The Hard-to-Grasp Business of Patriotism

THE GOLDENDALE SENTINEL — This year I worked on the Fourth of July which, as a newsie, means driving around the county to see what people are up to. I wanted to get to each part and had mapped out an extensive route, beginning in the east and heading west with checkpoints along the way. I began in Bickleton for the town’s Patriotic Pig Roast. The scenes heading out there were pretty typical: kids playing...

Freedom Vs Safety: Where Do We Draw the Line?

THE GOLDENDALE SENTINEL — When I was nine years old, I was the Seat Belt Girl. I say this not only because I wore my lap belt religiously as a child, but because Oregon at the time was trying to introduce mandatory safety belt laws and they had these campaign ads during the election with a montage of child voices and faces. I was the kid in the magenta jumpsuit who...