Remembering immigrant grandfather

I have been trying to get my head around how this country could have elected a divisive, third-rate carnival barker to be our president.

When we are told that the outcome of the election was an expression of anger by white men who feel threatened by the loss of traditional jobs, I think about my grandfather. To escape being an indentured servant in Northern Ireland (due to family debts he was “loaned” to another farmer when he was 9 years old, to live in wretched circumstances), he left Ireland for the gold fields in Alaska.

When his partner was killed in a mine collapse, he moved to San Francisco to be a teamster. In those days that meant driving a team of horses. When horse teams were replaced by trucks, he did not demand that the government ban trucks to preserve his livelihood, but rather he learned to drive a truck. Despite having a colostomy in his 60s, he did not go on disability but continued to drive a truck and load 94-pound sacks of cement into his 70s.

What has happened?

He was an immigrant. Our country depended on immigrants. His job was displaced by technology. He learned a new skill. He never felt that he was a victim.

What have we come to?

Janice Druian

Bend

There’s plenty of proof

Responding to Jeff Keller’s letter in the Dec. 1 Bulletin, he requests “proof” of global warming. He also says, correctly, that “consensus is not evidence.” What he is missing is that the consensus is of the evidence. Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree with the peer-reviewed science. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released study after study, including methodology reports and full supporting material (https://www.ipcc.ch). If it is evidence he is after, it is all there. I have not read it — too dry. Plus, I believe in science and the scientists. These are smart, highly educated people. They have cured disease. And, landed us on the moon. They have capabilities. If their conclusion is “man-made climate change,” then I believe it. Proof? Absolute, scientific proof is problematic. The existence of gravity is but a theory (Newton, Galileo, Einstein). But there is plenty of evidence. Deniers deny.

Bill Boaz

Redmond

People said they didn’t want Trump

In the Nov. 30 Bulletin, Ales Matzenauer’s letter to My Nickel’s Worth was titled “American people spoke.” I agree. Donald Trump actually lost the popular vote by millions of votes. When the “Americana people spoke” they said “we don’t want Donald Trump.”

James Schultz

Hines

‘What’s to know …’

I want to make Oregon great again. So I shall, with great reluctance, shed my enterprises and my retirement and re-enter public life as the head football coach of the now plucked University of Oregon Ducks.

Admittedly, I never played the game. I am to football what Ted Turner was to baseball. When he was acquiring a team for Atlanta someone said to him, “Ted, you know nothing about baseball.” He replied, “What’s to know, pitcher, catcher, 10 fielders?”

I hope this works out better than my effort to be elected pope. Talk about a rigged election. I won the popular vote on Facebook, but they have this Electoral College thingy. You might understand why in my vocabulary, “Rome” is just another four letter word.

Merle Cressy

Bend

Need to know if elections are fair

It is our right as citizens to know that our elections are fair. When Donald Trump claimed the elections were rigged, the NSA was already telling us about Russian hackers trying to influence the election. I thought it was fair for Trump to demand a recount if the outcome were in doubt. Since the election, Trump has repeated his claim that many people voted illegally. Certainly, if we are to believe that our votes count, this question deserves to be taken seriously. Jill Stein is doing something important in seeking to discover whether Trump’s claims were correct. If Trump wishes to enter a counterclaim that the election results in California, New Hampshire and Virginia are also questionable, he should put his money where his mouth is! That would be a fair and balanced approach to dealing with questions that have thrown many voters on both sides off balance.

Gregg Heacock

Bend