Letters to the Editor 06/29/2005

To the Editor:

In response to a vulgar, brutal and sexually explicit book assigned to my son at school, I asked the school board at the last meeting to add the following language to their new curriculum standards: If material has explicit sexual content, excessive profanity or graphic violence, then parental permission is required before the assignment is given.

This standard would protect our children from indecency and respect the rights of the parents to determine whether their child should read indecent material or not. This is the same policy in place for R-rated movies. It seemed like a reasonable request.

To my surprise and disappointment, Principals Macauley and Nordquist joined Superintendent Thonstad in arguing against written decency standards. They argued that this safeguard would interfere with their academic freedom. In fact, Principal Nordquist (who is responsible for writing the new curriculum standards) said she would never work under such restraints.

Principal Macauley argued that parents can always file a complaint after the assignment is given. However, that doesn’t work for the hundreds of in-class assignments or if the parents never see the assignment.

This isn’t about book banning or censorship. This is about parental permission and authority. If some parents and teachers want kids to read indecent material, fine. But if some don’t, then they should be forewarned, allowing their kids to opt out. This shows respect for the parents’ values.

There is no lack of outstanding literature that is both historical, enlightening and decent.

I just don’t see the harm in adding 21 words in an attempt to safeguard our children in a progressively indecent youth culture. Let’s hope the school board sides with safety for our children over academic freedom for the teachers.

John Shepherd

Editor’s note: “Beloved” was a book club reading selection, not a classroom assignment.

Jim Cornelius, Editor

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To the Editor:

Concerning the book “Beloved”:

It seems that Mr. Shepherd’s letter has stirred quite a discussion and has consequently provoked much reason to think, “outside-the-box.” Unfortunately, I do not believe that this aforementioned provocation has been wholly demonstrated.

I don’t believe that the intent of Michael Valoppi’s reprisal to Mr. Shepherd’s letter was that of asking for those reading the book to be subject to slavery, racist comments and “dehumanization.”

At least not to the point that all that is “honorable, right, pure,” etc. is repressed from mind and thought. In fact, it seems that perhaps these issues need to be exposed, so that all that is “pure, right,” etc. can be recognized as such.

Maybe the high schoolers could be given a little more credit and the faith in our own decisions that is long due us. By credit and faith I mean confidence in the fact that we are capable of discerning what we ourselves can or cannot handle to read and/or experience. Rather than one person, afraid that we may perhaps focus on issues that are not necessarily lovely, to decide for us what they feel is an appropriate experience. How is any of this conveying to us the capabilities to make our own decisions?

Sadly, banning a book will not dissuade from reality the fact that it and its contents exist. It only seems to put a temporary bandage on a wound that perhaps grows with time the more naive and ignorant that people become of it’s cause and repercussions.

Jynx Frederick,

Sisters High School student

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To the Editor:

Today, Friday, June 24, at 4 p.m., I pulled out of Tollgate to head toward Sisters. Bumper to bumper stopped traffic met me at the highway. Traffic was stopped or crawling at speeds of two to 19 mph all the way into town.

I was certain I would come upon an accident that would explain the problem, but no such accident was evident.

For the city, county and state to think that a couplet will solve Sisters’ traffic problem is ludicrous. Money is a factor, however a couplet would only be a temporary and expensive solution that would ultimately lead to a bypass anyway.

A bypass, such as the one described as drawn by Councilor Brad Boyd would prove to be less expensive in the long run.

The local traffic can be handled with one or two four way stops, and the truckers and other through-traffic would have no reason to have a negative opinion of our town. Cascade Avenue could continue to be enhanced and beautified into an even more visitor friendly destination.

Everyone would benefit. Our local business can only increase when people come into Sisters on purpose for the atmosphere, beauty and friendliness as opposed to those who struggle just to get through here on the way to somewhere else.

Thanks for the opportunity to speak about this issue. Every town I have ever seen that has a couplet has lost it’s charm. I don’t want that to happen here.

Marilyn Kinsey

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To the Editor:

A couple of weeks ago, a friend from the coast came for a visit. She and I “did” Sisters one weekday morning, walking from one end to the other, and it was delightful. Vehicle traffic was steady and slow, strolling through town and talking with shop owners was a pleasure, and crossing at the crosswalks was a breeze, with smiles and waves on both sides.

And then an incident that colored the rest of the day.

On our last crossing of Cascade Avenue, we stepped into the crosswalk. Eastbound traffic stopped for us, but as we approached the center of the street, we realized that there was trouble in the westbound lane. A pickup truck towing a long trailer, heavily laden, saw us and tried to stop, but his load started to jackknife. So he made the decision to keep rolling through the intersection. My friend and I are alert and fit and were able to anticipate the problem and jump back out of the way as the truck and trailer swept past.

No one was hurt, but we were all shaken up, including the truck driver.

In our ongoing debates about Sisters traffic solutions, I support a truck route that separates trucks and through traffic from downtown Sisters. ODOT would get what they want: a faster pass-through time for vehicles. And residents and visitors would get what we want, a safe, enjoyable pedestrian experience.

There are towns in the east that are retro-designing their centers at great expense to accommodate walkers, for health, safety and economic reasons (see Time Magazine, June 7, 2004). We already have a vibrant pedestrian city center. Let’s get the through traffic out of it.

Joellyn Loehr

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To the Editor:

I am increasingly saddened by the seemingly hostile divide between “people of faith” and “the rest of us.”

Yes, we can argue over Creationism (Intelligent Design) versus evolution. We can argue over gay rights, over politics, over abortion. And the divide will become greater.

I have been very blessed in my life to have had some wonderful spiritual teachers. One, an Episcopal bishop, one a Catholic priest, another, a philosopher/ranch hand who I met through a Baptist church. On a trip to South America, I learned much from a tall man and a very short woman.

All these people have certain traits in common. They love life and the beauty of creation; they extend love and help to others; they sing and they pray. They love God and are very humble.

Christ asks us to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I find little here to argue with.

In Peace,

Mary Pyke

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To the Editor:

If you want to see the Forest Service and their crews in action, take a trip to Camp Sherman and drive along the main roads.

Crews have been busy for several months and they have made such wonderful progress in thinning and mowing to eliminate some of the danger of wild fires. This work has more than one benefit, as firewood is available with permit. Our grandchildren were excited to see all that wood cut and stacked along Road 14. They spent a full day working in the rain to gather wood for our next year’s supply. It is cut, stacked and drying.

Bill Anthony (Sisters District Ranger) persevered to bring this thinning program into the basin, against appeals, etc. It seemed it would be years before we would see the project in action. Now everyone will benefit from him staying centered on protecting areas where homes and campgrounds are located. We are grateful the funds were made available and Bill has found workers to see this project through.

It is too easy to complain about what the Forest Service is not doing to please all individuals. Taking time to recognize their hard work is important, and we want to thank Bill Anthony. This cool spring has given us a reprieve from fires, but summer is ahead of us and we feel better prepared each day the thinning crews are out there working.

Charles and Jean Kern