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Opinion Letters Letters and Comments for January 23, 2009
Letters and Comments for January 23, 2009
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Letters and Comments for January 23, 2009
Seeing beyond distractions To the Editor: The genius of Barack Obama, is that he sees past the things that most people get distracted by. If he is to succeed, he needs more of us to see past those things too. Seeing past skin color is easy, when compared to the study it takes to see the truths that might be contained in our political opponents’ bundle of mistaken ideas. David Waln Summerville
To the Editor: Cell phones: The new kind of rude. Remember when cell phones didn’t dictate your lack of phone manners? Debera White La Grande
To the Editor: World hunger is not disputed. Hunger in America is not disputed. Hunger in our own state and city, while not disputed, understandably does not reach the front pages of national news. Photos and statistics of hunger depict great desperation and evoke reactions of sorrow and often incredulity when confronted with the scope of this atrocity. Words, reactions and attention, from “ordinary” citizens to celebrities, moving tributes of global awareness, have created a demand for involvement, promoting and encouraging all of us to become agents of change in addressing this atrocity. All these efforts are to be recognized and commended. The children of Union County, children who experience food insecurity, who have not expressed their appreciation for these acts of humanity must be excused for their lack of enthusiasm. Many of them are too hungry to concentrate on what transpires beyond the memory of their last meal and the anxiety of uncertainty concerning when they may eat again. The physical pain of an empty stomach permeates into every aspect of their day. Instead of scurrying to gather their homework, lunch bag and latest trinket for show and tell, they are searching for any morsel of food. Instead of the excitement of getting to school to see their friends, plans for after school play or sport, their eagerness is fueled by anticipation of the free breakfast awarded them for their eligibility based on income. The Friday Backpack Program, vision of Barbara Hicks, addresses these children. Each Thursday packs of supplemental food are sent home with eligible children. A small group, serving a modest 10 children in October, is gaining momentum thanks to the benevolence of area businesses, service organizations, churches and others. Our profound thanks to all of you: Caring individuals who volunteer, donate and remember our children! Linda Holman Engle La Grande
To the Editor: I read Christopher Christie’s letter to the editor Jan. 7, “Scapegoating won’t help.” I have been a logging contractor for over 40 years. The reason the timber industry is in decline is not over-cutting old growth timber — you are not allowed to cut any trees over 21 inches DBH on Forest Service sales. It is in decline because the three national forests including the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman that supply our area only put up for sale approximately 12 to 15 percent of their sustainable yield, which is about 400 million feet a year. Even that small amount doesn’t get harvested because of frivolous lawsuits brought on by preservationist groups and held up by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco and other courts. The term environmentalist in the dictionary is a “person working to solve environmental problems.” Letting the national forest build up dead and dying trees without any proper thinning or sustainable harvesting with a “just let it burn” attitude is not the answer. The big fires we have been having in recent years burn so hot they sterilize the ground and put all kinds of emissions into the atmosphere. This is not solving a problem. Jesse Reed from Union wrote a letter Jan. 10, “People need to work,” about the Wallowa Forest Products sawmill closing. It shut down because of the lack of federal timber and he is dead-on with his conclusion. Which one will be the next mill to close, Boise Cascade? Unlike other industries, we are not asking for a bailout because we mismanaged our mills and logging companies. We are asking for people to quit wasting a valuable resource, trees. This resource grows back when replanted for future generations to enjoy and replanting does get done! Ken Eberhard Elgin
To the Editor: The letter from Mr. Cantwell was filled with condescending and vicious attacks on President George Bush and the Republican party. Whatever George Bush did during his eight years as president, right or wrong, was done with a personal conviction that he was doing what was best for the United States. President Bush is a good man and I believe that history will judge him fairly, unlike the liberal left who cannot or will not give him the least amount of respect. On the other hand, they demand that the citizens give the incoming president, who is untested at best, hero status before he has done even one day’s work. I will reserve my assessment of the new administration until they have had a chance. Daniel Pokorney La Grande |
