! I, THE GAZETTE-TIMES. Heppner, OR. Tirdy. July 1. lilt
CommunicotionsAAtmn
.uiiitmnn( Cornrnents
Heppner vandalism
Many persons are reporting vandalism and theft in this
community. Possessions are stolen from porches and lawns.
Shrubbery was taken from the landscaping in front of the
new medical clinic building. The county fair buildings and
several church buildings have been damaged. The effort to
perpetuate a little, pioneer, one-room school house as an
annex to the County Museum has been set back several times
by vandals.
Early in the history of the school house project in fact as
soon as the building was moved into the city part in we
spring of 1975 persons seemed to be challenged to rob it, to
deface it, to mistreat it. Windows were broken; loose
' furnishings were hauled away ; the blackboards were ruined.
After the installation of the locking front door and new
windows, the vandalism continued. The door was torn open
recently and the building entered again. This last weekend
persons picked the putty out of the newly installed window
edges. It is hoped that the good citizens of the community will
be watchful and protective of this pioneer, educational
shrine.
Some children have asked, "What is that old wreck of a
vacant house doing in the park?" Seems that their parents
haven't explained that it is a special exhibit, a genuine
pioneer school. It was set back in the park so that it does not
take up too much of the picnic area or playing lawn and it
seems that its location has been a collecting spot for
hoodlums, for people without pride in this community's fine
pioneer heritage or in its outstanding, prolonged, educational
development.
The total completion and furnishing of this educational
shrine will move slowly. Persons who believe in it and who
want to contribute furnishings, are now rather fearful that
their gifts will be stolen or wrecked before the community
sees their historic value and appreciates their worth.
Why should such destruction go on in Heppner?
JUSTINE WEATHERFORD
Head Librarian,
Heppner Public Library
Davidson letter rebuttal
EDITOR:
I am writing in reference to the letter from Greg Davidson
that appeared in the Gazette Times last week. Maybe Greg
should pick up his Gazette and read about concerned citizens
who contribute to their community instead of only taking
from it.
I believe that the present staff of the Gazette is trying to
publish a straightforward, informative paper. At least no
individual or group is ever intentionally hurt, as were many
In the 1974 "Mustang" edited by Mr. Davidson.
SHANNON KELLY
Swim parents thankful
EDITOR:
As President of the Heppner Swim Team Parents, I wish to
thank you for the excellent article in last week's Gazette
concerning our Swimming Team and the coach, Doug Sams.
We appreciate the information on our swimming program
and the excellent quality of Instruction available.
The parents thank you for ytmr Interest and lurport-
DAN JAMES. Pres.
Heppner Swim Parents
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HEPFMEO
GAZETTE-TIMES
Editorial & Viewpoint
Fascinating and disgusting
It's funny what the bicentennial will do to
some people.
I guess it just drives some of them crazy.
Last Wednesday, vandals apparently
shinnied up the flag pole and stole the United
States flag from the rodeo grounds.
The Heppner Lions put plenty of time,
money and effort into the flag pole and 24 hour
lights that let it wave proudly all hours of the
day.
The flag wasn't just any flag, either. It had
waved over the capitol in Washington, D.C.
and only through diligent correspondence
with Al Ullman, did Heppner gain the asset.
Now, un-bicentennially, un-proudly and
absolutely un-Americanly, that flag is gone.
The Lions only hope the person or persons
that took that flag will have the same amount
of nerve and bring it back. No questions will
be asked . . . just put the flag back where it
belongs, waving proudly.
Maybe you haven't noticed. Maybe there's
more trash on the streets. Somebody took two
of the painted trash cans.
Now what can you do with a bicentennial
trash can?
Fascinating and disgusting.
W.C.P.
CITIZEN'S SALUTE
TO HIS COUNTRY
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The great body of Americans will be engulfed
this year by the combined reverberations of the
Bicentennial celebrations and the clamor of the
forthcoming local, state and national elections.
The United States of America survived a frail
infancy and grew to become the bulwark of the
Free World and in this 200th birthday year it is
fitting that its people should examine and reflect
upon the basic causes of their nation's stability
and leadership.
What are our characteristics as a nation? Have
we accomplished all that we might in our span of
two centuries? What do we look for in our elected
officials? These are profound, complex inquiries
and each might present a doren unseen.
Perhaps the most appropriate period for reflec
tion upon America's attributes will fall in the 21
days between Flag Day, June 1 4, and Independence
Day. This period was selected for an effort to
deepen the familiarity of all citiicns with the
nation's cultural heritage, constitutional form of
government and history and to commemorate the
anniversary of American Independence.
Congress bestowed official sanction upon the
Honor America concept by passing a joint resolu
tion of approval on June 9, 1975. and the measure
was signed into law by President Ford four days
later.
An interesting historical parallel occurs here.
Since 1875 our country's presidential salute has
called for the discharge of 21 guns. The American
custom was adopted from the British, not only by
the United States but by many other nations as
the highest national honor, so that the 21 -gun
salute is now a widespread international practice.
So arises a unique opportunity for every
American personally to dedicate the interval
between Flag Day and Independence Day as a
21-day salute to flag and country. The grand
climax of the Bicentennial celebration will fall on
a Sabbath weekend. July 4th is on Sunday.
Every citizen who is concerned about the
integrity and ethical purposes of the country
should slip into his chosen church or temple to
seek spiritual guidance so that he or she may
shoulder a share of the burden in keeping the
nation viable and progressive. The United States
can't maintain its world leadership through guns
and dollars alone. It must display moral fibre.
Those religious edifices will be ready, as they
always are. to illumine the way, to bouy the
fainthearted, to identify paths to our goals. It's up
to you, as a thoughtful, concerned citizen to apply
your spiritual and intellectual resources to Honor
America in this manner.
Start arranging now today to make atten
dance at sacred exercises an essential part of
your Fourth of July holiday prtgram. Focus atten
tion on the speakers in the pulpit who will read
the Scriptures and enunciate the truths which
weathered the test of time for centuries before
1776. America needs your presence.
Perhaps out of this contemplation the finer
shadings of the Bicentennial story will emerge
and will show clearly how and why the United
States became the bulwark of the Free world.
And for similar reasons the strengths, capacities
and motivations of our political candidates may
be more distinctly outlined.
By JACK ZIMMERMAN
Humility may be the most Important trait for any holder of
elective office.
This conclusion follows an early summer lull between
Primary and General Elections, spent pondering goals of
candidates and their ultimate assumptions.
The common goal, of course, Is to win an election. That
means receiving the greatest number of votes and being
seated In public office.
Achievement of that goal Is assumed a mandate an order
bv constituents. Newly seated officeholders often declare
they serve at the will of the people.
"The people have spoken and I am here to do their
bidding." '
A natural reactlon-partlcularly during the flush of
victory. But it's likely the least accurate and most
hypocritical of any In our democratic process.
People in this case means the publicall the people.
Seldom, if ever, have all the people sanctioned any
officeholder via the ballot box. All the people aren't even
eligible to register to vote. Among the eliglbles, many don't
bother. And among the qualified registered, mere are any
number of reasons for self-disenfranchisement on election
day by avoiding the polls.
Who really puts a candidate into office?
What motivates their choice?
How many even know for whom they're voting?
What is the significance of this analysis?
Anyone with all the answers would be capable of almost
unlimited power In our society. Some answers are available.
The fact others elude the most erudite perhaps lends strength
to the system.
When you get right down to it, relatively few people put
candidates into office. It's been said nationally about 60 of
every 100 persons of voting age go to the polls. Half of those
voting cast ballots for winning candidates, 18 vote for
runners-up and 12 scatter their votes among others.
In actuality, the so-called mandate Is even less significant.
During the last General Election In Oregon the state boasted
a population of 2,206.000. More than half-some 1.558,033
were of voting age. But only 75 per cent satisfying ine age
requirement were registered. And no candidate received all
the votes possible.
In that off-year election's mostly hotly contested statewide
race, Gov. Bob Straub received 444.812 votes. State Sen.
Victor Atiyeh got 324,751. Another 1,011 voles were cast for
write-ins.
Simply for the sake of example, Gov. Straub's mandate
came from less than 20 per cent of all the people.
Gubernatorial races doubtless attract a preponderance of
those who vole. And if only one in five of all the people make
that kind of decision, what does that tell us?
When it comes to deciding for whom we'll vote the reasons
are many. Some are motivated by partisan leanings. Others
seek candidates from either parly who appear to embrace a
particular philosophy. Some, we are led to believe, are. I
intluenced by charisma. And strategists usually seek name
familiarity over everything else to catapult a candidate into
office.
A scientific survey of volers emerging from polling placet
during an even earlier Oregon election tested voter
awareness of the candidates for whom they voted only
minutes before.
The candidates involved sought seats in the State
Legislature. Fifty-seven per cent of volers questioned
claimed they remembered names of the legislative
candidates. Forty-three per cent had forgotten or never
knew.
Of those who professed they knew, only 34 per cent actually
passed the lest by naming the proper candidate. Seventeen
per cent knew the name of their particular Democratic
candidate, 16 per cent named their Republican candidate, 10
per cent named some person not running in the race and 14
per cent had forgotten the name already.
None of the figures recited here come as revelations to
candidates or to those deeply involved in the election process.
Most of both are deeply aware and agonize considerably over
the facts before making (he decision to seek office and
throughout campaigns once the decision to run has been
ma Ha
Humility. In light of the facts, every officeholder should
emerge from the election process humbled by conditions
under which the office was obtained.
It needn't destroy one's self-confidence. Indeed, achieving
the goal should be an ego builder. But only a colossal egotist
permits conceit to rule modesty.
About the picture
Mel Boyer's crop dusting
planes are right in tune tcith
bi-ccntennial 76's.
(G'T Photo)
THE
GAZETTE-TIMES
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