Suggest a Topic
RECENTLY ON TOL:
TOL Our Town
- A tumblr site dedicated to the people and places that make up Oregon and Southwest Washington.
TAGS:
2012 conventions
2012 election
2013 session
arts
arts and culture
author
ballot measures
basketball
bomb
books
boy scouts
budget
bullying
business
charlie hales
children
clackamas
climate change
coal
college
courts
crime
culture
culture club
democrats
drugs
economy
education
environment
family
film
fluoride
food
gay rights
guns
handguns
health
health care
health insurance
high school
history
housing
immigration
internet
kitzhaber
law
legislature
lgbt
literary arts
living
marijuana
marriage
media
medicine
mental health
military
minor parties
mohamed mohamud
movies
music
native americans
news
newspaper
obama
olympics
oregon
our town
parenting
pers
photography
police
politcs
politics
port
portland
portland business journal
president
prevention
public safety
religion
republicans
rnc
romney
rural
salem
sam adams
sandy hook
schools
science
shooting
sports
suicide
supreme court
taxes
technology
terrorism
theater
third parties
transportation
union
university of oregon
washington
wildfire
women
see all tags >>
scottmil's comments:
on Rural Office Politics
If anything, the views of rural voters are over-represented in Oregon and nationally. Farmers et al are the cliche poster child for politicians all over the country.
There is nothing like pointing out the obvious: the very nature of being "rural" and scattering yourself to the hinterlands means less access then you would have in a dense city. People can't have it both ways!
-Portland, Oregon
There is nothing like pointing out the obvious: the very nature of being "rural" and scattering yourself to the hinterlands means less access then you would have in a dense city. People can't have it both ways!
-Portland, Oregon
posted 5 years, 1 month ago
view in context
on The Governor of Washington Takes Your Questions
Its rather ironic we rebuild infrastructures, albeit poorly, in other countries we destroy with war, but can't even find funding to improve our own interstates.
But does increased capacity encourage sprawl? Or is it just punishment?
But does increased capacity encourage sprawl? Or is it just punishment?
posted 5 years, 1 month ago
view in context
on The Governor of Washington Takes Your Questions
A toll is certainly the way to go, people who use the bridge should pay the price for living in the suburbs if they want a faster commute. If they don't want to pay for it then don't build the bridge and let them suffer.
posted 5 years, 1 month ago
view in context
on The Legality of Homelessness
If people always say money doesn't "buy you happiness" - then whats wrong with poverty and why should we fix it? Isn't happiness what we all strive for?
posted 5 years, 1 month ago
view in context
on The Legality of Homelessness
This will sound foolish, simple and ignorant to most, but it isn't and it seems important. Are any people without homes happy? I'm miserable and I have a home. Some people seem so passionate about homelessness that it has to be fixed - its almost like a religion. Maybe it does. For some people it should. There should clearly be help for those who want it. People without homes must be somewhat like people with homes, but clearly many have mental illness and other issues - but also many are just crappy people like the rest of us.
I have to admit I am not compassionate at all when I am asked for money, it annoys me, however it doesn't annoy because I am afraid or want to ignore "the problem" - I just think its rude. I also think people wanting me to sign petitions or give money to any charity on the sidewalk are rude.
Having said that - people should still be able to do it if they want to! People should be allowed to be rude or nice. If people can go around selling things they certainly have the right to ask for money. But it also doesn't mean I have to dreamily make homelessness into something that it isn't, which so many people in Oregon seem to do.
I have to admit I am not compassionate at all when I am asked for money, it annoys me, however it doesn't annoy because I am afraid or want to ignore "the problem" - I just think its rude. I also think people wanting me to sign petitions or give money to any charity on the sidewalk are rude.
Having said that - people should still be able to do it if they want to! People should be allowed to be rude or nice. If people can go around selling things they certainly have the right to ask for money. But it also doesn't mean I have to dreamily make homelessness into something that it isn't, which so many people in Oregon seem to do.
posted 5 years, 1 month ago
view in context
on Obama and Race in Oregon
Gentrification is a nice term for "bigotry towards rich white people." It is so overused and it's intended meaning is so racist. Rich people and poor people equally suck.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Obama and Race in Oregon
This logic doesn't work. There has been absolutely nothing to support that race had something to do with the response to Katrina. How in the world do you know that the "poverty, ignorance and violence" of or by minorities is due to racism? Perhaps minorities in all countries statistically fall into these categories? Maybe Jewish people on average have a lot of money in the USA - have they been given the upper-hand? Maybe there is something intrinsic to minority culture that fosters this? Who knows. But for people to always assume someone else is to blame is absurd. What about poverty all over the world in places that aren't so mixed racially, who is to blame for that, is it the culture? Maybe. Maybe not.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Obama and Race in Oregon
I think few people think slavery and genocide didn't happen (in the USA). There are privileged "folks" of all races. I think few people deny Wright has real anger. It doesn't mean it is justified or he shouldn't seek therapy to get over it, it isn't a justification for bigotry. I am very angry about a lot of issues, like this for instance, and sometimes I hate myself for it and it turns me into a monster - that doesn't give it validity.
There are lots of white "folks" in America that are recent immigrants, whose families had nothing to do with slavery, and are also very angry because they are getting tired of being labeled as racists by racist minorities.
The problem is the placing blame needs to stop somewhere. Because if you want blame we can go way back and talk about something few people talk about and discuss (because if they do they get labeled racist) Africans also had a large hand in slavery and sold slaves. Africans are also to blame for slavery. African Americans should be really angry about the genocide in Rwanda, arguably the most egregious act ever committed against the black race, by other black people. People should be screaming in the streets with anger about it, but they don't. I wonder why - maybe because there is no easy target to blame. The ironic stupidity of this is utterly overwhelming. I am not mentioning this as any type of justification for whites part in slavery or anything else, because it isn't, but people should perhaps be a little more self critical and show some objectivity with their anger.
There are lots of white "folks" in America that are recent immigrants, whose families had nothing to do with slavery, and are also very angry because they are getting tired of being labeled as racists by racist minorities.
The problem is the placing blame needs to stop somewhere. Because if you want blame we can go way back and talk about something few people talk about and discuss (because if they do they get labeled racist) Africans also had a large hand in slavery and sold slaves. Africans are also to blame for slavery. African Americans should be really angry about the genocide in Rwanda, arguably the most egregious act ever committed against the black race, by other black people. People should be screaming in the streets with anger about it, but they don't. I wonder why - maybe because there is no easy target to blame. The ironic stupidity of this is utterly overwhelming. I am not mentioning this as any type of justification for whites part in slavery or anything else, because it isn't, but people should perhaps be a little more self critical and show some objectivity with their anger.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Obama and Race in Oregon
Americans have fallen in love with racism.
The victims have allowed their anger to destroy them and have become part of the problem. Reverend Wright's sermons are the perfect example of the victim becoming the perpetrator. I have a feeling that many African Americans subconsciously don't want to get beyond racism, and I think this happens with many people who have been oppressed or repressed. Sometimes discrimination creates and preserves a culture and a community. I am a depressed person and in some ways I have fallen in love with depression, it is who I am, it is a much a disease as a defense mechanism. The same might be true for African Americans. I think many have fallen in love with being the victim and it has been so inculcated into their culture and church's. Sometimes anger and victim-hood becomes a cause celebre and almost creates a false sense of togetherness.
A super-sized elephant is in the room: minorities are as guilty, if not more so, then the majority. Yes, minorities are also racists! I am white and went to a 90% black school for four years, I was repeatedly the victim of racism. Americans on all sides have such an aggrandized sense of entitlement, we are essentially the Israelis and the Palestinians, right here in the USA. No side will cede anything. People with originally good ideas have turned into monsters. This widespread racism, hidden behind the facade of religion is repulsive on all sides: Blacks can be bigoted against whites, whites can be bigoted against homosexuals, religions can be bigoted against other religions, all in the name of some god or other.
The most egregious recent widespread discrimination to occur in America was the government sanctioned ban on gay marriage. Blacks overwhelming supported this. How ironic a minority discriminating against a minority! In the democratic primaries the statistics show that whites voted less along racial lines then blacks and Hispanics. With blacks overwhelmingly supporting Obama and Hispanics overwhelming supporting Clinton, because she isn't black. This is all racism by minorities! Quite frankly the statistics seem to say that whites are the least racist group in the country. It is hard for any objective person to stomach this and then repeatedly hear from African Americans and other minorities sometimes absurd claims of racism, for example: that the slow response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina was all racism, before any form of evidence was in to support this.
Many of my "liberal" friends repeatedly buy into and perpetuate claims of racism without analyzing the facts or doing any critical thinking. They immediately jump on the bandwagon, even if its broken. Liberals have also fallen in love with the oppressed and being oppressed particularly since Bush has been in power.
Homosexuals are guilty too, they often say outrageous things against straight people. We also have: Fat people versus skinny. Smokers versus non smokers. With everyone in America being in a group being discriminated against. Oh, I almost forgot the disabled!
Even black people now also discriminate against black people. Debra Dickerson was on several programs on NPR, months back, speaking about how Obama was not black enough. Apparently for Dickerson you are only considered black if you are poor and fit all the black stereotypes. Neil Conan actually let this woman speak and few seemed to object at this flagrant racism, against not only black people, but white people also - because you could conclude: she felt Obama seemed too white and there was something wrong with that. Again the victim becoming the perpetrator.
GUILT: We are all guilty. It is hard for any side to be on a soapbox at this location in history. There have been so many ridiculous conspiracy theories aired and perpetuated, even by the media, regarding racism. Wolf has been cried innumerable times. All sides have lost their patience, are apathetic and jaded.
EXPECTATIONS: Whites are expected to be racist. Black are expected to be victims. These expectations in themselves are stereotypes and bigotry. Expectations often help cause the proposed outcome. If people are repeatedly expected to be a certain way, they often become it.
PRIDE also plays a huge part in this mess. Minorities are repeatedly espousing mission statements of pride, they have so wholehearted bought into this, without analyzing some very negative consequences. Pride is a dangerous animal. In some ways it can be used to boost self esteem when people are against you. But after a while it can also cause people to go overboard and believe their culture our group is better then the others. Pride has now become a form a self-segregation.
Perhaps this racial muddle will result in such confusion, that people won't know what to believe anymore, will stop trying to figure it out and everyone can just become individual people!
The victims have allowed their anger to destroy them and have become part of the problem. Reverend Wright's sermons are the perfect example of the victim becoming the perpetrator. I have a feeling that many African Americans subconsciously don't want to get beyond racism, and I think this happens with many people who have been oppressed or repressed. Sometimes discrimination creates and preserves a culture and a community. I am a depressed person and in some ways I have fallen in love with depression, it is who I am, it is a much a disease as a defense mechanism. The same might be true for African Americans. I think many have fallen in love with being the victim and it has been so inculcated into their culture and church's. Sometimes anger and victim-hood becomes a cause celebre and almost creates a false sense of togetherness.
A super-sized elephant is in the room: minorities are as guilty, if not more so, then the majority. Yes, minorities are also racists! I am white and went to a 90% black school for four years, I was repeatedly the victim of racism. Americans on all sides have such an aggrandized sense of entitlement, we are essentially the Israelis and the Palestinians, right here in the USA. No side will cede anything. People with originally good ideas have turned into monsters. This widespread racism, hidden behind the facade of religion is repulsive on all sides: Blacks can be bigoted against whites, whites can be bigoted against homosexuals, religions can be bigoted against other religions, all in the name of some god or other.
The most egregious recent widespread discrimination to occur in America was the government sanctioned ban on gay marriage. Blacks overwhelming supported this. How ironic a minority discriminating against a minority! In the democratic primaries the statistics show that whites voted less along racial lines then blacks and Hispanics. With blacks overwhelmingly supporting Obama and Hispanics overwhelming supporting Clinton, because she isn't black. This is all racism by minorities! Quite frankly the statistics seem to say that whites are the least racist group in the country. It is hard for any objective person to stomach this and then repeatedly hear from African Americans and other minorities sometimes absurd claims of racism, for example: that the slow response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina was all racism, before any form of evidence was in to support this.
Many of my "liberal" friends repeatedly buy into and perpetuate claims of racism without analyzing the facts or doing any critical thinking. They immediately jump on the bandwagon, even if its broken. Liberals have also fallen in love with the oppressed and being oppressed particularly since Bush has been in power.
Homosexuals are guilty too, they often say outrageous things against straight people. We also have: Fat people versus skinny. Smokers versus non smokers. With everyone in America being in a group being discriminated against. Oh, I almost forgot the disabled!
Even black people now also discriminate against black people. Debra Dickerson was on several programs on NPR, months back, speaking about how Obama was not black enough. Apparently for Dickerson you are only considered black if you are poor and fit all the black stereotypes. Neil Conan actually let this woman speak and few seemed to object at this flagrant racism, against not only black people, but white people also - because you could conclude: she felt Obama seemed too white and there was something wrong with that. Again the victim becoming the perpetrator.
GUILT: We are all guilty. It is hard for any side to be on a soapbox at this location in history. There have been so many ridiculous conspiracy theories aired and perpetuated, even by the media, regarding racism. Wolf has been cried innumerable times. All sides have lost their patience, are apathetic and jaded.
EXPECTATIONS: Whites are expected to be racist. Black are expected to be victims. These expectations in themselves are stereotypes and bigotry. Expectations often help cause the proposed outcome. If people are repeatedly expected to be a certain way, they often become it.
PRIDE also plays a huge part in this mess. Minorities are repeatedly espousing mission statements of pride, they have so wholehearted bought into this, without analyzing some very negative consequences. Pride is a dangerous animal. In some ways it can be used to boost self esteem when people are against you. But after a while it can also cause people to go overboard and believe their culture our group is better then the others. Pride has now become a form a self-segregation.
Perhaps this racial muddle will result in such confusion, that people won't know what to believe anymore, will stop trying to figure it out and everyone can just become individual people!
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on The Iraq Generation
I would be the first to admit I have sacrificed and done nothing "for the sake of ending the war." I believe I never said I was trying to end it, I just don't support it or the troops involved in it. I said: perhaps the continuation of the war is the only way to show supporters how wrong they are, when they see how much blood is on their hands."
The fact that the military is involved in some humanitarian missions changes nothing. Its like saying Cuba "maybe" has good health-care so I supported Castro. Some good by an organization doesn't cancel out the bad. Some good probably occurred under Saddam, but is that relevant? Apparently Hamas also gets loads of support for their humanitarian activities.
I don't know much about the consequences of desertion. I believe that often desertion results in a less-then-honorable discharge or court martial (which I would assume results in jail time.) I think when the laws were originally written you could be hanged, probably not the case today.
I didn't join the military, nor would I. I don't need to balance this by sacrificing anything to have a legitimate objection to supporting the troops.
The fact that the military is involved in some humanitarian missions changes nothing. Its like saying Cuba "maybe" has good health-care so I supported Castro. Some good by an organization doesn't cancel out the bad. Some good probably occurred under Saddam, but is that relevant? Apparently Hamas also gets loads of support for their humanitarian activities.
I don't know much about the consequences of desertion. I believe that often desertion results in a less-then-honorable discharge or court martial (which I would assume results in jail time.) I think when the laws were originally written you could be hanged, probably not the case today.
I didn't join the military, nor would I. I don't need to balance this by sacrificing anything to have a legitimate objection to supporting the troops.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on The Iraq Generation
NO I won't have compassion for people involved in violence based on a lie, because they are supposedly on my "side." If you ask me to have compassion for them, then you should also ask me to have compassion for the people firing bullets at them from the other side. Neither of which I am willing to do. Ignorance, sympathy, and sentiment are no excuse for bloodshed at any age, in any culture.
If soldiers are against the war, then get out of the military and face the consequences. If numerous soldiers who are allegedly against the war did this, perhaps it would put an end to it.
If soldiers are against the war, then get out of the military and face the consequences. If numerous soldiers who are allegedly against the war did this, perhaps it would put an end to it.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on The Iraq Generation
Sorry. But. We hold people accountible for their decisions in this country at YES 17 and 18 for everything else, so why not this? If a 17 year-old rapes someone we would certainly be holding them accountible and placing blame. You can't have it both ways. Age isn't an excuse for ignorance.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on The Iraq Generation
I realize it is all our money that pays for the Iraq war, but I certainly don't feel that is the primary motivation for most peoples anti-this-war stance, it seems like an afterthought. Tax money pays for many things I don't like.
I guess what really bothers me is that the "troops" are made out to be heroes and this is clearly not objective. It is impossible to say anything negative in public about them without being labeled anti-American. The yellow ribbon toters are generally the same conservative group that has no empathy for anyone suffering in this country, is anti-choice, evangelical (bigoted) and then without irony they are asking the public to aggrandize and worship the "troops" - an outsourced killing machine involved in an egregious war based on a lie. Then again this country also thinks athletes are role models - so what else can we expect.
I guess what really bothers me is that the "troops" are made out to be heroes and this is clearly not objective. It is impossible to say anything negative in public about them without being labeled anti-American. The yellow ribbon toters are generally the same conservative group that has no empathy for anyone suffering in this country, is anti-choice, evangelical (bigoted) and then without irony they are asking the public to aggrandize and worship the "troops" - an outsourced killing machine involved in an egregious war based on a lie. Then again this country also thinks athletes are role models - so what else can we expect.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on The Iraq Generation
I have to confess, I am very much anti-war, and anti this war, however I have lost the fervor I felt before. This will sound terrible, but it is the way I feel, I mourn the loss of the innocent life, but I have come to truly dislike our military. I have little sympathy for the soldiers, they made the decision to join the army, it if wasn't for them, there would be no war, so I also hold them accountable. Except for the innocent people that may be harmed, I almost don't care if the war ends anymore. I feel that perhaps the continuation of the war is the only way to show supporters how wrong they are, when they see how much blood is on their hands.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Memorize This
I love poetry and it seems like there are few of us; but I certainly do not advocate memorizing it or anything else. Memorization is extravagant, trivial, outdated and generally pointless. Concepts and ideas are what is important, if you grasp these you don't need to remember the filler.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Recognizing Mental Illness
I am not debating the validity of your comment but your comparison of: gay..., immigrant rights and others, to a discussion on mental health is absurd. Last time I checked being gay was not an illness so there would be no reason to have on air a medical expert discussing it. I think if we discuss heart surgery, we listen to doctors and researchers, not people with heart disease. Don't ruin perhaps other valid points you might have with apples and oranges.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Recognizing Mental Illness
The evidence/studies, at least regarding depression, seem to show that with each subsequent episode of depression it becomes easier to relapse. So curbing it at its roots would be a great way to go.
It seems hard to pinpoint, from anecdotal evidence, such as your earlier caller stating that he was given medications at a young age. Perhaps these medications did there job and allowed him to recover, so by the time he stopped, he was indeed cured. There is no easy way to know this.
It seems hard to pinpoint, from anecdotal evidence, such as your earlier caller stating that he was given medications at a young age. Perhaps these medications did there job and allowed him to recover, so by the time he stopped, he was indeed cured. There is no easy way to know this.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Memoir Nation
This interest in memoirs might tie in with the current state of American culture in general: The success of reality TV. A fascination with anything allegedly authentic, like the return to comfort or simple food. Carhartt. Sport Utility Vehicles. Americans like to think they are cowboys, keep-in it real. George Bush. Even things that might not seem to fit but do - like Hip-hop and its street cred appeal.
On the other hand fiction might seem high-brow in this type of foolish climate.
On the other hand fiction might seem high-brow in this type of foolish climate.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Casinos and Condos in the Columbia Gorge
My first comment was posted on the general blog and not in response to a post or a slight to specific person or individual, however your response was exactly that: personal and condescending to me specifically. But. Whatever. I don't mind being insulted.
What I do mind is the egregious way that you categorized me into such a specific stereotypical box based on a couple of phrases. I would be considered by most an environmentalist. Not all environmentalists have the same rigid views. There are lots of other philosophies out there, perhaps some of them more progressive then yours.
No - I often don't think of elitism as a negative thing and I am certainly not worried about the "others" that do, but I do abhor religion in all its forms.
What I do mind is the egregious way that you categorized me into such a specific stereotypical box based on a couple of phrases. I would be considered by most an environmentalist. Not all environmentalists have the same rigid views. There are lots of other philosophies out there, perhaps some of them more progressive then yours.
No - I often don't think of elitism as a negative thing and I am certainly not worried about the "others" that do, but I do abhor religion in all its forms.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
on Casinos and Condos in the Columbia Gorge
Actually, as a poor person - I think it is very unfair to always insult the rich. They are people too. Such stereotypes, generalizations and easy targets!
Actually, there is something elitist about a certain group of people in a certain point in time deciding on a certain use or sentimentally for/of a place. I don't think this has to be a negative, unless you would like it to be. I think elitism and elitists definitely have there value and place. To me elitism isn't a dirty word. Surely by definition all environmentalists are elitists are they not?
Actually, I don't think you have any reason to assume I "don't care about beauty in a landscape." Been to New Jersey, thanks. In live in Downtown Portland for the reason that I don't believe in living in the suburbs, because as everyone should know big tightly developed cities, which seem totally "unnatural" are often what is best for M. Nature.
Actually which is it? Concern for the natural unaltered beauty of the Gorge or "a real need for outdoor experiences for residents of the area?" The later seems a little self-centered to me, kind of like those assumptions you are making about the rich people.
I clearly sound like a lunatic by now. So I should get a life and get back to work.
Actually, there is something elitist about a certain group of people in a certain point in time deciding on a certain use or sentimentally for/of a place. I don't think this has to be a negative, unless you would like it to be. I think elitism and elitists definitely have there value and place. To me elitism isn't a dirty word. Surely by definition all environmentalists are elitists are they not?
Actually, I don't think you have any reason to assume I "don't care about beauty in a landscape." Been to New Jersey, thanks. In live in Downtown Portland for the reason that I don't believe in living in the suburbs, because as everyone should know big tightly developed cities, which seem totally "unnatural" are often what is best for M. Nature.
Actually which is it? Concern for the natural unaltered beauty of the Gorge or "a real need for outdoor experiences for residents of the area?" The later seems a little self-centered to me, kind of like those assumptions you are making about the rich people.
I clearly sound like a lunatic by now. So I should get a life and get back to work.
posted 5 years, 2 months ago
view in context
