Picking heroes

Your children will have a hero. Your own heroes influence their choice. What is your choice?

A true patriot who lived for others, served in combat and endured years of torture as a prisoner and served honorably in Congress for decades? A man who focused on serving others? A man revered by the nation and deeply respected even by his opponents?

Or, should your children follow a cowardly bully who poses as a “dominating macho man,” who childishly belittles all whom he cannot dominate, whose subordinates must grovel before him, who lies constantly, who abuses women and minorities, whose closest longtime associates are criminals and whose self-centered cowardice includes five phony excuses to avoid serving in our military? Your choice!

Allan Smyth

Prineville

Walden helps veterans

On Aug. 29, The Bulletin published a letter from Don Kunz which asserted that Rep. Greg Walden “clearly … has failed to make government respond effectively to local veterans’ needs.” Kunz goes on to say that a vote for Jamie McLeod-Skinner will improve veterans’ lives without any explanation how. I have recently read other articles that support McLeod-Skinner blaming Rep. Walden for most everything wrong with our federal government (e.g. immigration). I hope our citizens are not so easily influenced by such unfounded assertions that are partisan politics at its worst. I could not, however, let Kunz’s assertion about veterans go unchallenged. Perhaps Kunz is not a veteran with firsthand experience, otherwise he would have a different opinion. I am a disabled veteran for which Rep. Walden his helped me directly on a specific issue. I know other veterans whom he has also helped directly. Rep. Walden is someone you can go to for help. He is proactive on VA issues and sponsored the VA Medical Scribe Pilot Act which did result in the VA being able to see more patients in a timely manner. Some might say that I am playing partisan politics, but I have been a registered Democrat for over 40 years. I am, like many others, so tired of the bovine excreta in politics that is vitriolic and primarily based on innuendo. Such environment is dysfunctional to our ability to self-govern.

Quentin Jauquet Stanko

Bend

Prevent STDs

In 2017, nearly 2.3 million sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases were diagnosed in the United States. This is up 200,000 since 2016. Chlamydia is high among them. What is more alarming are the statistics showing the young ages of both male and females contacting this. Yes, sexually transmitted!

The push to inoculate 11- and 12-year-olds is something parents must consider. This is not just affecting the poor. STDs can cause cancer, etc.

Federal funding for health centers and prevention efforts are being cut.

There are calls for Trump to declare it a federal health crisis.

Richard Asadoorian

Sunriver

Turn down the lights

Lights Out programs help reduce impacts of light pollution on humans, wildlife and plants. Turning off unnecessary lights saves energy, money and carbon emissions while preserving the starry night sky. Your participation helps make Central Oregon healthier and safer for humans and wildlife while raising awareness about the growing impact light pollution has worldwide. Brighter is not better!

Lights Out Bend is joining the September call to action! September is the National Audubon/National Geographic’s September Call to Action (Help Birds on their Journey), part of their 2018 Year of the Bird Campaign.

The Call To Action campaign involves Plimsoll Productions film crew. They will start in New York City filming the “Cities at Night” natural history episode, one of six films in series called “Night on Earth.” They are filming dark skies in many cities across the nation ending in Portland on Sept. 21. Lights Out Bend is joining the national endeavor by asking Central Oregonians to take the pledge to go lights out.

Participants are asked to: turn off unnecessary lights, use shields, hoods, motion sensors; ask city councilors to take lighting into consideration for city planning; contact/call Pacific Power to request shielding for streetlight trespass in front of your home. For a safer, healthier world, please join the Call To Action on Sept. 21 by turning off unnecessary lights from dusk to dawn.

Mary Ann Kruse

Bend