By Dixon Bledsoe
Sometimes, it can be challenging to keep my faith in people.
This week Brian Williams, the popular and highly respected anchor on NBC Nightly News, is seeing his career fold like a cheap suit for erroneously claiming to be in a helicopter attacked by gunfire in the opening days of the war in Iraq.
Embarrassingly enough, he was first called out on it via Facebook by people who were actually there. He invoked a seldom used word as part of his escape plan – “I misremembered the event.” The dictionary should say, “Misremember – see also Lying.”
I will “misremember” him as a great anchor and trusted journalist. He has been suspended from NBC for six months.
Measles are back and we can’t even blame Mickey for it, even though some “guests” left his Anaheim mouse playpen with the disease.
Refusing to get your children vaccinated is incredibly selfish and irresponsible.
I am a firm believer in parental rights, as are the courts, but to an extent.
I know some people say they don’t vaccinate or seek medical treatment for religious reasons and they alone have the right to make decisions for their children.
I am naive enough to believe God gave us the intelligence to both eradicate many diseases and create laws that protect us.
When it comes to protecting children, the government needs to step in when parents don’t or won’t.
We teach our kids not to drive 90 miles an hour in a school zone for their own safety and the safety of others.
Society and the laws back us up. If you want to believe vaccinations are dangerous and can cause autism (disproved many times), then don’t get vaccinated and certainly feel free to put your kids at risk of illness or even death.
But please, stay home and don’t let your little darlings near mine.
Speaking of which, a Oregon Legislative committee is considering a law that prohibits smoking marijuana in cars that have kids under the age of 18.
What is wrong with this picture?
I agree that smoke is smoke, and subjecting kids to cigarette or marijuana smoke in a tight space like the family Buick is bad and should certainly be prohibited. But the wording of the proposed rule gives people the right to smoke dope in their cars as long as the kids are not present.
I can’t drink a beer while driving but a joint is OK? Where is the common sense?
Then, there is four-term Governor John Kitzhaber.
Wow.
His stock is falling faster than my willpower at The Chocolate Box. And his and his fiancée’s story is more intriguing, shocking and spellbinding than any soap opera – including Downton Abbey.
As of this writing, the first week of February, I am not quite at the point of joining the chorus calling for Kitzhaber’s resignation because of his relationship with a woman whom I refuse to call “Oregon’s First Lady” – but talk about an albatross around the neck.
The question isn’t what has she done but what will reporters dig up next about her?
We already know she married an immigrant she didn’t really know and certainly didn’t love for $5,000 so he could get a green card; bought land and admitted it was to grow pot illegally with another boyfriend; reaped a $118,000 paycheck for work done and somehow it appears to have escaped from being claimed on her tax return; used paid staff for her own errands and tasks: and arguably has used the relationship with Gov. Kitzhaber to secure favorable contracts for her business. I am sure I missing something else she has done – it’s just a little hard to keep up when another piece of bad news about this political duo hits what seems like every day.
What part of “Run, Doc, Run” does he not get?
After this windstorm of bad news, I had the honor of interviewing Marta Hazekamp of the American Academy of Performing Arts Company for her 2014 Silverton Chamber of Commerce “Distinguished Service Award.” Thanks to her talent and huge heart, hundreds of children and their families have received outstanding training in the performing arts, often at such steep discounts or for free on scholarship that her own pantry is left modestly stocked. There have been a lot of days when earning a “minimum wage” sounded luxurious to Marta. Still she continues to follow her dream and in doing so, inspires countless children.
I also was lucky enough to interview Jim Brueckner, a 42-year educator at Silverton High School. Jim is being honored with the chamber’s “Lifetime Achievement” award. This guy brought science to life in Silverton as a teacher of chemistry, physical science, accelerated courses, geology, oceanography, and a host of other courses that when spoken out loud give many of us hives. He made it fun. He made it pertinent.
And did I mention he was the lead dog in a devious plot to teach Silverton girls how to play basketball in 1976 just four years after Title IX became law on June 23, 1972, and he was just four years out of high school himself?
That’s what’s great about the Silverton Chamber’s First Citizen Banquet – it’s a chance to see some pretty amazing and humble people be honored for doing what they believe is right – working for the betterment of their community.
Because of people like Jim and Marta, my faith is restored.
