A4
Opinion
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Love your
enemies
$
s the day of Christ’s
resurrection approaches,
it can be easy to get
lost in the egg hunts, the Easter
Bunny and chick-shaped
marshmallow treats.
It is easy to lose sight of the
historical signi¿cance of Jesus
and the miracle upon which so
many of us base our faith —
especially in the overwhelming
commercial environment of our
age.
But, even as we sit in the
pews and listen to the Gospels,
it can be easy to miss the
importance of some of the
passages.
Jesus was certainly an
interesting ¿gure and speaker.
Often speaking in parables, his
divine wisdom was not always
direct and explicit.
Yet, at times, he was quite
clear.
In Matthew 5:44, in what is
perhaps one of most important
Biblical messages, Jesus says,
“Love your enemies.”
Loving one’s neighbor
is simple. The bene¿t of
getting along with those in
close proximity is easy to
see. But loving for one’s own
bene¿t does not live up to the
Christian ideal.
Loving one’s enemy is
far more dif¿cult. $re we, as
humans, even capable of loving
our enemies? Can we, in this
day and age, truly appreciate
the depth of this 2,000-year-old
message?
Life is far easier with a well-
de¿ned enemy. Whether in war
or politics or even games, the
objective is quite simple when
the situation can be described
as in terms of an enemy, in
terms of “us versus them.”
However, except in the case
of a harmless game, much can
be lost by dividing the world
into these categories. We are
left with little choice except
to believe, “We must ¿ght and
overcome these enemies.”
If we come to that
conclusion, we would do
well to think about Christ’s
important message — if we
haven’t completely forgotten it
by that point.
So this Easter season, think
about your “enemies.”
Then think about Jesus’
words.
Then feel free to indulge in
the candy.
$fter all, Christ is risen.
W HERE TO W RITE
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:
(PDLOLQIR#FLW\RÀRQJ-
creek.com.
• Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument
97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025.
Email: cityofmonument@centurytel.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: senecaoregon@gmail.com.
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
6HQDWH2I¿FH%XLOGLQJ:DVKLQJWRQ'&
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
6HQDWH2I¿FH%XLOGLQJ:DVKLQJWRQ'&
20510?. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email:
senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202-
2UHJRQRI¿FHVLQFOXGH2QH
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.
0HGIRUGRI¿FH1RUWK&HQWUDO6XLWH
Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646.
Fax: 541-779-0204.
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR
How will you vote?
To the Editor:
There’s no denying that voters
across this country are disgusted with
politics as usual. We elect people ex-
pecting results, and after candidates
promise voters that electing them will
Eene¿t the community in so many
ways both socially and economically,
we go to the polls and we elect them
and then we wait.
Well, we’re still waiting for the
economic part of their plan to kick
in. Socially, I believe Grant County
is in a pretty good place. We showed
we reject racism, our crime rate is
low and we have strong community
support for our schools. On the other
hand, our economy is a disaster. So
my question is why would our local
government stand in the way of not
one, not two but three times at the op-
portunity to bring jobs and revenue to
our county?
In all three decisions, landowners
were told by local government what
to do with their land. You can only
wonder how the economy would look
here with a new state park, a resort for
motorcycle tourists, a marijuana pro-
duction facility, marijuana dispensary
or a hemp processing plant. I don’t
know — I’m no economist — but
I am pretty sure we would be better
off by letting the free market system
work.
Wouldn’t it be nice, instead of
hearing of budget cuts, layoffs and
cuts to our school programs, if the
news spoke of a balanced budget,
jobs and our schools being properly
funded? With enough resources to
make school fun and interesting for
students. We could bring back voca-
tional programs like wood shop, metal
shop and auto mechanics to the level it
should be. Fund sports programs so all
athletes can afford to participate and
reach their full potential.
There is hope on the horizon! We
the people of Grant County get to
make the decision on option num-
ber three whether to legalize mari-
juana production in Grant County.
On May 17 we vote on initiative 12-
58; we can either choose to move
forward or continue down the same
prosperous road we’ve been on. I
know how I’m voting.
Sonny Dryden
Mt. Vernon
Occupiers are
patriots, not militants
To the Editor:
In regards to the LaVoy Finicum
investigation article, the very title
of your article doesn’t make sense:
shooting justi¿ed but FBI being in-
vestigated? How can the shooting be
justi¿ed when the FBI lied? How is
it that the police investigate them-
selves? Do you always regurgitate
what is fed to you? Do you do no
research to ¿nd out the facts? Have
you even looked at the videos both
from Shawna Cox and the police?
Clearly they were ¿ring at LaVoy’s
vehicle, which caused him to speed
away from the ¿rst road stop. $nd
Forest Partners work
together for healthy
forest, community
To the Editor:
In response to Frances (Preston’s
letter March 16), speaking for myself,
I am continuing a lifelong passion for
forestry as well as working to make
the economics and opportunities in
Grant County better for as many local
residents as I can. It is not a big sur-
prise some of the same people from
each organization are interested in
the (Public Forest) Commission, as
forestry and local economics is their
calling as well. Larry (Blasing) and
King (Williams) have been on the
Commission, Russ (Young) is not a
member of (Blue Mountains Forest
Partners), so that leaves Mark (Webb)
and I as new BMFP members run-
ning.
Yes, I am a member of BMFP
going on 10 years now. No, I don’t
receive any money for my position,
and it’s actually a large commitment
on my part. Visit BMPF’s website for
our mission.
GCPFC’s mission of “Committed
to a Thriving Community through
Healthy Forests” seems to be in line
with BMFP’s, although the found-
ing documents and process of how
we get there are quite different. My
intentions are to help both organiza-
tions to succeed where I can and see
no reason the Commission needs to
have any animosity toward BMFP
as our successes and bene¿ts to the
community are many. I will work to
support good policy and decisions
no matter who came up with them.
There is no one but myself supporting
my effort to run.
In short, BMFP’s mission is about
working together for a healthy for-
est and healthy community, so if the
Commission is against that principle,
I do intend to try to change that for
the better. I realistically don’t see a
time when the county will take own-
ership of all state and federal lands
within its boundaries or acquiring
federal funding stated in the charter
of the commission. This should ei-
ther be changed to something much
more realistic, constructive and legal,
or other options sought. The taking
of extreme positions will not make
our community a better place to live,
while working with all interested par-
ties toward our mutual bene¿t most
certainly will.
Dave Hannibal
Mt. Vernon
‘My civil rights have
been trampled’
To the Editor:
I do not intend this as anyone’s
opinion but mine. State your opin-
ion loud and clear, I will listen; it
is your right. But if you want me
to hear what you are saying don’t
drown out me with your cries of an-
gry indignation.
Now it is my opinion that John
Day dispatch center coordinator and
John Day police chief should tread
lightly; if they have not already bro-
ken state laws, they are close to it.
The use of of¿cial city letterhead
to make personal statements public,
also public video comments to a
news reporter while in uniform, in
the wording to have statements give
the appearance of being an of¿cial
statement made by or with the con-
sent of the of¿ce of the city of John
Day or the people of this communi-
ty and/or of this county without due
process.
I would also like at this time to
mention that when Chris Labhart,
our duly elected county commis-
sioner, picked up that picket sign
and allowed himself to be pho-
tographed and incidentally being
published publicly was not repre-
senting me through due process of
his of¿ce.
I for one have not authorized
any person to speak on my behalf,
nor have I been given the oppor-
tunity to review any statements to
be made public by any county or
city of¿cials intending to act on
my behalf and as my representa-
tive publicly. My civil rights have
been trampled on by these persons
using their positions to make such
statements.
The law, in part, ORS 162.415:
“Of¿cial misconduct in the ¿rst de-
gree (1) $ public servant commits
the crime of of¿cial misconduct in
the ¿rst degree if with intent to ob-
tain a bene¿t or to harm another: ...”
(oregonlaws.org/ors/162.415)
It is my civic duty to bring this
to the attention of the people of this
community, and in my opinion, it is
each and everyone’s civic duty to see
that those that would trample on the
people’s civil rights are held account-
able. What actions have been taken
to rectify this misconduct?
Paula Long
John Day
See LETTERS, Page A5
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 i
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 origina
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
clearly they illegally set up a road
block according to (Oregon State
Police’s) own set of regulations. It
was nothing but a kill stop. They in-
tended to murder him, and it is obvi-
ous in the video. There is no proof in
the video that he went for a gun. He
was shot in the back several times.
They then proceeded to shoot at
the vehicle with unarmed people in
it including an innocent, young teen-
ager.
You call them militants. Have
you looked in the dictionary what
a militant is? Someone who is ac-
tively engaged in a war. These were
not militants; they are patriots. The
police and the FBI and our govern-
ment are the militants. Who ¿red
at whom? Who is taking over land
from the ranchers? Oregonians need
to wake up to the fact that the federal
government is overreaching and tak-
ing away our liberties and freedom.
Gini Gerstner
Fox
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