Established
in 1937
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Letters to the Editor
(Editor's Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)
* * *
Typed, double-spaced letters written solely to this newspaper
are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are
double-spaced and legible also can be considered. Only one letter per contributor per month will be published
Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.
* * *Consequences of family violence, ignorance
From Beth Williams, board member, I.V. Safe House Alliance
Cave JunctionThe following was written in a letter to her mother by the daughter of the victim of a fatal domestic violence encounter. She had just sold her mom’s home.
The victim was a successful businesswoman, well educated, and a practicing Catholic age 72:
“Dear Mom, I’m glad the buyers of your home won’t know about the times I came late in the evening when the pitched battles between you and X resulted in the arrival of the police.
“Again, I believed X, and tried to convince you of the logic of his arguments. He was always calm when I arrived. You were nearly hysterical.
“I cannot tell you how much I have learned; how guilty I feel; how desperately I wish I could have seen and understood what I know now.
“He told me many times that he knew how to ‘push your buttons.’ His delivery was so calm I couldn’t fathom that his simply ‘pushing’ could affect you so. I know now that he ‘set you up.’
“I know now that he could scream and argue and get you to retaliate. Then the police would be called, and when they arrived, you appeared to be the only one agitated. To calm you down, they would contact me, and I would come, and we would talk until the early morning.
“You tried to tell me, but I kept trying to change you into what I understood X wanted in order to ‘help you see how to save the marriage.’
“It is no consolation that he manipulated me too. I feel responsible for allowing it; for not seeing through it.
“Mostly, more than anything, I wish I had believed you.”
There are steps to end domestic violence: Know what it is. Listen, really listen, if someone discloses abuse to you. Develop a safety plan, and if in danger, phone 911.
Be patient, as leaving is a dangerous time. Exercise your legal rights with a restraining or stalking protective order. Do not control him or her. Inform him or her about options and opportunities for help.
Tell him or her: You can get help; you do not deserve this; it is not your fault; I am here for you.
People also can phone I.V. Safe House Alliance at 592-2515 or the following:
*Women’s Crisis Support Team in Grants Pass, 479-9349 or (800) 750-9278.
*National Domestic Violence Hotline, (800) 799-SAFE.
*National Sexual Assault Hotline, (800) 656-HOPE.
Outrage, ‘scandal,’ Biscuit allegations
From Justin Rohde
Cave JunctionI am outraged over Greg Walden’s plan for reduced protection for public forests after fire, at the same time as the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is rocked by logging scandals at the Biscuit post-fire logging project.
I am responding to a newspaper article on more than 100 green trees illegally logged by CLR Timber Holdings Co. The forest service still has not explained recent illegal logging of the Babyfoot Lake Botanical area, and before that was rocked by illegal logging in a protected wilderness area by the same Silver Creek timber company that received lucrative contracts.
We need a full, fair investigation into Babyfoot and other mounting violations by the USDA inspector general that DeFazio’s office has requested. Now, more than ever, we need to retain public oversight and environmental safeguards.
When will this free-for-all end? The public demands better management of our public forests.
The forest service failed to adequately protect riparian areas; logged over hiking trails; attempted to allow loggers to mark stream buffers; and re-marked wildlife trees to be logged. In a new national report, Siskiyou National Forest is listed as [one of] the top 10 endangered forest[s] on federal land.
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