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In a time of increasing national and subsequently political polarization, candidates continue to promise the public programs that require bipartisan expertise. What skills and successes has each candidate demonstrated that might predict his or his success in working across party lines, for the benefit of the general public and not their party—or their reelection—alone? 

I am hoping for thoughtful, concrete answers . . . not a statement such as, "The other candidate served the state for eight years, and we still have problems, so the only obvious answer is to elect fresh leadership." New leadership brings its own problems. How have both candidates thought out their steps towards better governing of Oregon? How will they make a difference? 

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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There is a great deal of frustration over this tragic case, probably stemming from several factors. 

I personally feel that news outlets are not giving us enough, feeding off each other's reporting because they are hampered by the seemingly slow investigation, and the family members' choices—for whatever reasons—in releasing news and making public appearances. Of course, lack of information leads to speculation, and as time goes by, more of that can cloud real issues. 

This crime, whether it is murder or kidnapping, seemed at the outset to be an easy investigation, with an obvious choice for a likely suspect. Then other factors entered the equation: a woefully inadequate school alert system and questions about who saw what at school, a family reluctant to talk to the public (or even talk to their missing child over the airwaves, very strange), and a sheriff's department that, forgive me, does not sound like it is being as aggressive, as it could be, making emotionally reassuring but not confidence-inspiring comments to the public. Further, it would seem the family of Kyron is making all the decisions regarding what information goes out to the public, and this might satisfy the needs of the family members, but some of the details that have come out very late in this case (photos, the child's likes and dislikes) might have helped the search and the investigation if they had been released at the getgo. Again, forgive this, but it almost seems as though there has been a plan involving more than one family member . . . perhaps terribly gone wrong . . . to kidnap the poor child, draw media attention, discover him again, and sell the story. 

But there you go—speculation due to public ignorance. This said, I wonder if the news outlets have been following this case on an investigative basis, an adequate budget notwithstanding, following up on theories that are even a bit wild, such as what I posed above. 

In a society where information is immediate, albeit not totally accurate, and communication/input is also immediate, impatience at such an investigation is not unusual; add the unanswered fate of a sweet child and you have people wanting more details on the progress of the case. And not hearing media outlets quoting each other, recirculating old details.

Mostly, the public is impatient to have this case solved. 

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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I was raised in New York City, where the Big A as well as my schools offered a plethora of art and music experiences . . . opera was a once-a-year field trip for me, grades 6-12. The Met. Imagine an experience like that in today's financially pressed schools. In Colorado, where I lived for many years before moving to Portland, my friends' children had what I would call adequate arts education in public schools. But, when I moved to Portland in the early 90s I was surprised at the almost total lack of arts education, unless offered in special magnet schools. When I asked about what I considered an incomplete curriculum, I was told that we were in a major tech-oriented corridor, with companies like Microsoft and Apple giving support to curricula that would supply future workers. Granted, the shrinking dollar has a lot to do with the trimming of arts courses and opportunities, but the business environment surely has its influence.

This is a sadness to me—the thought of proficient engineers and other tech grads who may never have been exposed to or inspired by various artists' and authors' expressions of reality. And, how sad, they may never become aware of their own proclivities for artistic expression. Without giving them a grounding in the arts and humanities, we are depriving our children of a full education, enriched and stimulated by the thoughts and experiences and dreams of others. And this will translate in how they perceive and deal with others throughout their lifetimes.

I think it is not just creativity we seek in a school curriculum, but the wisdom to apply it in all areas of life; a diverse education that includes the arts and humanities is vital. When the budgets get slashed, again and again . . . when not just a few states are considering cutting short our kids' pre-college educations by two or three years (!), a loud cry should go up to retain what is left of arts and humanities exposure in our public schools' curricula.

posted 2 years, 12 months ago
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We need to take better care of each other, and it starts with the governments we put in place to do so.

This is, as President Barack Obama has said, an extraordinary time of opportunity and healing ?largely because the of the shamefully neglectful behavior of institutions, industry and politicians over the last decade. The tears I shed on our President's inauguration day were not only for the wonderful progress in electing the best person, regardless of race, but for the sense of relief I felt?the hope that we can do better for each other, for the world, through this new administration.

We should expect no less, and perhaps even more, from our local government. We have had enough of dishonesty, dubious behavior and the resulting scandals. It is not only prudent for our leaders to model honorable behavior, but the caring thing to do . . . what a shame it would be to lose our newest mayor, with progressive ideas for Portland's future, due to questionable decisions and dishonesty.

I'd like to see this shadow dispelled, however that plays out. And i wish Mayor Adams and other players in this story well in the meantime . . . let's be fair and listen before judging.

Eileen Kovac

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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Many in today's opera audiences want to connect culturally and to be enthralled by daring staging, and, slowly, today's productions are becoming more appealing, going beyond the traditional repertory. In the mid90s I discovered a gem of a new opera?Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catan. This inventive, delightful opera, based on Garcia-Marquez' Love in the Time of Cholera, was coproduced by the wonderful Seattle Opera and Los Angeles Opera. It was extraordinary in several ways, among them that it was the first opera produced in this country that was written and composed by a Latin American. In addition, the set, a riverboat going up the Amazon, was creative and charming, with dancers playing fish and waves that lapped at the boat, and wonderful special effects that had stars swimming in night skies, like little comets. The music was fine, but almost secondary to the presentation, that produced many tears in the audience . . . not from sadness at the libretto, but at the beauty that opera can give . . .

Audiences must reward such efforts . . . opera, at its best, reminds us of the role of the arts in society . . . to challenge, to uplift, and to inspire . . . really, to make a better world.

Eileen in Tigard

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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Today's show on obesitiy is not an easy topic, to discuss as a guest (I applaud those who stepped forward as guests) or to approach as the producing show. As for the latter, be aware that some of the earlier questions posed . . . for instance, about whether fat or obese is the preferred term . . . do not serve the interests of overweight people, but rather reinforce stereotyping. The latter subjects, about life experiences as an overweight person, and society's adaptation to, or exclusion of, those who do not fit the "normal" body patterns, are more insightful.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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