See the good
To the editor:
Perhaps Dale Fallon and Richard Scherzinger have not been to the Home at Last animal shelter. If they would go there, they would see a clean, comfortable, secure, safe place for animals to await an adoption from a caring family — not the “old dog pound” where an animal can wait three to five days and then be euthanized. Even though the animal might be a dear member of someone’s family that had gotten lost, picked up by the dog catcher and taken to the “pound” to await their demise.
We have adopted dogs from the shelter on two different occasions, one dog a mixed breed and the most recent a purebred shi tzu. Now try to tell me these dogs are someone’s “throwaways.” Not so. Just so happens the shi tzu was from a breeder that got overwhelmed with too many dogs, but had the common sense to release them to the shelter. They, in turn, cared for them until a family could be found for each and every one of them.
We live in an area where there are at least four dogs that have been rescued from a variety of situations, but let me tell you, these are animals that are loved and treasured by their owners.
We need to help these animals. They have no voice and we do need to continue to do the right thing, which is care for them and find them a caring and safe place to live for the remainder of their lives.
Donna M. Hackler
The Dalles
Don’t hesitate
To the editor:
This letter is in response to Mental Health Specialist Stephen Bradley’s Guest Commentary “What Every Parent Should Know” printed in the Sunday Chronicle dated August 8th. I feel very strongly about what he tried to convey. It touched me because it was very personal.
If you are the parent, friend or loved one of someone who exhibits uncharacteristic personality traits, especially young adults, I encourage you to please reread this article. Watching someone you love suffer from psychotic illness is the most heart wrenching experience one could imagine.
It is easy to convince yourself that they might have an “anger management” problem or their paranoia is just “low self-esteem”. They might mention suicide or use other morbid language. Perhaps they accuse you of hurtful things you have not done to them. Has a sweet child transitioned into a seriously depressed, withdrawn, and/or argumentative young adult? Perhaps they are turning your life or your family’s life into an emotional spiral that is out of control?
There is help.
Please contact the Mid-Columbia Center for Living. They have offices in The Dalles, 541 296-5452 and Hood River 541 386-2620 or you can check them out at www.mccfl.org. Through their Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA Program) your loved one will receive screening, support and treatment. Help with medication management (most important) Enhanced Care Services (an Adult Residential Program) and many other programs are offered to assist at any age level.
This is not an advertisement. Please don’t hesitate to call.
I didn’t. I tried to fix “it” by myself. My beloved brother committed suicide. He also committed murder.
Please don’t hesitate. Your loved one’s life, maybe your life, is at stake.
Patricia Lewis
The Dalles
Thanks, fire folk
To the editor:
I would like to thank The Dalles Fire Deartment (Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue) and also Dallesport for putting out the fire close to my home by the foot bridge across Mill Creek.
Also, thanks to all my neighbors that helped out. I was not home and I cried when I saw my backyard. But I’m hoping that the ones that were smoking will get help to stop smoking. My church and I are praying for you.
Virginia A. McClain
The Dalles
Good Samaritans
To the editor:
I’m writing in regard to the fall I took Thursday, Aug. 19. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going, stumbled over a road bump and landed face first on the roadway in front of a store. The next thing I was aware of were about six people checking to see if I was alright, if anything was broken. One lady gave me a bunch of napkins to wipe off the blood on my face, another person gave me a wet cloth, someone called 9-1-1 and a couple of men got me up on my feet and walked me over to my car.
When the ambulance got there I was much better, just embarrassed at my mishap. They, too, were very nice.
This would not have happened in a big city. Most people would have stepped over or around me. So this is a thank you to each of you. Your kindness will not be forgotten. Ever.
Joyce McKay
Goldendale
Much to learn
To the editor:
I am appalled, as I’m sure you are, with the never-ending ruthlessness of terrorists in Afghanistan. It is beyond belief how their suicide bombers can indiscriminately kill innocent civilians — women and children among them — at the behest of ultra-fundamentalist clergy espousing heretical interpretations of the Koran.
And this is not to mention the almost insurmountable burden born by our troops in a land where terrorists in civilian clothes take cover in civilian crowds and homes. An evil force is at play in all of this and it drives many of us to hate such people for their unscrupulous actions.
Of course, this is exactly why they do such things. Either we allow the terrorists of this world to lead us down paths to reactive hate and reciprocal violence, or we step back and assess the moral ambush into which we have fallen. This is the trap Martin Luther King avoided. No matter how vicious and hateful the Klan-inspired segregationists became, he refused to hate, even to demean, those who would oppress and kill.
He understood that to demean one’s opponent is to demean oneself, and that sooner or later even the most implacable enemy will crumble under the weight of our refusal to hate. Yes, hate what they do, but not who they are — persons valued by God as we are.
Sadly, we seem not to have learned that our enemy has much to teach us about ourselves and about God’s will for us. Had we, I doubt we would find ourselves today behind the eight ball in Afghanistan.
David C. Duncombe
White Salmon
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