The INDEPENDENT, August 2, 2007
Page 3
Letters
Justice and mercy are
community needs
To the Editor:
I will ask for forgiveness if I
offend anyone here. Our little
town seems to be at a near
fever pitch. I am pleading with
everyone, on both sides of the
issue with our schools to
please take a breath.
Some of you know how I
feel, others do not; that is not
the point of this letter. I was
very concerned today as I
watch the events unfold down-
town this evening. Not because
a group of people believe that
drugs are bad and what Mr.
Miller did was wrong.
What I witnessed were many
people who were smiling at one
another, enjoying fellowship,
now looking at those same
people with different eyes. It is
normal that we will not agree on
some issues and as important
as this is, please do not allow it
to cause division with one an-
other and within the community.
We have a right to be angry, we
have a right to voice and ex-
press our opinions; that is a
good thing…
Let us be careful when we
speak, that we are speaking
the truth and not what we heard
someone else say. I have
heard comments from people
who feel passionate about this
for and against, who have
clearly not done their home-
work on the facts. I hope we
have the capacity to love and
care for the family even if peo-
ple feel the position should be
the cost of the action.
I do not always like or agree
with the decisions of those who
have authority over me. But I
have found that many times, if I
would have allowed the
process to run its due course, I
do not have to wait so long to
discover if it was indeed the
right course of action to take. If
it is not, I can revisit the issue.
I have not caused division with
friends, community and family, I
do not even have to argue my
case, it will be clear on its own.
I am not saying people
should do nothing, please be
kind to one another. We are
dealing with relationships and
community. I know this letter
does not apply to everyone. I
even feel myself get caught up
in it at times. I need to be care-
ful not to allow emotions alone
to dictate my response during
times I feel strongly about
something.
I will chose to believe that
both justice and mercy can be
in the same place here. To see
what might be…even when we
may not agree, we can still be
friends, looked upon as some-
one in the community that has
value. Keep looking out for
people’s best interest, not so
much our own. Strange as it
sounds…it works.
If you are a person of faith,
and believe in prayer, let us be
people who exercise a little
faith and pray for our communi-
ty to come through this stronger
still.
Mark Brown
Vernonia
Trickle down fascism
is active in Vernonia
To the Editor:
I have observed the not too
subtle fascist leanings of our
Great Illustrious Leaders in the
White House with some con-
cern. The arrogant high-hand-
ed attitudes seem to be trickling
down to lesser governments.
Is all the manure dishonesty
or just indifference or incompe-
tence? Whichever it is, it does-
n’t seem proper.
How’s this – they can baffle
you with their B.S., dazzle you
with their foot work, expect you
to accept things “on faith”, or
when these things fail they fool-
ishly attempt to stifle the media.
Historically, repressive (and/
or) dishonest governments or
agencies choose to suppress
all but the sugar-coated news
of their activities. I’m curious as
to who in the heck gave some
clerk the power to determine
what newspaper to ban from
City Hall? Totally Fascist.
I would like to hear the guilty
parties try to justify this act with
a straight face.
I was told at a local large
business that they do not carry
The Independent . They have
this right. I have the right to not
do business with them any-
more. As I do not support re-
pression – I would hope that
like-minded people will respond
in kind.
In my youth, the world was
assailed by fascist attitudes
and action, fortunately, this tide
of scum was stopped at least
for the time being. Still, when I
smell the rot of totalitarian atti-
tudes, I become concerned.
Sadly, I cannot comfortably
withhold my tax money from
supporting the city, as I can
with private businesses, but
since my funds are in small part
supporting this apparent deba-
cle, I say, “Both papers or no
papers.” You may find your-
selves in hot water (well de-
served) if you continue to stock
the Voice and not The Indepen-
dent .
One question – is anyone in
city pay involved in the Voice ?
People should reference the
past (ie., Elroy Miner). The city
chose to chisel instead of doing
what was right and it cost the
taxpayers a bundle.
R.D. Stevens
Vernonia
Ed. note: Elroy Miner, referenced
above, had a debilitating heart at-
tack while working as a volunteer
firefighter. He had not been cov-
ered under the City insurance, as
required, so he successfully sued
and received disability checks from
the city for approximately 30 years.
Miller is a casualty in
U.S. war on drugs
To the Editor:
Upholding principals.
As I have read little in print in
support of Aaron Miller I would
like to offer an opinion from the
antipodes of mainstream me-
dia. I submit that principal Miller
is an excellent role model.
When confronted by law en-
forcement who “thought” they
smelled marijuana Mr. Miller
could just as easily have de-
nied the accusation. However,
aware of the consequence, he
chose honesty and confirmed
the officer’s suspicion; while
most of us, if we are honest
with ourselves, would try to talk
our way out of something as
simple as a speeding ticket. I
applaud Mr. Miller’s integrity.
On July 17, 2007, The Ore-
gonian asked: “How can a dis-
trict that has quite literally,
made a federal case about the
use of illegal drugs by students
ignore the same offense by an
adult who is charged with su-
pervising them?” The answer is
simple and lies within the ques-
tion, Aaron Miller is an adult.
Such philosophies as the “dou-
ble standard” are typically the
last bastion of those with no sub-
stantial argument. Using such
logic it would be fair to say that
if Mr. Miller was seen drinking a
glass of wine with dinner at a
local restaurant his students
should be afforded the same
freedoms. Sounds crazy when
put into context, doesn’t it?
While I do not advocate the
use of drugs amongst minors I
am concerned with the consti-
tutionality of testing students
for illegal substances. The con-
stitution is not concerned with
age but humanity. Students in
the Vernonia school district
must prove that they have not
committed a crime before they
can participate in sporting
events. What happened to in-
nocent until proven guilty? I
have read quotes from media,
school officials and law en-
forcement regarding this issue
and find it interesting that the
most intelligent statement was
made by a fifteen year old stu-
dent: “It’s just pot.” I believe it is
time to move past legal and ille-
gal and begin to recognize sen-
sible versus ridiculous, for as
the reader should now clearly
see, the only casualty in the lat-
est battle of the war on drugs is
principal Aaron Miller.
Until now I have offered
opinion: I wish to close with
fact: Aaron Miller was not on
school property when the al-
leged crime occurred nor was
he being paid at the time. Mr.
Miller was not supervising any
of his students, was not
presently responsible for their
well being or in any other way
influencing their behavior; he
was relaxing alone and minding
his own business. I suggest the
rest of us do the same.
Norwood Chapman
Portland
Policy on Letters
Doesn’t believe in a
single “incident”
The INDEPENDENT will not publish letters that include personal
attacks on private citizens. Because of space limitations, prefer-
ence will be given to brief letters, 300 words or less.
All letters must be signed and include a verifiable address or phone
number, and all letters are subject to editing for clarity or length.
To the Editor:
I am appalled at the position
the principle and the school
board of Vernonia took regard-
ing Mr. Miller and his drug prob-
lem. Mr. Cox only referred to
this situation as an incident. I
have worked with people that
have used drugs, and after in-
vestigation they were involved
in more than just an “incident.”
There was a pattern of using
drugs for a long period of time,
they just never got caught and
people would cover up for
them.
With the strict position the
Vernonia School District took
with drugs in 1995, I believe it is
now time for all school person-
nel at Vernonia including the
Principle,
Superintendents,
teachers and all workers be
tested, for drug use on a ran-
dom basis.
Upon reading the present
creed of the Vernonia School
District 47J, the last point which
reads, “We believe in building a
collaborative relationship with
our community based on re-
spect, trust, honesty and open
communication.” How can
there be respect, trust and hon-
esty when an “incident” is so
minimized. All of you involved
with the development of the
students are held accountable
to these principles contained in
your creed.
Mr. Miller needs to be dis-
missed from the Vernonia
School district for his actions
and immediately enter a drug
diversion program. These are
the first steps the school board
must take. I wish Mr. Miller no
harm I can only wish and pray
that someday he will be a ben-
efit to our society.
Owen Enevoldsen
Vernonia High School
Graduate, Canby
Teachers direct, only
students can learn
To the Editor:
This is about education, and
it is less personal than it may at
first seem. Bear with me.
It has come to my attention
that I am considered by some
who have attended my classes
to be overly harsh, perhaps
even cruel.
The one thing I never want-
ed to be was a teacher, al-
though – or perhaps because –
I descend from several genera-
tions of professors and teach-
ers. Fate has other ideas. In my
early thirties, in India, I first be-
gan to be asked to teach things
I know to others who wanted to
Please see page 22