Letters to the Editor
Bush ‘Ugly American’ due to ‘lies, deception’
From Wally Hardie
Selma
The word “evolution” brings to mind the concept how life has modified during the past several hundred million years, through natural selection. However, another view of evolution is what I had in mind.
How my country, America, has evolved in lying during the past 6 1/2 years under this Bush administration. In a newspaper on 6/8/07 it was reported that two secret prisons were revealed in Europe, one in Poland. My president said they did not exist.
My president has stated as well that we do not torture those we capture. The article revealed that we do. Not only do, but also how it is done. Shades of the prison in Baghdad. The reasons we went to war.
The proclamation of victory on the aircraft carrier, “Mission accomplished.” Oil will pay for the war. The Iraqis will greet us with open arms. The check is in the mail. The list goes on and on and on.
My president’s constant lies and deceptions have created a total lack of validity on his part, with a dislike and distrust of America and Americans, from the rest of the world. I resent the hell out of that. We have a reputation of being the “Ugly American” throughout the entire world.
My president is now that poster boy, and I deeply resent the hell out of that. We are in a race to reach the bottom in prestige and morality. And yeah, I resent the hell out of that.
About county finances; leaders’ pay, benefits
From Jennifer Berubee
Grants Pass
Josephine County Commissioner Dwight Ellis has said that he is “tired” of being criticized for poor planning these past few years. All I can say to that is: The truth hurts, doesn’t it?
The three county commissioners brag endlessly about how much “fat” they have trimmed from the budget. While there may be some truth that some costs were cut, these were random cuts that bled certain departments (like our library system), while leaving many management positions and departments uncut.
Has the county financial crisis really affected the lives of the commissioners? Do they not still enjoy a high salary, health benefits, and paid time off? Any concerned and fair leadership would take the first cut, plain and simple.
As for the talk of a September levy, it sure seems to me as though our “leadership” is out-of-touch and does not listen to its voters. No levy will pass in this county until the citizens can actually see some real changes in how the little money there is, is managed.
I’m one of the biggest library supporters you will find around here. But the measure defeated May 15 was a public safety levy. I was appalled that it was being sold to the public as a Band-Aid, that the levy would generate this pot of money that they could grab $400,000 from and “save” the library.
And who wants to pay $400,000 for a library that was only going to be open one day a week? When voters approve funding, they expect it to go for what is voted on, not to see funds shifted here and there, as has been the county practice for far too long.
Voters are fully willing to pay for services. I think that the commissioners need to see the last election as a wake-up call that they are not trusted to handle our tax dollars.
If the commissioners are really concerned with cost-cutting, they need to spend some long hours looking at what is known as Internal Service Charges. The reason $400,000 can only fund one day a week, one branch of our libraries open, is not because county employees are unionized -- do not be fooled with statements such as these that you will hear during meetings.
The reason our $400,000 would have bought so little library is because departments do not simply pay for what services are used within. Each department is expected to “pay into” a fund to pay for supplies, custodians, etc. So the library in Cave Junction, for example, would have to pay for two or three days of custodial services when in reality it will only get one.
How is that efficient? How is that wise management of tax dollars?
Our board of county commissioners has an attitude right now of, “How dare anyone criticize us?!” Well, I say, how dare they stand there and watch the county ship sink. Yes, we should have received money from the federal government that was promised. Why stand there and wring your hands and wait for funds that may or may not come?
That seems to me equivalent to waiting for a child support check from a dead-beat dad. While waiting for that funding, our leadership should have been scrambling for alternatives.
Author seems ‘paranoid, ‘babbling, out of touch’
From Josiah Dean
Cave Junction
I have to say something about this. As one of the more progressive members of the I.V. News staff, I understand that some issues receiving coverage may not be in agreement with my views.
However, the story about Holly Swanson’s presentation in Grants Pass (I.V. News, June 27) cannot go without remark. Swanson strikes me as completely out of touch with the current state of the world. And while I am not a psychologist, she comes across as a bit paranoid.
I did enjoy the placement of ideas in the story as the author juxtaposed statements. Take these two sentences:
“The goal is still world communism,” Swanson said. “Emotions, particularly fear, are being used and manipulated to slant the debate on issues such as global warming,” Swanson said.
When you put it that way, I have to agree with Swanson. Proclaiming that folks are communists, at one time, evoked “emotion, particularly fear” for many. I am not sure if she realizes it, but we won the Cold War. Those nasty communists are no longer a threat: capitalism won. Swanson’s fear tactic doesn’t quite have the impact with me, although I get the impression that others are still afraid.
Swanson then expressed worry about our children being taught about sustainability, as if sustainability were tied to communism. If one looks at the radical organizations working in this state to promote sustainability, she will find folks like the Legislature who, according to the governor, had a “landmark session for sustainability in Oregon.”
“It affects our future. It affects our kids,” Swanson was quoted as saying. I agree with her once again; sustainability is about our future and our kids. That’s why we teach our schoolchildren about it.
Swanson then was quoted comparing our teachers (those who teach sustainability) to the likes of Lenin and Hitler because they “deliberately indoctrinate” our children. When more kids recognize Mickey Mouse and Joe Camel than George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who do you think is indoctrinating our children?
Swanson then cited some “Green goals.” I am not sure where she got them. The 10 key values of the Pacific Green Party of Oregon (pacificgreens.org) are:
Grass-roots democracy, social justice, ecological wisdom, nonviolence, decentralization, community-based economics, feminism, diversity, responsibility, future focus.
Even if the Green Party had somehow infiltrated our educational system, those values don’t sound that menacing to me.
I find myself disagreeing with Swanson on the final point from the story. She is quoted as saying that ethics “has no business being in our schools.” Now, I might not go to church every Sunday, but I believe in a “global ethic” that transcends all other beliefs and values. It’s called the Golden Rule.
Since Swanson appears still to be living in the era of the Cold War, she may not have noticed that we now have a global economy. Add to that the numerous corporate scandals like Enron and WorldCom, and I think that our future leaders might do well with learning about global ethics.
With so much going on in our community, are the babblings of someone who, among other things, feels ethical business practices should not be pursued, really what our paper wants to fill its space with?
Pregnancy Center birthing day-care
From Mary Lefner, executive director - I.V. Pregnancy Center
Cave Junction
Illinois Valley Pregnancy Center is expecting. We have prepared a birthing plan for a Christian day-care in Cave Junction.
This is something our board has been working on for approximately two years, and we are seeing God pave the way for an opening later this summer.
The center will be called Helping Hands, and is in the process of obtaining its state and federal nonprofit status. Within two months, we expect the child-care center to be financially independent, and within nine months, it will be a completely separate nonprofit organization from the pregnancy center.
In the meantime, we have secured a building (one block from the pregnancy center); a child-care provider (Cindy O’Hara who will direct the site); and equipment and some of the start-up funds necessary to open. The pregnancy center board has set a goal of an additional $3,000 to open (which includes liability insurance, filing fees, rent and utilities). We would like to open the site in August.
There initially will be room for two infants, four toddlers, and up to four school-age children. Preschool activities utilizing the A-Beka curriculum will be presented daily at age appropriate levels. We believe this is a step toward having a full-fledged day-care and preschool facility in Illinois Valley.
We hope to be able to secure grants that will enable us to offer reduced rates to help single mothers and financially challenged families to get back on their feet.
Just like an expectant mother gathering baby clothes and supplies, we need funds to start this new day-care center. We are asking businesses to consider a tax-deductible donation that will be an investment in the lives of families and the future of our community. The sooner the start-up funds are raised, the quicker the center will begin providing services.
For additional information, phone Cindy O’Hara at 597-2625, or the writer at 592-6058. Or send e-mail
to HelpingHands
DayCare@gmail.com.
Paris Hilton comments ‘valued’ at how much!?
From Terry Ashmore
Sunland, Calif.
The June 13 letter in I.V. News from Iris Shaw of Selma came to mind during a recent morning when the bombardment of Paris Hilton news coverage included the latest: Paris is to be paid $1 million by our largest local station (KNBC) for the rights to the first interview with her the minute she’s released from prison.
What can she possibly say worth hearing?
Even if she could articulate an apology (the only words she should offer) it would sound contrived. And NBC should offer to contribute the money to intervention programs rather than reward Paris for wrongdoing.
But the young people who emulate her every move are so brainwashed by the media that they long to hear only more about outrageously inappropriate behavior. The saga of Paris barely passes for news, and allows lesser journalists temporary control of the airwaves. Most of us prefer to read the news so that we can turn the pages and control our own information input.
Paris Hilton’s “15 minutes of fame” are almost concluded -- unless she drinks and drives again, which is what this should really be about.
‘Slashed and stunned’ about tire incident
From Sherri Ladd
Cave Junction
I have lived in this valley for 30 years, and have worked at many businesses here. For the past several years, I have been a teacher at Head Start here.
I love this valley, its rivers and the hometown feeling. It hurts me to see and hear about vandalism in our town, and I’ve experienced my share of angry feelings about this issue.
Whenever I am out on a walk, I bring at least one bag of trash back to my car filled with items that I have picked up from along the river or on the paths or streets.
On Friday, June 22 my sister (visiting from Portland) and I rode bikes to the end of Schumacher Street where the new development is being created. We left our bikes there and walked to the Pomeroy Dam area. There were many young people we passed along the way -- all of whom were coming and going from the river where they swam.
My sister and I commented on what good fortune it is to live in an area with such a beautiful place while growing up.
There is a gate at Vineyard Place and Schumacher Street to prevent cars from going through. But you can walk on the streets or in the fields where we were. There were not any “No Trespassing” signs posted. So that I wouldn’t forget it when we left, I hung my first bag of trash on the gate by my car, which my daughter had driven over.
We walked along the river for about 45 minutes; then returned to our bikes and my car. We had another bagful of trash including some broken glass we found. We had noticed that one of the houses had its windows broken and talked about the senselessness of vandalism.
Upon returning to my car we noticed first one, then two, then saw that all four of my tires had been slashed. I was stunned. We called a relative who lives near by for help. Amazingly enough, he explained to me that the person who slashed my tires had actually been to his house only moments before and had stated that he was responsible.
The man identified himself as a manager for a contractor and shared that he was angry about recent vandalism in the area. He then left his business card with my relative and told him to feel free to tell the owner of the white car that he was the one who slashed the tires.
This was not done by senseless vandals, but by a vengeful person doing business in our town. I was stunned again. I called the name on the business card and spoke with this person and shared that I understood his frustration with vandals, but also stressed that he had taken his anger out on an innocent person.
I was treated to an earful about his problems, and he seemed to believe that it was his right to slash my tires. Slashing my tires was an act of purposeful vandalism resulting from misplaced and unchecked anger by an adult.
A simple note of warning or even a simple attempt to find me (picking up trash) would have been sufficient. I would have respected his request.
Which should I be more worried about: senseless acts of vandalism or local contractors who believe that they are above the law and can solve their problems with intimidation and violent retaliation, regardless of investigation into the facts?
