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Beautifully composed
A heartfelt thank you to Rachel Lindley, (The Smell of Chemo, Sept.
2), for opening our eyes to the pain, loneliness, and fear that a
cancer patient experiences. Many of us have walked the dark tunnel
with loved ones who have undergone chemotherapy and can only realize,
not actualize, the emotions that they must feel.
Her beautifully composed story of her journey through the tunnel and
her dismal days of suffering enlightened my understanding of the
battle that must be waged by everyone undertaking this path. I rejoice
with her on her triumph and applaud her courageous and remarkable
endurance.
Marianne Kaczynski
Parkdale
Casino money
First, I am not sure some people understand the implications of
tribally annexed land. It is a secession of land from Oregon. It
is land that is actually seceded from our state. I question if our
local elected officials even understand this distinction because
they seem very willing to hand it over to the federal government
for the promise of a few dollars deposited in local government
coffers.
Second, it is only relevant when you consider that the Tribe, with
enormous tax-free casino revenues, can neutralize local news
media, including our local radio stations, local papers,
television and others.
Why is it that major national papers are covering significant
issues concerning tribal expansion through annexation and other
problematic issues related to tribal sovereignty, but our own
local news media won’t report it?
These are issues that involve the future of the National Scenic
Area simply because there is a sovereign tribe expanding its
“territory” in the Columbia River Gorge. Why isn’t our local news
media reporting on this issue?
Regardless of what side of the fence one sits on in regard to
tribal issues, isn’t it the news media’s job to present issues to
the public and let the public decide what they think or believe?
That’s when money becomes relevant because one has to pause and
ask why? Could it be the millions of dollars in advertising
revenue the news media outlets have received from the Grande Ronde
and Warm Springs tribes every year? One has to wonder.
Relevant when: Indian tribes can pay $70 million dollars to
lobbyist Jack Abramoff to fight off other Indian tribes from being
able to sign compacts with their states because wealthy tribes
don’t want the competition. I thought there were laws against
monopolies in this country.
Money is relevant when it becomes an aphrodisiac to the state, the
county, the local community and the local news media. When money
flows from a non-transparent source it neutralizes valid criticism
and is evidence of something terribly wrong. The Liberty Clarion
stated it aptly as “Where dissent is discouraged, consent is a
fraud.”
Relevant when: Indian “nations” are allowed to rely on services
and infrastructure provided by the hosting community, but the
community in turn cannot impose its regulatory system or property
taxes for reimbursement because it is perceived as impeding on
their sovereignty.
Relevant when: A bill, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, intended
to lift Native Americans out of poverty but instead allows the
majority of Native Americans that were to benefit from a now $23
billion Indian Gaming Industry to receive nothing.
This has a whole lot to do with big gaming dollars creating a
national steamroller as hundreds of tribes become armed with
largely untaxed and unregulated cash machines (casinos) and buy up
surrounding lands, politicians, the media and even Congress, and
place privately purchased lands into federal trust to expand their
“sovereign enterprises” with backers like MGM, Harrah’s, the
Mohegan Sun and others, all under the veil of Tribal Sovereignty.
This is purely an issue of accountability, fairness, transparency
and the flagrant abuse of a flawed federal process. Tribal
propaganda not withstanding.
Richard Randall
Cascade Locks No Casino
Cascade Locks
VanOrman for House
We are fortunate to have Suzanne VanOrman running for state
legislature in our district. I believe that Suzanne is the better
choice in 2006.
Oregon’s economy is a critical and major issue in the coming
legislative session. Suzanne, like her opponent, supports a
healthy business community. But, unlike her opponent, Suzanne
believes a quality education system is an investment in Oregon’s
economy. Unlike her opponent, Suzanne realizes that creating a
healthy environment is necessary. And, unlike her opponent,
Suzanne knows that better access to health care for Oregonians
must be improved.
These are a few of the important legislative issues. As a
legislator, Suzanne VanOrman would help provide citizens with
these tools to create jobs and a healthy and environmentally safe
economy to attract 21st century enterprises to Oregon and our
legislative district.
Nancy Moller
Hood River
Walden disappoints
I have met Congressman Greg Walden and have heard him speak. He
seemed to be a very nice man. At one time I thought he would have
made Oregon a good governor. Then somebody told me to check his
voting record. (Just “Google” Greg Walden.) I was dismayed at what
I found.
As a veteran of the Korean conflict, I am very much alarmed and
disappointed that Congressman Walden has, by his voting record,
been so unsupportive of those who are serving our country. He
voted against financial protections for those in service, he voted
against a bonus for those serving in Afghanistan and Iraq and he
voted against giving reservists and National Guard members access
to the military’s Tri Care health plan.
As a senior citizen, I am appalled that he has voted to prohibit
the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada. But when I
learned that his two largest “contributors” were from petroleum
and pharmaceutical industries, I understood that part of his
voting record.
Walden’s political philosophy and values are somewhat indicated by
his radio station KACI in The Dalles, which brings to the Gorge
Rush Limbaugh and other morally challenged neocons spewing lies,
distortions and hypocrisy. It is a radio station with commentators
who specialize in ad hominem attacks such as calling 13-year-old
Chelsea Clinton “dog,” calling those with health concerns
“anti-smoking Nazis,” and with a fake commercial for “Hillary’s
testicle lock box.”
Walden has voted repeatedly against rural residents, voted
consistently against small businesses, and he has (despite his
clever TV ad) frequently voted against the environment.
Go to the Internet and see if Greg Walden represents you. My vote
will go to Carol Voisin.
Bill R. Jones
The Dalles
Support VanOrman
If you are tired of the Oregon House of Representatives blocking
efforts to reduce class size in our schools and blocking expanding
health care for our children and grandchildren, you need to vote
for a change in the State House 52 Representative race. Join me in
voting for Suzanne VanOrman. Suzanne has spent the last 21 years
as the executive director of a successful Head Start program.
VanOrman understands that the future of our state and country
depends on healthy, well-educated children. She understands that
we need high quality public schools, affordable health care and
prescription drugs, safe communities, and smart economic growth.
We will not get the changes we need in our communities if we don’t
change our representative in the house. Vote VanOrman.
John Bromley
Sandy
Take the long view
Folks have asked me, “Where are your letters to the Editor?” “You
don’t want to overdo a good thing,” I tell them. But we aim to
please.
So—
The weather’s nice. Did you know you can see seven peaks at once?
Right here in the Gorge? You might try this from some (1,000)
bibliographical annotations I’m up to:
Dalles Mountain Ranch, now owned by Washington State Parks and the
Department of Natural Resources, is located in the mid-Columbia
region of Klickitat County in Washington state, roughly 11 miles
northeast of The Dalles and 17 miles southwest of Goldendale,
Wash. Its 6,123 acres are primarily within the general management
area of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This
spectacular ranch is bordered on the north by the Lyle-Centerville
Road and on the south by Columbia Hills State Park and the shores
of the Columbia River. Nearly five miles in length, it stretches
from the river’s edge rising over the top of the 3,200-foot
Stacker Butte, where balsam root and the obscure buttercup
flourish.
Seven Cascade mountain peaks are visible atop Stacker Butte,
including Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, the Goat Rocks, Mount St.
Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, and the Three Sisters. Aside
from its rare beauty, Dalles Mountain Ranch serves as a living
museum to the toils of early Gorge settlers and Native American
cultural heritage, explored and documented within.
Donna Gray-Davis
Hood River
‘Be Prepared’
A young Boy Scout working on his Eagle badge has come up with a
unique project, one that will benefit anyone living in the
mid-Columbia.
His theme is Emergency Preparedness. The fair, which is free and
open to the public, will be held Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at The Dalles Armory on west Sixth Street. At this point there
will be at least 25 booths staffed by knowledgeable people with
equipment, handouts and answers to your questions. Included are
the fire department, police, CPR classes, and representatives from
your government. You can find out how to protect yourself in
emergencies large and small.
From the Katrina Hurricane we know that government help is a long
time coming and we must learn how to fend for ourselves until it
is available.
Remember, there wasn’t a hint of rain when Noah built the ark.
Come and find out how simple it is to be better prepared.
Don Knowland
The Dalles
No one is infallible
The malpractice case of Ken. Ackerman as published in the Sept. 9
Oregonian against Oregon Health and Sciences University again
shows us why the medical profession will shun away from certain
procedures and why our medical costs are rising.
I am certain, because of personal experiences, Mr. Ackerman has
been advised beforehand of the risks involved. But greedy lawyers,
a self-important jury system and an ignorant and vindictive public
combined to drive once more frivolous lawsuits and the resulting
awards through the ceiling.
It is a shame that people, lawyers the most, try to get rich on
unfortunate mistakes which all of us make in our daily lives.
Nobody is infallible; not the ditch digger, not the neurosurgeon.
If the ditch caves in do we sue the ditch digger? But lawyers will
do anything to get a bigger piece of the cake. And the public
watches the developments with fascination.
Peter von Oppel
Hood River
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