Page 32 - Flathead Beacon // 11.25.15

LIKE I WAS SAYIN’
TWO FOR THOUGHT SAME TOPIC, DIFFERENT VIEWS ACCEPTING REFUGEES
KELLYN BROWN
SNOW DAYS
AS I WRITE THIS, SNOW IS IN THE FORE- cast. But it also was last week, and it never came – at least to the valley oor. I miss the snow and, this time around, it’s been gone for way too long.
Last winter, snow came early in the season, left quickly and never returned. Sure, there were a few urries here and there, but not enough to stick for more than a day or so. Not enough to build a snowman.
The area ski resorts did an admirable job keeping most of their respective terrain open, but you can only push snow around for so long. Eventually, ski runs were roped o earlier than usual. It wasn’t just the bare spots on the mountains that were notice- able, it was the complete lack of snow in several Northwest cities for much of the season.
Growing up in the north, snow is embedded in our character. We relate to the movie, “The Christ- mas Story,” a little more than our neighbors to the south. The scenes where little Randy Parker is dressed in a one-piece snowsuit so large that he resembles the Michelin Man and struggles to walk especially resonates with me.
I had a collection of one-piece snowsuits as a kid and, before heading outside, my mom would stu me into one of them, squeeze me into boots, wrap a large scarf around my face and send me o with my older brother (who, yes, begged for and received a pellet gun as a gift – just like Randy’s older brother Ralphie). Except my brother didn’t shoot his own eye out, he shot me in the back. His gun was subse- quently taken away.
During the winter, we would spend hours out- side digging snow caves and shaping elaborate forts, which would be used for the inevitable neigh- borhood-wide snowball ght in which at least one child would run home crying after getting nailed in the face.
When there’s a drier winter, like the last one, I wonder what kids do all day during Christmas break. Their parents must be bored, too, because soft snow at once makes them irrational and think their children are invincible. Dads build jumps that launch sled-carrying children several feet in the air. My dad liked to tie my steel yer sled to the back of his car and cruise around the neighborhood. The neighbors only complained once the snow began melting and sparks shot up behind my legs.
As you get older, snow keeps you young. There are few activities more fun than pushing an unsuspect- ing friend into a snow bank. This, I think, is socially acceptable at any age and should be expected fol- lowing a large snowstorm. I have, however, learned over the years that not everyone agrees with that opinion.
It’s common to pray for snow in the mountains. And like everyone else who skis or snowboards, I’m hoping for an abundance of powder days. But this year, I’m also praying for snow at lower elevations, enough to cover the valley oor with a foot or more.
This winter, I hope the kids in one-piece snow- suits return outside. I want to see their parents join them, over-engineering snowmen in their front lawns. I want to be shoved in a snow bank by one of my friends.
Yes, the driving can be hazardous and the shov- eling is time-consuming, but we signed up for this. Snow is part of mountain living and, when it’s gone too long, I’m reminded how much I miss it.
BY TIM BALDWIN
Every nation has a duty to protect itself. Nations are
de ned by borders, citizens and jurisdiction: without this, nations fall and anarchy rises. Throughout history, whether to accept refugees has been an issue. The issue is heightened again.
Highly-in uential philosopher, Emer de Vatel said, “every nation has a right to refuse admitting a for- eigner into her territory, when he cannot enter it with- out exposing the nation to evident danger, or doing her a manifest injury ... [but] no nation can, without good rea- sons, refuse even a perpetual residence to man driven from his country” (Law of Nations, Book I, Ch. 19, Sec. 230).
While rejecting refugees for reasons like “jobs” and “resources” seem minor, national security is major. Assuming Bush and Obama’s version of terrorism’s danger is correct, then admitting “refugees” from places known to produce terrorists poses a certain risk of harm to Americans –like receiving immigrants from places that have high death rates from communicable diseases. It’s a chance of numbers and time.
Some refugee-embracers are comparing refusing Syrian refugees today with refusing, say, Jewish immi- grants before or during WWII. It’s a notable observa- tion, but unlike wars of yesteryear, America has not declared war on anyone and thus can never win the “war on terror.” How do you create a safe and sensible immi- gration policy from such endless violence and aggra- vation throughout the world? A better foreign policy is needed.
BY JOE CARBONARI
A small part of Islamic Society believes Allah
wants them to convert the rest of the world to their particular belief. They can be as subtle as to use a chat room or as crude as a beheading. Sounds bad, but they think, or use as an excuse, that their obei- sance to Allah requires, or allows, it. This is irratio- nal thought. This is perpetual war against the rest of us. Convert, submit, or die. Fortunately, most Muslims don’t subscribe to this interpretation of “going forth to spread the message.”
As a society, they have, however, allowed their society to get way out of control. They have allowed this irrational and inhumane way of thought to exist, and to grow, to the point of being an unaccept- able threat to the rest of us. Muslim society must change what it teaches and what it accepts.
This problem is especially acute in Saudi Ara- bia, where the Saudi “family” runs the country and “Islam” keeps the people in line. Their version is called Wahhabism. They have schools and mosques throughout the Muslim world. They are extreme. They are turning out brainwashed terrorists and their supporters, or so it would seem. The world needs to have a conversation with the Saudis.
As for the Syrian refugees, we should do the right thing. Treat them decently and as individuals. Check them out. Weed them out, and then welcome them. We need Muslim friends.
T
AMERICAN RURAL DIANE SMITH
10 SMALL-TOWN THINGS WE’RE THANKFUL FOR THIS THANKSGIVING
HIS THANKSGIVING WEEK, I’VE BEEN re ecting on our move over 13 years ago from
6. Diversity – Having friends of multiple ages and backgrounds, far left and far right, blue collar and white collar, comfortable and struggling, talented in so many di erent ways. It’s enriching to have such dif- ferently amazing people as friends.
7. Safety – We don’t worry nearly as much about crime and the safety of our loved ones.
8. Local talent – Whether it’s great chefs/restau- rant pros or performing artists, knowing personally the folks who create the masterpieces we enjoy always adds to our experience.
9. Pets – Pets are everywhere. It’s tough to be in a bad mood when a happy dog is nearby, right?
10. Children – It’s great to be part of a place where “what’s good for the kids” is given special consideration.
Wherever you may be this Thanksgiving, we hope you too are grateful for your town, the people in it, or whatever else your good fortune may be. We sure are. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
big-city East Coast living to a small town in northwest Montana. That move changed our lives in ways we didn’t even begin to anticipate. We hoped for less tra c, more outdoor recreation, and a safe and vil- lage-type place to raise our daughter. We got all of that. And much, much more. So, in the spirit of this Thanks- giving holiday, we want to share 10 things we’ll be giv- ing thanks for that are unique to our small town life:
1. Quiet – It’s hard to nd quiet in a big city. Being able to easily nd silence when we want ... priceless.
2. Elbow room – We get to take “personal space” for granted.
3. Fresh air – City folks spend way too much time inside ... enough said.
4. Nature – Rivers, mountains, visibly twinkling stars; we get to see Mother Nature up close. So inspir- ing and humbling.
5. Community – To know well and be able to depend on so many of the people in our back yard.
Diane Smith is the founder and CEO of American Rural where she works to create greater awareness of the growing opportunities for those who choose to live, work and prosper in rural and small town America. Learn more about Diane by following her column here or visit American Rural at AmericanRural.org.
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NOVEMBER 25, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM