Letters to the Editor
From our weekly issue dated August 05, 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.
Chickens: Why not?
From Linda Schluter Tedder
Cave Junction
In reading about the issue of people being able to have chickens on their properties, it’s very interesting.
These are hard times, and for some to be able to raise chickens for food is a great idea. Why not, if you have the right-sized lot, make the accommodations for at least five chickens? I mean, if you are living on at least an acre. why not?
There must be rules set and abided by. This is not an easy venture. Fact is, many people would think twice before starting their own “Chicken Little Emporium.” Yes, they have issues with chickens in Los Angeles, cock fights for instance, although that won’t be a real issue in Cave Junction.
But the arrogance of someone saying, “If you want chickens move to the country,” “the status quo has been set and no reason to change it.” Makes ya’ want to go out and start pricing coops. There are many people in this valley who are educated enough to be able to teach how to raise and care for chickens. It’s quite an endeavor. Not one to be taken on in a whim. Like child rearing -- let’s not get started on that one.
I patrol the streets of Cave Junction, and what is a real issue is not “chickens,” but the urban junkyards some people have for property. Junk cars, broken toys, old strollers, trash cans that never get taken in, almost Third World looking.
People should be able to use their properties for how they see fit to take care of themselves and their families, and a few chickens for food is a good idea. But you need to know what you’re doing.
Eroding our rights
From George Lee McElroy
Cave Junction
It seems that my letter about losing our right to travel in our automobiles and being forced to surrender this right for a licensed privilege has unleashed some dark forces against me. The foundation of my beliefs has to do with the loss of rights.
I was recently in court and witnessed another right we the people have lost. The judge, on two separate occasions instructed the jury: “The jury will judge by the law as I define it to them even if they do not agree with it;” and “The jury must follow the law whether they agree with it or not.”
Our founding forefathers, knowing that self-serving people would enter government and institute laws oppressive to those God-given rights retained by the people, provided juries with authority to judge the law as well as the facts.
At the time of the adoption of the Constitution, the jury’s role as defense against political oppression was unquestioned in American jurisprudence. Today the courts will not allow the defendants or their counsel to inform the jurors of their true power.
In 1780, John Jay, first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, wrote, “The jury has the right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy.”
“The jury has the power to bring a verdict in the teeth of both law and fact.” (Oliver Wendell Holmes U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 1902).
“...In all criminal cases whatever, the jury shall have the right to determine the law, and the facts under the direction of the court as to the law ...” (Article 1, sec. 16, Oregon State Constitution).
We have also lost our right to a jury of our peers and our right to counsel of our choice; two rights specified in the U.S. Constitution.
The tragedy: There is no one to file a grievance with. Only agencies run by attorneys or judges.
Our federal government is rewarding corporations whose greed and insatiable thirst for wealth (at the peoples’ expense) has led to their insolvency. Their claim: It is the only way to save the American and international economy. Our states and the people are losing their sovereignty. The people, including me, have no hope in stopping the destruction of America. We have failed at being vigilant. We will eventually lose our liberty.
Poetry at the Oregon Caves Chateau
From Lyn Berry
Cave Junction
Our community has a great opportunity that it seems many are missing. I’m speaking of the appearance (free of charge) each Wednesday evening this summer, as part of the Caves Chateau anniversary celebration, of local David Hodges. He has a wonderful talent of reciting/reading poetry. He makes the words come alive!
I’m sure many of you would really enjoy this but do not know it is happening, even though there have been a few short mentions of it in the paper.
So I’m writing this to thank David for sharing his talent with us and to thank the Chateau for offering this. (It’s a lot better than any of the TV shows!) I sure hope many will participate in the weeks to come.
Pool an asset
From Celine Martens
Cave Junction
It breaks my heart to see that our beautiful swimming pool facility and parking lot is in such a state of affairs.
I moved to this town nine years ago to teach swimming in that pool. For four summers in a row I devoted my life to be the best instructor I could be. I have attended pool committee meetings, both formal and informal, to get a consensus on what the attitude is toward our facility.
When my children attended public grade school, part of the physical education curriculum required every child to learn to swim in the small-town, covered, indoor pool. The YMCA pool and our pool are the same design and size. At last I understood that our pool was under the care of the YMCA.
Our pool provided jobs for our youth, important skills for young children. As I watch the swimmers on Saturday morning on NBC, Olympians earning their place to swim in Rome, I can’t help but think that we, as a community, are short-changing ourselves by allowing this facility to go by the wayside.
When that pool was going full swing, lessons brought in $3,000 in one summer, just in lesson fees. I cannot believe we can let such an important asset turn to dust.
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