4A | WEDNESDAY EDITION | MAY 30, 2018
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
C
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ongress shall make no law respecting an es-
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peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Gov-
ernment for a redress of grievances.
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Published every Wednesday and WEDNESDAY at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon.
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Publisher, ex t. 318
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Pro d u c t i o n Su p e r v i s o r
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Letters to the Editor policy
LETTERS
No ‘us’ without ‘them’
Great piece in last Saturday’s Guest
Viewpoint by Mitch Sparks (“A Na-
tion Is Forever Grateful To Its Fallen
Soldiers,” May 26) regarding past and
present veterans.
It would be hard to improve on it.
However I think one other group
not mentioned that we owe so very
much to is our veterans of the Revolu-
tionary War.
If they hadn’t stood up then, there
would be no “us” now.
—Tony Cavarno
Florence
Apology to family of
fallen Hero
I would like to apologize to the family of
F allen Hero Army Sgt. Bryce D. How-
ard for incorrectly providing the name
on the wreath that was purchased by
the family to be presented at the Me-
morial Day Ceremony at the Veteran’s
Memorial Park on May 28.
I understand that this time is very
important to the families and friends
of Fallen Heroes. I in no way take this
mistake lightly and am extremely sorry
for the error.
I also understand that my apology
alone will not make the family and
friends of Sgt. Bryce D. Howard feel
any better for my error.
The name provided was for a Sgt.
Bryce Morgan and should have read
“SGT. Bryce D. Howard.”
I again apologize for my error. In
an attempt to show my sincerety —
though I know it will not make up for
my error — I have made a contribu-
tion in Memory of Army Sgt. Bryce D.
Howard to “The American Fallen Sol-
ders Project.”
My sincerest apologies again to the
family and friends of Army SGT Bryce
D. Howard.
—Gary Cargill
President of Flowers by Bobbi, Inc.
Florence
We can do better
in Florence
In response to J. Zinn’s Letter to the Edi-
to r (“Reality Totally Bites,” May 26): Of
course there’s a better way.
I’ve had friends all across the United
States with all kinds of political views.
Heck, my own family doesn’t even
agree on various issues. But in all my
years I have never experienced family
members, friends or professional en-
counters result in boycotting a friend-
ship because of political choice.
Until now.
There’s an old saying: “The fish starts
smelling first from the head.”
This president, and the GOP admin-
istration supporting him, is setting the
tone for a discourse of bullying, swear-
ing, cheating, lying and creating an “us
against them” attutude.
That’s the difference — and that’s
why we are seeing this kind of behavior
across the country. I am not hearing is-
sues being discussed. What I see is a
lot of sideshow distractions and propa-
ganda, to the point where it makes it
impossible to decide which end is up.
Did we ever get a clear definition
of what is being referred to as “the
swamp” and do we know what’s going
to replace “the swamp?”
You may think you know the truth
but we won’t know until it’s complete.
And it may be quite different that
what you expected.
Education is our essential tool
against ignorance. Just because Flor-
ence is a small town doesn’t mean we
have small-minded attitudes. We don’t
have to jump on the band wagon of ha-
tred and emotional tantrums.
Hatred has never solved anything.
So yes, we in Florence can do better.
—Linda Abell
Florence
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor as
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Emal letters to:
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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
Oregon 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
(4th 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@
oregonlegislature.gov
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