Letters to the Editor 03/22/2017

To the Editor:

In reference to Jeff Mackey's letter of March 15, here's just one thought out of all the head-shaking and confusion I experienced reading it. I find it amazing how little people actually know about the history of their own civilization, even including relatively recent times. Hitler didn't start rounding up "liberals, gays, immigrants, woman, transexuals, Jews or Muslims" until several years after his democratic election in 1933. So Trump still has time.

First Hitler had to send out continuous propaganda releases to convince people that these groups were the enemy and the cause of all their problems. At the same time, he had discredited the press and then eliminated it alltogether. Sounding familiar? Since he was elected during the great depression (which hit Germany harder than most countries) it was easy to convince people that he had the solutions to their fears. They were desperate for someone to save them and to have someone to blame.

It's no wonder people in this country who remember their history have used the term "Nazi." The parallels of Trump's rise and Hitler's are too numerous to list in this small paper.

Am I worried about a fascist coup in our country? Not really. For one thing, we have, for the most part, recovered from Bush's great recession thanks to Obama's slow and steadfast policies. The upper Midwest, however, hasn't done as well as the rest of the country (largely because of corporations wanting to better their bottom line by moving factories and employing automation) and it's no coincidence that these were the states that put Trump over the top in the Electoral College numbers. The voters there were, understandably, desperate, looking for someone to save them and someone to blame.

Another reason I'm unconcerned about fascism (yet) is that our democracy was much stronger than Germany's was at the time (they voted for Hitler while we voted for FDR) and is strong still. The majority of the voters (regardless of what he tweets) didn't choose President Trump and are speaking out, acting out, and watching out.

As far as Mr. Mackey's recommended reading, we should all familiarize ourselves with our Constitution, one of the greatest documents in world history. I recommend a German-made film, "The Wave." It's about an American teacher who taught a high school class on fascism and how easily a dictatorship can form.

Someone said "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross."

Bruce Campbell

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To the Editor:

The March 15 front-page story about the airport did a disservice to our efforts to have meaningful community discussion about the future of our soundscape over Sisters.

I've attended meetings and followed the airport controversy and I have never heard anyone mention fear of "F-18 fighter jets and Blackhawk helicopters flying in and out of Sisters." Or any of the other hyperbolic statements quoted by The Nugget, absurdities that were pulled out of a hat and seem only intended to make one group look ridiculous in the eyes of the other.

Why would The Nugget choose to print such demeaning and divisive fabrications? These quoted misrepresentations serve only to distract attention from valid concerns about current and possible future airport developments such as the impact of helitours on the quality of life in and around our town.

Such press coverage, while colorful and emotionally charged, does little to encourage respect among those with differing viewpoints. Exaggeration and reporting what's not true, these are dangerous trends that are tearing our country apart.

Susanna DeFazio

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To the Editor:

I'm writing regarding Jeff Mackey's March 15 letter to the editor.

First of all, Mr. Mackey, you've got to be careful when referring to anything the Trump administration says because it just might not be true. When they said the travel ban only "inconvenienced" 109 individuals, that only included those people in transit when the ban was announced, but even that number is wrong. That was the initial number, but as more flights came in the number swelled to 746 people. The ban also revoked over 1,200 legal permanent residents who tried to board flights to the U.S. and more than 60,000 refugees based on their nationality, according to the State

Department.

One of those refugees was in the final step of a 10-year-long application process to obtain a visa to the United States when he was told he was banned from entering the U.S. because he was from Somalia, one of the seven countries on the travel ban.

He was to be sent back to the refugee camp, a seven-hour drive, where he had given up everything: family, friends, his job, his home, all his possessions and was told to wait.

But if the temporary ban is lifted after 120 days, all clearances and applications by then would have expired, requiring him to start the process all over again.

The 40 refugees at this particular transit center were put on extra security as officials were afraid some of them would try to kill

themselves.

Of the 746 people who were in transit, one was an Iraqi whose wife had worked for an American contractor in Baghdad, and because of that their lives were threatened. She and their son made it to Houston and for 3 years she worked to get her husband a visa. He had escaped to Sweden 1-1/2 years ago, but the authorities told him repeatedly over his 10-hour interrogation that they were sending him to Baghdad, where he said as soon as he arrived there he would be killed. Fortunately, lawyers intervened and he was released

into the U.S.

As far as the travel ban making us safer, if that was true Saudi Arabia would be one of the banned countries on the list. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on September 11 were citizens of Saudi Arabia.

Obviously, the travel ban is all about discriminating against Muslims and will only make us less safe as homegrown extremists are emboldened. And I'm not talking just about Muslims either but white nationalists looking for any excuse to hate. You hear stories of Hispanics being harassed and bullied, ICE arrests and families being torn apart. A guy in Bend Safeway recently asked a young girl in the checkout line in front of him, "So when are you being deported?"

Yes, I am outraged. The way we treat immigrants to our United States is cruel and un-American, and it just breaks my heart.

Terry Weygandt

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To the Editor:

My husband and I have been planning a move to Sisters in the coming months - we are tired of the hustle, bustle, traffic, and noise where we live. Sisters seemed like an ideal place to settle.

I say "seemed," because the thought of a droning aircraft circling over the town day in and day out gives me pause.

My heart goes out to all those citizens of your fair city who have loved the quiet of Sisters only to see it sacrificed on the altar of financial gain.

Donna Manion

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To the Editor:

The Science Fair on Saturday, March 18, was a very successful event and enjoyed by about 450 visitors who were interested in and inquisitive about the science illustrated in the displays.

I want to thank the Sisters School District for their support and the science teachers for their time and encouragement of students to participate. The students who volunteered to set up the Fair, explain the science behind exhibits, and compete in the mousetrap car, chucker, and airplane competition were conscientious, competent, and enthusiastic. That attitude was infectious for the rest of us.

Once again, the outside businesses and non-profits provided very fine interactive exhibits. The Science Club members and other community volunteers gave wonderful support in organizing, setting up the exhibits, and manning various exhibits throughout the day. Especially I want to thank the Kiwanis Club of Sisters, our sole sponsor this year, for their financial support and for providing a large number of volunteers.

It is very gratifying to live and volunteer in a community where people of all ages come together to make this event such a success.

Thanks to all of you.

Cal Allen

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To the Editor:

After retiring in 2000 I began volunteering for the Habitat for Humanity Thrift store here in Sisters. As I am now 93 years old it is time to retire again. Of course this makes me think back over the many years and I am sure that meeting and working with all the busy, friendly people there has helped keep me healthy and happy for so long.

Habitat for Humanity is a fantastic concept. What can be better than helping people help themselves? Wherever Habitat establishes themselves, they grow - not unlike here in Sisters - and therefore they need more and more volunteers.

If you have extra time, do not sit on the fence but jump in and help. You will not regret it. I guarantee it.

Gudrun Kibak

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To the Editor:

In response to Julie Benson's comment that the Sisters Airport will be like it has been since 1933:

The former owner, Cliff Clemens, out of courtesy to the airport neighbors, enforced the rule of no take-offs or landings between sundown and sunrise, with the exception of emergency responders. He would not have tolerated screaming skydivers with the incumbent noisy aircraft.

The Bensons develop the airport under the guise of expanding their "other" business, ENERGYneering, and bring in money at the expense of the airport neighbors.

Perhaps it is time to relocate the Sisters Airport, inasmuch as the town has grown up around it since George Wakefield first built it in 1935 with the help of the Forest Service. Maintain an emergency helipad for emergency services and stop ignoring the hundreds of airport neighbors.

Emma McEwan