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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2017)
4 A ❘ SATURDAY EDITION ❘ AUGUST 19, 2017 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR Opinion Sign on Hwy 101 shows that no place is immune to hate I never know what kind of call it’s going to be when I pick up my phone in the newsroom. Often it’s a story tip. Other times it’s feedback on a story. But the call I received Thursday afternoon wasn’t anything I expected — or wanted — to hear in our town. The woman was obvi- ously upset and it took her a while to express the reason for her call. When she even- tually did, I had to ask her to repeat it. “I said, there’s a large sign on Highway 101 just north of town, and it says...” she hesi- tated for the second time before asking me to excuse the language she was about to use. When I asked if I could have her name, she declined, telling me she was afraid of the kind of people who put the sign there. “I don’t want to get shot or beaten up,” she said. “I just thought you should know.” She hung up. I took the short drive north on Highway 101 and imme- diately spotted the sign, writ- ten in black marker on the vidual had enjoyed enough free speech on my dime. I currently have it at my office if they’d like to come get it. It will remain here until Monday, after which it will be gone much like the eclipse. It’s hard to say whether From the Editor’s Desk N ED H ICKSON surface of a large piece of white, pressboard shelving which read: F.U.! N_ _ _ ERS F_ _ _ OTS B_ _ CHES! I stared at it leaning there against a power pole and fac- ing the highway, like a sand- wich board offering a list of daily specials made from soured ingredients of hate. I snapped a photo and then took the sign down, deciding as a taxpayer that since it was on public property, this indi- this type of blatant hatred toward others is becoming more prevalent as a result of the current climate of our nation, or whether it’s simply a matter of the vocal minori- ty feeling more emboldened by what they feel is a man- date to hate supported by the selectively ambiguous words of our President. It was our own country’s ambiguousness during the early stages of World War II that played a role in allowing the Nazi war machine to reach full throttle before we accelerated and overtook them — but not before mil- lions of civilians were sys- tematically killed due to hate. And let me say, had the sign read any differently in regard to hating any other groups, racial slurs or reli- gion affiliations, it would have just as quickly made the trip to my office. Hatred resides in seeds planted shallow in the soil of ambiguousness. It grows like a weed; easy to spot and just as easy to pull from the ground. However, it also spreads quickly when allowed to, which is its only real means of survival. To me, the sign I plucked from the highway was one of those weeds. Ignore it and it will spread. I hope you will join me in saying: Not in my town. Write Siuslaw News editor Ned Hickson at nhickson@the- siuslaw news.com or P.O. Box 10, Florence, Ore. 97439. LETTERS C LIMATE STATEMENTS LACK OBJECTIVITY The Wesley Voth opinion piece (“Our Future is Downstream,” Aug. 12) has a factual error about the climate report being leaked. The writer was parroting the New York Times, since corrected, when in fact the December revision of the mentioned report has been online since January for any interested party to read. The report repackages a lot of prior information with very little new. Over and over, the report states that support for its conclusions comes from the Fifth Assessment Report published in 2013 by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In too many cases, statements lack objectivity. For example, “successful implementation of the first round of Nationally Determined Contributions associated with the Paris Agreement will provide some likelihood of meeting the long-term temperature goal 2°C” is based on a study that concludes that the Paris Agreement marginally increases the odds from zero to 8 percent. Twelve-to-1 against are long odds and more accurately described as “high- ly unlikely” rather than “some likeli- hood.” I encourage readers to download and read “Seductive Simulations? Uncertainty Distribution Around Climate Models” online at www.scien cepolicy.colorado.edu/admin/publica tion_files/resource-1891-2005.49.pdf. This report highlights many of the pitfalls of Global Climate Models [GCM]: Complexity, inability of mod- elers to test against actual data, models built upon purchased models assumed to be accurate, emotional attachment to one’s model, etc. At best, predicting the weather is an educated guess — and has been ever thus. — Ian Eales Florence E RASING SYMBOLISM IS ITS OWN KIND OF HATRED Where do we stop? The new practice of hiding history because it “feels” wrong is quickly becoming the new normal, a detrimental action that will impact future study of factual history. Should a line be drawn that separates out the “good” history from the “bad” history in order to protect some people from being offended? The fact is, history is what it is — it has been made and recorded as it was, and no amount of gnashing of teeth can change that fact. To re-fashion history in order to make it fit within a particular paradig- matic viewpoint is nothing more than politically correct revisionism based on an emotional — not pragmatic — response. The current atmosphere of cleaning house of any signs or symbols of the confederacy smacks of hatred, most of this hatred being perpetuated by Black Lives Matter and Antifa, two groups the media refuses to name, instead calling them “counter-protesters.” To those groups, history is nothing more than “white privledge” which must be countered and defeated in any manner deemed necessary. If that does- n’t meet the definition of racism, I don’t know what does. This censorship of history is a smack in the face of America; it is a reduction of historical context to its emotional foundation, removing the importance of that history and replacing it with the “feel-good” mantra of the progressive left. What’s next? The removal of any- thing related to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams or Alexander Hamilton because they were white men who owned slaves? History must never be defined through a 21st century lens, yet that is exactly what the progressive left is forc- ing on the public. Lane County, where we live was named after a racist member of the Klu Klux Klan. Do we remove his name just because 160 years ago slavery was still accepted? Or do we say, “Well, history is sometimes messy, but to understand that history is to understand who we are today and see it as it is, warts and all.” The former will do nothing but pre- vent a clear and understandable defini- tion of historical context; the latter will enlighten, inform and bring knowledge to those who care enough about history to keep it alive. George Santayana said it best: “If we refuse to see history for what it is, we are doomed to keep repeating it.” If we keep selling our history for the payout of “warm fuzzies” we will get what we deserve — an empty cultural definition based in nothing more than feelings. — Barry Sommer Florence M AKING OCHS LOOK BAD IS UNFAIR After reading the Siuslaw News arti- cle about The Oregon Coast Humane Society (“Past and Present Volunteers, Board Members Clash Over Care,” Aug. 12), I was shocked and saddened. I felt that the newspaper had only nega- tive things to say about the shelter that cares for so many homeless and aban- doned animals in our community. I am a member of The Oregon Coast Humane Society and a foster parent for the OCHS. I have adopted a dog from OCHS and volunteered two to three days a week for the last eight months. I read that 16 volunteers had been inter- viewed from the OCHS for the article but I was never contacted for an inter- view. Instead, the reporters used quotes from a disgruntled former volunteer and failed to reach out to other, non-dis- gruntled volunteers like myself. I can tell you that I have seen all of the current dog-workers and their inter- actions with these animals and it’s far from abuse. I would not volunteer any of my time to OCHS if I felt that the animals were being mistreated. The article mentioned that they have concrete floors, but fail to mention that the floors are heated and the dogs have blankets and beds that are distributed at night, while older dogs have orthopedic beds at all times. The article also stated that the dogs have small kennels but failed to report that they have exercise time in the large fenced area, multiple times a day, often with other dogs that are friendly with each other. Volunteers are allowed to take the dogs on the trails around the humane society and socialize with the dogs in the fenced area. Did the reporters even notice that most of the dogs at the shelter know basic commands such as sit and stay? This is because the dedicated workers spend countless hours working on obe- dience in hopes that the dogs will some day find a forever home. The newspaper can try to make the OCHS look bad for having too many cats on every level, but each cat is loved and cared for with ample space to spend time outside of cages. The workers at the humane society truly care for these animals and want to see them go to wonderful homes to spend the rest of their lives. I encourage anyone who is interested in helping these animals to take some time to volunteer at the humane society, or consider adopting/fostering an ani- mal. OCHS was voted the No. 1 place to volunteer in Florence and its not just because of the precious animals; it’s also due to the outstanding staff. —Candace Degman Florence See MORE LETTERS 5A ❘ 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. USPS# 497-660 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. Oregon Group Publisher 541-265 8571 Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Consulting Editor 831-761-7353 Email: echalhoub@register-pajaronian.com Marketing Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager James Rand Jenna Bartlett Ned Hickson Erik Chalhoub Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classifiedad,sThursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscrip- tion,$94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com L ETTERS TO THE P OLICY E DITOR The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor as part of a community discussion of issues on the local, state and national level. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. All letters need to include full name, address and phone number; only name and city will be printed. Letters should be limited to about 300 words. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous, argumentative and anonymous letters or poetry, or letters from outside our readership area will only be published at the discression of the editor. P OLITICAL /E LECTION L ETTERS : Election-related letters must address pertinent or timely issues of interest to our readers at-large. Letters must 1) Not be a part of letter-writing campaigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2) Ensure any information about a candidate is accu- rate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hearsay; and 3) explain the reasons to support candidates based on personal experience and per- spective rather than partisanship and campaign- style rhetoric. Candidates themselves may not use the letters to the editor column to outline their views and plat- forms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid polit- ical advertising. As with all letters and advertising content, the newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publisher, general manager and editor, reserves the right to reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above crite- ria. Send letters to: nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com WHERE TO WRITE 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, Ore. 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 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 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 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