Letters to the Editor 11/11/2015

To the Editor:

Re: "A past that is never past," (The Nugget, November 4, page 2):

Posed in Mr. Cornelius' opinion is an apologetic for not supporting a holiday, or for that matter, a sports team, name change respecting First Nation history/tradition.

Though not Native American myself, I'm yet compelled to respectfully point out what I feel is the false comparison that was offered. First World conquering the Third World with advanced weapons, usually slaughtering many for the sole purpose of economic gain with exploitation cannot compare to the usual case of one Indian tribe challenging another with similar weapons for hunting/fishing privileges. Usually permission for this or for passage was sought and granted, or when times were poor for sharing, skirmishes would occur, but never on the scale of conquest.

True, the Iroquois Six Nations harassed its way to harness a vast territory from New York to S. Carolina, but many various tribes continued to thrive peacefully within this domain.

With no white man's guilt, I heartily agree that in most cases, a name change is called for.

With respect I must challenge Mr. Glode's fostering the myth that a candidate without big money backing is "...probably totally unelectable." Yes, though much of our national policy falls within the "socialist" concept of government (e.g. Veterans Affairs), many Americans balk at the term.

Fortunately I've been able to vote my conscience several times, not "second worst." Bernie is the longest-term Independent in Congress who is respected enough as Democratic Progressive Caucus member to run on a Democratic ticket, and be granted a chance to debate (only with the condition of endorsing the nominee). These qualifiers make him probably totally electable.

Our crippled form of democracy has kept third-party challenges on the fringes. Not this time, by golly! Bernie may have a history of a few dark foreign policy votes, but he offers a chance for a vote of conscience!

Leslie Haggard

Welches

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To the Editor:

A friend was in Sisters lately and picked up your newspaper. She brought it to me because I had mentioned that many years ago I lived and worked in Sisters.

I was astonished to see how Sisters had grown. I was there for three years in the early '60s where the population was 602. I did so enjoy my time there. It was very interesting to see the changes. I taught at the school, teaching science and physical education, but left when the high school closed.

Your paper brought back a lot of fond memories.

Marcia Hedges

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To the Editor:

The rationale behind ClearPine development to be located at the old Lundgren Mill site is mind-boggling. With Mr. Hall stating "I've seen the development really embraced by the public" ... really, what public? I don't see anyone marching in the streets exclaiming joy and salvation over this project.

It's curious that the proposed "affordable-housing" phase of the project is put off until the very last, along with the caveat "Hall acknowledges that general affordability is in the eye - and wallet - of the beholder." To be clear Mr. Hall, "affordable" is a term vested in the working-class wage-earners of our community, and the disconnect which you expressed by saying "I'm not an affordable-housing developer. It's a very defined art" is abundantly clear.

"Second-home owners" are not vested in our community. Wealthy retirees and local realtors of whom several have served on the planning commission and city council that voted for change in zoning enabling this project are not the lifeblood of our community, either. The pulse of Sisters Country are the working men and women raising kids in our schools seeking a future which, given the present course of action, will be unable to provide without significant investment in their future. That investment begins when affordable housing becomes a priority rather than placed at the tail-end of this project. All the accolades by developers and real estate agents will not change that.

You were given a gift through the change in zoning benefiting your investment in industrial district, Mr. Hall, that gift should obligate you to give back to the community through affordable housing as the priority. Spin doesn't change reality, Mr. Hall, action does.

Ky Karnecki

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To the Editor:

I have to say that I find the response of the Sisters district ranger on the paved trail issue to be spineless.

To say that there is legitimate controversy in the community is an exaggeration. It is only a very few individuals who are making a lot of noise in opposition. The majority of residents in Black Butte Ranch support the trail, as do the people of Sisters and the greater Sisters area. Since when do we have to have 100 percent consensus on any proposed project?

With some wanting this, and some wanting that and Joe over there wanting nothing, the coming years of yet more research and consensus-building will be like herding cats. Particularly troubling and wrong-headed is the individual who threatens a lawsuit at the drop of a hat, which may be scaring the bejeezus out of the Forest Service. Said individual has sued the school district in the past, has lost his cases repeatedly and has cost the community tens of thousands of dollars. And to what end?

The community should not be held hostage to an individual who seems to have made a hobby of throwing his weight around. This issue has been researched and polled and community meetinged to death. At the rate proposed by Ms. Miller, nothing gets done and the minority naysayers win.

Sarah Rahm

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To the Editor:

I would like to thank Jim Cornelius for highlighting in his editorial last week, "A past that is never past," the complex history of our nation and Columbus Day. However, I disagree with his statement that we should not "condemn" the men who committed acts of mass atrocity in the name of conquest. Just because "everyone was doing it" does not make it right.

As a soon-to-be PhD in history, I like to believe that we can learn from history and past mistakes - although certainly, history teaches us this is not always the case. We can and should condemn men responsible for mass murder, rape, and slavery while honoring heroes who fought for human rights and freedom.

As Mr. Cornelius said, human history is often messy. Only by acknowledging our nation's past, both its failures and successes, can we truly appreciate the difficult path toward "liberty and justice for all."

The fact that the United States has managed to endure for over 200 years is a testament to the power of our ideals of democracy and equality, which have often been under siege. Now is the time to prove our commitment to these ideals. Replacing "Columbus Day" with "Indigenous People's Day" in Sisters should not be viewed as a rejection of Western civilization or an anti-business statement, but rather a symbol that our community is supportive, inclusive, and values cultural diversity.

Maya Holzman