Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2020)
4A | FRIDAY EDITION | JULY 3, 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) On the lighter side of fi reworks ing full well their eyebrows would grow back by mid- summer. My kids don’t believe me when I tell them this. That’s because, each July Fourth, From the Editor’s Desk W ith many public fire- works displays can- celed this year due to social distancing requirements, there has been a rise in the purchase of fireworks at fire- works stands everywhere. The good news, according to the National Council on Fireworks Safety (NCFS), is that fireworks-related inju- ries have dropped by 75 per- cent in the last decade. The bad news? Anyone over the age of 30 can tell you that today’s fireworks are about as exciting to watch as a pile of smoldering socks. For example, it used to be that “sparklers” actually sparkled. They showered the air with tiny crackling em- bers so bright you could see them through your eyelids. The bravest kids would spin them like propellers, know- 1) If a skyrocket is longer than your boat trailer, it must be flagged during transport. 2) You must, by law, in- form neighbors when using any fireworks that require a Ned Hickson they have been handed “sparklers” that are basically sticks of incense that smell like sulfur. No crackle. No shower of sparks. Just a momentary flame as the paper wick ig- nites and then, upon reach- ing its climactic flash point, fizzles into a puff of flatu- lent-smelling smoke. Those living in Alabama or Tennessee have no idea what I’m talking about. That’s because they have “real” fireworks — the kind that childhood memories (and a good portion of our nation’s first-strike capabili- ties) are made of. In addition, the only real restrictions they have are as follows: dynamite plunger. 3) Though there is no lim- it to the number of M-80s you can join together with a single fuse, the Depart- ment of Homeland Security warns it can’t be held re- sponsible should your area, as a precautionary measure, be swept with heat-seeking missiles. 4) If you have studded tires, you must remove them. (This has nothing to do with fireworks; it’s just a friendly reminder from the folks at the Highway Depart- ment.) And lastly, 5) Any and all skyrockets capable of leaving southern air space must be pointed north. The fact is, even though I whine about having wimpy fireworks here in Oregon, at least we have them. In Geor- gia, they are illegal. In the past, this has meant watch- ing public fireworks displays or, as many Georgians do, simply going outside and facing toward Alabama. Even though these dis- plays are beautiful, it’s still not the same as being knocked unconscious by a runaway ground flower. Be- ing as I lived in Atlanta for six years, I can tell you illegal fireworks do make their way across the Alabama border. This, of course, is a huge problem. Especially if your boat trailer isn’t big enough. That all being said, my best wishes to you and yours as we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day this Sat- urday in driveways across the country. It’s something that could be the best part of this year’s restrictions as we once again celebrate with friends and neighbors like we used to. Let’s change history together (Editor’s Note: Viewpoint submis- sions on this and other topics are always welcome as part of our goal to encourage community discussion and exchange of perspectives.) W hite people in America are clearly steeped in a very real moment. We are being urged to listen, reckon, reflect and act. We are being asked, in so many ways, to open our ears, eyes, hearts and brains in ways that many of us have never done before. And in do- ing so, there will certainly be feelings of guilt, remorse, sadness, outrage, con- fusion, compassion and a myriad of other emotions and impulses coursing through us. However, if done right, what can come from this breakthrough societal moment cannot be denied. Following the lead from communities of color, what will emerge is a clarity to drive forward the efforts needed to break the cycles of oppression and racism — to dismantle the systems that validate op- pression and racism. Together, we will build a just system that honors and respects all life. This is not only possible, but inevitable. In a recent New York Times op- ed drafted by William Barber II, Liz Theoharis, Timothy B. Tyson and Cor- nel West titled, “What the Courage to Change History Looks Like”, they said this: “Cries of ‘I can’t breathe’ call out in compelling shorthand, America’s en- during racial chasm in every measure of well-being: health care and infant mortality, wages and wealth, unemploy- ment, education, housing, policing and criminal justice, water quality and envi- ronmental safety. “The bills that bustle through our leg- islatures offer narrow reforms of police procedures and bypass the fullness of what the protesters are saying: The chil- dren of privilege are protected not by a higher grade of policing, but by deeper layers of resources — and that is what ought to protect all of our children.” The collective goes on to sharpen its ridicule of legislative bodies by saying, “You cannot solve what is happening to Black people in this country by ‘mere policy tinkering’, but that you must dis- mantle the interlocking systems created by and for white supremacy and gen- Guest Viewpoint By Michelle Holman Community Rights Lane County der-based oppressions.” With dismantling comes the opportu- nity to rebuild, and how we rebuild will be crucial. Seeing the world as a collection of systems is so critical. It’s why the phrase “interlocking systems” is so powerful because of the truth it speaks. It is also why the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) lays out various demands vs. narrowing their focus on just the brutality of policing towards black peo- ple. A critical piece — one that does not receive the attention it deserves to those “interlocking” platforms — is the call for community control: “We demand a world where those most impacted in our communities control the laws, institutions and poli- cies that are meant to serve us — from our schools to our local budgets, econ- omies, police departments and our land — while recognizing that the rights and histories of our Indigenous family must also be respected.” This is not a new demand, but one that has been part of the Black resistance since its inception. The ability to self-determine is a nec- essary element for balance, equity, sur- vival, evolution and the protection of the sacred. This drive for self-determination — a community self-determination — cannot be stopped or ignored. I include the two following clauses, not as a distraction from the focus on Black lives, but as a sharpening of that lens by reminding everyone that the drive for community control is univer- sal. It is inherent. It is what we all want and it can be a major aid in universally binding us together: 1) Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their polit- ical status and freely pursue their eco- nomic, social and cultural development. — Article 3, United Nations Declara- tion on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2) The people of Lincoln County possess both a collective and individual right of self-government in their local community, a right to a system of gov- ernment that embodies that right, and the right to a system of government that protects and secures their human, civil, and collective rights. — Law adopted by the people of Lin- coln County, Oregon to ban aerial spray of pesticides The dismantling of “the interlocking systems, created by and for white su- premacy and gender-based oppressions”, is a must. But before we even arrive at the moment where those systems come crumbling down, we need to vision what we want to collectively rebuild. Recognizing that so many of us want the same things — that we understand that decentralizing power is vital to achieving our collective needs and de- sires — will be the very power that sends us on the path forward. We need to be decision-makers in our communities, thereby creating real, authentic, capital “D,” Democracy. Barber, Theoharis, Tyson, and West finish their statement on the state of America and Black lives by saying “All demand that our legacy must include a livable planet. Black and white, immi- grant and Indigenous, Asian-American and Latinx, straight and LGBTQ, of ev- ery hue and faith ...” We are all being called out, called up, called to come together, and called to act. Let’s change history together. What is happening to our nation? T here have been many peaceful marches since the unjust and hor- rific murder of George Floyd. People marching against police brutality and for the equality of the Black community. But the officer who committed this evil, along with the three other officers who watched and did nothing to help the victim, are being prosecuted for murder and aiding and abetting murder. Is there racism? Yes, there always has been, but I don’t believe for one minute that it is systemic. I believe our coun- try is filled with good people who are against it and that our country has come a long way in the fight to stop racism. Now all we hear is that it is only White people who are racist. That in itself is racism — a reverse racism. You can’t erase racism against one group of peo- ple by replacing it with racism against another group of people. Just like you can’t blame every police officer for what a small few have done. We have all seen the destruction, looting and burning of business. Statues being toppled of people who fought for and against slavery, along with statues of people who had nothing to do with any of that — such as Christopher Colum- bus and many others. People have been threatened and called racist because they are White. Other people have been beaten, shot and Guest Viewpoint By Lois Worley Dunes City resident injured trying to protect their property. We have also seen violence against police officers, the majority of whom are there to protect innocent people. Some of them have been murdered and many have been injured. Many may or may not know that the BLM Organization’s movement has more to do with power than it does with Black lives. One of the group’s founders, Patrisse Cullors, openly states that she is a Marxist. In a 2015 interview, she as- sured her interviewer that the group has an underlying ideology: “We are trained Marxists.” Karl Marx (1818–1883), a commu- nist, is best known as a revolutionary whose works inspired the foundation of many communist regimes in the 20th century. Marxists define capital as “a so- cial, economic relation” between peo- ple (rather than between people and things). In this sense, they seek to abol- ish capitalism. The people who are taking over sec- tions of cities and tearing down statues, rioting and yelling BLM and “defund the police” are all about intimidation and power. Their movement has noth- ing to do with statues, masks or policing. These are the tools they are using is to bring about a social change to take away our civil liberties. If we really want peace in our county, we have to stop and think about what we are doing to each other and what is ac- tually happening to us as a nation. Like myself, I am sure that most would like to see their children and grandchildren en- joy the freedom and rights that we have enjoyed — and for the most part have taken for granted. USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2020 © Siuslaw News 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. Jenna Bartlett Ned Hickson Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Multimedia Sales Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Dis- play classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to pub- lication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $79; 6-month in-county, $56; 10-week subscription, $25; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $102; 6-month out- of-county, $69; 10-week subscription, $35; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $134; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com Siuslaw News Office: 148 Maple St./PO Box 10 Florence, OR 87439 Office Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to noon Letters to the Editor policy 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 in- clude 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. Publica- tion of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Letters that are anonymous, libelous, argumen- tative, sarcastic or contain accusations that are un- sourced or documented will not be published. Letters containing poetry or from outside the Siu- slaw News readership area will only be published 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 accurate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hear- say; and 3) Explain the reasons to support candi- dates based on personal experience and perspective rather than partisanship and campaign-style rhet- oric. 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 politi- cal 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 re- ject 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