Being Better Role Models
I went to the ICE OUT demonstration in Bend on Jan. 31. It did my heart and soul good to see the amazing crowd that came out to voice their support of Minnesota and opposition to the latest ICE strategies occurring across our nation. There was joy, singing and chanting, drums booming out downtown and lots of smiles and positivity. I love the creativity of some of the signs. However, I find myself dismayed to see signs stating F**K TRUMP and/or F**K ICE. Believe me, I understand the desire to use strong words to express the anger and disappointment we share regarding Trump and ICE. But is this the tone we want to send out to the world? There are kids out there demonstrating alongside their parents/grandparents. Do we want our youth mimicking us, using this simplistic, negative language? Let’s get more creative and send messages that are serious but leave the negative tone behind. Come on, Bend. We can do better.
—Michi Sato
Skills and abilities are important
I find the atmosphere here in Central Oregon is old and antiquated. In conversing with individuals, those who vote do it for the most random of reasons. I’m not saying this to degrade or embarrass anyone, but when you vote because you have a loyalty to someone’s family member or because they are your friend, that’s just stupid in my opinion.
Public office is not symbolic. It actually requires serious decision making under pressure, the ability to understand complex information, and the discipline to separate personal beliefs from public duty. I know that even with core skills and the best intentions, it can still lead to ineffective or harmful outcomes.
It’s important to understand that experience and preparation matter. Why, because government decisions affect public safety, education, housing infrastructure and the responsible use of taxpayer money. Case in point, the failed election of electing a sheriff not worthy of the position. This cost the taxpayers of Deschutes County and it took almost an act of congress to rid the county of this terrible decision/choice.
When we evaluate the skills and abilities of candidates, it’s not about elitism or excluding new voices, it’s about ensuring that those we elect are ready to do the job on day one. Remember, democracy works best when voters look beyond slogans and personalities and instead focus on competence, readiness, and integrity. In summary, when we prioritize a candidate’s qualifications and capacity to serve, then and only then, do we honor both the responsibility of the office and the power of the VOTE.
—Clifford B. Evelyn Sr.
Be a part of change
It’s time to tell the hard truth. Authoritarianism and fascism are on the rise in the USA right now, and none of us can hide from it. The same familiar patterns are happening as when authoritarianism and fascism have risen in our history, both in the USA and around the world. What we as a population do next will largely determine the next decade of daily living in the USA.
Authoritarianism and fascism are fragile, brittle things that easily break. They are short lived. They require constant effort, instilling fear and dominance in hopes that the accompanying power and influence of fascism can be extended just a little bit longer. This is what history teaches. It takes the population rising up to put an end to it. Otherwise, things devolve toward violence and war.
We see the illegal push to get rid of anyone who even looks like an immigrant, regardless of protected legal or citizenship status. Yes, this violates the constitution, but the fascists don’t care. And instead of deporting people back to country of origin, the secret deals with other authoritarian countries put people in secret prisons around the world, where they can be tortured and mistreated.
History teaches that next the fascists come for the media, artists, and unions. We are already seeing some of that happen. Why? Because journalists expose corruption and bad actions, artists make commentary on society in ways that are critical of strongman leaders, and unions organize people to stand up and fight for rights.
The Trump Administration already has its secret police, in the form of ICE. Next comes the co-opting of the military, for when the secret police are not enough to keep a populace in line.
All of this requires constant effort from the fascists. Even the smallest acts of community, of defiance, of protest strain the effort and ability for fascism to take root.
The next decade in this country will either make or break us as a people. I believe it will make us into something different, hopefully better. But all of that change starts with you.
Get off your couch. Write letters to the editor. Use 5calls.org or Resistbot or other things to contact your elected leaders. Donate to a local foodbank, regularly if you can. Support your community, and those who are struggling and hiding within it. Support local artists and comedians, support and join labor unions. Protest peacefully, and continually in big and small ways.
I’m not asking you to be an activist. You already are about the things you care about. I’m asking you to unleash your inner activist in our community before the authoritarians and fascists come for you.
Melodramatic? That’s also not what history teaches. Every act of resistance, no matter how small, puts more pressure on the fascists to maintain control. And eventually, the pressure will overwhelm the system, and they will lose control altogether. It starts with you, with all of us.
—Jason J. Herring
Letter of the Week:
Jason, as letter of the week, you can stop by our office at NW Georgia Avenue and Bond Street to pick up a gift card to Palate coffee. —Managing Editor Nic Moye
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