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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2016)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle 2FFXSDWLRQDO KD]DUGV I t’s over. Finally, it’s over. After 41 days that alternated between hand- wringing and heart-wrenching, the occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge has ended. Four protesters remained until Thursday. Much of their last 12 harrowing, confusing hours in the refuge streamed live and unedited through the Internet. It was a glimpse into paranoia and fear, into anger and frustration. We heard grievances about this country — a lack of jobs, a lack of purpose, a lack of morality, a lack of future. It was the cry of the fearful, the pessimistic and the proud, grabbing the bullhorn and the moment and shouting straight into our speakers. Whatever it was, you had to listen. At times it was scary — the threat of violence both FRHUFHGDQGVHOILQÀLFWHGZHUH ever-present. And at times it was farcical — the list of grievances included Hillary Clinton, the Middle East and a lack of marijuana. But there is no laughing off the underlying issue. This has been a traumatic experience for Eastern Oregon. The days sure were dark. And now that the out-of-state SOD\HUVKDYHOHIWWKH¿HOG we’re left to sift through their message and their actions. For 41 days, Eastern Oregon was a dangerous place to be. Not because of the armed men and women holed up at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, and not because of federal and state law enforcement swarming around them. They posed threats only to one another and anyone who stood between them. But the weapons carried by both sides isn’t what threatened us. The danger is the seeds, already planted and beginning to take root, now doused with gallons of water and a hefty heap of fertilizer. You know the kind. The seeds of mistrust for neighbors with the wrong bumper sticker on their truck. Of animosity toward “the government” as a bogeyman instead of an entity that can and should be held accountable by the people. Of blatant disregard for reasonable discourse — instead choosing to cling to a single line from the Constitution, an ugly prejudice, or a stern glare and a wall of silence. /LNHDÀRFNRIZLQWHUELUGV taking off from Malheur Lake, the occupiers have left. It’s up to us to decide what their pattern in the sky means, and which seeds we want to tend to now that they’re gone. Wednesday, February 17, 2016 F ARMER ’ S F ATE Mommy Milk Cow mom-isms By Brianna Walker For the Blue Mountain Eagle I milked my first cow at my grandparents’ house when I was little. So little, I had a hard time balancing on the little T-shaped milking stool, and my fingers didn’t seem to reach all the way around the teat. Finally my grandma sat on the wooden stool and pulled me in front of her. She wrapped her own hands around my fingers, and “we” milked the cow together. Filling up the buck- et with warm frothy milk, while every once in a while “shooting” a stream into the cat’s tin. Since then, my milking expe- rience has covered sheep, goats and dogs (don’t ask). Mostly re- cently, with the addition of a new baby, I have experienced life on the other side of the fence, as my family has began affectionately (I hope) calling me Mommy Milk Cow. Within days of giving birth, I came down with mastitis, and soon learned that “feeding on demand” has much less to do with the baby’s demand than the mother’s. As I was trying (often unsuccessfully) to fill up the ba- by’s walnut-sized stomach with a grapefruit-sized Brianna quantity of milk, Walker I realized that it was from sore, tired, engorged, nursing wom- en that coined some of the most common “Mom-isms.” 1. “Don’t play with your food!” Said the sleep-deprived mom who just wants her baby to eat, so she can go back to bed. 2. “You will stay there until all your food is gone!” Said the engorged mom who came into her milk too suddenly and is dying from the pressure. 3. “Think of all those starv- ing children in (insert country of your choice) that would be de- lighted to eat your food.” Said the mom who is part Hol- stein and is swarming in milk enough to feed twins. 4. “It’s no use crying over spilled milk.” Said the mom who accidental- ly sprayed her crying baby in the face with milk. 5. “You just ate an hour ago!” Said the mom whose baby pre- fers little snacks around the clock instead of fewer, more hearty meals. 6. You will eat it, and you will like it!” Said the no-nonsense mom who has already been through this four times before. As the baby and I go through the above steps, in no particu- lar order, I am starting to think I should get two henna tattoos across my chest, giving the baby the option between “Take It” or “Leave It.” As the Mommy/Baby dance will continue as he grows, I look forward to seeing what other phrases or words of wisdom I will start to view in a different light. But until then, I’ll enjoy my role as Mommy Milk Cow — as long as my husband continues in his role as Daddy Diaper. Brianna Walker occasionally writes about the Farmer’s Fate for the Blue Mountain Eagle. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR 6KHULII¶VRI¿FHKDG no people at ambush W HERE TO WRITE GRANT COUNTY Grant County Courthouse — 201 S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541- 575-2248. Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509. Fax: 541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centu- rylink.net. Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville 97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541- 987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day, 97845. Phone: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541- 575-1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net. /ong CreeN — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@cityoÀong- creek.com. Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monu- ment 97864. Phone and fax: 541-934- 2025. Email: monument@oregontrail.net. Mt 9ernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax: 541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net. Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax: 820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net. Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca 97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161. Email: cityseneca@centurytel.net. SALEM Gov .ate Brown D — 254 State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378- 3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: www. governor.state.or.us/governor.html. Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY State Rep CliII Bent] R-Ontario (Dis- trict: 60), Room H-475, State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., Salem OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1460. Email: rep.cliffbentz@state. or.us. Website: www.leg.state.or.us/bentz/ home.htm. State Sen Ted )errioli R — (District 30) Room S-223, State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-986-1950. Email: sen. tedferrioli@state.or.us. Email: TFER2@aol. com. Phone: 541-490-6528. Website: www. leg.state.or.us/ferrioli. Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313. WASHINGTON, D.C. The :hite +ouse 1600 Pennsylva- nia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch- board: 202-456-1414. US Sen Ron :yden D — 516 Hart Senate Of¿ce Building, Washington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Email: wayne_kinney@wyden.senate.gov Website: http://wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717. US Sen Jeff MerNley D — 313 Hart Senate Of¿ce Building, Washington D.C. 20510?. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email: senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202- 228-3997. Oregon of¿ces include One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; and 310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-326-3386; 541-278- 1129. Fax: 503-326-2990. US Rep Greg :alden R — (Second District) 1404 Longworth Building, Wash- ington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-6730. No direct email because of spam. Website: www.walden.house.gov Fax: 202-225-5774. Medford of¿ce: 14 North Central, Suite 112, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204. 7RWKH(GLWRU I really enjoy Terry Steele’s letters (The Eagle has no comic section). Terry should get his facts straight. The Grant County Sheriff’s department had no people at that ambush. Sheriff Palmer was at the senior center when it all went down. I wonder what Terry would say if he needed Glenn and he wasn’t there. I have plenty of guns and lots of am- munition. If Glenn needed this rad- ical individual, I would be right by his side protecting people like you. Joe Clarke Long Creek 2I¿FHUVLQYROYHG LQVKRRWLQJVKRXOG speak up 7RWKH(GLWRU There are many differing opin- ions circulating at this time. Many are divisive, political and disturb- ing to the local cohesiveness of the communities involved. This is in reference to the continuing occupa- tion of the Malheur refuge. We are all guaranteed the free- dom of speech under Amendment No. 1 of our Constitution and should exercise that right when we feel the need. Now instead of throw- ing stones at individuals or certain to Eastern Oregon. The misuse of *RGDQGWKH$PHULFDQÀDJWRWU\WR substantiate their cause disturbs me. I oppose their public lands agenda and personally believe public lands are for all, and a gift for future gen- erations. Because I don’t like these things, I am at odds with the politi- cal agenda that seems to be the core RIRXUVKHULII¶VRI¿FH Therefore, I don’t feel safe and protected. In fact, I believe our VKHULII¶VRI¿FHLVWRWDOO\LQHIIHFWLYH and actually jeopardizes communi- ty safety because it “doesn’t play well with others.” Small commu- nities have small law enforcement :DQWHGUHDOVKHULII agencies. They have to work to- gether, support each other, and most 7RWKH(GLWRU of all trust each other to be the most Through the course of events effective in providing public safety. It’s called “mutual aid.” Our in the last month, a true patriot emerged, Sheriff Dave Ward of Har- FLW\ RI¿FHUV 263 '$¶V 2I¿FH ney County. He has stood his ground IHGHUDO RI¿FHUV YLVLWLQJ DJHQWV DQG with the safety of his communi- neighboring county sheriffs all co- W\ ¿UVW DQG IRUHPRVW 1R SROLWLFDO operate beautifully together to assure agenda, just solid professional law the safety of all citizens. But guess enforcement, with genuine concern. who is not asked to play because he 7KHPDQLVDKHURWKHWUXHGH¿QLWLRQ cannot be trusted to uphold the laws of a patriot. Grant County needs a KHZDVVZRUQLQWRXSKROG"(QRXJK is enough, the people of this county sheriff the caliber of Sheriff Ward. The events around the illegal oc- need, and deserve, to have faith that cupation of the Malheur refuge has when they dial 9-1-1, a sheriff of in- resulted in community polarization tegrity will respond. I believe Sher- and has made me feel unsafe in my iff Palmer needs to be recalled, im- RZQ EHDXWLIXO FRPPXQLW\ :K\" peached, voted out, whatever it takes, Because I don’t agree with this in- to reinstall a sense of protection and terpretation of the “constitutional- safety to all citizens of Grant County. /HH5LFH ist” message. I abhor the violence John Day and the stigma they have brought L etters policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-you letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for questions. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244. Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper P UBLISHER ............................... M ARISSA W ILLIAMS , MARISSA @ BMEAGLE . COM E DITOR .................................... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT ........ K RISTINA K REGER , KRISTINA @ BMEAGLE . COM E DITORIAL A SSISTANT ................ C HERYL H OEFLER , CHERYL @ BMEAGLE . COM C OMMUNITY N EWS .................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM S PORTS ................................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM M ARKETING R EP ....................... K IM K ELL , ADS @ BMEAGLE . COM O FFICE M ANAGER ..................... L INDSAY B ULLOCK , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION factions in our communities, we should demand the right to hear the ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RI¿FHUV LQYROYHG in the shooting of one of the occu- piers that took place between Burns and John Day. I know this has to go through an investigation, but they have free speech rights also. So speak up, gentlemen. Where’s the DXGLRWRWKH)%,¿OP"6SHDNXS$V public servants it is your duty and your right — unless you are afraid it may incriminate you. 0LFKDHO5&KULVWHQVHQ John Day 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .....................................$40 Everywhere else in U.S. .....................$51 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery Periodicals Postage Paid at John 'a\ and additional Pailing oIÀces POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 wwwMyEagleNewscoP Copyright © 2016 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping or information storage and retrieval systems — without written permission of the publisher. wwwIaceEooNcoPMyEagleNews @MyEagleNews
