8A | SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
Community Voices
Moral of the Story — Shaving It Close
By Karen D. Nichols
Author and Artist
Special to Siuslaw News
W
hen our grandson,
Dalton sent us a self-
ie-video sporting the shadow
of a mustache, I immediately
flashed back to my son’s (Dal-
ton’s uncle’s) first shave.
When young, my children,
Tina and Jeffrey, played with
toys that imitated adult be-
haviors, such as miniature
lawnmowers, rakes, shovels,
vacuums, tea sets, etc.
Interesting, young children
love to help — until they are
actually capable of real help.
Then parents move into the
nag phase of parenthood to
instigate help.
After finding a triple-sized
red, blue and yellow plastic
safety razor, I put it in Jeff ’s
Christmas stocking. Surpris-
ingly, the razor became the
biggest hit — with both kids.
The shaving started as a dry
run which quickly moved into
the bathroom with the real
foamy shaving cream. Shaving
incorporated itself into Jeff ’s
bath time.
When Tina discovered this
Men’s Club event, she de-
manded her own version.
I returned to purchase her
razor, but no luck. So, Tina
persuaded Jeff to share. She
wanted to make sure her pits
and legs became hairless as
Mom’s. Tina’s bath included
the languid stretch of hairless
legs enveloped in mounds of
foam.
Both children wanted non-
bath time use of the razor, as
well. The ritual played out nu-
merous times when boredom
snuck in. Did this ever lapse
into a shaving cream fight?
Even Dad got involved in
some of these melees.
Some 12 years later, the
whole family, with Grandpa,
Grandma, aunts and uncles,
met for breakfast at a restau-
rant. On this bright sunshiny
day, we took a large table be-
neath a skylight. Jeff sat, ha-
loed by his summer blonde
hair, while sunbeams illumi-
nated sprouts of his facial hair.
I probably shouldn’t have,
but I reached over and touched
his cheek. I whispered, “Is that
a mustache?”
He stroked his upper lip.
“I think you’re going to
need to shave soon.”
The next morning, I scur-
ried around the kitchen fix-
ing pancakes, when Jeff came
in. He plunked his hands on
his hips. “Hey, Pop! Will you
show me how to shave, real
quick?”
I tittered silently. “Real
quick” and “shave?” Those
words should never be spoken
in the same sentence.
With a real safety razor?
There’s a misconception that
Editor’s Note: Community Voices is a
monthly feature in the Siuslaw News. It
consists of viewpoints from people in the
Siuslaw region. Siuslaw News welcomes
these opinions as part of its goal to encour-
age community discussion and exchange of
perspectives, but they should not be inter-
preted as the views of the News or its staff.
safety razors are actually safe.
(On my wedding day, in my
fanciest underwear, I decid-
ed to shave, “real quick.” The
tiniest nicks became a red
river, ruining my brand-new
underwear and permanently
scarring one shin.)
Ralph and Jeff dashed up-
stairs for a “quick” lesson. Ralph
hid a razor and can of aero-
sol shaving cream to be ready
for the time when needed.
After applying the foam,
Ralph instructed Jeff on the
strokes needed. Jeff took the
first slice. I snuck up, raised
my camera and clicked. Jeff
dodged. What a perfect pic-
ture of a blank mirror! That
proved to be my last shot.
With no film, the event re-
mains unrecorded anywhere
but on the screen of our mem-
ories.
As Ralph continued to show
Jeff how to push his nose and
ears out of the way and finish
off his neck, they banished me
to the kitchen.
I wish I had the picture of
them meandering back for
breakfast. Serious-faced, Jeff
came in — his chin and cheeks
dotted with bits of red-stained
tissue scraps. Ralph followed
grinning.
I bit my tongue and glanced
aside, trying to uncurl my lips.
“Syrup anyone?”
Moral of the Story: On your
first try, never shave real quick.
Military Heritage Chronicles — Military Railroads
By Cal Applebee
Military and Vehicle
Historian
Special to Siuslaw News
I
n the military vehicle hob-
by, the most prevalent and
probably popular military
vehicle is undoubtedly the
iconic jeep, developed in an-
ticipation of World War II
specifically for that war. Fea-
tures that make it so popu-
lar in the hobby are its small
size and affordability. Some
collectors, however, want
something larger, if they have
the space in their garage and
their budget, such as a deuce-
and-a-half or even a tank.
Why not a train?
When we think of trains
in conjunction with military
service, we often think of
a movie scene where some
brave GI is saying goodbye
to his hometown sweetheart
as he boards a Pullman troop
car heading off to war — or
at least boot camp. But trains
saw action in military ser-
vice long before WWII, and
in more roles than just as a
troop carrier.
In the United States, the
Civil War was the first time
trains saw service in military
applications. Union troops
were transported in special
trains from New England to
protect Washington, D.C.,
from a Confederate threat.
Likewise, the Confederate
States Army then utilized
railroads to rush 12,000
troops from Shenandoah Val-
ley into action.
Unlike other inventions
during times of war such as
airpower, railroading did not
evolve a great deal under the
impact of the Civil War. Oth-
er evolutionary challenges did
have an impact on the use of
railroads during the conflict,
such as the fact that twice as
much track existed in the
North than did in the South,
and, more often than not, the
gauges of existing railroad
lines from competing compa-
nies, were not the same and
impeded train travel.
Although the South was
slower to embrace rail as a
tool of war, when it eventu-
ally did, as battle lines some-
times moved north or south,
so did ownership and use of
railroads and their lines.
Ironically, it was a railroad
in the early days of the Civil
War — and not military tacti-
cians — who envisioned, de-
veloped and implemented the
idea that trains could be used
in battle roles. An armored
car was built to provide pro-
tection to repair crews com-
ing under guerrilla fire while
repairing tracks from battle
damage. Railroads would
continue to play a key role
throughout the war involv-
ing troop movement as well
as transporting war material
and supplies.
During the Civil War, the
rolling stock was predomi-
nantly the private stock of the
various railroad companies
pressed into service by either
side. During the war, military
railroad activity on the Union
side was governed by the
United States Military Rail-
road Service and the Railroad
Construction Corps.
Railroads and railroading
would continue to see ser-
vice in subsequent war activ-
ities both home and abroad.
WWI saw American rolling
stock shipped overseas and
utilized in battle. In 1917 the
US Railroad Administration
was established to manage
the utilization of railroading
in WWI, both at home for
the increase in traffic due to
the war effort, as well as in
Europe where the American
rolling stock joined European
equipment in various roles,
including battle. Railroading
would continue to see ser-
vice in later wars, certainly
WWII significantly, but also
Vietnam and Korea, as well as
more recent conflicts in the
Middle East.
Unlike the armed branches
of the military which main-
tained established organiza-
tional structures throughout
their existence for the most
part, railroads in military
service would see a constant
change in how and who reg-
ulated and administered their
participation in times of need.
During WWII, the Military
Railroad Service under the
Corps of Engineers had the
primary responsibility. To-
day, military transportation
needs, including railroads,
are administered by an ev-
er-changing hodge-podge of
federal agencies ranging from
the US Army Transportation
Engineering Agency estab-
lished in the 1960s, through a
variety of agencies under the
directorate of the US Trans-
portation Committee.
With the evolution of air
power and its multiple uses
following WWII, particular-
ly the creation of the United
States Air Force in 1947, most
troop and war material trans-
port has continued to travel
via aircraft, and railroads to-
day in the U.S. typically only
move tanks and other large
equipment on state-of-the-
art flatbeds. In May 2021, a
quarter-mile long train need-
ing three locomotives were
spotted in Southern Califor-
nia transporting dozens of
tanks on DODX or Dept. of
Defense railcars.
Despite the lack of roman-
tic attraction to railroading in
military service, in the model
railroading hobby, manufac-
turers were quick to capital-
ize on military-themed train
sets. Marx in the 1930s and
1940s produced a complete
line of US Army train sets in
their tin-plate product line. I
have one in my layout that is
still in amazing condition and
reflects the Cold War efforts
of the Trinity bomb test site.
In the historic military ve-
hicle hobby, re-enacting of
specific eras of military ac-
tion has become a popular
additional component of dis-
playing vehicles. A few clubs
have done so, incorporating
vintage WWII railroad flat-
cars loaded with WWII era
vehicles — quite a sight to see!
So despite its lack of pop-
ularity in American culture,
the contribution of railroad-
ing in military heritage is at
least recognized to some ex-
tent.
For more military heri-
tage, visit the Oregon Coast
Military Museum located on
Kingwood Street adjacent to
the Florence Municipal Air-
port, open from noon to 4
p.m. Thursday thru Sunday,
or by visiting the Museum’s
website at www.oregoncoast-
militarymuseum.com.
Conservative Corner — ‘Thomas Jefferson Survives’
By Joel Marks
Conservative Historian
Special to Siuslaw News
R
ecently in a wonderfully
spirited conversation on
American history, the new
principal of Siuslaw High
School, Mike Harklerode,
said that he felt that America
throughout its storied history
had “ascended,” as opposed to
declined.
I readily agreed and re-
membered the immortal
words of Thomas Jefferson
when he expressed heartfelt
sentiments on the future of
our country and accompany-
ing civilizations: “Can the lib-
erties of a nation be thought
secure when we have re-
moved their only firm basis,
a conviction in the minds of
the people that these liberties
are of the gift of God? That
they are not to be violated
but with His wrath? Indeed I
tremble for my country when
I reflect that God is just; that
His justice cannot sleep for-
ever.”
Jefferson was extremely
concerned about the direc-
tion of the “abominable busi-
ness” of slavery and its place
in 1819. The narrow-minded
John C. Calhoun then capped
Mr. Jefferson’s fears of the con-
tinuation and expansion of the
“dirty business” as the Missou-
ri Compromise lengthened its
ugly boundaries.
After all, it was Mr. Jeffer-
son who authored our birth
certificate and his death cer-
tificate with soaring rhetoric
like, “We hold these truths to
be self-evident, that all men
are created equal.”
Of course, that American
civil catechism’s author knew
that in 1776 those words
were not fulfilled but were a
national goal, being accom-
plished by succeeding gener-
ations. It is sheer folly for ra-
tional Americans to suppose
that Indian rights, woman’s
rights and African American
rights would be in its final
granted state in the late 18th
century. But, as that astute
principal said, “America has
ascended” and she certainly
has.
It took time through the
codification of the Declara-
tion of Independence, called
the Constitution, which was
gallantly fought for and rat-
ified by the several states in
1788. Then, General George
Washington was inaugurat-
ed as our first president in
1789. Then James Madison,
the Father of the Constitu-
tion, became the Father of the
Bill of Rights in 1791 through
some miraculous events and
persuasion. Then, in another
amazing turn of events, the
election of 1800 saw Thomas
Jefferson become President
Jefferson and, when America
defined the soul of liberty, it
was Mr. Jefferson who pre-
sented the definition.
Before Jefferson’s presiden-
tial election, 51 letters were
written as an interpretation
of the heft and meaning of
America’s lawful document,
the Constitution.
Today most people do not
read or understand the Fed-
eralist Papers but are more
than willing to receive a
government check. Thence,
where is the American dream
of freedom and justice for all?
It has been replaced by a very
different foreign philosophy
then the one Jefferson pre-
sented lo those many years
ago, a radical form of egalitar-
ianism where all are equal in
outcomes rather than equal
before the Almighty throne
of God.
Benjamin Franklin said
it best at the Constitutional
Convention in 1787, saying,
“I have lived sir, a long time,
and the longer I live the more
convincing proofs I see of this
truth that God governs in the
affairs of men. ... We have
been assured sir, in the sacred
writings that unless the Lord
builds the house, they labor
in vain who build it.”
A solemn hush went over
the assembled patriots in
Philadelphia on that uncom-
fortably hot humid hall, but
the delegates acknowledged
that Old Ben was right. They
then went about their labors,
almost having given up the
task in June 1787, to sculpt
our present day Constitu-
tion, the only document of its
kind, but they succeeded.
When the venerable John
Adams passed into eterni-
ty 50 years to the day of the
signing of the Declaration on
July 4, 1826, his last words
uttered were, “Thomas Jeffer-
son survives.” Not knowing
three hours earlier, Mr. Jeffer-
son also passed to his eternal
reward.
However, was not John Ad-
ams prophetic in his closing
words of life, as Thomas Jef-
ferson, thank God, does still
survive. And so does Ameri-
ca.
Threads of Activism — A tipping point to activism
By Michael Allen
Activist
Special to Siuslaw News
Editor’s Note: The begin-
ning paragraphs of the follow-
ing article contains references
to death and violence and may
not be appropriate for all audi-
ences.
I
n my introductory article of
“Threads of Activism” for
Community Voices, I spoke
about tipping points that often
lead to activism. These tipping
points are often immoral and
unjust events that outrage you.
I gave an example of one that
led me on a campaign to right
a wrong against people with
intellectual disabilities.
Writing this article gave me
cause to reflect on other trig-
gers that influenced my way of
reacting to perceived injustice.
What came to mind was an
event that happened when I
was 12 years old. I was a news-
paper boy delivering the Port
Chester, NY, Daily Item, the
same paper that Ed Sullivan
wrote for. It was in June 1953.
On the front page of the paper
were photos of the execution
of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg,
who were American citizens
convicted of spying on behalf
of the Soviet Union.
The reporter described in
grisly detail how each of them
died in the electric chair in
Sing Sing Prison. The reporter
relished pointing out that the
stronger of the two was Ethel,
who took longer to die than
her husband. It took two extra
shocks to kill her, and eyewit-
nesses reported that smoke
rose from her head.
I was horrified, but being
only 12, there was not much I
could do at that time. But the
memory of those executions
stayed with me. After many,
many more executions that
were highly publicized over
the years, my opposition to
capital punishment grew and
became something that had
to be dealt with. I saw it as im-
moral, unfairly imposed and
cruel. Capital punishment was
not a deterrent and very costly
to impose. And we do have an
alternative punishment — life
in prison without parole.
More and more countries
around the world abolished
the death penalty, as did the
United States in 1972, follow-
ing a period of four years with
no executions. The Supreme
Court declared capital pun-
ishment unconstitutional as it
was then applied. The repeal
did not last long, however, for
the Supreme Court reinstated
the death penalty four years
later. It was at this time that
states started to use lethal in-
jection for execution.
My memories of actions
during the next two decades
regarding the death penalty
are hazy, but I do remember
convincing friends and family
members that it was wrong to
support capital punishment. It
wasn’t until I moved to New
Mexico in the late 1990s that
I found ways to do something.
New Mexico was on a fast
track to abolishing capital
punishment when I arrived.
Over the next decade, I joined
with activist groups dedicated
to get the legislature and the
Governor to act.
I attended several presenta-
tions by a Hispanic man who
was on death row in Florida
and later freed after his inno-
cence was proved. I brought
several individuals with in-
tellectual disabilities to hear
his story. He recognized that
many people identified as
“mentally retarded” are put to
death.
We also attended a legisla-
tive hearing along with Sis-
ter Helen Prejean, author of
“Dead Man Walking,” who
joined us in testifying for a bill
to abolish the death penalty.
Despite our advocacy, my own
legislator, who sat on the com-
mittee, refused to support the
bill since she feared that indi-
viduals who committed mur-
der would not be imprisoned
for the rest of their life.
We continued our efforts
year after year. The most dis-
concerting but powerful ac-
tion was when my wife Pat
and I attended a candlelight
vigil at the state capitol in San-
ta Fe to protest the last person
to be executed in New Mexico
in 2001.
This execution got the at-
tention of the public and the
legislature. Finally, in 2009,
Gov. Bill Richardson signed
legislation to repeal the death
penalty in New Mexico, re-
placing it with life without
parole.
Now that I’m in Oregon, I
still follow and support groups
that advocate the abolishment
of capital punishment. They
made some progress in Ore-
gon by getting the legislature
to reduce the number of rea-
sons a person can be punished
with death. Currently, there
is a moratorium in Oregon
on executions that was estab-
lished in 2011. But that is not
enough.
Today, there are 27 states,
Oregon included, and the Fed-
eral government where capital
punishment is still legal.
Is there a tipping point for
you to become an activist
in the cause to abolish cap-
ital punishment, both here
in Oregon and in the rest of
the country? If so, there are
groups you can join, such as
Death Penalty Focus, to help
eliminate this unjust and im-
moral punishment.
Pope Francis, spiritual lead-
er of the Catholic Church, de-
clared in 2020 that “the death
penalty is inadmissible” and
the Church is firmly commit-
ted to calling for its abolition
worldwide.