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The INDEPENDENT, December 19, 2001
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Economy and weather
make needs even greater
As the 2001 campaign for United Way of Columbia
County winds down, the need for donations has great
ly increased. But, in the spirit of the season, United
Way has borrowed for Clement Moore and we are
pleased to present the opinion in this fashion.
‘Twas the last day of Campaigning,
And all through the town,
Partner agencies were worried, the pledges were
down.
Many had given but not enough yet,
Our community’s needs would still go unmet.
The children who hurt, the homeless and poor,
The widow and seniors, and so many more.
They all need our help, what will we do?
We are their hope, the ones they turn to.
But then what to our wondering eyes should
appear—
A generous donor about to bring cheer.
He wrote out a check on this crucial last day
Made payable to The United Way.
Excited to know his gift meant so much,
The many hearts his donation would touch.
And I heard him exclaim, as the agencies cheered
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good year!”
You may make a pledge and request quarterly billing
or send a lump sum payment now. Whichever you
choose, you are choosing to care!
For more information, call United Way of Columbia
County, 1-503-556-3014
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a New Year filled with
good health and good fien d s.
Letters to the Editor
AG is right to fight
Oregon suicide law
To the Editor:
RE: With friends like this,
who needs enemies?
I was disappointed in your
editorial of Dec. 5 regarding AG
John Ashcroft and his policies
concerning the state of Oregon.
First of all, there was no men
tion of the news it alluded to,
except for an oblique mention
of Doctors and Oregon law.
You must have assumed that
your readers had an alternate
source for Oregon news. I had
to go online and spend a while
there to find out what he did to
the state of Oregon that out
raged you so. So now I know
that it had to do (most likely)
with the assisted-suicide laws
of your state.
Any controversial ground
breaking law in any state will
probably have to pass the test
of the Supreme Court of the
land. That a personal attack on
the person bringing this to
fruition smacks only of parti
sanship. I would bring your at
tention to the previous AG, Ms.
Reno and her record. Federal
agents murdered people on
Ruby Ridge, ID and in Waco,
TX. The then AG brought none
of these agents to justice.
Where were your protestations
then? Surely this is more
heinous than the current situa
tion in Oregon. You are afraid
of Ashcroft and, on the other
side of the aisle, conservatives
are afraid of a Reno. We are all
losers, though, when any one
of us takes sides and does not
speak up when it is our guy (or
gal) abusing their job. It makes
no difference who is in power in
DC, Republican or Democrat,
these people have one thing in
mind and that is absolute pow
er over the 50 states, including
any of their various laws.
Do I disagree with the Ore
gon law? You bet I do.
Progress in this direction will
yield similar results as to what
is going on at the abortion end.
Old timers, be afraid.
Do I think the AG should
have to consult some groups
unspecified by your lambaste?
Not really, he is hired only to
prosecute the law. If the law
does not work for us, then it
may need to be changed. But,
if we always skirt the law just
because we do not like it, then
we no longer have rule of law. If
this happens, be afraid.
....................................................
Do I think the AG is subject
to the laws he prosecutes? Ab
solutely. Show me the malfea
sance and I will be there at your
side. If it is just partisanship
that you are talking about, no
thank you, leave me out.
When discussing personal
politics in regard to Ronnie
White, politics is power, and it
is used to the utmost on either
side of the aisle. We could drag
up all kinds of examples every
where. They are not illegal and
if they agree with your politics,
you would ignore them, but if
not, you might be quick to
dredge them up. Over half of
the words in your opinion had
to do with this topic.
Overall, I would say that
your opinion is really just parti
sanship. If you have evidence
of malfeasance, please bring it
on.
D. L. Andersen
Plain, Wash.
Angry with teacher’s
judgement
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to
the article written by Carol
Sawyer the “Temporarily Ad-
Please see page 3