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Opinion Letters and comments for the week ending June 7, 2008
Letters and comments for the week ending June 7, 2008
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Lester, Perry, Burch, Boe, Abesa, Hoffnagle In reading that the La Grande mayor, commissioners and city manager, as part of the budget committee, have tentatively approved the new budget, it was noted that they cut a police officer and a firefighter position because of revenue shortfalls. The city manager had stated that by making the cuts, the city would save about $137,000. If in fact there really is a shortfall, then why are they hiring a “professional downtown development manager” at a cost of $125,000 who probably knows nothing about La Grande, to tell us what is wrong when we already know what the problem is. Due to the city having a downtown association in place along with the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, they need to make more use of these resources and take that $125,000 to help offset the presumptive shortfall. Shirley Lester La Grande Suddenly everyone is having a conversation. The word has come of age as the cult of the Obama presidential candidacy has reached a fever pitch of evangelical proportions. What follows is an open letter to supporters of Barak Obama. Can we have a meaningful conversation? Never in my 25 years of political activism have I been so vehemently outcast by questioning the rhetoric or record of a particular candidate. In an era of unaccountability, should individuals not be respected for doing their due diligence in examining the record and policies of candidates? Will Obama be a welcome change after eight years of the colossal failure of George Bush? Yes, of course. However, upon further review of Obama’s political career, his record does not reconcile with his rhetoric. Obama’s pattern of undermining and forsaking progressive policy has left me deeply concerned that while he may feel the pulse of Main Street, all too often he votes or works to preserve the corporate welfare interests of Wall Street. The senator from Illinois is a master at drowning the swimmer he purports to rescue, while at the same time earning credit for extending a hand in solidarity. Obama lacks the political courage to authentically advertise himself as an agent of change when he has all too often been a defender of the status quo of our democracy hijacked by corporations. Just like the rest of the Democratic Party establishment of the past three decades, Obama has fallen into that all-too-familiar pattern of capitulation, appeasement and acquiescence. Obama cannot define himself a progressive when he repeatedly votes counter to the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Progressive Democrats of America platform for meaningful reform. If we are honestly going to address the “Fierce Urgency of Now” as Obama repeatedly quotes Martin Luther King, the question that needs to be part of the national conversation is not “Change, Yes We Can” but rather — “Change, Can He?’’ Chris Perry La Grande I regret to announce that the Rotary Club of Wallowa County has decided to cancel this year’s Lostine River Run, which was scheduled for the first weekend of July. The club has enjoyed sponsoring the annual event, which has attracted runners and walkers from throughout the region. Proceeds from past runs have assisted the club in funding local projects and humanitarian efforts. The decision to cancel was a difficult one, caused by a number of factors including diminishing resources, declining participation and bad timing. The leadership of the Rotary Club of Wallowa County will again evaluate the possibility of offering the run next year. I apologize to those who have been inconvenienced but would enthusiastically encourage participation in the Amy Hafer Race for Awareness Saturday, June 14, in Enterprise which is sponsored by the Wallowa Valley Health Care Foundation. Dick Burch president-elect Rotary Club of Wallowa County Joseph Does a day go by without another disturbing revelation about Barack Obama? Mentors for whom the term “bizarre” does no justice. Listening to 20 years of racist venom without saying a word. Unrepentant terrorists to launch his campaign. Making the political climb through what is arguably the most corrupt city in the U.S. (Chicago). A good deal on a house through Tony Rezko? Domestic policy that recycles failed policies of the past. His foreign policy is simply foolishness. Dodging a trip to Iraq because he would see that there is success and not the failure that he and other Democrats have claimed. Does anyone see a pattern here? There is nothing in Barack Obama’s past that suggests he is presidential material. Community organizer, state senator (from Chicago, does the name Daley ring a bell to anyone?), and an incomplete term as a U. S. Senator, where his biggest accomplishment has been ... promoting himself for president. What in the world are Democrats thinking? Have they all been Obamboozled by a slick b.s. artist? Is the disintegration of the Democratic Party that began in the 1960s nearing completion? The only thing standing between Barack Obama, presidential candidate, and Barack Obama, buffoon and laughingstock, is a sympathetic media. He is their guy. They, apparently, are still getting that tingle up their leg. Steve Boe La Grande Does Christianity scare Mr. Hoffnagle? Mr. Rich Zinzer seemed to be just expressing an opinion about Ben Stein’s movie showing “the possibility of a designer behind life on this planet.” If Mr. Hoffnagle knows the God of the Christians, he would know better than to ask “if something intricate and magnificent requires a creator, what created God?” And whether he agrees to what Christians believe about their God or not they are entitled to their faith just as he is entitled to believe whatever he chooses to believe. Besides, I believe Ben Stein is Jewish. Regarding his question, “Should history teachers be allowed to teach that the Holocaust never happened?” the answer is no. No, they should not teach that as a matter of fact the Holocaust didn’t happen. A good history teacher should, however, point out that there are those that say it never occurred. The president of Iran said it. There’s also a good chance that some of those who heard him believed that train of thought because they don’t know any better. A good science teacher should let the class know about the theories of creation and intelligent design just as he/she would teach them the theory of evolution. Key word here is “theory.” Christians and other monotheistic religions believe in creation/intelligent design because of their faith. To them it isn’t “just a theory.” To those who need hard evidence before believing, then creationism, intelligent design, evolution or the big bang event are all just theories. Science is the search for truth. Truth cannot be found by silencing one train of thought in favor of another. Sir Isaac Newton, who is often regarded as the most influential scientist in history, said, “In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence.” Gerard Abesa La Grande I’m writing regarding Frank Babb’s illogical and unsubstantiated diatribe regarding China drilling for natural gas in Cuba. He says China will use slant drilling to drill into U.S. territory and illegally tap into our reserves and he blames “Democratic political obstruction” and “environmental crazies” for this. Huh? No one (including me) wants China to illegally tap into our reserves, but how could Democrats or environmentalists have anything to do with China drilling in Cuba? As one of those “environmental crazies,” I can’t see how I would want to encourage drilling in the Caribbean. We encourage people to use less of these resources, not drill for more of it, thereby endangering the environment. And it seems that Mr. Babb is getting ahead of himself, thinking that the Democrats control the White House. No, Bush, Cheney and their pro-oil cronies are still in charge. So, if China will be illegally tapping into our gas reserves, then Mr. Babb should be asking the president (Republican) to do something about it, not blaming the Democrats. This is an issue for the State Department, headed by Condi Rice (Republican). Why aren’t they doing anything? Mr. Babb concluded his letter with some fear-mongering, saying that “the House and Senate leadership” (evil Democrats) is planning to give away our energy reserves. That’s an accusation that needs to be substantiated but, despite not even being halfway to his 300-word limit, Mr. Babb failed to elaborate. I very much appreciate that The Observer makes space for those of us who like to write and rant. But I would like to see a little editorial restraint on letters such as Mr. Babb’s, which contained undocumented accusations which were well over the right field fence. If a writer can’t back up his statements, then the letter shouldn’t be published. Tim Hoffnagle La Grande |
