(Joe Kline/Bulletin photo)

Things to be thankful for

It seems fitting that this paper would publish the story of John Chau on Thanksgiving Day, a day that marks our unwelcome entry into a land belonging to a thriving community of indigenous people, who were content raising families and honoring centuries-old traditions. We arrived, bringing a religion they didn’t want, devastating illnesses they were not immune to and weapons they couldn’t survive.

I think Chau’s death is tragic; I am not in the habit of celebrating anyone’s death. Nonetheless, we should see it as a morality tale of colonization. Visitors are forbidden from North Sentinel Island precisely to protect the indigenous people from us, from our diseases and from our misguided good intentions. Chau violated the precautions meant to prevent genocide there. This event is a microcosm of our own history.

Today as I gather for a meal with family and friends, I am thankful for many things. I am thankful that we are beginning to tell a more complete version of the history of colonization. I am thankful that many indigenous communities around the world, from Standing Rock to the current struggles in the Amazon, are pushing back against the brutal results of that colonization. Especially, I am thankful that generations of indigenous people have survived, against all odds and continue to enrich our communities and our world.

Amber J. Keyser

Bend

Climate change is real

Well, is it obvious now? Climate change is not a maybe.

Now the effects of global warming are threatening our human existence, not just the birds and the bees. Look at the map and you can see that our world is shrinking — we cannot escape whether it is drought, fire or flood.

Our coasts are disappearing, our deserts are growing and on the move are climate refugees. Can’t move to escape some effect of global warming — that’s wishful thinking.

Yes it is too late — but we can adapt. We need leadership to adapt. Our choices, continue business as usual or have our governor, Kate Brown, be a climate champion and stop the pipeline, get masses of solar panels and other renewable energy sources installed and see that an effective “clean energy jobs bill” is passed this session.

We need fossil fuels kept in the ground and no more subsidies. Leaders wake up be a Climate Champion and not an Obstructive Ostrich.

Louise Shawkat

Ashland

Paper is keeping high standards

I have been a Bulletin subscriber for almost 30 years. Many of us are quick to write in criticizing something The Bulletin has published. I am writing today instead to compliment The Bulletin for being a fine newspaper.

I have seen the paper evolve from the era of Bob Chandler, to that of his heirs. I have seen editors, reporters and publishers come and go.

I think The Bulletin in its current iteration is the best of them all. It is fair and accurate, corrects itself when wrong, hires very good writers, has excellent periodic magazine inserts and every morning magically appears in my box regardless of the weather.

The Bulletin has published fascinating historical articles from 25- 100-year-old past issues for many years in the regular “Yesteryear” feature. It have recently started reprinting 100-year-old issues. I read them completely. It is fascinating to read about history “as it is happening,” rather than in a history book.

In the 1918 newspaper’s details on Page 2 is what I will call the Bulletin’s 100-year-old motto. It reads: “An Independent Newspaper, standing for the square deal, clean business, clean politics and the best interests of Bend and Central Oregon.”

What an impressive standard to produce a newspaper by! That “motto” is something we all could adopt these days.

I encourage Editor Erik Lukens to resurrect that “motto” and publish it every day in today’s Bulletin. In very large letters under the front page masthead would be perfect.

Dennis Dietrich

Bend