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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2015)
OPINION A4 HERMISTONHERALD.COM SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015 EDITORIAL • COMMENTARY • LETTERS HermistonHerald VOLUME 109 ɿ NUMBER 29 -(66,&$.(//(5 EDITOR MNHOOHU#KHUPLVWRQKHUDOGFRP 541-564-4533 6$0%$5%(( 6($1+$57 .,0/$3/$17 JEANNE JEWETT SPORTS REPORTER sbarbee@hermistonherald.com 541-564-4542 OFFICE COORDINATOR NODSODQW#KHUPLVWRQKHUDOGFRP 541-564-4530 REPORTER smhart@hermistonherald.com 541-564-4534 MULTI-MEDIA CONSULTANT jjewett@hermistonherald.com 541-564-4531 To contact the Hermiston Herald for news, advertising or subscription information: • call 541-567-6457 • e-mail info@hermistonherald.com • VWRSE\RXURI¿FHVDW(0DLQ6W • visit us online at: www.hermistonherald.com ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES 'HOLYHUHGE\FDUULHUDQGPDLO:HGQHVGD\VDQG6DWXUGD\V ,QVLGH8PDWLOOD0RUURZFRXQWLHV ......................................................................................... $42.65 2XWVLGH8PDWLOOD0RUURZFRXQWLHV ...................................................................................... $53.90 7KH+HUPLVWRQ+HUDOG8636,661LVSXEOLVKHGWZLFHZHHNO\DW+HUPLVWRQ +HUDOG(0DLQ6W+HUPLVWRQ25)$;3HULRGLFDO SRVWDJHSDLGDW+HUPLVWRQ253RVWPDVWHUVHQGDGGUHVVFKDQJHVWR+HUPLVWRQ+HUDOG (0DLQ6W+HUPLVWRQ25 3ULQWHGRQ recycled $PHPEHURIWKH(20HGLD*URXS&RS\ULJKW newsprint Legal monkey business L egal rights for animals? Not so fast. A few weeks ago, says the New York Post, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Barbara Jaffe “inadvertently bestowed human status on two chimpanzees being used for biomedical research at Stony Brook University on Long Island.” The chimps, Hercules and Leo, were granted habeas corpus — a legal action through which human detainees can seek relief from unlawful imprisonment — in response to a lawsuit ¿OHGRQWKHLUEHKDOIE\WKH Nonhuman Rights Project. The lawsuit requested that Hercules and Leo be moved to a South Florida sanctuary. Justice Jaffe ruled that the university must establish cause for holding the two chimps (to be reviewed at an upcoming hearing). Well, the Nonhuman Rights Project people quickly claimed that the initial ruling “implicitly determined that Hercules and Leo are ‘persons,’ ” which could, potentially, open a big door to granting legal rights to animals. An angry Jaffe said she had no such intention and quickly amended her court order by crossing out the words “Writ of Habeas Corpus” — which means Hercules and Leo do not have any human rights at all. The issue of legal rights for animals has been a source of debate for some time. According to Science Magazine, some legal scholars take issue with the current legal system that treats animals as property and not independent beings. Cases like that of Hercules and Leo are intended to call attention to the matter and eventually grant some legal rights to animals. Other legal scholars argue that apes and chimps and other creatures that are fairly well advanced should have rights similar to those of a human child. According to The Washington Post, legal scholar Stephen Wise, a longtime advocate for legal rights for some animals, said that “Certain species are capable of complex emotions, can communicate using language, and have a sense of self. I don’t see a difference between a chimpanzee and my 4 1/2-year-old son.” Letters Policy 720385&(// &DJOHFROXPQLVW That may be so, but perhaps your son could use a shave? Wise said that chimps, for instance, have complex social interactions. They use tools, count, do sign language (at a 4-year- old human’s level) and demonstrate an idea of the future, while remembering the past. Well, so do members of Congress, but we don’t want to grant more special rights to them. Wise said that when you give a mirror to an orangutan, he uses it to explore parts of his body he can’t see otherwise. This indicates a sense of self, according to Wise. It’s also a sign that orangutans have a lot of free time on their hands. In any event, advocates who want legal rights for animals want to give animals “basic rights of bodily integrity and bodily liberty,” said Wise. If animals have some legal rights, for instance, zoos and carnivals would not be able to detain and use them for entertainment and medical labs would not be allowed to use them for testing. Maybe there is something to be said for that. Perhaps a majority of people will look back in the not-too-distant future and think it barbaric that animals were caged in zoos or paraded around carnival tents for so long. We should treat all of God’s PDJQL¿FHQWFUHDWXUHVZLWK dignity and respect (though, admittedly, I intend to keep eating the tastier ones). Still, it must remain clear that, though humans and some animals may have similarities, our differences DUHVLJQL¿FDQW2QO\KXPDQV have moral capacity, the free will to choose right or wrong. We are, said Mark Twain, “the only animals who blush — or need to.” — ©2015 Tom Purcell. Tom Purcell, author of “Misadventures of a 1970’s Childhood” and “Comical Sense: A Lone Humorist Takes on a World Gone Nutty!”, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist and is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons Inc The Hermiston Herald welcomes original letters for publication on public issues and public policies. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters may be mailed to the Hermiston Herald, 333 E. Main, Hermiston, OR, 97838; or emailed to editor@hermistonherald.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Bond passage will help support county’s economy Editor, We would like to urge voters to support the BMCC bond, found on the current ballot. BMCC has served our region’s students of all ages for over 50 years, providing convenient, affordable and qual- ity educational opportunities and training while continuing to work and live in our area. We believe support of the BMCC bond is important because it will provide new state-of-the-art training in job areas critical to our unique agricultural and manufac- turing needs, as well as enhance existing programs in key areas of nursing, dental and diesel tech. Agriculture and manufacturing are the backbone of our eastern Ore- gon economy. A trained workforce in specific areas is critical to the economic development essential to continue our region’s growth. BMCC is partnering with our re- gion’s agriculture and manufactur- ing communities to address needs for our growing economy. Hermiston will benefit with a new Precision Irrigated Agricul- ture Center. Boardman will re- ceive an Advanced Manufactur- ing Workforce Training and Early Learning Center. Pendleton will have a renovated Agriculture Cen- ter to support livestock, soil and horticulture agriculture curricu- lum. In addition, the school can be a better steward of taxpayer mon- ey by cutting operational costs of its facilities by replacing aging and inefficient heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems at all BMCC locations. BMCC has listened to com- munity members and responded to concerns by offering a leaner, more targeted budget. This new bond will come onto the tax rolls at a rate less than the bond that ex- pired in 2014. Support of the BMCC bond is an investment in the future. ANN AND DEAN FIALKA HERMISTON BMCC bond a worthwhile investment Editor, For more than half a century Blue Mountain Community Col- lege, BMCC, has educated thou- sands of students, many of whom live and work in Umatilla and Morrow counties. Family busi- nesses have been established, job training has expanded opportuni- ties and lives have been enriched with specific coursework. Theater, music, the Arts and Culture Festi- val and numerous other activities have brought depth to rural life. Beginning in 2014, President Cam Preus, board members and staff held 12 “active listening” sessions throughout both coun- ties. They heard the constructive criticism and the priorities of our citizens. The bond proposal re- flects this wealth of community input. The highest priorities were workforce development, safety, protection and updating of exist- ing infrastructure and equipment. Partnerships have been estab- lished in Hermiston utilizing ex- isting OSU facilities for precision agriculture and critical workforce training at the Port of Morrow in Boardman. BMCC is collaborating with the Energy Trust of Oregon and could see an annual savings of around $100,000 in utility costs with upgrades to heating, cooling and electrical systems. Over 50 years ago, the citizens of Umatilla and Morrow counties made a wise decision to establish Blue Mountain Community College. Please join us in the continuing support of this worthwhile investment in the education, training and well-being of both counties. State and lottery funds will pro- vide $4 million as a match to fur- ther leverage the bond. The college shaved $5 million from the origi- nal bond and reduced the cost to 25 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. The medium home value in Umatilla County is $145,000 for an estimated bond cost of $36.25 per year. Over 50 years ago, the citizens of Umatilla and Morrow counties made a wise decision to establish Blue Mountain Community Col- lege. Please join us in the continu- ing support of this worthwhile in- vestment in the education, training and well-being of both counties. BMCC levy not affordable Editor, Yes, BMCC is a major asset to our community of northeast Or- egon. As I have told the BMCC president and BMCC board chair, our family has much to appreciate about BMCC. However, for this letter, we will only discuss the “af- fordability” of this levy. Many of the taxpayers cannot afford this loan that the voters are being asked to take out for their local college. At this point in Ore- gon history, “Taxes are a big deal.” The property tax on a $120,000 valued local residence per year, in 2002, was about $1,500. In 2008, it was about $1,900. In 2011, it was about $2,100. In 2014, it was about $2,250. With the federal increase in fees, fines, co-pays, taxes and Or- egon’s new upcoming taxes and fees, what will 2015’s property tax be competing with? We do not have a choice on these levies. We do have a choice on the BMCC levy/loan. By the way, what do you think “the carbon tax” will cost us directly and indirectly (in the cost of living)? Recently, “The East Orego- nian” newspaper published an article concerning “The United Way.” It reported that the United Way no longer generates enough volunteer donations from individ- uals and businesses to contribute to several nonprofit organizations in Pendleton. Nor do they gener- ate enough income to fund other nonprofit organizations at the lev- el they are used to getting from The United Way. One of those un- funded organizations will be the Pendleton Salvation Army Meals Program. What about the lower end of the economic food chain? For those who recycle metal, they have noticed, over the last year, that a pick-up truck load of metal scrap gets, on the average, less than one half what it did a year ago. Yes, the BMCC levy support- ers paint a “rosy” picture of why we should take out another loan for BMCC. Well, right now, eco- nomically speaking, all is not “rosy.” LARRY AND JEAN NYE ATHENA Recycle day very helpful Editor, I would like to thank the City of Hermiston for its recycle day at UEC last Saturday. I took advan- tage of the free service with near empty cans of paint. Thank you, and I hope it was a success so that it can become an annual thing. PAUL AND MARY DAVIS PIUS HORNING PENDLETON HERMISTON ELECTED OFFICIALS STATE District 29: Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Umatilla Co., 900 Court St. N.E., S-423, Salem, OR 97301, 503-986- 1729. 101 S.W. Third St., Pendleton, OR 97801 (541) 278-1396. E-mail: ssen.billhansell@state.or.us. District 30: Sen. Ted Ferrio- li, R-John Day; 900 Court St. N.E., S-223 Salem, OR 97301, 503-986- 1950. 750 W. Main, John Day, OR 97845, (541) 575-2321. E-mail: ferr- ioli.sen@state.or.us. District 58: Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Pendleton; 900 Court St. N.E., H-480, Salem, OR 97301, 503-986- 1458. E-mail: rep.gregbarrento@ state.or.us. Website: http://www.ore- gonlegislature.gov/barreto District 57: Rep. Greg Smith, R-Morrow, 900 Court St. N.E., H-280, Salem, OR 97301, 503-986- 1457. P.O. Box 215, Heppner, OR 97836, (541) 676-5154. E-mail: smith.g.rep@state.or.us. FEDERAL U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden Sac Annex Building, 105 Fir St., No. 201, La Grande, OR 97850; (541) 962-7691. E-mail: kath- leen_cathey@wyden.senate.gov; (Kathleen Cathey, community repre- sentative); 717 Hart Building, Wash- ington, D.C. 20510, (202) 224-5244. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley One World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon Street, Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; (503) 326-3386; Dirksen 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ 6'%% Washington, D.C. 20510. (202) 224- 3753. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (2nd District) 843 E. Main St., Suite 400, Med- ford, OR 97504, (541) 776-4646, (800) 533-3303; 2352 Rayburn +RXVH2I¿FH%XLOGLQJ:DVKLQJWRQ D.C. 20515, (202) 225-6730