4A |
SATURDAY EDITION
| SEPTEMBER 21, 2019
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respect-
ing an 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 Govern-
ment for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
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Copyright 2019 © Siuslaw News
Siuslaw News
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Ned Hickson
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Assure you have a voice — register to vote Tuesday
other. Other times it was
because I felt their vision
for our country was better
defined or more suited to
the temperament of our
changing world politically,
economically or socially.
I think we can all agree
that these are not “nor-
mal” times for our nation,
the upcoming 2020
elections nor what will be
following in the four years
ahead, regardess of who
our next president is.
I’ve spoken with a lot
of folks who have told
me that their distaste for
the candidates — on both
sides of the political divide
— has soured them to the
election process.
I understand this.
But I have always
believed that our right
to vote is not merely a
privilege. It is also — and
perhaps more importantly
— an obligation we have
as Americans.
Over the years, I have
gone to the voting booth
or mailed in my ballot in
support of candidates for
different reasons. Some-
times it was because I
connected with the ideals
of one candidate over an-
even many of the news
sources that claim to be
unbiased.
I have to roll up my
sleeves, dig in and do
the work so that, come
Election Day, I can do the
From the Editor's Desk
Ned Hickson
I have voted for Dem-
ocrats, Republicans and
Independents.
I even voted for Ross
Perot (whatever he was.)
In each case, voting
was a privilege I enjoyed
because, no matter who
won, I still felt our country
would be in capable
hands.
This time, I’m not so
sure.
For that reason, this
time it’s not about enjoy-
ing the privilege of voting
as much as it is about ac-
cepting the obligation we
have, as Americans, to ed-
ucate ourselves and make
an informed decision.
I can’t rely on spoon-fed
rhetoric, headlines, care-
fully staged interviews,
rants on social media or
right thing instead of the
easy thing — and ensure
my voice is heard when it
comes to choosing some-
one who will represent
my highest ideals as an
American.
It also means I agree to
accept — and live with —
the results, no matter who
is elected.
But having faith in that
outcome is dependent
upon the notion that as
many of us as possible
participate in that process.
In recent years, it seems
that the push for voter
participation has been a
partisan affair, with each
side encouraging “their
own” to vote — further
dividing us.
Instead, we should be
voicing our choice as
Americans first, with a
vote that truly represents
our country by its sheer
volume of collective voices
rather than by which side
can shout the loudest.
That is the expectation
our forefathers had for
each of us when they
fought for our right to
vote in a republic protect-
ed by the Constitution.
This Tuesday, Sept. 24,
there will be a non-par-
tisan group assembled at
the Siuslaw Public Library
to inform and register
residents during National
Voter Registration Day.
The event will be from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the
library’s lobby.
This will be an oppor-
tunity to register or to
update your voter infor-
mation.
Please take the time
to ensure you will have a
voice through your right
to vote.
No matter who you vote
for, I support your choice
— not as a Democrat, Re-
publican or Independent.
I will support your
choice as a fellow Amer-
ican.
LETTER
Business at ‘Gateway’
should be the right fit
From what I understand, Pro
Lumber is moving from its present
location at Highway 101 and Ma-
ple Street to where the Woodman’s
Nursery was north of town (near
Fred Meyer).
What information I have been
able to find is the “Gateway” to
Old Town will be at the junction of
Highway 101 and Maple Street with
some of the large vacated property
used as park land.
Now there is a proposal to put
the Florence Yamaha motorsports
facility (currently east of Florence
on Highway 126) on the corner
of our “Gateway” to historic Old
Town?
I’m glad no one proposed a used
car lot because it seems as though
planners might have considered it.
If those in charge want some sort
of sports or recreation related busi-
ness, why not a bicycle shop with
rental bikes which would be a small
imprint? Better yet, why not a cof-
fee/bakery shop?
One last thing about our new
“Gateway.” I assume that what looks
like a concrete arch is only in con-
cept. If anything, I think it should
be made out of large handcrafted
timbers using old traditional con-
struction methods in celebration of
our logging past.
—Win Jolley
Florence
Climate change is overhwhelming unless we work together
T
he safe upper limit of carbon di-
oxide in the atmosphere is 350
ppm (parts per million); anything
above that puts the planet in a state of
climate crisis.
Currently, we are at 415 ppm.
It is becoming more difficult to ig-
nore the science behind our climate
crisis: Stronger storms, bigger floods,
longer and more frequent droughts,
ruined crops, air and water degra-
dation, melting glaciers and sea ice,
endangered species and ocean acid-
ification — all are increasing due to
claimate change.
It all sounds overwhelming until we
educate ourselves about what we can
do as individuals, communities, cor-
porations and governments to miti-
gate global warming by 2030.
Ninety-seven percent of climate
scientists agree that we need to be-
gin drawing down greenhouse gasses
now.
We owe it to our children and
grandchildren to move our energy
policies and economies around the
world to sustainable climate levels.
Guest Viewpoint
By Julia Tousley-Ritt
Florence
I encourage young people in our
area to learn more about climate sci-
ence during a special Climate Aware-
ness event Sept. 28 in Florence being
held in conjunction with 350 Eugene.
350 Eugene is an affiliate of 350.org,
an organization dedicted to helping
raise awareness of — and organizing
— action around institutions and pol-
icies driving climate change.
Wouldn’t it be great if one of our
young people from the Florence or
Mapleton area was inspired to invent
a way to repurpose plastics, save our
bees, recapture carbon, develop re-
newable energy with cutting edge
technology, or protect our coastal wa-
ters, rivers and streams?
The possibilities are endless when
we work with coalitions of environ-
mental groups to save our planet from
this climate crisis.
(Editor’s note: On Sept. 28, a ral-
ly will be taking place hosted by FOR/
Florence Organizes-Environmental
Group and the Siuslaw Climate Al-
liance from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. at the
corner of highways 126 and 101. It will
be followed by a climate presentation
by 350 Eugene in the Bromley Room of
the Siuslaw Public Library. It is not a
library-sponsored event.)
Letters to the Editor policy
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the edi-
tor as part of a community discussion of issues on
the local, state and national level.
Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or
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Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and
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ters received.
Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumen-
tative, sarcastic or contain accusations that are
unsourced or documented will not be published.
Letters containing poetry or from outside the
Siuslaw News readership area will only be pub-
lished at the discretion of the editor.
Political/Election Letters:
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) En-
sure 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
perspective rather than partisanship and cam-
paign-style rhetoric.
Candidates themselves may not use the letters
to the editor column to outline their views and
platforms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid
political advertising.
As with all letters and advertising content, the
newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publish-
er, general manager and editor, reserves the right
to reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above
criteria.
Email 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
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
@oregonlegislature.gov
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