4A |
SATURDAY EDITION
| JUNE 13, 2020
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)
Thank you to all who made the Class of 2020 special
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub-
missions on this and other topics are
always welcome as part of our goal to
encourage community discussion and
exchange of perspectives.)
T
he Siuslaw High School Class of
2020 graduated on Friday, June 5,
2020. When a student graduates, the
ceremony is the final event of their time
on campus.
Too often, the commencement ser-
vice is viewed as an ending — but it
notes a new beginning. Members of the
class are moving forward onto the next
phase of their lives.
Some students will go forward to a
college or university, others will pre-
pare at a career training institute, many
chose military service, some are off to
work in the community now, and some
are still searching for their path in the
world.
Each September, graduation seems
a million miles away, and June always
arrives faster than anyone expects. This
year, the Class of 2020 had a global pan-
demic alter its course to graduation.
There were other traditional mile-
stones and rites of passage that were
lost or altered in the course of their se-
nior year, but they persevered to keep
their eyes on the grand prize of grad-
uation.
Guest Viewpoint
By Andrew Grzeskowiak
Superintendent, Siuslaw SD 97J
And this group of students has
adapted and overcome all the associat-
ed obstacles of the last few months to
end this phase of life and move on to
the next with courage and dignity.
This year’s graduation ceremony was
made special by the efforts of many in
the community as everyone wanted to
make this year especially memorable in
the wake of the pandemic.
It is hard to list each and everybody
that chipped in to assist in making the
Class of 2020 graduation ceremony spe-
cial — Mike Harklerode for organizing
the parade of graduates; members of
the Rhody Cruisers for volunteering
to transport seniors in the parade; the
City of Florence for approving the pa-
rade route and giving the community
an extra chance to share in the celebra-
tion; Florence Police Department and
Siuslaw Valley Fire & Rescue; KCST for
broadcasting the ceremony; Bob Sned-
don and Steve Moser for calling the cer-
emony on the radio; Chris Rowbotham
for live casting the graduation and
compiling the ceremony video; Siuslaw
HS Student Leadership Class & advisor
Anna Moser; Laurel Bay Gardens by
providing ornamental plants to dress
up the occasion; and all of the Class
of 2020 parents that came to decorate
stadium and turn the Hans Petersen
Memorial Field into a special place to
graduate.
The Class of 2020 is moving onward
and upward, and they would not be
doing so without the assistance of the
community over the years.
All assistance provided, no matter
how big or small, has been appreciated
by the students and the school district.
LETTERS
Important to remember how
far equality has come
I find myself confused and, frank-
ly, concerned about the aftermath
of the George Floyd murder. As an
immigrant, I was not raised in the
U.S. and admittedly still have limit-
ed understanding of some aspects of
American society so I’m only work-
ing with what I can observe.
It seems like pretty much 100 per-
cent of the population already agree
that the Floyd murder was wrong.
The bad guy is in jail on murder
charges; the other participating cops,
two of whom are minorities them-
selves, are facing charges as well.
To me, that sounds like justice be-
ing served.
The riots and looting are suppos-
edly because of “systemic racism.” It
is true that racism was a big issue in
the past, like pretty much everywhere
in the world. The slave trade in Afri-
ca and the Arab world was a huge, es-
tablished business that the American
colonies tapped into for cheap labor.
But America voluntarily ended
slavery long before any of the African
or Arab countries.
Slavery ended in Saudi Arabia and
Yemen as late as 1962; Mauretania
and UAE are accused of maintaining
the practice to this day.
And it bears repeating that Amer-
ica did it by choice, not by force —
because it was the right thing to do.
Many, many white men died for it.
As we honored the fallen of D-Day
recently, it should not be forgotten
how many white American men died
to stop Adolf either. If America truly
was so keen on white supremacy, it
seems odd that over 400,000 whites
gave their lives fighting it.
The Jim Crow-era was bad, but de-
cidedly better than what came before
it. The following decades saw contin-
uous improvement, culminating in
the first black President. If we were to
plot a timeline of race relations, most
can agree that America started with
“Really bad” back in the days of the
first plantations. This has gradually
improved through hard work and
determination by whites and blacks
alike, and today we have moved may-
be 95 percent of the way to “Good.”
In my mind, this is a great achieve-
ment to be celebrated. Perhaps it
would be more constructive to keep
our eyes on what made the 95 per-
cent happen and let the last 5 percent
heal in peace?
—Matt Danielsson
Florence
Historical context is key to
not repeating racist past
I’m writing in response to Joel
Marks’ letter (General Lee’s Great-
ness Should Not Be Disposed Of,”
June 10).
Gen. Lee was an outstanding mil-
itary tactician. Not just during the
Civil War, he also served the U.S.
honorably during an earlier Ameri-
can war. However, we need to under-
stand the historical context regarding
his statue.
1. Many have said that the Civil
War was about state’s rights. How-
ever, at the top of that list of state’s
rights was the ability to grant its
citizens the right to own, buy and
sell human beings (now known as
“human trafficking.”) Lee did fight
bravely and brilliantly for this cause.
But the cause — in and of itself — is
one I feel should not be celebrated by
our country.
2. This statue was undoubtedly
erected when hundreds upon hun-
dreds of other monuments to the
Confederacy were erected. This pe-
riod started with the passing of “Jim
Crow” laws, from about 1890-1910
and lasted decades afterward. State
legislators across the South revised
state constitutions to disenfranchise
African-Americans.
These monuments were erected to
broadcast the belief in white suprem-
acy. The primary purpose of these
monuments was not so much to hon-
or the specific named individuals but
to publicly announce white rule.
I’m also a bit torn about the de-
struction of Confederacy monu-
ments (I may need to hand in my
“liberal” card.) Sadly, they celebrate
human trafficking. But still, if they are
given the full and complete historical
context of the racism represented by
them, they may help educate future
generations about the troubled histo-
ry of our beloved country.
—Rob Welles
Florence
We do better together as a community
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub-
missions on this and other topics are
always welcome as part of our goal to
encourage community discussion and
exchange of perspectives.)
committed to continuing to work on.
We understand that there is so much
more work to be done to teach anti-rac-
ism, tolerance and empathy.
An important part of moving for-
ward with that work is listening to learn
and then acting to teach. We invite your
questions about how Mapleton School
District addresses racism, as well as
your thoughts and input on how Ma-
pleton School District can continue to
improve its teaching of tolerance and
empathy
Here are some helpful links:
• National Association of School
Psychologists – Talking to Chil-
dren about Violence: Tips for Par-
ents and Teachers:
https://www.
nasponline.org/resources-and-pub-
lications/resources-and-podcasts/
am writing with a heavy heart and
school-climate-safety-and-crisis/
deep concern regarding the nation-
school-violence-resources/talking-to-
al events triggered by racism and the
children-about-violence-tips-for-par-
senseless killing of George Floyd.
ents-and-teachers
The past few weeks have been hard
• Anti-Defamation League Table
for our country and our community.
Talk: https://www.adl.org/education/
Like many past events, the death
resources/tools-and-strategies/
of an unarmed person of color in
george-floyd-racism-and-law-en-
police custody did not occur here
forcement
— but it is felt here, and every-
By Jodi O’Mara
• Anti-Defamation League Les-
where.
Superintendent, Mapleton School District sons for Middle Schoolers: https://
These violent acts against peo-
www.adl.org/education-and-re-
ple of color have an effect on all
sources/resources-for-educa-
of us: students, staff, families and com-
To engage in this discussion, contact tors-parents-fami-lies/lessons?ed_
munity members, as we mourn, expe-
me at jomara@mapleton.k12.or.us, or c a t _ i d % 5 b 1 7 6 % 5 d = 1 7 6 & e d _
rience confusion and fear, and try to
Mizu Burruss, School Board Chair, at cat_id%5b216%5d=216&ed_cat_
make sense of what is happening in the
mizukinney@gmail.com.
id%5b230%5d=230&grd_lvl%5bmid-
world around us.
In this time when we are physically dle-school%5d=middle-school
In these times, more than ever, we
separated from our students, it can be
• NPR – How White Parents Can
must ensure our commitment against
especially difficult to provide opportu- Talk About Race: https://www.npr.
racism and violence in our schools and
nities to discuss emotional events in an org/2020/05/31/866426170/raising-
community.
environment where they can process white-kids-author-on-how-white-par-
As educators, all district staff are
their feelings and trauma with peers.
ents-can-talk-about-race
committed to creating an environment
Even though we are physically apart,
• Teaching Tolerance resources on
where diversity is welcomed and appre-
we can and will get through this togeth- Teaching About Race, Racism and Po-
ciated, all perspectives are heard and
er.
lice Violence: https://www.tolerance.
listened to, and all students thrive. We
In times of unrest, teachers and par- org/moment/racism-and-police-vio-
can no longer just celebrate diversity;
ents can help children feel safe by estab- lence
we must take actions aimed at remov-
lishing a sense of normalcy and securi-
It is time for us to be better prompt-
ing inequities and biases in our system.
ty, and talking with them openly about ed by poet Maya Angelou’s words: “Do
Anti-racism is something that, as a
issues that are impacting them, their the best you can until you know better.
district, we actively work on and are
questions, their anger and their fears.]
Then when you know better, do better.”
I
Guest Viewpoint
USPS# 497-660
Copyright 2020 © Siuslaw News
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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
@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