Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated April 15, 2009
(Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)
Typed, double-spaced letters are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be considered. “Thank you” submissions are not accepted as letters
Extinguished visitors
From Carol Ronan, executive director,
Illinois Valley Family Coalition
Cave Junction
I appreciate James Reddy and Kameron Ismail from Illinois Valley Fire District, as they provided the Illinois Valley Family Coalition staff and tenants with training in the proper use of fire extinguishers and fire safety.
Having great equipment isn’t much good if we don’t know how to use it. They gave a very informative presentation, showed a video and allowed us to put out actual fires using the extinguishers.
Knowing what to do and practicing those techniques will be so helpful if we are faced with a real fire emergency. We appreciate our fire district for selflessly giving their time to help keep us informed and safe.
I’d highly recommend these two volunteers because of their knowledge, high degree of professionalism, and obvious commitment to our community.
“Voluntary” service is not
From Paul Grad
Cave Junction
One of the most dangerous proposals for the future of American liberty is our new President’s plan for “universal voluntary service”. This oxymoronic piece of Orwellian Newspeak would require that all high school and college students annually “volunteer” quite a long chunk of their time for various “public service” projects under the guise of a “mandatory national service requirement.” It should be patently clear that when you “require” someone to “volunteer”, that volunteering is not voluntary at all, but nothing but “involuntary servitude,” which was outlawed by the 13th Amendment. As a so-called constitutional scholar, I’m surprised that the President is either unaware of this amendment, or its meaning.
The President’s plan is being insinuated into the fabric of American politics through the introduction of a bill, H.R. 1444, which would set up another commission, to study the desirability of promoting a “mandatory national service requirement,” and issue a report in two years time. This Bill is being introduced by Congressman McDermott (D-WA), and co-sponsored by Congressmen Moran (D-VA), Ruppersberger (D-MD), Kennedy (D-RI), and Van Hollen (D-MD). Of course, we can be sure that the Congressmen will indeed then find that it is in our “national interest” to overthrow the 13th Amendment, which outlaws “involuntary servitude.” Lest the President and the Congressmen forget, that used to be known as “slavery” before the Civil War.
It seems to me that this is a blatant attempt to re-impose a draft on the youth of America, an involuntary servitude which government has absolutely no right to impose, except in time of war when America is under threat from invasion. And under those circumstances, we should all be volunteering.
And why is it that we have this curious notion that the youth of a society owe some of the best years of their lives to the elders of the tribe, when it is the elders who have created the mess that the youth must live in? It seems to me it is us folks older than 30 who should be the first ones being forced into such an unconstitutional draft. The youth of America need their time to be either educating themselves, or working for pay, to cope with the economic mess which the older generations have created for them. They should not have their chance for their pursuit of happiness further curtailed by the unconstitutional dictates of big government.
Of course, the draft is the epitome of the collectivist mentality which says that the life of the individual is the property of the state, and less important than the state as a whole. In this view, the individual exists merely to serve the state. But in contrast, we find the Jeffersonian-Libertarian view, embodied in the Declaration and the Bill of Rights, that the state is the servant of the individual, and exists only to further and to guarantee the “Rights of Man”, which Jefferson codified in his Bill of Rights. And it also includes the belief that one is owner of ones own body, not the state. This is the fundamental property right, the right to self-ownership, for which the American Revolution was fought.
The collectivists, including the Nazis and the Communists, say that the individual exists merely to serve the state, or the “national interest,” and must obey whatever dictates they promulgate, even if unconstitutional or inhuman. But Libertarians know that there is no state other than the individuals that make it up, and it is in the defense of individual liberties that government finds its true function. This is the Jeffersonian insight that makes our government different from every other government in history, and it is this key principle which the President’s national service plan, and the dangerous bill by the five Democrats, would overthrow.
Ayn Rand put the crucial question of our age succinctly in her novel, The Fountainhead: “Has man any right to exist if he refuses to serve society?”
The Marxist-Leninists and the National Socialists say no. The Jeffersonians and Libertarians say yes.
The youth of America should not passively let themselves be forced into involuntary servitude by the fiats of the anti-Jeffersonians in our government. They should non-violently resist this unconstitutional usurpation of their inalienable rights to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” through the courts, and dedicated jurists should spring to action to defend them. And the public must speak up for them too, for ultimately it is only in the court of public opinion that unconstitutional usurpations can be stopped in their tracks.
Let’s oppose President Obama’s unconstitutional Draft and the proposed Bill H.R. 1444.
Help children read
From Ken Rich
Cave Junction
Recent figures show that we need to rebuild support for our library here in the valley.
Rather than an ideal operating budget we might focus on smaller steps to get the doors open, and begin lending books, which was the original purpose. With children on vacation, this would be an ideal time to begin the rebuilding process.
We already have a qualified librarian and an assistant. With two computers, an automated book check-out, and a volunteer staff there is no reason we could not do this at a reasonable (minimal) cost.
Other amenities such as computer services would be dependent on future fees or incomes. Membership dollars returning to the valley will add incentive. We need to encourage children to read.
Dog donor
From Crystal Costa
Cave Junction
This is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a long while. I’m sure that many are aware that I have been stuck on the streets here for about one year.
Recently some life- changing events have opened my eyes to a better way of life “again.” I have found myself ready to face a new chapter and start a new, more productive life.
Unfortunately, this means going where the support and resources are. In order to accomplish this I need to find my pup (Mister) a permanent or preferably temporary home.
Mister is a very loyal, smart, friendly, loving, house-broken, good with children and thrives on pleasing. He needs someone who will love him and give (spoil) him everything he deserves. He should adapt to any situation with love, time, and affection.
It breaks my heart to do this because he is such a wonderful spirit, and we are so attached, but this is painfully necessary.
If anyone has it in their heart to give him a home and the love and care he deserves, contact Earth Friendly Kids at 592-3098 and talk to Rebecca.
Turning around a life
From Annette McGee
Cave Junction
Many have followed the saga about homeless folks in Cave Junction. While it’s hard for some to understand how a person can live and drink on the streets, each one of those folks has a story that would likely break your heart.
Once hopelessness sets in, sometimes people no longer take steps to improve their lot.
But now we have a story about one of our homeless women, Crystal, who is trying to turn her life around. She recently was rescued by a man who helped her get sober. He has found Crystal a place in a shelter in Grants Pass. The problem is that Crystal needs a home for her dog.
As a dog trainer, I frequently am called about dogs needing new homes. The nice man who rescued Crystal called me to see if I could help. As a community, I believe we must go beyond complaining about situations we don’t like, and become part of the solution instead. Emotionally, Crystal needs her dog to be safe in order to get on with her own life.
The famous “Dog Whisperer,” Cesar Milan, frequently states on his weekly television program that homeless people’s dogs are often the best dogs. Because they spend so much time with other dogs and are constantly being walked, they are usually friendly and adaptable animals.
That is certainly the case with this young Pit Bull-mix Mister. He is gentle with other pets, kids and adults. And just like homeless people themselves, Pit Bulls often have a bad reputation, whether they’ve earned it or not. But it should be remembered that a Pit Bull is a terrier. Circuses train terriers because they are so intelligent.
While there can be a tendency for dog aggression in Pit Bulls, whether or not this is expressed has far more to do with the people who shape the behavior of the individual dogs. There are millions of friendly Pit Bull-mix dogs in America, and Mister is one of them. If someone adopts him, I offer free dog training, although I doubt he’ll require much.
We can help Crystal help herself via a good temporary or permanent home for Mister to give Crystal the peace of mind she needs to heal.
Matsutake and land management
From Susan Chapp
Cave Junction
We have at this time a great opportunity for mushroom harvesters to make input to the Forest Service on management of public land where there are good matsutake mushroom harvest areas. The Butcherknife/Slate Creek Fuels Reduction Project starts at the top of Hay’s Hill on U.S. Forest Service land, with the great majority of the acreage on the north side of Hwy. 199. There are a wide variety of proposed activities ranging from commercial and precommercial thinning to controlled burns and noxious weed control. And there are good matsutake production areas with the 5,834 acres of this project area.
The draft environmental assessment for Butcherknife/Slate has been out for public comment for some time. There may only be a short amount of time left in the regular input period, and I apologize for getting this letter out so late. The good news is that our district ranger, Joel King, is very open to the total range of input, whether timely or not.
The Forestry Action Committee is founded on the belief that ecosystem balance can only be created from the bottom up and can only be maintained by the people actually occupying that space. This philosophy puts fungal health and the knowledge of fungi harvesters front and center in terms of forest health, with the implication that we will not fully achieve balanced forest management until mushroom harvester input is integrated and utilized.
You can reach the Wild Rivers Ranger District at 592-4000. The address is 26568 Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction. If you want to share your thoughts with the Forestry Action Committee, phone us at 592-4098. We would like to hear them.
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