Boddie should resign

When I first heard of the allegations against Nathan Boddie I was disappointed. I had wanted to believe he was a “good guy” when I voted for him and encouraged others to as well. When he attacked his accuser, I was outraged. Sorry, Nathan, you can deny, apologize, explain, resign or otherwise defend yourself, but once you attacked the brave accuser you lost me forever.

I had hoped this letter would be unnecessary after The Bulletin’s editorial on July 9 and Amy Tatum’s well-reasoned guest column on July 24. But here it is August, and still, Nathan, you won’t do the right thing.

The voters of whatever stripe deserve a real choice in the election and real representation on the council. You can provide neither. So your choices are 1) apologize, resign and make way for another candidate, or 2) hang in there being totally ineffective, wasting time and opportunity just to make sure we are all clear it’s just about you. So far you continue to disappoint. Sorry, but democracy demands better. It’s time to go.

Adam J. Apalategui

Bend

Yoga is not a spa treatment

As someone who has been impacted by crime in Central Oregon, I can relate to the desire for jail to both punish and rehabilitate offenders. “Spa treatments” for inmates would be ludicrous. However, it should be clarified that yoga is a practice of self-improvement, not a “spa treatment.”

Yoga is a 5,000-year-old practice that aims to cultivate self-awareness, self-regulation and discernment. The first three tenets of yoga are nonharming, nonstealing and nonlying. The body is used to “anchor” the mind. Consider, when someone is in jail, his or her body is behind bars but the mind can escape. Delusion, excuses and denial are just a few examples. When the inmates are “in their bodies” they are present, in the jail. Only from that place can they truly reflect on what they have done, take responsibility for the consequences and make a sincere plan for improvement.

Yoga is being taught in jails and prisons around the country with positive results: Participating inmates are less likely to be repeat offenders. Mindfulness techniques address many of the underlying factors that drive crime and violence, including anger, addiction, trauma, fear and desperation. Inmates learn to breathe consciously and shift from blind reactions to calm responses. Here in Deschutes County, the Namaspa Foundation (a local nonprofit funded through donations) is paying the teachers and providing the mats for classes in the county jail, with the aim of rehabilitating individuals to be contributing members of society. Yoga works because individuals do the work to better themselves.

Suzie Newcome

Bend

Wyden residency and representation

Credit must be given to Jeanne Atkins (Democratic Party chair, July 29 letter) for her astute observation on Knute Buehler’s temporary residency issue and his questioned ability to support his current Bend constituents while having an interim apartment in the Willamette Valley. May I now ask Atkins to apply this same astute logic to her Democratic leader Ron Wyden and his established (not interim) residency in the D.C. area? As for his ability to support his Oregonian constituents with him living in a residence over 2,000 miles away — hmm? One might say “different strokes for desperate folks!”

Mike Fitzsimons

Redmond

Tax studded tires

Did the editorial (July 28) on cost-sharing of road repairs between residents and tourists overlook the elephant in the room: studded tires? In addition to a sales tax on studded tires, why not consider an annual permit for their use, which would cover the use of the tires wherever purchased?

The road damage caused by the tires is pretty well-documented.

Pat Melton

Bend

Boddie, do the right thing

Nathan Boddie, I was hoping your silence was a period of deep reflection. Apparently not. Instead, you are thinking the scandal will blow over and you can go back to stroking your ego. It is now obvious what type of politician you are. Ego first, issues second (if at all). Do you truly care about helping our community? If so, step down from your seat on the council, quit the race for state representative, apologize to those you have harmed and get help. Nathan, prove me wrong and do the right thing.

Kevin Barclay

Bend