfare.
This is non-violent democracy in action.
We empower ourselves and our communities
as we strive for social, economic, racial and
environmental justice — because there is no
justice when our government and our laws
embolden corporations to put profits over peo-
ple and planet.
Michelle Holman
Deadwood
Pres. Donald Trump
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
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
www.merkley.senate.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. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
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