Take responsibility

The article regarding someone suing Dubuque, Iowa, (“Liability concerns prompt cities to limit, or ban, sleds”) because they hurt themselves sledding in the city park was nauseating. It is truly unfortunate that someone was injured while recreating, but to blame someone else for your own actions is saddening.

Knowing that the government will legislate our safety made me sleep well. The fact that “courts in Nebraska have decided cities must protect people, even if they make poor choices,” almost made me build another “coaster” like when we were kids. They were nothing more than a piece of plywood with four wheels. We would run them down a steep hill, a city street, without brakes! Even at 11 years old I realized I could crash and it would hurt. Those are called consequences — something that today’s society has forgotten.

I would never have thought of suing the lawnmower company for not placing a warning on the lawnmower that their wheels are not meant for high-speed travel! When will we take responsibility for our own actions? If you trip on a sidewalk because you weren’t watching where you were going, please don’t blame the city. If you jump off a rock or a bridge into a river and hurt yourself, please don’t blame the state. If you’re swimming in the lake and drown, please don’t blame the park. If it’s icy out, you could slip and fall. Just because there isn’t a sign to warn you that the ocean is dangerous or the river is cold or stepping in front a train could harm you, doesn’t make those activities safe. The infamous Will Rogers once said, “Common sense ain’t common.” Oh how that holds so true these days!

Jim Prestwood

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Hunters and fishermen can be environmentalists

Bulletin readers should know that not all hunters and anglers share the sour attitudes on display in Scott Linden’s Jan. 6 opinion piece. I am a fly-fisher who not only purchases annual fishing licenses but also supports many of the environmental organizations that Linden seems to despise.

I know lots of hikers, climbers, bikers, runners, skiers and environmental activists who spend as much or more of their income protecting wildlife as any hunter or angler.

Linden’s article quickly veered into a screed against just about anyone who is politically left of center. He even takes an irrelevant, nonsensical dig at “30-something slackers still living in their parents’ basements.” Huh?

Let’s be clear: There are anglers and hunters in Central Oregon who don’t share his views. You can find them in organizations such as Trout Unlimited and the Sierra Club.

To suggest that someone should buy a hunting license or a fishing license even if they don’t hunt or fish and that the only way they can invest in wildlife management is to take up hunting or fishing is pretty silly.

Michael Funke

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Republicans should correct Obama’s wrongs

Alan Pachtman, in his recent “In My View” blasting Republicans for their alleged “bromance” with Vladimir Putin, gets it all wrong. Taking a few statements entirely out of context, he suggests that Republicans view Putin’s leadership favorably while denigrating Obama’s.

It is indisputable that Obama has failed to exercise leadership, resulting in worsening relations with Russia and every other player on the international scene, including our allies. Our enemies do not fear us, and our allies don’t trust us. From his apology tour to the precipitous withdrawal from Iraq; abrogation of the missile defense agreement with Poland; mishandling of the Islamic State group threat; feckless responses to the attack on our consulate in Benghazi and the Russian takeover of Crimea; inexplicable establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba without preconditions; release of terrorists in exchange for an Army deserter; unilateral and illegal actions on immigration; and reduction of our military strength, etc., Obama has diminished U.S. standing in the world community. Putin’s style of leadership is not preferable. He has engaged in actions inimical to U.S. interests, but he has done so in the absence of White House leadership.

Pachtman implores the Republicans to impeach Obama “to distract Congress from doing anything.” Instead, the Republicans will focus on passing legislation long delayed by the Reid-controlled Senate. Obama can, for once, choose to exercise leadership by working with Congress for the benefit of the country, or he can continue to issue executive orders, veto legislation and stonewall investigations to placate his left-wing cronies.

Paul DeWitt

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