A4
OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
OUR VIEW
The
Declaration of
Independence
I
n Congress, July 4, 1776, the unanimous Declaration of the
thirteen united States of America:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes neces-
sary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, and to assume among the powers
of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of
Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes
which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are cre-
ated equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments
are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Govern-
ment becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,
laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its pow-
ers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to eff ect their
Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Gov-
ernments long established should not be changed for light and
transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn,
that mankind are more disposed to suff er, while evils are suff er-
able, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which
they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usur-
pations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to
reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their
duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards
for their future security.--Such has been the patient suff erance of
these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains
them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history
of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated inju-
ries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment
of an absolute Tyranny over these States. …
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of
America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the
Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions,
do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these
Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Col-
onies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States;
that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown,
and that all political connection between them and the State of
Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as
Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War,
conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to
do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of
right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a fi rm reli-
ance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge
to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
FARMER’S FATE
Tip your hat to Father Time
W
hile rain dripped down
our faces and spotted
our clothes, I listened
to the speaker wax eloquent about
something I had tuned out half an
hour before.
We watched people get out
umbrellas then put them away. We
watched people put on rain pon-
chos and minutes later take them
off . It was too hot to leave them
on, and too wet to go without.
There was just enough sun to make
the air feel like a freshly watered
greenhouse — hot and humid. It
was a weekend fi lled with gradua-
tions, parties, barbecues and rain.
It was a solemn weekend —
and not just because of all the hay
we had down getting wet — but
because time had once again sped
past.
When you’re little, it seems to
take years to get from one season
to the next; and when you’re in
junior high, you think you’ll never
make it to high school graduation;
and when you’re pregnant, you
don’t think those nine months are
ever going to end.
But then suddenly time just gets
faster. Days turn into months and
years pass in the blink of an eye. I
never felt I was getting older, but
suddenly I’m looking around and
the people our age seem old!
The students we were here to
watch graduate at times have made
us feel old also — but not in the
way I thought old age would creep
up on on us.
I thought getting old would
mean your bones would creak and
you’d slowly stop doing the activ-
ities you once loved. I imagined
that getting old would mean riding
dirt bikes less, giving up bouncing
with the kids on the trampoline,
wearing high-waisted jeans, and
becoming wise.
But apparently getting old was
sneakier than that.
The fi rst time I
got sucker-punched
with being old
occurred while we
were sitting around
the table one eve-
ning with the fresh-
Brianna
man college stu-
Walker
dents we were
mentoring. There
were photos on the wall of my
husband and I when we were just
dating. One of the students asked
how long we had been together.
“We met in ‘99 and started dat-
ing in 2000,” I answered.
The students sat back in
stunned silence. I raised an eye-
brow questioningly. “What’s
wrong?” I asked.
We were met with a chorus of
“You guys met before we were
born!”
College students. Born after my
husband and I had met. I hadn’t
felt that far removed from my col-
lege years — until that moment.
The next year, those same stu-
dents delivered another blow to
our idea of youth. We were all
playing at the river, surfi ng, kay-
aking and soaking up some sun,
when one of the guys asked if they
could play some music.
They started connecting their
device to the bluetooth speakers,
all the time chattering about the
music they have really been “dig-
ging” lately.
“We’ve been listening to a
lot of classic rock,” another guy
chimed in.
“Oh, cool!” I exclaimed. “I love
classic rock! Who are some of
your favorites?” I began imagining
the Eagles, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Sky-
nyrd, CCR or the Beatles.
“It’s some reeealllly old stuff ,”
one guy remarked, “going back
almost to the 2000s!”
That’s when Britney Spears
started to play from the speak-
ers, and “old” sucker-punched us
again. College kids who were born
after I met my husband, and listen-
ing to “classic” Britney Spears.
Just think what they would say
if they knew I was born before
the internet. Or graduated without
Wikipedia or Google.
Now those same students are
graduating college. It seems like
yesterday we were sitting around
that table learning that we were
“old,” and now suddenly we’re
four years older. I’m looking at my
own kids, all dressed up for the
graduation ceremony and napping
discreetly under their fedoras, and
I feel that at the speed the world’s
spinning, it won’t be long before
it’ll be their college graduations —
and we’ll be even more surprised
by how young their “classic rock”
artists will be.
My grandmother used to tell
me she was often startled by the
old woman who looked back at
her from the mirror as she hardly
felt older than 18. Every once in
a while, I too am surprised by
my reflection — but what most
astonishes me is how much the
world keeps changing while I
remain 29.
Finally, the last student
received their diploma, and the
boys tipped their fedoras to shake
the rainwater out. They looked so
dapper in their suits and hats, my
youngest in black and white sad-
dle shoes (of his choosing), and
I realized what it was that scares
me most about being middle-aged:
knowing that we’ll eventually
grow out of it! But until then, I’ll
keep pretending that I am young,
and that Britney Spears is clas-
sic rock — because b-b-baby, you
ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
Brianna Walker is a Grant
County resident who occasionally
writes about the Farmer’s Fate for
the Blue Mountain Eagle.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Green’s new role
lacks accountability
WHERE 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@centurylink.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@cityofl ongcreek.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: 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.
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
Published every
Wednesday by
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: governor.state.or.us/
governor.html.
• Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem,
97310. Phone: 503-986-1180. Website: 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,
oregonlegislature.gov.
• Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale — 900 Court St.
NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-
1730. Website: oregonlegislature.gov/fi ndley.
Email: sen.lynnfi ndley@oregonlegislature.
gov.
• Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane — 900 Court St.
NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-1460.
District address: 258 S. Oregon St., Ontario OR
97914. District phone: 541-889-8866. Website:
oregonlegislature.gov/fi ndley. Email: rep.
markowens@oregonlegislature.gov.
To the Editor:
Reasons Nick Green may not have
given for resigning as city manager:
1: Nick is compensated more
by fulfi lling the city manager role
as a “consultant,” a role he has offi -
cially resigned from and for which a
replacement has been hired (Corum
Ketchum).
2: Nick is no longer an employee
for the city. He is a business owner; a
free agent; and can off er his consul-
tancy and grant-writing services to cli-
ents anywhere.
What does “consultant” status
really do for Nick as it relates to “con-
sultancy” he performs for John Day?
3: Being a “consultant” frees Nick
from the transparency and account-
ability of being an employee. Good
luck shining a light on Nick’s activi-
ties after he has stepped into his new
“consultant” role. Have fun calling the
mayor and council forward to give an
educated accounting of Nick’s proj-
ects. They don’t know now ... and they
won’t know then.
4: Nick’s new “consultant” posi-
tion might be sold as an opportunity to
mentor the new city manager, Corum
Ketchum, but what is Corum really, an
apprentice or a minion? Or is he both?
Will Nick help Corum develop into his
own man; to stand in his own power
and to cast decisions in the light of his
own understanding and direct experi-
ence? Or will Corum be groomed to
act as Nick’s proxy while masquerad-
ing as the new city manager?
Let’s summarize:
• Nick, as a “consultant,” con-
tinues to get the ongoing cover and
L
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OR 97845; or by fax to 541-575-1244.
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MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
approval from the mayor and coun-
cil for all of his initiatives, projects,
schemes.
• Nick, as a “consultant,” and
through his infl uence, still has a grip
on the levers of directive leadership
(mayor, council and Corum).
• Nick, as a “consultant,” is still
fundamentally fulfi lling the role of city
manager via his minions and proxies.
• Nick, as a “consultant,” ful-
fi lls his former role but with greater
freedom and less transparency and
accountability.
• As for we citizens, our concerns
around Nick’s behavior, a sold-out,
impotent mayor and council and the
unknowns of a new city manager
only deepen. All while our ability to
address and redress our concerns are
stifl ed.
Paul Sweany
John Day
Phone: 541-575-0710
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