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Opinions November 12, 2009 |
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—Editorial—
Appreciating Our Veterans
As I write this, today is Veteran's Day. As you read it, yesterday was Veteran's Day. I hope the gratitude we feel for past and present Veterans and those still serving on this special Day continues into many more tomorrows.
Some wars are history, some wars are present and God forbid some may be looming in the future. But there was, has been, still are and will always be brave men and women willing to risk their lives to protect our freedoms and safety — for all of them we are so grateful.
Even though the wars we are fighting today aren't on home ground, and some think we shouldn't have our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, when we stand up and fight for others, we are standing up for ourselves. We are making the statement that not only will we not let people/countries treat us this way, we won't let them take away the freedoms of others as well.
I say “we” are standing up for our freedoms, but it is really our troops who are standing up for us. Just as our civilian brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and friends have our backs here in the states — the troops have our backs overseas — they have us covered.
Even though some can't justify or agree with the decisions our leaders made that put us into this war or any war, we can and should all support our troops who are fighting, regardless of the circumstances that put us there. They are doing the job our government elected leaders called them to do just as their predecessors did in World War 1.
At the end of World War 1 fighting ceased when an armistice between the Allied Nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Nov. 11, 1918, is regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
Unfortunately it didn’t end all wars, but the date is still remembered. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11, 1919 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
At that time Congress adopted a resolution endorsing Armistice Day which said: “...it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations...
Over the years the Day became more of a patriotic display with flag-waving, parades and events honoring veterans. In 1938, it was made a legal holiday and renamed Veteran’s Day. In 1954 it became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars — the true heroes of any war.
That same year, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose.”
The origination of Veterans Day may be in our history, but honoring our veterans should be in our present always, and not just on one day of the year.
As we approach the holiday season, there are many ways to honor veterans. The local military support group has a box at The Record-Courier for donated items that are shipped to our troops. You can purchase phone cards to enable soldiers to call their loved ones. There are many online resources that offer ways to show your support including anysoldier.com. If you have found ways to support our troops, give us a call, we’ll put it in the paper and let others know.
And while we are supporting our current troops, let’s not forget those veterans from wars past. Remember, it doesn’t always take money to show you care — a smile and an attitude of gratitude can go a long ways in bringing joy to a veterans day — any day. (DS)
—Letters To The Editor—
Appreciate Support For Bootsma Fund
To The Record-Courier:
We want to commend Samantha Fritz, Lasa Baxter, Blake Jones, Eastern Oregon Medical Associates, Baker Valley Physical Therapy Powder Valley and the communities of Baker, Powder Valley and Cove for their support of the Billie Ruth Bootsma Fund. Young Ms. Fritz brought the crowd to tears as she shared the importance of screening mammograms and the story of her beloved teacher affected by breast cancer.
This past year, the support for the Billie Ruth Bootsma Fund has been phenomenal. In addition to the success of Samantha Fritz’s fundraising efforts, we extend our gratitude to Matthew Clark and Brian Olson of Clark and Company Home, artists Amy Martin Freidman and Don Gray, the photography models who shared their lives with us, Barbara Jeans, Adiva, Bulldog Senior Class President Wesley Anderson, Terry Boetcher, Beverly Calder, Addison Collard, Sycamore Tree and members of the St. Elizabeth Health Care Foundation. Many hands have helped many women in our community. In the past four months we have raised enough money to provide mammogram assistance to 20 local women.
We simply couldn’t provide these essential services without the outstanding show of support from our community. Well done everyone!
Margaret Bootsma
Nancy Buehler
Sister Kay Marie Duncan
Amy Dunkak
Marcy Haines
Jo Hinrichsen
Michelle Paoletti
Cledith VandenBos
Molly Wilson
Please Give Your Life’s Blood
To The Record-Courier:
The state of the economy is also affecting the supply of blood throughout the country. With so many corporations and big businesses closing down, the company blood drives are closing with them. These blood drives are the strong backbone of the country’s blood supply. Corporate blood drives make up about 20% of the collections for the American Red Cross.
The best way local blood drives can help is to make sure we make our quota of 60 units each day the drive is here. We did exceed our quota when the drive was here last time, so let’s do it again. Remember, there is no substitute for blood.
The blood drive will be here Monday, Nov. 16 from 1-6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Calvary Baptist Church.
Please call Colleen Brooks at 523-4650 for an appointment.
Colleen Brooks
Baker City, Ore.
Thanks From Durkee
To The Record-Courier:
Special thanks to Durkee and Baker City communities for all their support and donations that made the Durkee Halloween Party and fund raiser a success.
Support: The Hungry Redneck Café, Inland Café, Paizanos Pizza, Carquest Auto Parts, Durkee Co-Op, Durkee Post Office, Baker County Library, Baker Dental Group, Ryder Bros. Stationery Store, Baker City Treasure Box, Safeway.
Donations: The Hungry Redneck Café, Inland Café, Paizanos Pizza, Carquest Auto Parts, Vivian Zikmund, J.T. Toll, Diane Bloomer, Andrea Gallagher.
A very special thank you to The Record-Courier for all their support in keeping us informed of special events and interests going on in our communities.
Look for another Durkee Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, so get your pumpkins ready for the races. Hope to see you there!
Big thanks from all of us.
The Durkee Community
Why No Border Control With Swine Flu Outbreak?
To The Record-Courier:
This morning I’m watching CNN’s coverage of the H1N1 pandemic and the problems associated with getting enough vaccine and I’m wondering why this is happening. Early on when it broke out in Mexico I wondered why there was no border control. Why were people from the heart of where the pandemic started being allowed to just cross the border unimpeded? I guess it might have interfered with the Mexican drug trade to have done something. I watched China quarantine American and Mexican students who came into their country. They didn’t fool around. It’s hard to catch any news about how widespread the pandemic is in China, but I’ll bet they have a better handle on it than we do. Our response after it was spread all over the country was “it’s already here so there is no use to close the border.”
The country that pioneered most of the medical advances has now outsourced its vaccine making capabilities and we are vulnerable to deadly pandemics. If this bug would have been a mutation of the H5N1 virus that threatens to bring back 1918 things would be much more serious. We might get through this without a mutation of this bug, but it is time Americans tell corporate America and the globalist that we need to have some essential services, vaccine making capabilities for one and better control of technology like computers that have military capabilities. We need to be less politically correct and do better screening of people who want to come into this country whose religions tell them to kill Americans. The Fort Hood incident tells us this. The attack on the Trade Center on 911 in 2001 should have told us we need to know who comes here.
I live alone now on a small farm. I’m dependent on wood heat and there are animals I take care of. I have asthma. Getting sick could be a problem. I have a diabetic 7-year-old granddaughter and a grandson who was two pounds at birth. They could be vulnerable. I call the V.A. hotline and their recording says they don’t have the vaccine and don’t know when they will. CNN reports the Internet is full of snake oil salesmen selling useless or harmful swine flu remedies and we don’t do anything about it.
After a fair trial of course, my personal view is that some public executions would do wonders for identity theft thieves and those who exploit the vulnerable during hard times. And after this pandemic runs its course, we should take a good look at our elected officials who presided over this circus, from the local level to the White House and find some people with brains and guts to put America first. It’s long past time to rein in the multinational corporation. Unrestricted world trade with no regard to what kind of people we trade with will eventually kill us if it hasn’t already.
Steve Culley
Richland, Ore.
The Past Catches Up With You
To The Record-Courier:
Yes, now I was jolted a bit to write another letter to the editor in lieu of my clients or a few of them showing up on the scene and recollecting our history etc., and actually this wasn't even late at night given the issue.
I know in my husbands' family, history is often talked about in more ways than one, especially at dinner gatherings, and we never seem to get tired of hearing the stories. Something different always seems to get added then you wonder where did that one come from or did I miss it some place along the lines. It’s kinda of like politics. It’s interesting how issues catch up when we are caught off guard at that.
Even given the issues with H1N1 vaccine and all, I am sure it is safe, we just have to be aware of what we need to do to protect ourselves and make sure we are clear of any reactions etc. We need to make sure we are in the clear to get the shot itself.
Now on with the past and present... As one of my clients came in on the scene, we compared notes. He said he had a wonderful biology teacher who has been my employer for a long time. Well, he said I had to work for him too of course. This one great teacher had to have proof from my agenda itinerary days and seemed to be satisfied with that being down on paper so when I told him my maiden name and all, then he goes "yes, I know you now"... Surprise, surprise, of how we can imagine our identity can be a surprise to those around us can mislead either for the good or for the bad, depending on our history.
So even in politics it seems as though we have to have a birth certificate, etc... anything to prove that we are who we are no matter what. If we can't be on the up in being honest etc. then who are we to say when our past catches up with us? We can surely be guilty as charged unless we can come clean with whatever it is that haunts us from the past.
So be careful of what could really sneak up from behind that could really take you by surprise and even in my case it is all for the good at that.
Coffee anyone?
Brenda Dickison
Baker City
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