4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ OCTOBER 14, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
Right as rain?
W ESLEY V OTH
For the Siuslaw News
I
cized by three letter writers in
this same venue.
The criticisms in these cases
always seem the same to me:
the person has no right; or is
exercising that right at the
wrong place and time; or is
simply seeking attention —
only to be told it is an ineffec-
tive waste of time.
Donald Trump has made
some comments about protest-
ing athletes, using the words
“their disrespect” to “our flag,
our anthem.”
I find it ironic that it is our
very flag and anthem, as well
as the rights of protestors and
those of the president, that’s
kind of the point.
I have zero interest in spec-
tator sports of any kind, or in
the rituals — patriotic or reli-
gious — that go on in those
grandstands. But it does inter-
est me when a fellow human
being goes against what has
become the norm to make a
point.
Or simply because, morally,
they cannot follow along and
still live with themselves. And
I especially begin to pay atten-
tion if they take heat for it.
I admire their courage,
much as I did when, as a young
student, I saw a photograph of
a lone man in a German crowd
not giving the Nazi salute; or
in my religious upbringing
hearing the story from the
Jewish Bible of Daniel and his
three companions who would
not bow down and show the
proper patriotic fervor to the
golden image of the king when
the music sounded — and
were therefore sentenced to the
fiery furnace.
These days, I am not in the
awkward position of being in a
public place when the U.S.
national anthem is played, or
in places where a pledge of
allegiance is administered, or
where loyalty oaths must be
sworn as a condition of
employment.
But I have been.
I know what it feels like to
resist.
It is not a feeling of glee.
It is not satisfaction.
It is awful.
Do such protests work?
Well, they can inspire,
including life changes on the
part of at least some other peo-
ple. I may not take the same
action as the Chandlers, but I
am encouraged when someone
doesn’t just think it is hopeless
and, instead, takes it upon
themselves to do something.
I have been more moved
and changed and persuaded by
protestors over the course of
my life than just about any-
thing else. Prophets, civil
rights marches and civil dis-
obedience, United
Farmworker strikes and boy-
cotts, people standing with
signs in Florence, watching a
depiction of the life of Gandhi
— they inspired me to act on
my core values.
We are still arguing about
gun control. I have been look-
ing at gun numbers and types,
as well as death statistics. Like
Paul Ryan, I wondered how
bump stocks — or any modifi-
cation that allows weapons to
fire as if automatic — became
legal.
As I discovered, big retail-
ers like Walmart and Cabela’s
have been selling them
(including online) because
“bump stocks” technically
aren’t weapons.
Now these sellers are not
offering them — or so it seems
— probably because it looks
bad.
In the gun statistics I
researched, a couple of things
stand out to me:
First, states with more guns
have more suicides utilizing
guns while states with fewer
guns have fewer gun-related
suicides.
One study that bears this
out, published in the New
England Journal of Medicine,
has an additional startling sta-
tistic regarding women: sui-
cide rates by women not using
a gun are the same in both sets
of states. However, in states
with more guns, women killed
themselves with guns at a rate
of 8 times higher — and there-
fore had almost double the
number of female deaths by
suicide.
You’d think if we actually
cared about our safety and the
lives of those around us, we
would reduce and restrict guns
that seem to be as plentiful as
drops of rain.
LETTERS
KILLED BY GUNFIRE
Yesterday morning I was greeted on
the morning news by a man with his
arms in the air, standing in front of the
scripted logo we have all seen that starts
with “We The People...” flanked by the
United States Flag, while screaming at
the top of his lungs “I have the right to
own an assault weapon!”
I felt sick.
What he says is exactly true, but I
seriously question if he understands
what he is saying.
The word “assault” indicates the
attempt to attack and/or kill another liv-
ing being. Given the recent disaster in
Las Vegas, I feel the definition is very
accurate — and in the mind of the
shooter, was exactly what he wanted.
I feel everyone who owns one of
these weapons is making it very clear
that they share the same feeling as that
man on the 32nd floor.
After all, it is called an assault
weapon.
The owner may be your neighbor,
relative, Congressman, Senator or
someone you do not even know, and I
have to assume they are very proud of
their “assault” weapon.
I now have my arms in the air, and I
am screaming at the top of my lungs:
“I have the right to attend a concert
without being killed!”
A gun owner’s right shouldn’t trump
my rights.
— Charles Pennington
Florence
was my best friend’s father. In spite of
our 30-plus-year age difference, we had
more in common than not. This fellow
quit school at age 16 to join the
Merchant Marines. He taught himself
just about all there was to know about
engines and electronics.
An accomplished guitar and bass
player, we shared many an hour listen-
ing to great music.
Great times.
One of the high points of my record-
ing career was schlepping an entire stu-
dio recording setup from Los Angeles to
Indio to record him and 50 or so of his
contemporaries in their retirement com-
munity “big band,” The Happy
Wanderers.
Some were old-time radio, studio and
big band players. All loved music. Over
a long weekend, we all had a great time
swapping stories. In fact, his son still
plays the music.
Hopefully other copies are still float-
ing around, connecting the generations.
So millennials, get yourselves out to
our wonderful Florence Events Center
and the live theatres — and help fill
those seats. Talk to your senior seat-
mates. Chat up somebody new at the
interval.
Who knows what friend you’ll meet?
As my wife’s millennial nephew once
said to me, “You’re just like my grand-
mother. You’ll talk to anybody.”
We also like to listen.
Our community will be all the
stronger for it.
— Ian Eales
Florence
C ONVERSATION MAKES
I N SUPPORT OF SCHOOL
COMMUNITY STRONGER
First, nice work on interesting arti-
cles with a local focus; hats off to
Siuslaw News reporters.
Second, a note to millennials: Snow
on the roof don’t mean the fire is out.
Our retirees come from all across our
great nation. In a sense, we are the
blueprint and technical manual for your
world.
No matter what, in all likelihood
we’ve “been there, done that” and per-
chance can save you an unnecessary
tumble.
One of the greatest friends of my life
OPTION LEVY
On the November ballot, voters are
being asked to approve the renewal of
the local option levy that was originally
passed in 2008 and renewed again in
2012.
The Siuslaw School District is
requesting this renewal to maintain
class sizes, retain music, art, shop and
extra-curricular activities, as well as
meeting the financial demands of an
unfunded state mandate to increase
physical education.
The levy currently pays for nearly 7
I HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO BE
percent of the schools’ operational
costs. Without those continuing funds,
the district would have no choice but to
make difficult cuts including teaching
positions, educational programs and
possibly school days.
This is not a new tax.
The .75 cents-per-$1,000 of assessed
property value is a continuation of the
existing levy that has made it possible
for the school district to maintain edu-
cational opportunities despite economic
uncertainty.
The Siuslaw School District must
deal with future challenges such as an
uncertain federal education budget and
lack of funding to fully implement
Measure 98 for career and technology
education.
The renewal of the option levy is
vital to helping the district weather
these financial storms.
I will vote to support the children of
our community by supporting Siuslaw
School District Local Option Levy
Renewal Measure 20-281.
— Bill McDougle
Florence
T HANKS FOR HARD WORK
FROM C AMP F LORENCE
Bravo, Camp Florence Work Crews!
For several years the young men of
Camp Florence have helped us cut
brush and plant trees on our farm north
of town. Yesterday, a crew of six work-
ing as a team hauled a pond liner weigh-
ing 1,250 pounds a distance of 100 feet
and then carefully spread this most
ornery piece of rubberized material over
a 35-by-65-foot hole.
I’ve read that young people today do
not know how to do hard physical work.
These young men clearly refute this
belief. Yesterday, for example, we
rolled, lifted, pulled, pushed, fell, got
covered in mud and dirt and sweat, but
got the job done.
The crews are well led by Camp
Florence staff, always on time, always
polite and always hard working.
We plan to employ them in years to
come and recommend them to our
friends.
— Jim and Jane Pittenger
Florence
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
VIEW FROM UPRIVER
was watching rain form a
few days ago. Sometimes
we are in the clouds at
ground level here, and it is
possible to watch as droplets
first form and only just begin
to fall. When this occurs, the
rain looks like it is in slow
motion, moving so gently that
when the drops land on my
face and jacket, it is with the
lightest, soundless touch.
These tiny droplets of coa-
lescing mist, each maybe the
size of a grain of rice, barely
reach the speed of a slow walk
as they sink downward, no
faster than 2 mph — so com-
pletely unlike the pounding
rain I hear today as I puzzle
over why people think it so
necessary to judge the appro-
priateness; the moral right; the
sincerity of other people’s
protests or stands.
I hear professional athletes
being told that they cannot
protest publically in their
workplace while, at the same
time, being called on to make
public displays of patriotism.
In this newspaper, the
Chandlers took a stand in their
Letter to the Editor (Oct. 7) to
no longer shop at a local gro-
cery chain because weapons
are being sold there.
As a result, they were criti-
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
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 discretion 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