Bullying threatens 
the United States

Bullying changes the nature of learning in our schools.

Those envious of gifted students or ignorant of challenged students’ needs set a fearful tone that degrades the campus setting for learning.

Schools, to have a culture of learning, do all in their power to prevent bullying of those who wish to succeed. Safe and open campuses create an environment for developing self-esteem and talents. Communities support campuses where discussion is open for the sake of learning.

The same should hold true for political forums such as town-hall meetings. Bullying should not be permitted.

Bullies tend not to listen. They consider alternatives and the reasons behind them as a sign of weakness.

Such closed minds open the gates to mob rule rather than rule through reflection, discussion and voting on issues.

The concern of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, signers of the Declaration of Independence, concerning coercion through mob rule is clear.

The creators of the Constitution had the same fears. Their solution was our republic.

The forums in which our senators and representatives listen to and share with their constituents should be free of bullying. To do otherwise is to open the doors to anarchy.

No form of bullying should be permitted to interfere with free people deliberating the needs of our republic.

It’s not a question of freedom of speech. It’s a question of free 
citizens being able to discuss concepts freely.

Charlie Young

Bend

Walden should 
stop pretending

I have a granddaughter who is 10 and has cystic fibrosis, for which there is no cure.

In the past year, she has taken more than 100,000 pills, endured 600 hours of breathing treatments, and spent time in the hospital just to function each day.

Fortunately, her parents have 
excellent insurance so she can hope for science to identify the gene that will offer the possibility of a cure. Her future, though, is filled with doubt.

The recent vote by Rep. Greg Walden and his cohorts on the Trump health care bill contains a terrifying feature — the option for 
insurers to opt out of care for pre-existing conditions.

I read the text from “Face the 
Nation,” where President Trump had “mandated” pre-existing conditions would be covered. I guess this falls into the “alternative facts” category.

Walden should stop pretending he cares about the constituents in his district.

His words certainly do not reflect what his voting preferences show.

His record of going along to get along is only too evident of how he has become a part of a party I no longer recognize.

He and his fellow legislators should stick to the naming of post offices since this has been what they have spent most of the past two years doing.

Fred Carlson

Mitchell

Only trained service dogs should be in stores

It seems some people think that their dog is a service dog, that 
Oregon says it is OK to take your dog into places of business. A trained service dog has been trained for a person with a disability.

A few places I have been to let these dogs in without questioning the dogs’ training or ability to help the person with a disability. I try to stay away from these places and go to places that seem to believe that dogs or pets should stay at home unless they are trained service dogs. I would like for someone to tell me why it is OK for them to take their dog into stores and not OK for me to complain to the manager about this problem.

When I see a person put a dog in a shopping cart, it makes me wonder if this dog is a trained service dog. I have heard of statements like a doctor gives them a letter stating that she or he needs this undocumented dog for help. I find this hard to believe.

According to ADA laws, there are many businesses breaking the ADA laws. According to ADA, no doctor is supposed to give a person a letter for an untrained dog to go into grocery stores or any other business.

Maybe I should start suing these businesses for not calling out people with dogs. This to me is a violation of disabled people who need trained service dogs.

Raymond Lewis

La Pine