4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ MAY 27, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
United in the meaning of those many little flags
have any family members
buried there, I thought it
would be a good opportunity
to explain the meaning of
Memorial Day to her.
I am reminded that a child’s
pure, unbiased perspective is
sometimes our best source of
wisdom.
It’s been 15 years since we
introduced our oldest daugh-
ter to the meaning of
Memorial Day. She was
seven then, but I still remem-
ber the short gusts of warm
wind on my neck, the earthy
smell of the fresh-cut grass,
and the hushed snap of small
American flags standing like
sentries next to dozens of
tombstones along the hill-
side.
“How come some of them
have little flags, and some
don't?” my daughter asked.
It was near sunset as we
strolled through our local
cemetery. Though we didn’t
Though we live in a time
where the lines that divide us
seem more clearly drawn
than ever, this Memorial Day
I hope we can unite in
solemn appreciation for the
men and women throughout
our nation’s history who sac-
rificed themselves so that we
can live — and even disagree
— as Americans.
As adults, we tend to com-
plicate things and ideals. It’s
days like Memorial Day that
ing to protect something,” I
explained. “Like where they
live, or the kind of church
they go to, or the right to
express themselves. These
From the Editor’s Desk
N ED H ICKSON
“Do you know what war
is?” I asked.
“When people fight,” she
answered, then clarified her-
self; “A whole bunch of
people.”
“That’s right, but do you
know why they fight?”
She thought a moment,
then shook her head.
“Well, they are usually try-
little flags are for people who
fought for you and me — so
that we could have all those
things.”
“And they died while they
were fighting?” she asked,
and crouched in front of a
small flag that had fallen
over. She looked at me, and I
nodded.
“A lot of them did,” I
answered, watching as she
stuck the little flag back into
the ground. “But not all of
them. Some died later, after
they were done fighting for
us.”
“But they still get a flag,
right?”
“That’s right.”
We sat there for a moment,
watching as the fabric of
stars and stripes waved in the
evening breeze. Hugging her
knees to her chest, my
daughter surveyed the hilly
grass, and the long shadows
stretching away from the set-
ting sun.
“There sure are a lot of lit-
tle flags out there,” she said
finally.
“Yes, there are.”
She was silent again, and I
began to wonder if I had laid
too much reality on her.
After a moment, she stood
and brushed grass from the
seat of her pants.
“C’mon, Dad,” she said,
and reached for my hand.
“You ready to go?”
“Uh-huh,” she said. “After
we fix those other flags
down there. Some of them
fell over. We need to make
them straight.”
This Memorial Day, take
time to notice the little flags.
There are many.
And they all deserve our
attention...
Write Siuslaw News editor Ned
Hickson at nhickson@thesiuslaw
news.com or P.O. Box 10,
Florence, Ore. 97439.
LETTERS
T HANKS FOR BIKE
HELMETS FROM WLAD
On behalf of the many Siuslaw Elementary
students who received a free bike helmet
ahead of Bike-to-School day, I’d like to
express my appreciation for the helmets we
were given this week from the Western Lane
Ambulance District (WLAD).
On Wednesday, May 23, we fitted 126 stu-
dents for new helmets. We asked parents to
verify the need and, in the end, distributed
more than 60 brand new helmets the next day.
The stylish helmets are greatly appreciated
by our students and most pledged to wear
them whenever they are using a bike or skate-
board.
Events such as the helmet give-away are
among the things that make Florence a won-
derful community. Danielle Hanson and Kyle
Orozco were engaging with kids as they tried
on helmets. Our kids got to see real first
responders up close and personal.
To see different organizations come togeth-
er for student safety and wellness is hearten-
ing. It reaffirms my position that this is a
great place to be kid.
He reverted to childish name-calling
(“Misogynist-in-Chief,” “Tweeter-in-chief,”
“The president who must not be named.)
Then, when saying the name “Trump,” he
apologized to the crowd for saying it. Next
came a hypocratic bombshell directing liber-
als to be tolerant and not name-call or insult
— for to do so shows a lack of character.
Apparently, it’s okay to suggest our
President is the world’s greatest evil since
Hitler but not permissible to call out a real
and true threat like Islamic terrorism (see
Manchester) because that would be
“Islamophobic.”
Barsamian mentioned Standing Rock but
ignored the tons of garbage (and its environ-
mental impact) left by the protesters. He also
compared President Trump to Kim Jun Il,
supports the hateful “humor” of Steven
Colbert, believes vetting immigrants is wrong
and American foreign policy is the world’s
greatest threat.
None of this is conducive for the common
ground he so vacuously promotes.
Sorry David, but your intolerance was
showing.
— Mike Harklerode, Principal
Siuslaw Elementary School
— Barry Sommer
Westlake
S IGN DESIGNATES
POLITICAL AREA ?
B ARSAMIAN SHOULD TAKE
HIS OWN ADVICE
I have a few thoughts after attending David
Barsamian’s talk at the library (Friday, May
19.), which was titled “Resistance in the age
of Trump.”
Not exactly subtle in its direction or tone,
but I decided to attend anyway. Needless to
say, after 90 minutes it was obvious that not
only was there no love in the room, I also
found hypocrisy, double-speak and mislead-
ing conclusions that came fast and furious.
His presentation was not a service to the
community because the majority of his talk
simply focused on the demonization, margin-
alization and dismissal of Trump, his policies
and those who voted for him or even support
some of his policies.
Rather than offer real solutions outside of
what he termed “controlled, channeled rage,”
Barsamian kept repeating what he called the
“progressive liberal movement” mantra,
which is essentially that Trump is evil and
must be removed from office.
USPS# 497-660
Recently I noticed what appears to be an
official road sign reading “Florence
Democratic Area” at the SE intersection of
Highway 126 and Highway 101.
It was my understanding that it was illegal
to fix political signs on municipal traffic
posts. If this is the case, why does this sign
remain?
So far as I know, this state does not desig-
nate political areas, nor does our county.
— Arthur H. Gray
Florence
C RITERIA FOR SOCIALISM
Since I was the person who introduced
guest speaker David Barsamian at the May 19
event at the library, I felt I should add to Mr.
Cavarno’s critical appraisal in his Letter to
the Editor (May 24.)
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WHERE TO WRITE
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
status quo and its legacy for our children. He
is critical about declining American media,
particularly its lack of “context,” detail and
accuracy, referring to the “press-corpse.”
In my old spirit of editing the newspaper of
the Second Infantry Division, in Asia, and
providing copy to Stars & Stripes, these are
my remarks and not those of KXCR or WLT.
— Rand Dawson
Siltcoos lake
(Editor’s note: In the interest of providing
accurate sourcing regarding what was said at
the May 19 event, part 1 of David Barsamian’s
presentation at the library will air on KXCR FM
90.7 on Monday, May 29, followed by part 2 on
Monday, June 5, at 4 p.m. both days.)
The First Amendment
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establishment of religion or prohibiting
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.
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E DITOR P OLICY
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James Rand
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Erik Chalhoub
Both Dunes City and the Lane County
Commissioners provided unanimous resolu-
tions to support its 8-year effort to obtain the
license. Its evolving programming seeks to
reflect — and respect — that support. It airs,
for example, the morning hour national news
program, “Democracy Now,” a respected
award-winning program.
West Lane Translator (WLT), is the
KXCR FCC station licensee. WLT is a 58-
year-old nonprofit with four television licens-
es. It brings the Florence area its only on-air
television, including Fox, ABC, NBC and
CBS. WLT’s towers in Glenada also host (at
no profit) other noncommercial, commercial
and religious radio and television frequen-
cies, including KLCC and KWAX.
All are free to the community.
I don’t know if that meets Mr. Cavarno’s
criteria for “socialism” or not. Rather, I
would hope it’s an example of what
Barsamian refers to as “collective action,” or
“finding common ground,” which he urges to
improve communities and counteract envi-
ronmental threats such climate change.
A fair review of Barsamian’s event audio
tape reveals a wide-ranging presentation, not
an “appeal to minorities” to “make wedges.”
The tape contains no “mopped-the-floor”
description of what Sen. Bernie Sanders
would have done to Trump.
Instead, it references a projected vote result
that would have “wiped out” the Trump vic-
tory.
Barsamian’s use of the term “wedges” is in
the context of expanding media or adding
issues to the public discussion or status quo,
not dividing people.
As for the American flag standing in the
corner, I feel Barsamian showed respect by
not wrapping himself in it and, instead,
directly speaking to its values — particularly
the importance of free speech and assembly.
As for mentioning Karl Marx, during 31
years of producing his weekly radio program
Alternative Radio, Barsamian has received
numerous awards for his advocacy of inde-
pendent media. None of them are from the
American Communist Party, or Ayn Rand
Institute.
To be accurate, he also quoted Orwell and
various poets and historians with whom he
has co-authored numerous books. His
remarks show wide concerns for the complex
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