4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ MAY 20, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
N ED H ICKSON ,
EDITOR
Opinion
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion or prohibiting the free exer-
cise 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.
Parents need to be informed about ‘13 Reasons Why’
Dear Mapleton and Siuslaw School District
families:
We have become aware of a recently-released
Netflix series titled “13 Reasons Why.”
For those who may be unfamiliar with this
series, it is a fictional story about the suicidal
death of 17-year-old Hannah Baker, and the
audio recordings she leaves behind for 13 peo-
ple — each of whom she attributes a share of
the reason for her death. The series is based on a
book by the same title.
“13 Reasons Why” has raised concerns
among education and mental health profession-
als and we want to make sure parents and
guardians are informed.
The series is very graphic in nature, explicitly
portraying rape, bullying, substance abuse and
suicide, all intertwined within a teenage love
story.
While the series heightens awareness and sen-
sitivity about these issues, it can also create mis-
perceptions in young viewers that may put them
at further risk of suicidal ideation, misunder-
standing or self-blame.
As you can imagine, this graphically depicted
GUEST VIEWPOINT
J ODI O’M ARA
M APLETON S CHOOL D ISTRICT S UPERINTENDENT
A NDY G RZESKOWIAK
S IUSLAW S CHOOL D ISTRICT S UPERINTENDENT
story raises serious issues for us all as we care
for the health, safety and well-being of the
teenagers in our lives. For this reason, we wish
to communicate with you some thoughts, con-
cerns and suggestions regarding this series.
The film depicts suicide and yet does not
show what people can do to help prevent a sui-
cide. In real life, the majority of young people
who experience bullying, death of a friend, sex-
ual assault or other events described in this film
do not act on suicidal thoughts.
There are healthy ways to cope, including
talking with a trusted adult and seeking mental
health support. Most people go on to lead
healthy, normal lives.
Discussion points that can help parents in
talking with their children about suicide as it
relates to this film series include:
• Suicide is not a common response to life’s
challenges or adversities.
• Suicide is never a heroic or romantic act.
The film portrays suicide as a romantic and
revengeful act.
Suicide is simply a tragedy.
• In spite of the portrayal of a serious treat-
ment failure in the film, there are many treat-
ment options for life challenges, distress and
mental illness.
Treatment works.
• When you die, you do not get to make a
movie about it. Leaving messages from beyond
the grave is a dramatization produced in
Hollywood and is not possible in real life.
• Suicide affects everyone and everyone can
do something to help if he or she sees or hears
warning signs that someone is at risk of suicide.
• Talking openly and honestly about emo-
tional distress and suicide is ok. It will not
make someone more suicidal or put the idea of
suicide in his or her mind. If you are concerned
about someone, ask him or her about it.
For a complete list of discussion points creat-
ed by SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of
Education), the nation’s first organization dedi-
cated to the prevention of suicide, visit
www.save.org/blog/tips-watching-new-netflix-
series-13-reasons/
For support before or after watching “13
Reasons Why,” visit www.linesforlife.org/blog/
suicide-prevention-after-13-reasons-why.
Crisis Resources: Teen to Teen YouthLine 1-
877-968-8491 or Text “teen2teen” to 839863;
Lines for Life 1-800-273-TALK or Text: “LIFE”
to 61222.
— Respectfully,
Jodi O’Mara, 541-268-4312
Andy Grzeskowiak, 541-997-2651
LETTERS
R ESET THE MORAL
COMPASS IN C ONGRESS
The day after the firing of FBI Director
James Comey, who was leading an investiga-
tion of the Trump campaign’s possible ties with
Russia, the President of the United States
shared classified information with the Russians.
While I acknowledge the President has the right
USPS# 497-660
to declassify information when he so chooses,
just because you can do something, doesn’t nec-
essarily mean you should.
I don’t know if President Trump colluded
with the Russians during the election, or if he
has business and financial dealings with the
Russians. Based on his actions, it makes me at
least suspect there could be.
By giving the Russians classified informa-
General Manager, ext. 318
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WHERE TO WRITE
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
Senate. They have the power to bring the checks
and balances back to government.
Thank goodness there are some members of
Congress like John McCain and Lindsey
Graham who still put country before party.
— Marybeth Marenco
Florence
Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News
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
541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com.
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Erik Chalhoub
tion, he has put our country at risk because it
has the potential of making our allies less apt to
share information — or possibly put American
agents and sources in the field in danger.
It is time for Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell
and other Republicans in Congress to reset their
moral compass and stop the damage being done
by the President to our democracy.
Republicans control the House and the
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
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
www.merkley.senate.gov
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 ( 4 th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
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