4A |
WEDNESDAY EDITION
| JUNE 6, 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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Je n n a B a r t l e t t
Ned H ickson
Erik Chalhoub
Pu b l i s h e r, e x t . 3 1 8
Editor, ex t. 313
Co n s u l t i n g E d i to r 8 3 1 -7 6 1 -7 3 5 3
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M a r k e t i n g Di re c to r, e x t . 3 2 6
O f f i ce Su p e r v i s o r, e x t . 3 1 2
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 polioy
Will we succumb to our worst or best nature?
new medium had the poten-
But things are different in
tial to teach, educate and this era of social media com-
inspire — but that it would munalism. It’s no small irony
require us to ensure it would that, while we have become
be used towards those ends. increasingly engaged in shar-
“Otherwise,” he said, “it is ing our thoughts and experi-
merely wires and lights in a ences with more people than
box.”
ever before, we have simulta-
In the late 1950s, iconic
Over the course of the last neously come to accept that
newsman Edward R. Murrow
recognized a paradox devel-
oping as the advent of televi-
From the Editor's Desk
sion was transforming news
Ned Hickson
reporting from the purely
word-driven medium of
radio into a much more pow-
erful visual medium avail- few years, we’ve seen social we are sharing those very
able in homes across media platforms such as things with people we will
America.
Facebook and others suc- likely never meet.
Murrow understood that cumbing to the worst —
Through that acceptance
news journalism would rather than the best — we we are slowly laying the
never be the same. He also have to offer as a society.
groundwork for the kind of
recognized the responsibility
It’s human nature to be social disconnect that we
that accompanies that kind drawn to things that disturb have begun to see with live
of power.
us. It’s the reason we gawk at streaming of disturbing
In 1958, during a Radio- the scene of accidents; why events — and, perhaps even
Television News Directors there are more NCIS spin- more disturbing, having
Association and Foundation offs than any other genre on them shared hundreds of
dinner where he was the key- TV; and why Greek mytholo- thousands of times by others.
note speaker, Murrow spoke gy is full of cautionary tales
In a way, social media is
of the new television medi- that end in tragedy.
promoting a culture of digi-
um and the potential effects
We find a certain comfort tal-aged peeping Toms,
it could have on journalism in recognizing when the mis- encouraging us to gawk
and our society as a whole.
takes of others have led to through an endless array of
Known as his now famous their misfortune — and how partially open windows into
“Lights in a Box” speech, we can avoid making those the lives of others — many of
Murrrow explained how the same mistakes.
whom we don’t truly know.
We can leave comments
and engage in the conversa-
tions of strangers without
consequence or accountabili-
ty.
It’s an era of communica-
tion unlike any other, and the
ultimate repercussions on
our culture remain to be
seen.
In the same way that
Murrow expressed the need
for us to have a willingness to
use the medium of television
to teach, educate and inspire,
we need to ask ourselves
what direction we will take
with the evolution of social
media.
Will we succumb to the
worst of our nature or the
best of it?
Will our smartphones and
other digital devices be uti-
lized to improve the way we
communicate and broaden
our understanding of each
other and the world?
Or will they prove to be
little more than micro chips
and lights in an even smaller
box?
Write to Ned Hickson at:
nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com
LETTERS
Florenoe has
wonderful people
I am writing this letter in hopes of
telling the people of Florence, Ore., how
wonderful they are.
My parents, Louis and Glenda Bouy,
started visiting Florence at least 20 years
ago and fell in love with the town while
spending their summers there.
In May, they decided to go back for a
short visit. On the first day there, my par-
ents went to check into the Three Rivers
Casino, where they had reserved a room.
Unfortunately, my dad fell and broke his
hip. This resulted in my dad having sur-
gery at Peace Harbor Hospital.
You can imagine how difficult this was
for my mom, alone and with no one to
turn to. As soon as my mom called me,
my husband and I got in our car and
drove 17 hours straight to get there.
I just wanted to thank Peace Harbor
Medical Center for its kindness and hos-
pitality during this very difficult time.
The hospital, doctors, nurses, anesthe-
siologist, chaplain, therapists and staff,
desk personnel, volunteers, even down
to the cafeteria workers, were absolute-
ly wonderful in the care of not only my
dad, but my mom, my husband and my-
self.
They assured our every need was met
and that we had food and drinks.
In visiting the ambulance personnel
facility, all our concerns were addressed
and we thanked them for helping my
dad.
We visited the Chamber of Commerce,
the Dollar Tree, Florence Pharmacy, Rite
Aid, Fred Meyer's, various gas stations,
etc. — and everywhere we went we were
treated with kindness and care. I cannot
express in words our appreciation and
gratitude for the kindness we received
during the week we stayed there.
We visited the tea house restaurant,
Love Joy’s. When we got to the restau-
rant they were actually closed but
opened their doors to my mom and me.
They cooked us a lovely dinner, which
included scones and tea. I want them to
know their kindness touched us.
One of the managers at McDonald's
also took extra care to ensure our or-
ders were right as we are vegetarians. He
insured our meal was correct as to how
we ordered it and went out of his way to
assist us.
One of the locals, Elsie, whom my par-
ents have known for many years, heard
about what had happened and came up
to visit with my dad on more than one
occasion.
She really brightened his day!
Big thanks to her.
I know I am forgetting some people,
but please, again: Thank You Florence,
and to all of you who we encountered,
for your kindness.
I wish we could bottle it and bring it
back to Utah!
Thank you again,
—
D ebbie and Mazen Alawneh
C
l inton, Utah
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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