Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To the Editor:

Why worry about Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein when we have our own terrorists among us? I am referring to the senseless beating of a Sisters man reported in November 13 issue of The Nugget.

I felt a deep sense of outrage about this. My gut feeling is that the community of Sisters felt the same. I fully expected to read a series of letters about this matter in the following Nugget publication but was surprised to find "nothing."

Most of the letters were concerned with the killing of a grizzly bear. So why no letters? All I can tell you is the reason why I didn't sit down and immediately write one: Fear. Fear of reprisal. As much as I felt a sense of rage I didn't want to be the first one to stick my neck out over this matter. I wanted someone else to lead the rest of us in our outrage.

This incident happened near my home, close to Sisters Elementary and Middle School. The occupants of that truck that stopped and severely injured that young man may well live in my neighborhood. I might even know them. They may know me.

So why am I writing about it now? Because I believe my gut instinct -- that the greater community of Sisters felt sickened and outraged over this -- was right. Perhaps we were all just waiting for that first letter to be written before we acted.

Well, that first letter has now been written. Not by me but by the news editor himself.

The editor's note may not be the letter many of us hoped for, but it is a call to arms. We cannot let fear in any way rule our community. Yes, since 9/11 we have lived in an ever-growing age of fear or at least, it seems, in the endless possibilities of things to fear. However, in the little world of our community, we can choose to keep these fears under control by addressing our outrage.

Paul Bennett

* * *

To the Editor:

A friend of mine was beaten by a group of men on the streets of Sisters. The night before he abandoned his residency in Sisters he smiled to me through a mouth of broken teeth. It was good to see him, it was a blessing to see him smile, and it's a pain in my heart to see this town so poorly represented by last week's letters to the editor.

I am not bothered by the fact that no one commented on the beating. What I am bothered by is the collection of letters regarding an article about a hunting trip in Alaska coinciding with the fact that not one letter was written regarding a young man being beaten on the streets of Sisters. Priorities, it seems, were shown.

It is fitting to me that Ghandi was quoted in last week's barrage of sentiment "...the moral character of a country may be judged by the treatment of their animals."(sic) Indeed, our town is at this moment being judged by its treatment of animals. It seems the regard of animal life is so profound that its shadow hides the matters of human life. India, by religious majority, reveres the life of a cow over the life of a human being.

Not one letter to the editor was outraged by the beating of a young man on the streets of Sisters, (a note made News Editor Jim Cornelius). It isn't that the public was not properly informed of the incident. It was printed above the fold, on the front page of the community's leading news source.

As the tourists leave and the football season ends, time will be allowed for conversation. Empty hours will be filled with stories and thoughts, and as this transition occurs, I pray the subject matter will be of school plays and fishing, of prized pets and the city's progression into the 21st century.

Perhaps when idle minds get to thinking and planning and deciding to defend the ethical treatment of something, they should consider humans. Then, as they move on to the animal kingdom, they can act locally. I suggest the massacre of deer on Oregon highways.

Shane Simonsen

* * *

To the Editor:

Like most of your readers our family was dismayed and appalled by your photo and story of Jim Morrell's "hunt of a lifetime."

A story like that can give decent, dedicated hunters a bad name. Hunting is a big part of our life, there are so many positive aspects that go along with a responsible and skilled hunt. But trophy hunting is considered by most civilized members of our society to be an ignominious and abominable part of our past.

Perhaps ignorant hunters in underdeveloped nations, desperate for money or food have an excuse for killing an elephant, gorilla, or tiger, but there are no excuses here. And don't fool yourself into thinking there are plenty of grizzlies. Less than a hundred years ago they use to gambol on the beaches of Santa Cruz snacking on elephant seals; not any more.

Looking at that offensive photo was as revolting as if you had published a photo of the D.C. sniper gloating over an unsuspecting victim with an equally appalling quote about it not being his last.

I wasn't going to write until I read the editor's comments in the last The Nugget about the town not responding to the violence perpetrated against that young man on his bicycle.

Perhaps if you had run a photo of the happy thugs hovering over the poor victim with the quote "With any luck this won't be our last unwary young man to senselessly beat up in your town," you would have generated quite a few letters. Frankly I'm surprised and a little alarmed you don't get it. A photo and story like "Jim Morrell's hunt of a lifetime" does not belong in our community paper, trophy hunting is obscene, it is x-rated. To glorify and validate this cowardly act is a real shame.

Susanne Redfield

* * *

To the Editor:

It outrages me that people think that hunters harvest game just for the fun of killing something.

My father and I hunt to get back to nature and to honor our past. People came to our great land and had to survive with a rifle in hand.

It also worries me that people are so focused on the death of animals that they don't even notice that a man was beaten in our small community.

Hunting and fishing increases population in the wilderness and if people couldn't connect to the outdoors we would be completely over run by technology. It doesn't matter if you eat meat or not; it's about our history, constantly exploring new terrain and being able to sleep under the stars after every day of hiking and adventure is what hunting is all about.

People stereotype hunters as people who just kill things to show their friends their bear skin rug or their big antlers. And, last but not least, I'm sure Mr. Morrell didn't just go out and kill that bear and let its meat spoil; hunters aren't about that.

Travis Ehrenstrom, age 13

* * *

To the Editor:

Your "Editor's note" regarding the large volume of comments on the grizzly "hunter" as compared to none on the severe beating sustained on a street in Sisters missed an important difference.

To illustrate, run a photo of the assailants standing over the severely beaten victim bragging about how "it won't be my last."

It's too bad trophy hunting paints such an unflattering portrait of hunters, including those who work at the pursuit and eat the meat.

Tom Davis

* * *

To the Editor:

It is interesting that Sisters has so many people that exist on air; I mean that they eat or consume nothing? People like Barbara Egan and Denice Cristiano worry more about an animal being harvested than crime in the streets of Sisters.

It was a good article about the bear hunt, it was obvious that a lot of people do not hunt bear as there is a saying among bear hunters that goes to the effect that "some days you get the bear and some days the bear gets you."

And, oh yes, bear meat is good to eat and sure a lot better than store-bought hamburger. Just a quick note to all you fellow hunters out there, get close and shoot straight.

David Culver

* * *

To the Editor:

My heart was so heavy after opening the paper and finding the picture of the once magnificent, but now dead, bear.

My heart was already heavy because I know the victim of the brutal attack and knew about it the day after it happened. What a kind, gentle soul this young man is and did not deserve any of this... NO ONE DOES!

I am saddened that he will be leaving town with this kind of memory of our once homey, friendly, small community. I pray that the neanderthal "street thugs" will be caught and punished accordingly.

The ugliness and violence needs to stop.

Thanks -- Pray for Peace,

Kathy Wolfe

* * *

To the Editor:

I and thousands of sportsmen congratulate Mr. Morrell on the good hunt he had; we all would like to do the same.

It's too bad he and The Nugget were blasted for that by a few in the community.

I haven't seen anything written by these few on the slaughter of thousands of babies each year in the name of abortion. Maybe animals are more worthy of life than human beings that absolutely can't defend themselves?

Why don't they complain about the moral decline of this country, the unreasonable environmental stands taken, runaway taxes, loss of jobs and pensions, skyrocketing medical cost and loss of coverage, the tremendous cost of homeland security, high property taxes?

Where were the letters of sorrow for the young man beaten here in Sisters?

The hunt and picture is very insignificant, the very serious and grave concerns of the country go far past this picture of a hunt!

Chet Davis

* * *

To the Editor:

I am encouraged by the many letters from people who are opposed to the wanton killing of animals in the name of sport.

Strange as it may seem, that tradition has long been connected with the ritual of "manhood."

If we have really moved to a new era, we may have a younger generation that has no attraction to killing and manhood can then be achieved by other means -- such as athletics, community service, and development of talents.

An important morality issue is involved, for empathy is basic to morality and real manhood involves being able to identify with other people and other living things.

If we get the movie "Bowling for Columbine" the larger connections with violence in our society are made clear.

Hopefully we are moving more toward respect for all life, at least the Nugget letters had that suggestion.

William Boyer

* * *

To the Editor:

I would like to congratulate Jim Morrell on his awesome hunt. At least you went out in the woods, tracked, hunted and shot a grizzly bear and at least it was a sporting hunt.

Unlike some people who want to criticize a person killing a helpless animal, go back a hundred years when that's how it was done.

Or, better yet, those of you criticizing Jim, eating your cheeseburger that came from a cow locked into a stall and shot in the head that had no chance to escape or a chance to live. So I say stop!

And stop eating meat, fish, turkey and chicken. They're raised just to be killed defenselessly. Or think about (it) the next time you go out to dinner to have a prime rib and picture in your head that poor cow, chicken or salmon.

We all have to live. Some of us just live different.

Sincerely,

Gene O'Brien

* * *

To the Editor:

My lovely wife and I recently had an opportunity and privilege to travel to one of the most beautiful areas in the entire world. We spent nine days hiking, climbing and enjoying God's creations. It was so refreshing to get away from phones, television, and our high-tech society and enjoy nature's abundant beauty in peace and quiet.

I have traveled the world quite extensively over the years and I have seen many wonderful and beautiful areas, but none any more lovely than where we were.

The only regret we had was the disgusting litter left by humans who had visited our campsite before us. It was appalling to think that people would leave such a beautiful place in such a terrible condition! There were tin cans, cigarette butts, bottle caps from imported bottled beer, toilet paper in the grass where "ladies" went to the bathroom, not to mention the hide of a native hunted animal hanging on a stump left by some inattentive hunter.

How could people be so uncaring as to leave a campsite like this for the next fellow, especially if children were along and could see all the litter... not a good example for young ones to grow up with.

Some may say, "It's not a big deal, the next guy will deal with it, everyone does it, it's commonplace." However, a distasteful thing only becomes commonplace if we tolerate it and accept it as an everyday occurrence.

If you are a hunter, horseback rider, environmentalist, bird watcher, sightseer or just passing through an area, please take the time to clean up after yourselves and keep the campsite as presentable as it was when man first gazed with awe at God's beautiful handiwork.

Thanks, and by the way, we were camped at the Abbott Creek campground eight miles north of Camp Sherman in the Jefferson Wilderness.

Rick Diener

* * *

To the Editor:

I have read about the effects of the recent earthquake on local surface bodies of water and I have something to add.

We live off Highway 20 in the Plainview area. Our house is on it's own well system. On the day of the earthquake we found our water had turned from clear to a cloudy orange color. Water left standing in a glass revealed a fine silt in the bottom. It took about three days for the water to clear.

We believe this clouding of our water was a result of a "shake-up" of the water table. Perhaps the author of the current Blue Lake article could do a follow up and address the issue just stated.

I understand the problem was not unique to our well. Perhaps other inquiring minds would want to know what has/had happened to their wells, if this "clouding" presents health issues if the water is ingested, and if silt/sediment could cause problems with water heaters or pump mechanisms.

Regards,

Sharon Sparrow

* * *

To the Editor,

I'd like to announce that my missing miniature poodle has been found and is in fine shape.

Many thanks to all those around town, including friends and some nice folks who don't know me but called to express their conern.

Kiwi is a 13-year-old miniature poodle. She's mostly deaf, and has some other aging issues but is a fine dog with several good years left.

She was injured on Sunday night while outside. Since there is no 'bite' pattern, just widely separated punctures, I'm guessing she was grabbed by an owl or eagle and then dropped.

The vet kept her for a few hours for observation and then I took her home.

The next day, I was going to cut wood up Three Creek Road, at the edge of the snow.

She very much wanted to come along with Topper, her son. Then, while up there, she very much wanted to get out of the truck despite being stiff and sore.

So I let her walk around a bit.

Within a few minutes she was nowhere to be found, and because she's deaf I had no way to call her.

I spent the night in my truck up there that night, and spent the next two days in the area looking for her and cutting some more wood.

But mostly, I hoped she would find her way out of the woods without becoming coyote, cougar or owl bait.

Many people around town who know Kiwi were upset and worried.

On the third day I received a call from a nice lady in Tumalo. Kiwi had managed to find her way all the way to the corner of Johnson Road and Shevlin Park Road, near Bend -- about 15 miles as the crow flies!!

Other than being hungry, thirsty and a bit sore-footed she was fine, and has now recovered completely. I hope this little story comforts those whose pets get lost in the future.

Gary Bickford

* * *

To the Editor:

At this season of Thanksgiving, Sisters Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors wants to express our gratitude for the generosity of countless individuals and businesses.

Your efforts have provided 18 families (55 people), with homes in Sisters and there are seven more homes in progress.

Thanks to people who donate salable items for the Thrift Store, to the volunteers who operate the store and to customers who shop. Thanks to volunteers who build houses and professionals who provide services. Thanks to merchants who donate materials. Thanks to volunteers who serve on our board and committees.

We are grateful for the support of seven Covenant Church Congregations. Our dedicated Executive Director, Sharlene Weed and staff coordinate all these activities which benefit our entire community.

Gratefully,

Joe Holder,

President

* * *

To the Editor:

What a great way to close out the old year, with the celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Every day, I give thanks for the privilege of living in Sisters and marvel at the beauty of this area. My wife and I will spend Thanksgiving in Portland with family and celebrate Christmas here at home with friends.

On Thanksgiving we give thanks for the founding Fathers of this great nation who, looking for a land in which they could worship their God, the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, without persecution, endured great hardships and the loss of countless lives, that we are blessed living in the greatest country in the world.

We give thanks at Christmas that Almighty God loves us so much that he sent his son, born of a virgin, living without sin, to be our messiah, our savior.

I thank you dear God for all that I have and for all that you are in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your children,

David and Judy Kell

* * *

To the Editor:

As we approach this Thanksgiving we would like to share something that has been circulating on the internet, a little something to ponder...

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep -- you are richer than 75 percent of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace -- you are among the top 8 percent of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness -- you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation -- you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death -- you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married -- you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful -- you are blessed because the majonty can, but most do not. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder -- you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

Bill and Beverly Ross

* * *

To the Editor:

What a show! A huge applause goes to our Sisters band leader Mr. Jody Henderson and choir director Elizabeth Renner.

The Veterans Day celebration was magnificent. the musical pieces performed by our community's children showed much sophistication and abundance of spirit.

How truly fortunate we are to have these two teachers in our school district.

Bill and Diana Kelleher