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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 2018)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 28, 2018 See something, say something I t doesn’t take a medical degree to do CPR, and that’s the point. If only surgeons and doctors knew how to help the victim of a heart attack, many more people would die of heart attacks. In the 1970s, Tacoma, Washington led the way in training ordinary U.S. citizens to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Countless lives have been saved as a result of widespread knowledge of CPR. Because nearly one in five Americans are trained to see the signs of cardiac arrest, resuscitate the victim and call in trained professionals to take over care, everyone around them is safer. Same goes for basic first aid and the Heimlich maneuver. But when it comes to mental health care, we don’t have the same attitude. Too many people feel unprepared to step into someone else’s psychotic breakdown or depression or incapable of administering life-saving measures that don’t involve chest compressions. And even if they’re willing, they may worry they won’t have the right words. But just like in a heart attack, providing aid doesn’t mean solving the problem. It means administering the necessary help until the victim can get complete treatment from a professional. That’s the idea behind QPR (question, persuade and refer) training, which some county health departments around Oregon have been offering. If more people take on the role of “gatekeepers,” trained to recognize and respond to those suffering a mental health crisis or having suicidal thoughts, we will create a network of support that will decrease the number of suicides. It’s a three-step process of questioning, persuading and referring. The first step is to be frank and direct, especially about suicide. One Oregon prevention education specialist recently explained that you can’t plant the idea of suicide in someone’s mind by talking about it. Either they are or they aren’t considering it, and by bringing it to the open you are bringing it out from the dark. The signs might not be obvious, but if someone exhibits sudden shifts in demeanor or mood, talks about what life would be like if they were gone or shows an interest in getting rid of personal belongings, it’s a good time to broach the subject. The next step is to persuade — to explain that help is available and that their life is important to you and others. It’s important to speak in positive terms, and not demean the person for considering suicide. The last step is refer — knowing where to get the person the help they need. See the “suicide prevention resources” sidebar on the previous page for some numbers to call for immediate help. For more information on suicide prevention, call Community Counseling Solutions in John Day at 541- 575-1466. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800- 273-TALK. Routine QPR training would be an excellent idea in every corner of Oregon. 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. • Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@cityoflong- creek.com. • Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument 97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025. Email: cityofmonument@centurytel.net. • Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax: Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY 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. Kate 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). • Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313. • Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900 Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-1730. Website: www.oregonlegis- lature.gov/Bentz. Email: Sen.CliffBentz@ oregonlegislature.gov. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Liberal reaction absurd and shallow To the Editor: Two weeks ago, 10 students walked out of Grant Union in re- membrance of school gun-violence victims. Local liberals immedi- ately took to social media to pro- claim these students as courageous. There’s nothing exemplary about student action that’s the equivalent of attending a field trip. The event was encouraged, planned and scripted. Students and parents had advance notice of the insignificant “punishment” they would face for participating. Involvement under those circum- stances indicates little more than those students are typical teenagers trying to figure out their own voices — and good for them. In contrast, the previous week, two students stood for their own personal beliefs in protesting a teacher who refuses to stand for the Pledge of Al- legiance, who consistently interjects personal opinion into her lectures and who has created a hostile learning en- vironment for children who are also exploring their own identities (con- servative, in this case). Those students requested a meet- ing on their own time and with sub- stantial risk to themselves, to discuss their concerns with that teacher and the principal. Their rational and re- spectful behavior was met with de- rision and irrelevant emotion. While the students were commanded to re- main quiet, the teacher immediately called these children “self absorbed self righteous little (expletive delet- ed)” on Facebook and repeated phys- ical threats made by other students towards the two boys. Local liberals rose to her defense and applauded her actions until the post was removed. Liberal reaction to both events demonstrates the absurdity and shal- lowness that pervades the current “progressive” movement — which is anything but the tolerant and inclu- sive crusade it claims. Instead, it has become about forcing social “reform” using its current political and institu- tional strength to punish anyone who doesn’t conform. It’s become about changing our community no matter how arbitrarily, destructively or irre- versibly. I refuse to celebrate mediocrity. Instead, I cheer the two young men that stood up for their deeply held, personal convictions in the face of adversity and fear of retaliation. I’m very proud to call both of them my heroes. Thank you for typifying the character and integrity that so many adults in this community cannot seem to find. Shaun W. Robertson John Day Compassion, respect needed today To the Editor: We applaud and are proud of the students at Grant Union High School who participated in the walkout on March 14. Students stood for one minute of silence in remembrance of each human being gunned down at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The compassion and re- spect you demonstrated will remain with you always — and is much needed in today’s world. Sandy and Mark Murray Prairie City ‘We must do better!’ To the Editor: We must do better! Michael Byrne, running against Greg Walden in Oregon’s Second District, comes with strong popu- list and working man values: $15 minimum wage, affordable housing now, stop predatory lending practic- es, credit agencies reform, thought- ful wise use of federal lands that belong to all of us, stop the wasting trillions of dollars on war, instead, rebuild this country’s infrastruc- ture. Our children deserve every re- source available to grow and thrive. The military industrial complex isn’t conspiracy theory. It is a fact, and along with that, net neutrality was repealed with serious help from Greg Walden! A real, sensible approach will address causes of illegal immigra- tion rather than the side effects, beginning with responsible trade policy that protects workers and the environment and increases the stan- dard of living on both sides of the border. Corporate America is making their profits off the backs of hard working families. It’s time they pay their fair share. Real tax reform is needed because most politicians are bought and paid for by corporate interests. But what about the work- ing families who can’t afford to buy politicians? Michael supports Bernie Sand- ers’ College for All Act, eliminating tuition and fees at public colleges and universities — and paid for by Wall Street speculation taxes. Michael believes Wall Street taxes should cover the whole cost, rather than just 67 percent of it. With the decline in manufactur- ing jobs came a decline in union jobs and real wages. The unioniza- tion of America’s workforce should be a national mandate. The future is in renewable en- ergy, and we are blessed with wind and solar galore here in Oregon. The design, installation and main- tenance of solar arrays and wind turbines are the family wage jobs of the future! The Clean Energy Jobs Bill in 2019 would help retrain workers for these jobs. By supporting Michael Byrne now, you help turn the tide from the destruction being wrought in D.C. Every dollar helps. Get in- volved, and make all of our lives better by voting these priorities into office! Robin Bloomgarden Medford County relies on EMS services To the Editor: As a former John Day resident, Mt. Vernon resident, Grant Coun- ty resident and former firefighter, I would like to put in that the res- idents need updated equipment and a building for the citizens of Grant County. They need the EMS ser- vices and continuing education for the EMTs and firefighters that Grant County relies on, so please listen to the citizens. Wayne Sypert Sandy Farm-friendly, pro-biofuels work positive To the Editor: The debate surrounding the Re- newable Fuel Standard (RFS) has intensified and become much more complex recently. The efforts of a handful of oil refineries to portray the RFS as an unfair law to their bottom lines has attracted political opportunists like Sen. Ted Cruz to fight on their side. In times like these, when the opposition ramps up considerably, we must reflect on how lucky we are to have great biofuel champions in industry, Con- gress and the White House and en- courage them to keep up the fight. An East Coast oil refiner’s downfall was the perfect opportuni- ty for oil lobbyists and Sen. Cruz to exploit. Sen. Cruz has campaigned for months to reform the RIN sys- tem and has held the confirmation of Bill Northey to his U.S. De- partment of Agriculture position hostage until he got what he want- ed. He argued on behalf of the oil industry, who only want to see the RFS weakened and their control of the pump strengthened. If their plans ever came to fruition, it would come at the cost of farmers already seeing declining incomes and hard-working employees at over 200 biorefineries across the country. Thankfully, Sens. Chuck Grass- ley and Joni Ernst have been there every step of the way to combat these attacks. At a biofuels meeting in the White House last week, they represented farmers and biorefinery workers everywhere in defending the RFS and seeing that Northey was finally confirmed to his USDA position, where he’ll join the Iowan senators’ fight to promote American biofuels. With more biofuel meetings with President Trump on the horizon, it’s now more critical than ever that our leaders in congress know that this is exactly the kind of farm-friend- ly, pro-biofuels work we wished of them when we cast our vote for President Trump. Kraig Hoene Lebanon 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 I NTERIM P UBLISHER .............K ATHRYN B. B ROWN , KBBROWN @ EOMEDIAGROUP . COM E DITOR & G ENERAL M ANAGER ... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM R EPORTER ............................... R ICHARD H ANNERS , RICK @ 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 . 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